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Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Thiessen'sBetter said:
So now that we're officially eliminated, on to the big question: Who of Roy, Witt and Szmatula are still with us in the fall?
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Without pretending to have any inside information, here's my take:

Witt: His market value fell in direct proportion to the team's fortunes as the February Swoon took its toll. There's still a payday and a roster slot on a pro team to be had if that's what he really wants but the money isn't going to be nearly as good as it might have been pre-Beanpot and the roster spot is more likely to be in the lower rungs of the pro ladder instead of the AHL. If he elects to come back, he will no doubt be a pre-season Hobey Baker favorite along with being the starting goalie on a deeper and more experienced team that should that should be a national force to be reckoned with. And since goaltenders typically mature slower than forwards, I don't think the pros would mind the extra year. The only downside, of course, is risk of injury. If I were one of his advisors, I'd be telling him to stay put.

KRoy: He will do whatever Anaheim wants him to do. Same for Benning (Bruins) and all other drafted players.

Szmatula: The most likely of the three to leave considering that he's older while his play certainly put him on a few radars. (I don't think the swoon hurt him as much as it did KRoy.) But I'm told he's a good student who likes Boston and is content with his situation.

One thing for sure is that we'll have answers sooner rather than later.
 
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Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

beanstalk said:
I would be shocked if Szmatula left. There are not a whole lot of NHL teams banging down the doors for 5'7" players with one year of college under their belts. Both Whitney brothers played all 4 years at BC before signing as free agents. Yes, they were true freshmen who entered college at 18 instead of 21, but they still stayed well after they had shown abilities as good as, or better than, Szmatula's. Joe Whitney led the nation in assists as a freshman and won a national championship that year. He stayed three more years after that. If you've followed Szmatula's tweets this season, you would see that he is having a great time with his teammates. I doubt he even entertains leaving.

I think that the real risks are Manson and Witt leaving, since they are have more college experience and both have NHL bodies. This would leave gaping holes, particularly at goalie, where Witt was a monster. It appears that the coaching staff has been preparing for Manson to leave with all of the defensemen they have coming in next year. I don't think they could have anticipated that Witt would have such a breakout year and, besides, goalie is very tricky in terms of allotting scholarship money and playing time. If Witt leaves, then the coaching staff will be able to offer a full ride to a top goalie who knows that he can step right in and be the top guy his freshman year. But until Witt announces one way or the other, their hands are a bit tied in what they can offer a recruit. If Witt comes back, NU will be expected to finish in the top four of HE next year. If he leaves, then not much will be expected unless a five-star goalie is signed.
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I'm not going to be surprised if any of these players (Witt, Szmatula, Roy, Manson) leaves or stays. It's nice that Szmatula has been having fun with his teammates, but the promise of $$$ is a powerful tool of persuasion for these guys.

They have 3 D-men slated to join the team next year, with 3 more scheduled to arrive in 2015 according to Heisenberg's list. The team currently has 9 D-men on the roster and is only supposed to graduate 2 guys before the 2015 recruits would arrive (Manson and Lauwers). This tells me that there will be early departures and cuts for sure. I would imagine Gus Harms (who?) is gone for sure. If they want to roster 9 D-men again this season, then 2 more guys have to go. I would guess Fennell, Schecter, and Darou are the cut candidates with Manson leaving early as another possibility.

Do you know if Witt has a scholarship for sure? He was here as essentially a back-up goalie, and I don't think D1 programs are in the habit of giving scholarships to backup goalies. If he does have a scholarship, I doubt it's a full one.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Huskies of NU said:
Gus Harms (who?)
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I actually wound up talking to his (And Schecter's) junior coach one morning while waiting to watch my 10 year old cousin play in one of those fun 8 AM weekend games. It seems like they were all shocked when he decided to come to NU, and it's easy to see why considering he's nowhere near the depth chart.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

NEW GOALIE RECRUIT

6'3'' '93 born Jake Theut out of the EHL. 2.10 GAA, .935 Save % this season. Coming in next year
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

NU_Husky said:
NEW GOALIE RECRUIT

6'3'' '93 born Jake Theut out of the EHL. 2.10 GAA, .935 Save % this season. Coming in next year
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Hopefully this doesn't signify the departure of Witt and is just Mountain's replacement as a No.2/3 goalie.

