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Nescac 2009/2010

N

neverplayed

Registered User
Is it me or does it look like Amherst and Middlebury have separated themselves from the rest of the NESCAC pack with outstanding recruiting classes? I see the conference more balanced than ever with the exception of those two. Middlebury will be back in the championship hunt unless they get stoned by the Amherst goalies in the playoffs. Traditionally weak sisters like Wsly, Conn and Hamilton will all be better and Colby has to improve, so race for playoff spots will be intense.:
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Williams was very good last year, I wonder if thier coach can lead at that level. His reputation seems to be mixed. I expect they will be a playoff team, but not likely to win it all.
 
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One NCAA bid or two?

Unless you get a runaway winner who loses in the conference final, one.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Robert Rogers said:
I wonder when a Norwich fan will come in and declare that Middlebury has already won the league.
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I got the feeling that Middlebury and Amherst are going to contest the NESCAC title to the end of the year. With the facilities at Middlebury and top flight coaching staff you got to figure Middlebury will have the edge again. Goaltending was the big difference last year. However, Bowdoin, Trinity, Williams, and Hamilton have all improved so the NESCAC will be very competitive again. Both Middlebury and Amherst had good recruiting classes so these two teams will be interesting to watch.

With the new facility at Bowdoin a lot of fans are waiting for that program to make a move too.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Well Robert it didn't take long to get a bite :D :D :D


hawk said:
I got the feeling that Middlebury and Amherst are going to contest the NESCAC title to the end of the year. With the facilities at Middlebury and top flight coaching staff you got to figure Middlebury will have the edge again. Goaltending was the big difference last year. However, Bowdoin, Trinity, Williams, and Hamilton have all improved so the NESCAC will be very competitive again. Both Middlebury and Amherst had good recruiting classes so these two teams will be interesting to watch.

With the new facility at Bowdoin a lot of fans are waiting for that program to make a move too.
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it'll definitly be Amherst and Middlebury in the NESCAC Championship game.

As a side note does anyone think Hamilton has a shot at doing anything this year within their division? any predictions on how they are going to do?
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Pioneers#1 said:
it'll definitly be Amherst and Middlebury in the NESCAC Championship game.

As a side note does anyone think Hamilton has a shot at doing anything this year within their division? any predictions on how they are going to do?
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What makes you so confident about Amherst's chances?

Sure they still have their goalie tandem but they lost some key players on offense and defense. I think Amherst slips back down this year and Middlebury runs away with it with the usual suspects of Bowdoin and Colby competing for the second and third spots.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

The general feeling is a more skilled team this year. Yes Landers ( player of the year Dlll) graduated, but with a Dl transfer, veteran returning from injury, and a very solid recruiting year maybe the D are deeper and more skilled overall.
Upfront , no doubt more skilled and more offensive.
Unless one of the goalies gets injured or key personnel got lost at http://www.dailycollegian.com/news/annual-extravaganja-festival-comes-to-amherst-common-1.1731403 all should be ok
Win or lose...how bad can it be to play hockey in a town that legalizes pot for a day every year? Hell, high socialist hockey, almost like being in Canada. What's next health care???
with the usual suspects of Bowdoin and Colby competing for the second and third spots.
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Bowdoin will have to solve goaltending and Colby will have to leapfrog Williams and Hamilton, both of whom finished ahead of the Mules and will be improved
 
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Re: Nescac 2009/2010

PrezdeJohnson09 said:
What makes you so confident about Amherst's chances?

Sure they still have their goalie tandem but they lost some key players on offense and defense. I think Amherst slips back down this year and Middlebury runs away with it with the usual suspects of Bowdoin and Colby competing for the second and third spots.
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What makes me so confident? Well,Yes they lost some key players on both offense and defense but remember Coaching is what makes the players.They still have last years coaching and over the past seasons they've been the top competetior with Bowdoin and colby and middlebury.Its just my opinion of how things are going to work out and my opinion because of how the previous seasons have playerd out.I do agree though that it'll be colby and Bowdoin who fight for the 2nd and 3rd spots within the divison.

So like i previously asked,Any predictions on how Hamilton will do in the NESCAC this year?
 
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I assume Hamilton will be better because they have a new young coach from a great program and this is his first recruiting class. That being said, they have a lot of ground to make up, so making the playoffs would be a positive move. Conn College and Trinity are both much improved over the last two years and I expect that trend to continue. Colby is still another year away, they should be better next year. Bowdoin, has the players on paper, but team speed and goaltending held them back last year, they should be better because they are always strong, but they need to make a lot of changes to keep up with Middlebury and Amherst. Even Wesleyan will be much better this year, the transfer from Skidmore can play. The only team that is weak is Tufts. Years ago, this conference was not nearly as balanced as it is today. Should be an exciting year of terrific hockey.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Thank you very much Neverplayed. :)

I think Hamilton is going to be a very serious threat this year in the NESCAC.last season Hamilton came on their usual tuesday night to utica every year,and over the years of Hamilton and Utica playing each other,Utica by far has had the better record,and let me tell you i thought that Utica would win maybe 4-2 or 5-2 or some score along those lines,but not last season!.Hamilton was so good with their defense and PK and Goltending utica was EXTREAMLY lucky to tie them 3-3.(by the way Utica trailed the entire game and only scored the tieing goal with under 1:30 left in regulation play).Utica has always done extreamly good against Hamilton and with way Hamilton did against Utica last season,I think that Hamilton defeating Utica next year may not be able to be ruled out yeat.And thats not to say how good they will be against NESCAC teams.
 
