Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

[Golden Tuuk]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

In my poll, I'd have BC 1, ND 2, and MACK 3...but you're right. It's splitting hairs at that point. Whether you're 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5..if you're a Top 5 team, you're elite. if MACK beats BC and BU, then I vault them all and make them #1.

Talk about pipe dreams. First they were a national power then "elite".

 

[WarriorDJ]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Not very well from the looks of it. 17 penalties for 72 minutes!!! Are you freakin' kidding me? Dennehey got tossed? Would someone please post a reasonably objective game summary? What a nightmare weekend, but kudos to the Friars.

Don't know that it will be 100% objective, but I'll give it a shot:

1st period - You could tell Friday night's game was itching at the Warriors - for the first five minutes they worked hard to storm the crease with shot attempts and had a few good opportunities - none as good as three breakaways on Friday - but enough to do some damage on the scoreboard. As the period wore on, you could see MC getting more and more frustrated by PC's physical play and Beaudry making some big saves. One player I noticed was Flanigan - he seemed to be really flying around looking for someone to hit - at one point pinning Matt Bergland to the ice for what seemed like 15 seconds by laying on top of him. At the end of the period, Flanigan took a 10 minute penalty born out of pure frustration - making matters for MC, who already had the short end of the stick with the refs calling 5 MC minors to PC's 2.

2nd period - Less than a minute in, Jordan Heywood lit up Derek Army and was given the gate for hit to the head. Seeing it live and over-and-over on tape - I don't think Heywood was targeting the head - but as an assistant captain, there are better times for a green-light hit...At that point you have two assistant captains out of the game - and the rage just boiled over from there. Flanigan did not return to the game and was wearing a suit during the third period. A number of Warriors took undisciplined penalties to dig the hole deeper and deeper, when the dust settled it was 4-0 PC, all on PPs. You could tell that MC was frustrated by a lack of communication on the ice, poor passing, turnovers and a too-many-men penalty late in the frame.

3rd period - Believe it or not, MC actually stemmed the tide and turned the momentum their way early in the period. You could tell that Dennehy put the challenge to the players to make a charge to tie this thing up and the team responded when Dennehy pulled Cannata during a 4x4 faceoff in the PC zone. Connor Toomey made it 4-1 and nearly made it 4-2 to give MC a big shot of momentum - but the goal was called back on a review for being kicked in. After that, PC potted two more and that was your ballgame.

All told, MC really needed to lead by example and show that PC's play didn't bother them - and their two leaders failed them in that regard. The good news (yes, there is good news) is that MC has a chance for quick retribution on Wednesday night against Vermont. MC can wash that bitter taste out of their mouths quickly and move on - they would love nothing more than to put this one in the rear-view mirror...

 

[Yuppie Scum]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Ouch.

Props to Coach Leaman and PC, they played solid fundamental hockey all night and capitalized on every mistake and opportunity.

MC looked completely out of sync pretty much all night except the third. Sure hope we can right the ship for Weds.

 

[rdurk86]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

That game felt like a mid 2000's game, no offense, tons of penalties, undisciplined play. Just bothers you that it makes the naysayers look smart.

 

[HockeyJM1902]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

The game really did have a feel of early-mid 2000's. It was very frustrating to watch. Being in CT I don't get to watch a lot of games, but this weekend being able to watch these 2 made me excited. Big dissapointment.

The other thing I noticed, was on Friday mostly. Stollery was pretty much useless I thought. For our "solid defenseman" he had a horrid game. He looked completely and totally lost.

Hopefully coach MD and the boys settle down and get back to business this week.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Better now than February.

They will be fine. Tough playing Alabama and than a Hockey east etam. PC saw that when they played two with them and than Miami and Princeton. They looked just as out of sync.

MD will use this as an opprtunity to point things out on film and motivate them. Gotta control Bigos, zero accountability and refs look for him. He talks back to them the entire game and they are now aware of his antics and will call it everytime. No reason to be the "toughest" guy in a no fight league with full cages on. Save it for when you are playing in AHL/ECHL and do it to Colton Orr types, not 5'8" 170 lbs F's who could care less and pray you do it and put team on PP. He has gotten better, has talent and a nice skill package. Zero benefit to take cross checking penalties on guys on the ground, zero. And if so, doesnt help team to come out of box and go right to the blue line.

MC will be just fine but needs to stay on edge, not over it. If they play like that vs Miami of Ohio, Denver types it would be 10-1

Kind of like 2000 but the obvious skill and talent/team speed was still there, not so much back in 2000. MD will take advantage of this for sure. I would expect them to wax UVM Wednesday eve

 

[ScottK]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Tough playing Alabama and than a Hockey east etam. PC saw that when they played two with them and than Miami and Princeton. They looked just as out of sync.

Lowell played Alabama-Huntsville then swept a home-and-home with UNH, so I'd hardly use that as an excuse.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

True.... Lowell is surprise team of the year for sure. Great for Hockey East

 

[Yuppie Scum]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

True.... Lowell is surprise team of the year for sure. Great for Hockey East

Surprised the rankings hit wasn't worse. Guess the other top teams losing helped.

I don't think many of us thought we'd live to see half the teams in HEA ranked, with Maine, NH and NEU on the outside.

 

[RENCEB]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Gotta control Bigos, zero accountability and refs look for him. He talks back to them the entire game.....

During the Friday night game, my wife asked "Is Bigos a Captain? He seems to be complaining to the refs at every whistle."

Tough weekend, and we ALL knew they weren't going to go undefeated on the season I'm still concerned where the offense is going to come from. Joe C must be thinking that he's gotta keep it at 2 or less, otherwise they're in big trouble

Get back on track against UVM.

