PSUChamps2001
Member of the REAL Zoo Crew
Re: Norwich 2015-16 - 17 straight ECAC East titles and counting....
I don't really have a dog in this fight, but your brought up Plattsburgh ( or Plattsburg for some of you folks ) and them not doing the Middlebury collapse. Middlebury is a great academic and athletic school with long history. To say that they are "collapsing" is a tad unfair. Because of Middlebury, NESCAC schools and DIII in general have had to step up their game.
I will reference SUNY. Plattsburgh for years benifited from being one of the few SUNYAC schools to offer $$$ FA packages. They had a top notch athletic complex and everything that goes with it. The school, while not a NESCAC, isn't one of the worse schools but not the best either. Plattsburgh for many years dominated the SUNYAC. Fredonia had a couple year run with a great player (or 2), Potsdam had a year(s) but for the most part Plattsburgh was the team, you're right.
Having said that three things have happened:
1. Expansion of the pool - More teams have stepped up and started recruiting out of the same pool as your top teams have been for years cause them to look elsewhere for the diamond in the rough. More teams, more players needed, less players and or harder to get said players to your school.
2. Financial Aid - More teams and schools in general have went this route. Back in the mid 90's say 1/4 of the teams in DIII offered large FA packages to international students. Today that number seems to have grown. The SUNYAC has seen those numbers grow, and the teams have improved. Yes it's not all about the money, but it surely helps. It's also funny how teams that have recently struggled have lost their Aid as well. Coincidence?
3. Growth of US Junior programs - Years ago the OPJHL was more the king of DIII. The US based Junior leagues was almost mocked at. Now days you are getting quality players out of the US leagues just as much as Canadian leagues. So thus, the #2 is not as effective anymore when you get get more US born players to fill a team.
Just talking Plattsburgh again...
1. Expansion - Plattsburgh has lost players to other teams...teams that were not around 20 years ago. Fact.
2. Financial Aid - Plattsburgh had its FA dramatically reduced a few years back. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out what years those were and when it was raised back up. And along with #1, with other teams offering these packages, Plattsburgh has lost out on other kids as well.
3. US Junior teams - I will say American players in general here too - Over 50 % of Plattsburgh's returning roster is American. Unheard of 15 years ago when only 1/3 was American. With most coming from the Canadian Junior leagues.
I don't really have a dog in this fight, but your brought up Plattsburgh ( or Plattsburg for some of you folks ) and them not doing the Middlebury collapse. Middlebury is a great academic and athletic school with long history. To say that they are "collapsing" is a tad unfair. Because of Middlebury, NESCAC schools and DIII in general have had to step up their game.
I will reference SUNY. Plattsburgh for years benifited from being one of the few SUNYAC schools to offer $$$ FA packages. They had a top notch athletic complex and everything that goes with it. The school, while not a NESCAC, isn't one of the worse schools but not the best either. Plattsburgh for many years dominated the SUNYAC. Fredonia had a couple year run with a great player (or 2), Potsdam had a year(s) but for the most part Plattsburgh was the team, you're right.
Having said that three things have happened:
1. Expansion of the pool - More teams have stepped up and started recruiting out of the same pool as your top teams have been for years cause them to look elsewhere for the diamond in the rough. More teams, more players needed, less players and or harder to get said players to your school.
2. Financial Aid - More teams and schools in general have went this route. Back in the mid 90's say 1/4 of the teams in DIII offered large FA packages to international students. Today that number seems to have grown. The SUNYAC has seen those numbers grow, and the teams have improved. Yes it's not all about the money, but it surely helps. It's also funny how teams that have recently struggled have lost their Aid as well. Coincidence?
3. Growth of US Junior programs - Years ago the OPJHL was more the king of DIII. The US based Junior leagues was almost mocked at. Now days you are getting quality players out of the US leagues just as much as Canadian leagues. So thus, the #2 is not as effective anymore when you get get more US born players to fill a team.
Just talking Plattsburgh again...
1. Expansion - Plattsburgh has lost players to other teams...teams that were not around 20 years ago. Fact.
2. Financial Aid - Plattsburgh had its FA dramatically reduced a few years back. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out what years those were and when it was raised back up. And along with #1, with other teams offering these packages, Plattsburgh has lost out on other kids as well.
3. US Junior teams - I will say American players in general here too - Over 50 % of Plattsburgh's returning roster is American. Unheard of 15 years ago when only 1/3 was American. With most coming from the Canadian Junior leagues.
