Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

[17'sfanNU]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Ok, Ok, they have stuff to work on. GOOD! Will make McShane push them more and fix those issues. Middle of the week game I'm not too worried. Not to mention, Middlebury is a competitive team who have played some of the best teams very close. And sloppy or not, got the win!

Positives we can take away:

1) Another win and tough defense without Brandrup who in my opinion is one of the MVPs of the young season. He is usually a rock back there.
2) PowerPlay went 3-5!
3) Another Shorthanded goal! Gotta love that!
4) Great goals and passing on Byrne and Niezgoda goals

Negative that I can agree with and stress 100%:
STAY OUTTA THE SIN BIN! Been hurting us all year!

Agree with all that you said, especially all the Positives...just wish I had listed them along with the negatives in my last post. You are right, McShane will work out these issues and each week we will see a stronger, better team... as long as everyone can stay healthy. As an after thought, this is the cold and flu season and it is possible that more than one player was under the weather and not playing at their best due to that. When I have a cold every thing in my body slows down including my vision and energy level. Beef up the vitamins and wash your hands all the time Cadets, stay healthy!

 

[NU Pastime]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Well, a pretty poor weekend and it's pretty quiet around here.

 

[KRBFLINT03]

Well, a pretty poor weekend and it's pretty quiet around here.

Yup. I absolutely love Norwich hockey, and I've been very optimistic all season, but I think it's time to admit, by Norwich standards, we aren't very good this year. I will be pulling for a late season surge and a run through the NEHC tourney, but I fear that our problems - particularly on defense - won't be fixed overnight. I do not see an 18th straight regular season title (which is a dumb streak anyway), nor do I see an NCAA appearance. However, I'll still be either in the rink or on my couch watching every weekend, rooting like hell and hoping we catch fire.

All doom and gloom aside, we're spoiled **** rotten. Every "normal" program experiences the occasional down year. We've just been "un-normal" for so long that it's shocking to be less than dominant in the league.

Frankly, while it's not for this thread, I'm far more concerned about the direction of the women's program.

 

[Bog Hockey]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

I admire your optimism, viewing this as a "down year." What we're witnessing is a continuation of NU's struggles to recruit in an exceedingly competitive environment. Seventeen consecutive regular season championships and associated post-season success should be translating into far greater recruiting success year-after-year, but it's not necessarily working out that way, is it? Hmm, who's going to replace 22 and consistently skate alongside 20 next year? With a lack of scoring depth in its most liberal interpretation, I conservatively see a 3-5 year program decline, which will force some very uncomfortable decisions at NU.

 

[KRBFLINT03]

I admire your optimism, viewing this as a "down year." What we're witnessing is a continuation of NU's struggles to recruit in an exceedingly competitive environment. Seventeen consecutive regular season championships and associated post-season success should be translating into far greater recruiting success year-after-year, but it's not necessarily working out that way, is it? Hmm, who's going to replace 22 and consistently skate alongside 20 next year? With a lack of scoring depth in its most liberal interpretation, I conservatively see a 3-5 year program decline, which will force some very uncomfortable decisions at NU.

Ok, I'll be your Huckleberry...

2008-2009 ended at 13-8-4, with a loss in the first round of the league tourney and no NCAA trip. I heard many of the same gripes and predictions then. Remember what happened the following season? All that team had to do was replace their leading scorer. I'm not saying that is where this team is headed, I'm just stating history. Again, many people were making the same predictions then that you are now.

That being said, in college athletics, when your landscape changes you must adapt. This is true in recruiting more than in any other area. If you aren't getting the kids you used to, you better adjust your strategy.

 

[Bog Hockey]

Ok, I'll be your Huckleberry...

2008-2009 ended at 13-8-4, with a loss in the first round of the league tourney and no NCAA trip. I heard many of the same gripes and predictions then. Remember what happened the following season? All that team had to do was replace their leading scorer. I'm not saying that is where this team is headed, I'm just stating history. Again, many people were making the same predictions then that you are now.

That being said, in college athletics, when your landscape changes you must adapt. This is true in recruiting more than in any other area. If you aren't getting the kids you used to, you better adjust your strategy.

Sounds good; feedback appreciated.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Saturday was the 300th NU men's hockey game at Kreitzberg Arena since opening in 1998.

NU is 259-32-9 for a .878 winning percentage.

#nottooshabby

 

[hawk]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Saturday was the 300th NU men's hockey game at Kreitzberg Arena since opening in 1998.

NU is 259-32-9 for a .878 winning percentage.