Someone with more knowledge than myself, where does the EHL fit into the hierarchy of semi-pro/minor leagues?
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Also some recruit news, this from last week- Trevor Owens, a '14 Dman, was named the USPHL Defensive Player of the Year. He's the blue liner I'm most interested to see come to Huntington, I think he'll help out from Day 1.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Huskies of NU said:
I'm not going to be surprised if any of these players (Witt, Szmatula, Roy, Manson) leaves or stays. It's nice that Szmatula has been having fun with his teammates, but the promise of $$$ is a powerful tool of persuasion for these guys.

They have 3 D-men slated to join the team next year, with 3 more scheduled to arrive in 2015 according to Heisenberg's list. The team currently has 9 D-men on the roster and is only supposed to graduate 2 guys before the 2015 recruits would arrive (Manson and Lauwers). This tells me that there will be early departures and cuts for sure. I would imagine Gus Harms (who?) is gone for sure. If they want to roster 9 D-men again this season, then 2 more guys have to go. I would guess Fennell, Schecter, and Darou are the cut candidates with Manson leaving early as another possibility.

Do you know if Witt has a scholarship for sure? He was here as essentially a back-up goalie, and I don't think D1 programs are in the habit of giving scholarships to backup goalies. If he does have a scholarship, I doubt it's a full one.
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Clay Witt absolutely on a scholarship, he was brought in here to take over for Rawlings who was only supposed to stay for 1 year. He was a heavily recruited goalie.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

retsap71 said:
Clay Witt absolutely on a scholarship, he was brought in here to take over for Rawlings who was only supposed to stay for 1 year. He was a heavily recruited goalie.
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Yes, Clay Witt is on scholarships. No Clay Witt was not a heavily recruited goalie. He did not even start full time until his last year in the USHL, and was ranked something like 17th among goalies for his year. In fact, two sets of coaching staffs thought so highly of Clay Witt they started Rawlings in front of him, and wanted Gillies to take over when Rawlings did leave. Lets not re-write Clay Witt's history.

As for other guys leaving early, some guys make take the money now, some may wait until the get their class schedule in the late summer and realize its not for them anymore. I put Szmatula in that last catagory as he will now be past his freshmen year so core courses are going to start, which we all know are harder, more time consuming. Keep in mind he was not in school I think his last year in the USHL, if he was it was probably one class or so at a local junior college. Certainly not the school work load he had been used to prior to coming here. He did well enough this year I guess, but does he want to continue with it?

At least you know with the kids coming with the prep-school backround that they know how to do school work too, even if they take a year off and play a year in Juniors prior to coming here.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

So the last couple of days I have been thinking about the NCAA selection process. As the 4th and 5th place HE teams are out, and they 7th and 8th place teams are in without winning the conference tournament. Let alone that Vermont the 7th place team lost in the HE Qtrs, and 8th place Notre Dame was a lock to be in heading into the HE playoffs. What kind of system is this? Seems to me that Non-league play has move value to it than league play. If that is going to be the case, why have leagues? Or why give auto bids to leagues? Just take the top 16 PWR's. I mean the Atlantic gets an auto bid, I don't think they had a team with a PWR lower than 35, so every year they put a team in that takes away from the teams that should be there. Now this year that was Michigan, Denver took NU's spot. I'm not crying over NU not getting in, I seem to remember last year the same thing with Vermont, being in like 7th place and getting in. IN basketball they give auto bids to all D1 league champs but they take 68 teams, and if some 12-24 team wins it they make them play a play in game. Maybe its time for hockey to do the same, Have Michigan play Robert Morris Tuesday night, the winner plays Minnesota on Saturday. The upsets are part of the sport, I am not looking to get rid of those, just a tough pill to swallow when you are the 15th PWR team and Robert Morris #47 beat Canisius #45 to go. If last place Merrimack ran the table in the HE playoffs and got in, awesome for them. But when a entire conference is below the line, that kinda sucks.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

TheRevengeance said:
I'm also wondering about how I shoulld feel about the EHL.
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Its a newish league. The old EJHL got tired of losing guys to the USHL. Many good players came from the EJHL, many of them ended up at BC of late, but it was also 2nd best to USHL due to depth.

