Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

[backcheck]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Game 2 Lindenwood vs. Robert Morris may have ended with a score that indicated Robert Morris came roaring back with a vengeance to right the ship that has been listing somewhat since the Christmas break. The game was very close play-wise until 8 minutes left in the third, tied 2-2. Three successive defensive last man back giveaways deep in the LU zone were each capitalized upon by RM to put the game away. A well earned win by RM as they had forechecked hard all game to effectively reduce the time Lindenwood had created to set up and exit the zone successfully the game prior. Still, nice to see the play starting to even between teams; it is making for some very exciting and entertaining hockey.

On the downside, LU goalie Nicole Hensley was injured as the net was crashed on goal 4. Hopefully she is OK, as she makes a big difference in the compete level of LU.

 

[Bender]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Agreed. Lindenwood gave away the game on defensive mistakes, even including the first shorthanded goal. They should have earned a tie in this one at a minimum. It sounds like Hensley has a concussion, and if so would definitely be out for next weekend's home series against Syracuse and then who knows after than. A painful loss in more ways than one.

 

[backcheck]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Any word on Nicole Hensley? If Lindenwood can continue the same caliber of play as the last two series and eliminate a few mistakes, this could be a couple of entertaining games with Syracuse.

 

[Bender]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Any word on Nicole Hensley? If Lindenwood can continue the same caliber of play as the last two series and eliminate a few mistakes, this could be a couple of entertaining games with Syracuse.

My understanding is that she has not practiced all week and will not suite up this weekend. Don't know beyond that.

 

[backcheck]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

From the 2013-14 D1 Commitments thread, LU has a new recruit:

To Lindenwood University -

Saville Pickar........F........Little Caesars 19U........Lynnwood, WA

She played for Pursuit of Excellence out of Kelowna, BC last season. No stats are available. Anyone have any additional information to share?

 

[Bender]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Based upon the score and the stats, Lindenwood took a beating yesterday at Mercyhurst.

 

[backcheck]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

5-1 today; a much better effort overall. They were tied up to half way through the second. Due to the change in venue there was no video feed for a better analysis, but LU is closing the gap.

 

[Roarin' To Go]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

5-1 today; a much better effort overall. They were tied up to half way through the second. Due to the change in venue there was no video feed for a better analysis, but LU is closing the gap.

There is no gap being closed. The record says it all, and this coach and his staff are way in over their heads. ACHA is a completely different game and standard than NCAA Division I, and this program's Athletic Director needs to recognize that and give these quite talented players from respectable programs a better coaching situation lest they leave in droves.

 

[LionIceMom]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

There is no gap being closed. The record says it all, and this coach and his staff are way in over their heads. ACHA is a completely different game and standard than NCAA Division I, and this program's Athletic Director needs to recognize that and give these quite talented players from respectable programs a better coaching situation lest they leave in droves.

Well, someone had to say it...and agreed. WAY in over their heads and not giving the girls a chance to really shine. And hearing how he pouted about not getting a donut on the bus (a parent had gotten them for the players) after losing to Mercyhurst this past weekend, is fast approaching Linstad status. I had such high hopes for the season.

 

[sbkbghockey]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

There is no gap being closed. The record says it all, and this coach and his staff are way in over their heads. ACHA is a completely different game and standard than NCAA Division I, and this program's Athletic Director needs to recognize that and give these quite talented players from respectable programs a better coaching situation lest they leave in droves.

I disagree, despite the record, the team has made progress from last season. Both of the last two seasons, Lindenwood has played one of the tougher schedules in the NCAA (ESP for a new program!). This year they've played Ohio State, Wisconsin, North Dakota in non-conf play, in addition to top conference programs like Hurst...

LU has had strong goaltending from Fairchild and Hensley, with a So. Fr. pair - netminders are set for a few years. Offense has picked up from last season to this season. The biggest weaknesses is stamina and defense. Low stamina causes players (esp in the second game of weekend series) to fall behind, take penalties which further wear down pk players...

Essentially last year was a purely transitional year, this season is LU's first complete NCAA DI schedule. Compared with a sister first year program, Penn State, Lindenwood's record would likely have more wins with PSU's schedule.. LU and PSU split a two game series. The Nittany Lions also have 1 win vs. Vermont, 3 wins vs. Sacred Heart (not a true DI team and a team LU beat last season), and 2 wins vs. Chatham (likely the worst DIII team and much less competitive than the DIII teams LU played last season).

Lindenwood should focus future recruiting classes on defense and once that's improved, they'll start getting more Ws... Also remember that with the NAIA to NCAA transition, the university is not eligible for national championships until the 2014, with full membership and the possibility of winning conference and national championships, the team will be much more competitive recruiting.

 

[Mountain_Hockey_Dad]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

sbkbghockey said "Lindenwood should focus future recruiting classes on defense and once that's improved, they'll start getting more Ws... Also remember that with the NAIA to NCAA transition, the university is not eligible for national championships until the 2014, with full membership and the possibility of winning conference and national championships, the team will be much more competitive recruiting."

Ha, Ha! If you think that the five star recruits are going to start begging Lindenwood to accept them because they will be eligible to compete for a National Championship, you have lost your mind. With the positive spin you are trying to put on this situation, it makes me wonder if you work for the democratic national committee.

 

[LionIceMom]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Lindenwood should focus future recruiting classes on defense and once that's improved, they'll start getting more Ws...

They should always focus recruiting on both offense and defense.

