What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Nescac 2016-17

Re: Nescac 2016-17

Out of conference, Tufts finds itself in what should be a very competitive invitational tournament at Endicott this weekend. They face a pretty solid Plymouth State team (6-4-1) in the opener and Endicott and Neumann both are on impressive rolls. Should be a tough test for the Jumbos coming off nearly a month long layoff. Could be interesting.
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

It's been years since I was a regular on here...seeing some old familiar names and lots of new ones.

Would love to hear more about what's going on (and going wrong?) at Middlebury. On the ice struggles over past several years, attendance not nearly what it had been, etc. While you can't really set aside this year, is it that others have become much more competitive, that Middlebury has lost its edge, something else?
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

MikeMidd said:
It's been years since I was a regular on here...seeing some old familiar names and lots of new ones.

Would love to hear more about what's going on (and going wrong?) at Middlebury. On the ice struggles over past several years, attendance not nearly what it had been, etc. While you can't really set aside this year, is it that others have become much more competitive, that Middlebury has lost its edge, something else?
Click to expand...

Recruiting has been off at Middlebury for an extended time period. Perhaps there has been an undisclosed decision to de-emphasize hockey (and to emphasize basketball). The uptick in the basketball team's performance has coincided with the slippage in the hockey team's performance . .
 
Last edited:
Re: Nescac 2016-17

d3follower said:
Recruiting has been off at Middlebury for an extended time period. Perhaps there has been an undisclosed decision to de-emphasize hockey (and to emphasize basketball). The uptick in the basketball team's performance has coincided with the slippage in the hockey team's performance . .
Click to expand...

The Middlebury programs slippage started with the ugly lawsuit filed by Jak Knelman against Bill Beaney and Middlebury College over his dismissal from the team.The team has been in tailspin since
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

eddieshack23 said:
The Middlebury programs slippage started with the ugly lawsuit filed by Jak Knelman against Bill Beaney and Middlebury College over his dismissal from the team.The team has been in tailspin since
Click to expand...

The 2011 Knelman lawsuit seemed to be symptomatic of ongoing problems rather than the cause although the slippage greatly accelerated after the lawsuit was filed.
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

MikeMidd said:
It's been years since I was a regular on here...seeing some old familiar names and lots of new ones.

Would love to hear more about what's going on (and going wrong?) at Middlebury. On the ice struggles over past several years, attendance not nearly what it had been, etc. While you can't really set aside this year, is it that others have become much more competitive, that Middlebury has lost its edge, something else?
Click to expand...

you aren't kidding on a name from the past...
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

d3follower said:
Recruiting has been off at Middlebury for an extended time period. Perhaps there has been an undisclosed decision to de-emphasize hockey (and to emphasize basketball). The uptick in the basketball team's performance has coincided with the slippage in the hockey team's performance . .
Click to expand...

Was thinking about basketball, which has certainly taken off after having been historically one of Middlebury's weakest sports. Strange to de-emphasise hockey after having built the rink, been such a powerhouse programme, etc. It does stand out that we're only listing one asst coach now, whereas Middlebury used to have two or three (and sometimes a graduate assistant, I think?).

On recruiting, it seemed during my time (1997-2001) we shifted from a fair number of Canadians with some prep schoolers and a couple non-North Americans to being more heavily prep school focused. It felt like Middlebury was getting the cream of the DIII crop from places like Taft, Choate, Hotchkiss. Has that changed significantly?

d3follower said:
The 2011 Knelman lawsuit seemed to be symptomatic of ongoing problems rather than the cause although the slippage greatly accelerated after the lawsuit was filed.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I'd been assuming it was other changes since then...
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

MikeMidd said:
Was thinking about basketball, which has certainly taken off after having been historically one of Middlebury's weakest sports. Strange to de-emphasise hockey after having built the rink, been such a powerhouse programme, etc. It does stand out that we're only listing one asst coach now, whereas Middlebury used to have two or three (and sometimes a graduate assistant, I think?).