NU under the old coach used to have a decent pipeline with the Junior Bruins, this is the first NU recruit from this league since it formed this year, and from the old EJHL since Zac Stone.

Our coaches due the bulk of their recruiting within the Quebec leagues, prep leagues, and the USHL. Its where they seem to feel the most comfortable.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Huskies01 said:
Yes, Clay Witt is on scholarships. No Clay Witt was not a heavily recruited goalie. He did not even start full time until his last year in the USHL, and was ranked something like 17th among goalies for his year. In fact, two sets of coaching staffs thought so highly of Clay Witt they started Rawlings in front of him, and wanted Gillies to take over when Rawlings did leave. Lets not re-write Clay Witt's history.

As for other guys leaving early, some guys make take the money now, some may wait until the get their class schedule in the late summer and realize its not for them anymore. I put Szmatula in that last catagory as he will now be past his freshmen year so core courses are going to start, which we all know are harder, more time consuming. Keep in mind he was not in school I think his last year in the USHL, if he was it was probably one class or so at a local junior college. Certainly not the school work load he had been used to prior to coming here. He did well enough this year I guess, but does he want to continue with it?

At least you know with the kids coming with the prep-school backround that they know how to do school work too, even if they take a year off and play a year in Juniors prior to coming here.
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You never fail to amaze!
Clay Witt didn't play full time until his last year in the USHL. That is correct. That was because he was splitting the games with the Coach's son who was a pretty good goalie who led Quinnipiac to the NC$$ final against Yale. Clay could been the #1 goalie for most of the other teams in the league that year. As for his ranking, who knows and who cares at this point?

I'm curious as to whether or not you have had a conversation with Mike Szmatula where he confided in you about his academic and professional goals and plans for achieving them? Did he indicate that he wasn't enjoying his experience here, because I've heard otherwise? Are you aware of his academic record? Perhaps he's on the Dean's List. Do you have access to information that makes you believe that he can't cut it? That kind of information would be of interest to the other posters, but really shouldn't be shared, as the kids have privacy rights!
 
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Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

HHound said:
You never fail to amaze!
Clay Witt didn't play full time until his last year in the USHL. That is correct. That was because he was splitting the games with the Coach's son who was a pretty good goalie who led Quinnipiac to the NC$$ final against Yale. Clay could been the #1 goalie for most of the other teams in the league that year. As for his ranking, who knows and who cares at this point?

I'm curious as to whether or not you have had a conversation with Mike Szmatula where he confided in you about his academic and professional goals and plans for achieving them? Did he indicate that he wasn't enjoying his experience here, because I've heard otherwise? Are you aware of his academic record? Perhaps he's on the Dean's List. Do you have access to information that makes you believe that he can't cut it? That kind of information would be of interest to the other posters, but really shouldn't be shared, as the kids have privacy rights!
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So, I was right, he didnt play full time prior to coming here, so what there did i say what was wrong? I did not qualify the statement enough? There is always a reason why a kid does not start, or do well prior to coming here that is outside his control? Witt would have been the #1 goalie recruit in the country if not being held back by the coach? He didnt start, he wasnt highly recruited, even our OWN coaches went with other guys over him. Does not change that he had a great season this year.

I also did not post anything about Szmatula and school, just pointed out that core courses would start now for him. I did not share grades, classes, or anything along those lines, never he said if he could or could not cut it. Did not even infer that. Just said that sometimes when looking at a class schedule, going Pro seems to be an easier choice. He would not be the first kid to make that decision. Not a knock.

In fact, back in December/January period under your old name, YOU posted how he seemed to being do better in class then expected, or something along those lines.

Don't throw stones...
 
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Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

Huskies01 said:
So, I was right, he didnt play full time prior to coming here, so what there did i say what was wrong?