 

[Mission]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Well, even though this thread is getting progressively entertaining by the minute as we now have what would appear to be parents of current team members bashing the coaches, the best advice I can give to LionIceMom at this time is to "BACK AWAY FROM THE KEY BOARD" before you type something about your daughters coaches that both she and YOU will regret. What did you expect, it is a 2nd year NCAA varsity team? They will take their lumps for the foreseeable future. Have they improved vs. last year -- -- the answer is YES. Are they going to win more than they lose anytime soon -- the answer is NO. Deal with it and be thankful that your daughter has a D-1 team available that she can play for. Oh, and lastly, thanks for the insight on "Donut-gate"............

 

[123kidd]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Why should someone be thankful that they have a DI team to play on when it's LU? Because they can say they played DI? There are 5-8 DIII teams out there that qiuld be LU this weekend. Ask a serious 17-18 year old female hockey player who's looking at DI schools about Lindenwood, 9 out of 10 will smirk and say no thanks.
Recruits get to go to school for next to nothing, but get the crap kicked out them. Build a facility, hire a serious hockey coach and staff in there and maybe you'll go .500 in four years.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

I know nothing about the coaching staff...but many who commit to fledgling D-I programs specifically mention being part of a foundation, building something etc. That's not a bad point of view IMO. I'd even consider it a very worthy...even noble ambition. You want to expand the sport and increase the number of programs I sure hope there are always those willing and possessing that ambition.

 

[Mission]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

I know nothing about the coaching staff...but many who commit to fledgling D-I programs specifically mention being part of a foundation, building something etc. That's not a bad point of view IMO. I'd even consider it a very worthy...even noble ambition. You want to expand the sport and increase the number of programs I sure hope there are always those willing and possessing that ambition.

Well done, could not have said it better myself. Kids like that make great team mates.

As for the LU situation, the school, the coaches, the players and the recruits knew what they were getting into when they decided to dive off of the deep end to become a D-1 program. Now that they are living it, and absolutely improving year-over-year, you have a select few arm chair quarterbacks (and parents of players) whining because they aren't winning enough?????? Give me a break. There are bigger life lessons here at play, such as being a part of a team, paying your dues (you or your parents may think you are great, but if you are not a good team mate you may be sitting), you may not like your "boss" but you certainly have to work for him and perform, etc. etc. etc. Living a bit too much in an unrealistic, instant gratification society. Enjoy the ride a little more because it will be over before you know it, but the lessons learned will provide a lifetime of benefit.

Lastly as for the "serious D-1 recruits" that 123kid mentions, if even 1 D-1 school recruits you and that is Lindenwood, then I would bet my house that 9 out of 10 of those ladies would play D-1 there before they go to play D3 elsewhere. JMHO.

 

[WIrinkrat]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Lastly as for the "serious D-1 recruits" that 123kid mentions, if even 1 D-1 school recruits you and that is Lindenwood, then I would bet my house that 9 out of 10 of those ladies would play D-1 there before they go to play D3 elsewhere. JMHO.

Agree with your whole post, except for this. Especially since most of the top D3 players across the country were bubble D1 kids who had to make a choice between being a 3-4-5th line D1 kid or a big fish in a smaller pond at D3.

It's all about what that kid is looking for and what is going to make them happy. Kids pick D3 options over D1 options and vice versa all the time.

 

[SlewFoot]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

Agree with your whole post, except for this. Especially since most of the top D3 players across the country were bubble D1 kids who had to make a choice between being a 3-4-5th line D1 kid or a big fish in a smaller pond at D3.

It's all about what that kid is looking for and what is going to make them happy. Kids pick D3 options over D1 options and vice versa all the time.

I whole-heartedly agree with you but just wanted to add that some kids pick D-3 because the school is a better fit too. There are many kids that can play D-1 that pick D3 because: (1) the kid wants to stay closer to home; (2) the D3 school is a better academic fit (this goes both ways since the D3 school might be more challenging or less challenging than the D1 option). Additionally, some kids might think they are bubble kids based on the number of D1 schools recruiting them but I would bet that most of the so called "bubble" kids believe that they are more than capable of playing D1. I don't think many kids go to a D1 program accepting that they will be a 3rd, 4th or 5th line player, nor do I think that there are many kids that go D3 exclusively with the idea that they can dominate at that level I just think that academics, location, scholarships, finances, hockey and much more go into the equation. For most, hockey isn't and shouldn't be the dominant factor.

 

[Hux]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

I whole-heartedly agree with you but just wanted to add that some kids pick D-3 because the school is a better fit too. There are many kids that can play D-1 that pick D3 because: (1) the kid wants to stay closer to home; (2) the D3 school is a better academic fit (this goes both ways since the D3 school might be more challenging or less challenging than the D1 option). Additionally, some kids might think they are bubble kids based on the number of D1 schools recruiting them but I would bet that most of the so called "bubble" kids believe that they are more than capable of playing D1. I don't think many kids go to a D1 program accepting that they will be a 3rd, 4th or 5th line player, nor do I think that there are many kids that go D3 exclusively with the idea that they can dominate at that level I just think that academics, location, scholarships, finances, hockey and much more go into the equation. For most, hockey isn't and shouldn't be the dominant factor.

I know of a few who chose the DIII route because they wanted to enjoy the full college experience rather than have it be like a full time job.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: Lindenwood Women's Ice Hockey 2012-13 Season Thread

I know of a few who chose the DIII route because they wanted to enjoy the full college experience rather than have it be like a full time job.

And don't forget the kids who are good hockey players but KNOW that they want to play 2 (or even 3) sports in college. This option is really only available at the D3 level.