#nottooshabby

A lot of former top D3 hockey teams like Bowdoin, Middlebury, Elmire, and some degree Oswego have struggled this year.People tell me there is a lot of things involved in D3 recruiting; ie hockey facilities, financial aid, like playing for the coach, and the cooperation with the admission office. So as an outsider it is impossible to see how a team isn't bringing in the A players. I think production is the name of the game and Norwich has very few players in the top 60 in scoring in the NEHC. For whatever reason the guys are not scoring this year.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

A lot of former top D3 hockey teams like Bowdoin, Middlebury, Elmire, and some degree Oswego have struggled this year.People tell me there is a lot of things involved in D3 recruiting; ie hockey facilities, financial aid, like playing for the coach, and the cooperation with the admission office. So as an outsider it is impossible to see how a team isn't bringing in the A players. I think production is the name of the game and Norwich has very few players in the top 60 in scoring in the NEHC. For whatever reason the guys are not scoring this year.

I think scoring was more of a first half problem without 20 and 22. The defense is what has been most concerning. When was the last time Norwich was regularly giving up 4 and 5 goals a night? It's been awhile.

Obviously without 20, the scoring took a bit of a hit against USM again. Hopefully he'll be be back soon.

Tough road trip this weekend at NEC and Saint Anselm. Lost both in 2013-14.

 

[NU Pastime]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Last season I complained that we seemed to outshoot our opponents by 20 shots a game but were in a lot of tight games, which led me to wonder if we were taking a lot of low-quality shots. But it at least suggested that we were controlling the game. Against the top teams this year (Babson, UMB, Trinity) the Cadets have been outshot (38-21 in the case of Trinity). I note this because in going through the archives from last year, I don't see a game where Norwich was outshot. In the famous Pelletier headbutt win over Babson, NU outshot the Beavers 49-19. And even in the losses to Plattsburgh, Middlebury, and Amherst, NU got more shots on goal. I'm not saying that shots on goal is the most relevant statistic in hockey, but I'm using it in regards to game control.

Admittedly, I haven't been able to watch as many games as I'd like to this year, so I keep up with alerts, write-ups, and box scores, which don't tell the whole story. But that stat seems to suggest that the Cadets are playing more on their heals this year. Perhaps that's due to softer defense, but it also suggests that the offense isn't creating the pressure that they did in the past, which puts the defense on its heals more. In the past few years, maybe our best defense was our strong offense, which has been hurting this year (literally and figuratively).

 

[PuckVoice]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Two things to consider ...
#1 ... Norwich losing three of arguably the top ten defensemen in the league ... Thieda, Currier, Hale ... going into this season was a huge obstacle to overcome ... how much better did those three guys make this team in all areas of the ice the last few seasons?
#2 ... It now costs about $50,000 per year to attend Norwich ... when you are recruiting blue chip talent ... especially blue chip Canadian talent (Have you looked at the value of the Canadian dollar lately?) ... that is a huge number! Schools like the SUNYAC's, the Wisconsin State schools, and others can often get those same kids into school for about half the cost. So where do you suppose those kids are going?

 

[bakdraft21]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Two things to consider ...
#1 ... Norwich losing three of arguably the top ten defensemen in the league ... Thieda, Currier, Hale ... going into this season was a huge obstacle to overcome ... how much better did those three guys make this team in all areas of the ice the last few seasons?
#2 ... It now costs about $50,000 per year to attend Norwich ... when you are recruiting blue chip talent ... especially blue chip Canadian talent (Have you looked at the value of the Canadian dollar lately?) ... that is a huge number! Schools like the SUNYAC's, the Wisconsin State schools, and others can often get those same kids into school for about half the cost. So where do you suppose those kids are going?

well I know from some good sources that the canadian dollar .69/us dollar today is hurting some SUNYAC schools as well,I know tuition to Oswego is about 22k, then if you add on out of state I think?? it may be another 10k,so not a walk in the park for these teams as well.Ill try and get my father to donate more cash to Norwich the next time he goes back for a reunion,not many left in his class to meet up with

 

[bakdraft21]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Hey Prez off topic but my dad was very happy to see his football cleats,jersey and pic in one of the last issues of the Norwich magazine, not sure if you were involved but tell whomever thanks,,p.s we may have to make a family trip to see the Oswego game next yr,can you get us seats as far away from each other so we dont fight it out in the stands...what date is that???

 

[KRBFLINT03]

Two things to consider ...
#1 ... Norwich losing three of arguably the top ten defensemen in the league ... Thieda, Currier, Hale ... going into this season was a huge obstacle to overcome ... how much better did those three guys make this team in all areas of the ice the last few seasons?
#2 ... It now costs about $50,000 per year to attend Norwich ... when you are recruiting blue chip talent ... especially blue chip Canadian talent (Have you looked at the value of the Canadian dollar lately?) ... that is a huge number! Schools like the SUNYAC's, the Wisconsin State schools, and others can often get those same kids into school for about half the cost. So where do you suppose those kids are going?

