The game opened with a Panther powerplay, as Colby was assessed a protocol violation for being late coming on ice....
Wow! How late were they that they were assessed a penalty? Any explanation for why they were late? That type of penalty is usually on the coach....
One week in the books and probably as many questions as answers from the first weekend of regular season NESCAC play. As always, insight from anyone on the scene would be helpful.
Is Amherst better than I thought or is Hamilton in for a really long season?
Time to throw confetti for the Middlebury 1st years (lots of ice time and contributions in Waterville)?
Will Colby build on a feisty series hosting the Panthers?
Camel Cool-Aide (again)?
Can the Bantams succeed with such a lean burn offense?
Are the Cardinals ready for more than a battle for 8th or do they just have the Ephs number?
Is Williams really a run and gun team or will the defense settle down?
Where will the Polar Bears be when they start their NESCAC home stretch in January?
One week in the books and probably as many questions as answers from the first weekend of regular season NESCAC play. As always, insight from anyone on the scene would be helpful.
Is Amherst better than I thought or is Hamilton in for a really long season?
Time to throw confetti for the Middlebury 1st years (lots of ice time and contributions in Waterville)?
Will Colby build on a feisty series hosting the Panthers?
Camel Cool-Aide (again)?
Can the Bantams succeed with such a lean burn offense?
Are the Cardinals ready for more than a battle for 8th or do they just have the Ephs number?
Is Williams really a run and gun team or will the defense settle down?
Where will the Polar Bears be when they start their NESCAC home stretch in January?
Amherst a little better than Hamilton seems about right. Won't really know about them until Panther/Cardinal classic.
Middlebury is good, regardless of freshmen
Colby should be better - know more after this weekend's grudge match - can't take 4 checking penalties in first period very often and win
Connecticut - may take time for freshman to gel - looks like it didn't happen this weekend
Trinity got the job done - status check after next weekend
Wesleyan can win a couple Friday games, but won't be competitive Saturday with such a short bench - Williams win seems like a combination of first game and goaltending
Williams - not sure that 5 goals in 2 games gives concern for defense (although it is Wesleyan) - missing at least one good D over weekend (injury?).
Wasn't at any games this weekend, but watched the two Conn/Trinity games on video. Trinity appears much more aggressive in the offensive zone than last year, got 45 shots on Friday, and should have won, but Conn tender came up big in some critical occasions. If they keep getting that many shots they'll get more goals. Conn plays hard and physical, but a lot of the play seemed to be in their end. They took a lot of penalties, which seems to be their "style". Trinity lost Shannon Farrell for several weeks to a broken wrist on a cheap shot from behind; should have been a major because of the severity and injury, but was called a minor. About what you expect from the NIHOA officials we see in NESCAC games.
Agree on the officiating...was pretty inconsistent in both games....
Didn't see this supposed "cheap shot" and tend to doubt it happened like you said [if it's the play I'm thinking of, the D was just keeping her goalie from getting run after the whistle]. By the by, both teams took a ton of penalties [actually I think Trinity had more in total than CC]...Either their PP is terrible or CC's man-down is great..one or the other. In any case, I thought both goalies played great, especially in game #1 [though whoever kept the stats vastly over-counted the SOG for both teams so I wouldn't go by those #'s].
Bantams had more speed and better passing esp in game #2...However, disagree about more of the play being in CC end of the rink [and shots bear that out]. The difference was when CC was on offence, they don't do much with or without the puck. Too much standing around and taking shots from bad angles into traffic while the points were wide open. Had they started firing from the points, #15 and #18 would have put a few in [or scored on rebounds].
Wasn't at any games this weekend, but watched the two Conn/Trinity games on video. Trinity appears much more aggressive in the offensive zone than last year, got 45 shots on Friday, and should have won, but Conn tender came up big in some critical occasions. If they keep getting that many shots they'll get more goals. Conn plays hard and physical, but a lot of the play seemed to be in their end. They took a lot of penalties, which seems to be their "style". Trinity lost Shannon Farrell for several weeks to a broken wrist on a cheap shot from behind; should have been a major because of the severity and injury, but was called a minor. About what you expect from the NIHOA officials we see in NESCAC games.
I was there, wasn't a cheap shot, good aggressive pinch by defenseman, tie getting to puck. IMHO refs don'tusually have time to check injury report before making call and it really didn't look that bad.
Since no one has sent me any funds to influence my predictions (like if you want your team to win, I should pick you to lose) here goes:
Middlebury sweeps Trinity on the Kenyon big ice
Amherst sweeps Wesleyan
Conn College (Camel Cool-Aide version) sweeps Hamilton
Bowdoin gets ambushed by Colby and they split
Williams beats Utica and plays Elmira surprisingly close
If I may jump in:
Amherst sweeps Wesleyan
Conn Coll and Hamilton split
Bowdoin takes both from Colby
Williams gets edged by Utica, beat up by Elmira
Trinity ties one game and loses the other with Middlebury