I also did not post anything about Szmatula and school, just pointed out that core courses would start now for him. I did not share grades, classes, or anything along those lines, never he said if he could or could not cut it. Did not even infer that. Just said that sometimes when looking at a class schedule, going Pro seems to be an easier choice. He would not be the first kid to make that decision. Not a knock.

In fact, back in December/January period under your old name, YOU posted how he seemed to being do better in class then expected, or something along those lines.

Don't throw stones...
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What you didn't explain that he shared goaltending duties with Eric Hartzell, who was last year's Hellebuyck. You failed to recognize the probablilty that Witt would have been the starter last season had he not been injured in preseason and taken a red-shirt. In fact, the coaches "chose" Rawlings over Mountain - not over Witt.

You reminded me that I meant to explain the name change. There was no attempt at obfuscation. For reasons that were never explained to me, all of a sudden, I found that I could no longer sign on as Ryecheers. I tried for more than a month to get the situation corrected. I never got an answer from whoever is in charge of fixing or explaining such things. Finally I registered a new name HHound (as in Huntington Hound) in order to post again.

And yes, I did post that comment about Smats getting comfortable with school. His Dad was interviewed between periods of a recent UNH game. He said nothing that contradicted what I had heard. I expect and certainly hope to see him in uniform next season.

BTW, I believe the team is having its final gathering at 2 PM today. Perhaps some news will come out of that meeting.
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

HHound said:
What you didn't explain that he shared goaltending duties with Eric Hartzell, who was last year's Hellebuyck. You failed to recognize the probablilty that Witt would have been the starter last season had he not been injured in preseason and taken a red-shirt. In fact, the coaches "chose" Rawlings over Mountain - not over Witt.

You reminded me that I meant to explain the name change. There was no attempt at obfuscation. For reasons that were never explained to me, all of a sudden, I found that I could no longer sign on as Ryecheers. I tried for more than a month to get the situation corrected. I never got an answer from whoever is in charge of fixing or explaining such things. Finally I registered a new name HHound (as in Huntington Hound) in order to post again.

And yes, I did post that comment about Smats getting comfortable with school. His Dad was interviewed between periods of a recent UNH game. He said nothing that contradicted what I had heard. I expect and certainly hope to see him in uniform next season.

BTW, I believe the team is having its final gathering at 2 PM today. Perhaps some news will come out of that meeting.
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I had the same thing happen to me. Why I changed my name name from steve66
 
Re: Northeastern Huskies 2013-14 Season Thread II: In Witt we Trust

HHound said:
What you didn't explain that he shared goaltending duties with Eric Hartzell, who was last year's Hellebuyck. You failed to recognize the probablilty that Witt would have been the starter last season had he not been injured in preseason and taken a red-shirt. In fact, the coaches "chose" Rawlings over Mountain - not over Witt.

You reminded me that I meant to explain the name change. There was no attempt at obfuscation. For reasons that were never explained to me, all of a sudden, I found that I could no longer sign on as Ryecheers. I tried for more than a month to get the situation corrected. I never got an answer from whoever is in charge of fixing or explaining such things. Finally I registered a new name HHound (as in Huntington Hound) in order to post again.

And yes, I did post that comment about Smats getting comfortable with school. His Dad was interviewed between periods of a recent UNH game. He said nothing that contradicted what I had heard. I expect and certainly hope to see him in uniform next season.
Click to expand...

Who knows what the probablity was that Witt would have replaced Rawlings in net had he not been injured? It is silly to even speculate on that. Was Witt going to start in front of Gillies had he come and Rawlings left? Who knows, but I think we all know the answer to that one. If they had such faith in Witt, why would they have even bothered spending time and effort going after Gillies? Again, does not change the season he had.

I never accused you, or retsap of hiding behind a name change. It was pretty obvious who the two of you were with the new names.

But the point remains the same. I never said that Szmats was a good or bad student. Just that with $$$ on the table, he may choose that route over a class schedule that probably gets harder now. I never accused or even hinted that he was going Chris Borque or even JJB on his school work.
 
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