You're only looking at sticker price, not actual cost. Norwich is extremely affordable as compared to similarly-priced schools. By the way, Babson is over $10,000 more than Norwich to start.

 

[Roy]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Hey Prez off topic but my dad was very happy to see his football cleats,jersey and pic in one of the last issues of the Norwich magazine, not sure if you were involved but tell whomever thanks,,p.s we may have to make a family trip to see the Oswego game next yr,can you get us seats as far away from each other so we dont fight it out in the stands...what date is that???

I also have been wandering about the team and what is different this year. They seem lost on the ice a lot compared to previous years. I have to tell you that one of my thoughts that nobody seems to mention here is, how much did Corry the asst. coach have to do with the team being successful year in and year out. I know it has been a couple of years, but one really has to wander how much his not being there is now affecting them. It's nice to have previous players coaching and all, but how much are we really getting out of that? I know when you listen to Corry with George , he knows his hockey. I can watch the same game and just not see what he is seeing. It is very hard to replace experience. And clearly there is that little something that is missing now. They probably should have lost the game to Maine, one of the worst teams in the league. I Where is the team that beat Plattsburgh so handily? It also seems to me that when 20 is on the ice, and he is by far the best player to watch, the rest of the team seems to stop playing and do what ever they can to get him the puck. It just all is very Un Norwich like. Hope for a good rest of the season, but they don't stand a chance with Babson and U Mass the way they are playing right now. Maybe they can only get up for the really big games, that would be nice.

 

[Toe Blake's Brother]

Two things to consider ...
#1 ... Norwich losing three of arguably the top ten defensemen in the league ... Thieda, Currier, Hale ... going into this season was a huge obstacle to overcome ... how much better did those three guys make this team in all areas of the ice the last few seasons?
#2 ... It now costs about $50,000 per year to attend Norwich ... when you are recruiting blue chip talent ... especially blue chip Canadian talent (Have you looked at the value of the Canadian dollar lately?) ... that is a huge number! Schools like the SUNYAC's, the Wisconsin State schools, and others can often get those same kids into school for about half the cost. So where do you suppose those kids are going?

Reference the Canadian talent going to Wisconsin state schools, the rosters show: UWSP-4 players, UWRF-0 players, UWEC-1 player, UW Stout-2 players, UW Superior-5 players. Based upon what I can find, it looks like Norwich currently has 8 Canadian players.

 

[hawk]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

I think scoring was more of a first half problem without 20 and 22. The defense is what has been most concerning. When was the last time Norwich was regularly giving up 4 and 5 goals a night? It's been awhile.

Obviously without 20, the scoring took a bit of a hit against USM again. Hopefully he'll be be back soon.

Tough road trip this weekend at NEC and Saint Anselm. Lost both in 2013-14.

In reference to St. A's have they officially filed to change the program from D2 to D3. Sullivan Arena at St. A's is one of the most exciting places to watch college hockey on a Friday night.

With Norwich's second semester starting late any D1 transfers coming to Norwich. They could use a couple of experienced D men Norwich has had success in the past bring in top players mid term (remember Rick Cleaver}.

 

[NU Pastime]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

We've discussed the price of tuition before on this board, but I'm just not buying it (no pun intended). Every private liberal arts school has absurd sticker price tags now, especially the Trinitys and Amhersts of the world. Public schools also haven't escaped the inflated cost of tuition, particularly for out-of-state students. Plus, Norwich cost $40,000+ a year when I enrolled in 2009 (Thank you, taxpayers of America, for paying my tuition), and my class advanced to four straight Frozen Fours and won a national championship.

Before I buy into blaming systemic issues for the downfall of Norwich hockey, I think KRB is right: it's a down year. I think there needs to be a hard look at the program and adjustments, but this is going to be the first time in nearly two decades that Norwich won't win their regular season conference championship. Translation: We're not far removed from the "standard" of success.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Hey Prez off topic but my dad was very happy to see his football cleats,jersey and pic in one of the last issues of the Norwich magazine, not sure if you were involved but tell whomever thanks,,p.s we may have to make a family trip to see the Oswego game next yr,can you get us seats as far away from each other so we dont fight it out in the stands...what date is that???

The Northfield Savings Bank Tournament will be Dec. 30 and 31st next year in Northfield.

Oswego vs. Williams and Norwich vs. Nazareth are matchups.

 

[pete99race]

Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....

Reference the Canadian talent going to Wisconsin state schools, the rosters show: UWSP-4 players, UWRF-0 players, UWEC-1 player, UW Stout-2 players, UW Superior-5 players. Based upon what I can find, it looks like Norwich currently has 8 Canadian players.

St. Norbert has four Canadians and one Swede, and 23 American players on their roster this season.