 

[boblav1]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Not very well from the looks of it. 17 penalties for 72 minutes!!! Are you freakin' kidding me? Dennehey got tossed? Would someone please post a reasonably objective game summary? What a nightmare weekend, but kudos to the Friars.

It sounds like Merrimack had a total meltdown on Saturday from the players to the head coach. What's happened with Flanigan? Did he get hurt or did Dennehy tell his leading scorer and one of the captains to take the rest of the night off after the misconduct? He was in the stands during the 3rd period.

 

[Federal League]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

It sounds like Merrimack had a total meltdown on Saturday from the players to the head coach. What's happened with Flanigan? Did he get hurt or did Dennehy tell his leading scorer and one of the captains to take the rest of the night off after the misconduct? He was in the stands during the 3rd period.

Dennehy sat him down for the remainder of the second after his misconduct, then told him to get dressed at the end of the period.

 

[RENCEB]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Dennehy sat him down for the remainder of the second after his misconduct, then told him to get dressed at the end of the period.

100% Okay with this. Send a message that you expect more from your Capt. (Should Dennehey give himself a "timeout" for getting tossed?).
On a side note, does every game that Bennedetto refs turn into a parade to the penalty box? Now, I recognize given their physical style, MC is going to get a lot of penalties. But when Bennedetto refs, it is out of control.
I took a look at the last 2 years of MC games that he has reffed; came up with 7 games, including (incredibly) the HE final. In 3 of the 7 games, the opponent had at least twice as many pp's as MC, and in Friday's game, 14 pp's to 4. On average, MC had over 48 minutes in penalties (including majors and misconducts) while their opponents averaged 34. Last year's series at Maine was a penalty-fest.
Bigos (yes, I know, he goons it up sometimes) might as well not bother dressing. 7 games, 3 misconducts, 1 game misconduct, 1 major, and 8 or 9 minors.
Is he calling anywhere near the same amount of penalties against any other team? Yes, again, I know how they play, but this seems way off the charts compared to Bunyon, Gravellese and others. Personally, I though Bunyon did an ok job on Friday night. A couple of iffy calls, but nothing egregious.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

100% Okay with this. Send a message that you expect more from your Capt. (Should Dennehey give himself a "timeout" for getting tossed?).
On a side note, does every game that Bennedetto refs turn into a parade to the penalty box? Now, I recognize given their physical style, MC is going to get a lot of penalties. But when Bennedetto refs, it is out of control.
I took a look at the last 2 years of MC games that he has reffed; came up with 7 games, including (incredibly) the HE final. In 3 of the 7 games, the opponent had at least twice as many pp's as MC, and in Friday's game, 14 pp's to 4. On average, MC had over 48 minutes in penalties (including majors and misconducts) while their opponents averaged 34. Last year's series at Maine was a penalty-fest.
Bigos (yes, I know, he goons it up sometimes) might as well not bother dressing. 7 games, 3 misconducts, 1 game misconduct, 1 major, and 8 or 9 minors.
Is he calling anywhere near the same amount of penalties against any other team? Yes, again, I know how they play, but this seems way off the charts compared to Bunyon, Gravellese and others. Personally, I though Bunyon did an ok job on Friday night. A couple of iffy calls, but nothing egregious.

in fairness that says more about MC then the ref. older canadian jr kids wikll help you win and also will do so on the edge, which gets crossed.

 

[ericredaxe]

in fairness that says more about MC then the ref. older canadian jr kids wikll help you win and also will do so on the edge, which gets crossed.

Yup, with all respect, the "Merrihack" nickname does not come out of nowhere.

 

[UMLFan]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

My apologies, but I can't seem to find this anywhere (only looked for a couple of minutes to be fair) ... why was Dennehy tossed?

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

My apologies, but I can't seem to find this anywhere (only looked for a couple of minutes to be fair) ... why was Dennehy tossed?

arguing with refs, nothing serious. a little quick on the trigger by the zebras

in the end you hope that it motivates the players as he was simply sticking up for them. they have good leadership so I am sure they are dissapointed that they put him in that situation. he has their back for sure, now they need to come back tomorrow and reward him with a win

 

[UMLFan]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

arguing with refs, nothing serious. a little quick on the trigger by the zebras

in the end you hope that it motivates the players as he was simply sticking up for them. they have good leadership so I am sure they are dissapointed that they put him in that situation. he has their back for sure, now they need to come back tomorrow and reward him with a win

Thanks, appreciated.

 

[icewarrior]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Dennehy sat him down for the remainder of the second after his misconduct, then told him to get dressed at the end of the period.

This is exactly what needed to happen. Step two is to bench Bigos indefinately. A signal needs to be sent and received. The Warriors can not expect to reach their goals playing 4 on 5, or worse, 3 on 5, for large stretches of each game. Their success is based on their goalie and defense, not goal scoring. They must keep their games tight in order to continue to win through the meat of their schedule. Speed is the answer, which they have, provided the energy has not been squandered killing off penalties. MD will be looking for a much different approach going forward. Incidently, Bigos is not the only offender that needs to stick to hockey on this team. There have also been plenty of lazy "holding", "hooking", and "slashing" penalties that need to stop.

 

[RENCEB]

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

in fairness that says more about MC then the ref. older canadian jr kids wikll help you win and also will do so on the edge, which gets crossed.

I don't disagree, it just seems that in Bennedetto reffed games, the penalty minutes are inordinate. I'm guessing he is A LOT quicker to assess 5's,10 min. misconducts and to give guys the gate than some of the others.