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I must admit I did not see Hamilton play last season. I don't think they are ready to win the NESCAC yet but as I said I imagine they will be better mostly because they have a young coach who comes from a program that plays "the new game", a fast up tempo speed game. BU last year showed that even an oder coach can adapt to that type of game. Now to play that type of game you need to recruit the guys with the skill to play that way. I looked at their recruit list for Hamilton, and a canadian who is 5' 9" from the OPJHL probably will be that type of player. They also recruited a lot of D men, hopefully they bring speed and puck movement. When I see the 6' 2" 210lb D men at the DIII level for the most part that team will be slow, because if that player with that size:D had real talent they wouldn't be in DIII. Almost always it's because they are slow. So if you are a Hamilton fan watch for that. I think Middlebury has the fastest team in the league one of the reason's I look for them to be the team to beat.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Pioneers#1 said:
Thank you very much Neverplayed. :)

I think Hamilton is going to be a very serious threat this year in the NESCAC.last season Hamilton came on their usual tuesday night to utica every year,and over the years of Hamilton and Utica playing each other,Utica by far has had the better record,and let me tell you i thought that Utica would win maybe 4-2 or 5-2 or some score along those lines,but not last season!.Hamilton was so good with their defense and PK and Goltending utica was EXTREAMLY lucky to tie them 3-3.(by the way Utica trailed the entire game and only scored the tieing goal with under 1:30 left in regulation play).Utica has always done extreamly good against Hamilton and with way Hamilton did against Utica last season,I think that Hamilton defeating Utica next year may not be able to be ruled out yeat.And thats not to say how good they will be against NESCAC teams.
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umm by a "far better record" you mean 3-2-2?
 
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I never said that Hamilton was going to wina NESCAC championship i just mean that they are getting good fast and that very soon they will be as much as a threat as maybe middleburry or amherst in the divison.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Pioneers#1 said:
it'll definitly be Amherst and Middlebury in the NESCAC Championship game.
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Let's not bother playing the regular season and the two first rounds of the playoffs, then. :D

Seriously, I think the NESCAC race will once again be tight. Trinity has some young talent, which will only get better, and solid goaltending. Colby will be improved as their fine young players mature. Hamilton should benefit from a young coach with Division I experience.

Bowdoin had an off year (for Bowdoin), finishing in sixth place and losing to Williams in OT in the NESCAC playoffs, but returns its top six scorers and nine of the top ten. In fact, The Polar Bears have only lost two regular players (Mike Collins and Matt Smith). They will have a good sophomore class and a strong group of freshmen. If they can resolve their goaltending problems, and seniors like Mike Corbelle, Colin MacCormick and Ryan Blossom play up to their potential, they should contend.

Obviously, Middlebury is the team to beat, but I'm not convinced that Amherst is in the same class, and definitely not Williams.
 
Re: Nescac 2009/2010

Euler, you are right about Bowdoin, they are always strong, again their top recruit from Exeter will score but he too is not fleet afoot, Middlebury is really fast, and Amherst will be in every game because of their goaltending. Trinity and Conn College also have great goaltending. Should be another great season in a conference with true student-athletes.
 
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NESCAC will be a battle. Not sure how Midd ends up as the favorite in many prognosticators sheets....too many questions to be answered. Several teams, Midd and Amherst, need to have leadership step up with the graduation of Landers, Covelli, Graddock and McKenna...who's it gonna be??

Trinity was very young and inconsistent last season, losing to Conn both times and getting dropped by SMC and then dominating Midd...look for improvement there and to be a factor in the final standings. Colby has to improve, only graduating 4 after winning but 6 games, although I give Trinity the edge in coaching. Bowdoin always baffles me......somehow lacking a championship "gene". I didn't see much positive happening at Hammy in 2 games at the end of the '09 season so recruits will be key.

Tufts had a few bright spots last season with 3 high-scoring Sophs but need some depth. Conn is always solid but still lacks the horses to be competitive at the top but with 7 recruits, including a few high-point forwards, they could have an impact on final standings and playoffs. They have some playoff experience now and this helps.

Most interesting will be seeing how well NESCAC continues to compete with other conferences where recruits are predominantly players with significant junior experience.
 
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