On recruiting, it seemed during my time (1997-2001) we shifted from a fair number of Canadians with some prep schoolers and a couple non-North Americans to being more heavily prep school focused. It felt like Middlebury was getting the cream of the DIII crop from places like Taft, Choate, Hotchkiss. Has that changed significantly?



Interesting. I'd been assuming it was other changes since then...
Click to expand...

The take-off year for bball at Midd was 2007-08 -- that is when the Panthers started to show up in the NCAAs every year and to put together really good teams. The turn around was all engineered by the same coach who had previously presided over middle-of-the-road bball teams who never made it to the NCAAs so likely due to a major change in recruiting.

The last year Midd captured first place in the NESCAC in hockey for the regular season was 2006-07 (tied with Bowdoin for first). There were strong finishes in the next 3 years (second place) but after that it was third place, then fourth, then seventh, and then fifth last year.

Based on that history, my sense is that the Knelman situation reinforced and accelerated a trend that was already underway.

IMO, it is easier to build and maintain a basketball power in the NESCAC. The numbers are significantly smaller and there are not the problems associated with junior hockey of older-than-average athletes. I would guess that the Middlebury administration quietly decided that bball should be the no. 1 winter sport. That's what it feels like anyway.

Middlebury is generally prep school focused in its recruiting in recent years although there are still a few products of Canadian junior hockey in the mix . .
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

I think there are two other factors, outside of Midd's control, that also came to the fore during that period of time.

First was the ECAC West / NESCAC final split. This isn't a major factor, but it required all the teams to play a greater diversity of teams. Including more lower ranked teams. Beanies' system was unusual and learning it required more time and effort on the part of the players. Having an array of mid-ranked to poor teams to play gave Middlebury practice time.

The more important one was the other NESCAC teams, especially teams like Tufts and Conn College, improved their recruiting. There were more and better players available to them. They got better. This left a Midd playing a smaller, and tighter, group of teams. And the coaching style never adapted. So when your team has the attitude of "It's just the Jumbos", and then they blow you out 6-0 on the opening game of the season, it sets a tone you may have difficulty overcoming.

And now you have a new coach, trying to restart from an interesting place. But getting the team to play the way they did last night against Norwich, will be an interesting coaching challenge.
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

Trinity thoroughly outplayed Colby last night in every department but goaltending. Sean Lawrence had 39 saves on 40 shots. The Mules had 10 penalties for 20 minutes, but won it 3-1 with two short-handed goals. Trinity's goal was also a shorty, breaking up the shutout late in the game. The Bantams forechecking was very impressive, making it difficult for Colby to get out of their own end and get anything started on offense. I expect Bowdoin to get thrashed, this afternoon. Colby/Wesleyan is a toss up, unless Lawrence gets the start. However, I think Tucci still deserves a look. He got Colby to where they were before the break. First time in a long time Colby has had a goalie competition - a positive one, that is.
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

Nescac race is really heating up. Last nights Amherst-Hamilton game was a thriller ending in OT on a beautiful goal by Thomas Lindstrom. Key matchup this afternoon Colby at Williams
 
Re: Nescac 2016-17

Stephen Klein played brilliantly in goal this afternoon for Middlebury as the Panthers showed heart for 60 minutes in a win 5-1 over Bowdoin. They have a couple of very promising Freshman as well. Sign of good things to come? Fingers very much crossed.
 
minnesotan in vermont said:
Stephen Klein played brilliantly in goal this afternoon for Middlebury as the Panthers showed heart for 60 minutes in a win 5-1 over Bowdoin. They have a couple of very promising Freshman as well. Sign of good things to come? Fingers very much crossed.
Click to expand...

Having watched Middlebury take Norwich to OT twice this season, it's baffling that this was the Panthers' first win this season. They are way more talented than their 1-13-2 record indicates.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top