Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

[Old Rook NU'66]

I sure hope we get another shot at Hobart. But for my eyes, they look stronger and quicker to the puck. I hope I am wrong , but if Hobart plays like that every game , we could very well be looking at this seasons Champs. They remind me of Norwich. They never quit, most often first to the puck and very fast plus they are strong. They were beating Norwich D a lot , Friday night. Braden seems to be really really good until scored upon, then can often go down hill from there. Hobart will be tough for Norwich to beat , no matter where they play them , if Hobart plays the same next meeting. But lets hope Norwich "never quit" attitude pulls them to another crown. Go Cadets!!

Against Hobart the Cadets were snake bite in that first minute and a half of the 2nd period...and they kept NU off balance for the rest of the period. Statically, it became a game decided by one goal...shots on goal were all but even as were the number penalties. A big difference was Hobart's ability to convert two penalties into scores while NU came up empty on in its three tries.

Everyone has acknowledged that this team has been transitioning all season into a mature team. And in past, at this point of the season, fans would be talking about how we are "peaking at just the right time."

It's pretty clear that we're not there yet...but I am also not ready to toss in the towel and wish Hobart best wishes in their quest for the NCAA crown. NU prof is right...UMass took Hobart down twice just as both Babson and Skidmore have split their two games against HC this season. On the flip side, against those same three teams in six games, NU is 5-0-1. And if we are to move on to the NCAA playoffs, I would much rather see a rematch with Hobart than have anyone else do our work for us. In this decade we've seen UMass and Babson deliver great seasons versus NU...now it's Hobart's turn. But nothing has been decided and there is both the time and opportunity for the boys.

Norwich will give a good showing during the playoffs. What's more we already know we have some seasoned youngsters for our future. Go Cadets.

 

[nascoo]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

Hobart game - NU was simply sloppy. Senior goalie let in 4 of 15 shots an one was a dozy. Great comeback in 3rd period, Hobart makes for a great game
and thought that game could have gone either way. We had our chances and did not convert on power play. Skidmore goalie is down right scary dude.
He can steal a game any night.

 

[Roy]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

Well I hope your right in your prediction for the play offs. I just thought that Hobart controlled most of the game and it just didn't look like the Cadets could keep up with them. Maybe it was just because Braden was sloppy and having a bad game. Is it just me or does he run hot and cold? I thought he played better last year than this year. Once he gets scored on , things seem unsettled with him. I was really wishing that he could be the best goalie the team has had to date. If he can find his game, really soon, they then may have a chance. I still think Hobart is a fun team to watch, hat,s off to them for playing so well against the Cadets. They are like the Eagles/Patriots, just hit em while they are down. By the way can you imagine if the Patriots had one with those two questionable touch downs? Social media would have been on fire. Us Pats fans would have never heard the end of it. But so many people hate the Pats, you never heard much about the touch downs.

 

[Old Rook NU'66]

Well I hope your right in your prediction for the play offs. I just thought that Hobart controlled most of the game and it just didn't look like the Cadets could keep up with them. Maybe it was just because Braden was sloppy and having a bad game. Is it just me or does he run hot and cold? I thought he played better last year than this year. Once he gets scored on , things seem unsettled with him. I was really wishing that he could be the best goalie the team has had to date. If he can find his game, really soon, they then may have a chance. I still think Hobart is a fun team to watch, hat,s off to them for playing so well against the Cadets. They are like the Eagles/Patriots, just hit em while they are down.

Hobart versus NU is riding a hot hand...no question about that. Braden had a perfect 16-0 season in 2016/17 and while now well behind the curve...he hasn't been helped by an offense that is delivering over one goal less per game against NEHC opponents than they were scoring last year. That combined with NU now giving up over 10 minutes in penalties each outing also has made him a bigger target. BTY...Someone remarked about how hot a hand the Skidmore goalie had last weekend versus NU. The weekend before in our 2-1 win over USM, third string goalie Steve D'uvso **** near shut down NU's offense. Amazing performance.

 

[KrbFlint]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

 

[17'sfanNU]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

Come on Cadets, put it in the net!

 

[KrbFlint]

Come on Cadets, put it in the net!

This is a very average hockey team right now. Talented enough to win on a given night, but absolutely incapable of dominating anyone. They allow the opponent to dictate the style of play. Not what we’re used to, that’s for sure.

 

[NUProf]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

This is what is wrong with the one-and-done playoff system. Clearly NU is the better team, but one mistake will cost the Cadets the season.

 

[KrbFlint]

This is what is wrong with the one-and-done playoff system. Clearly NU is the better team, but one mistake will cost the Cadets the season.

I HATE the term “regular season champion”. Either do away with conference tournaments and just have the #1 team get the AQ (my preference) or eliminate the term and just have top seed host the tourney without a “champion” tag. The “regular season champions” banners in Kreitzberg p*ss me off.

Conference tournaments, especially at the D3 level (where they aren’t making big bucks), are stupid. But, if we must play them, the winner is the champ and gets the AQ; there is no other “champion”

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

This is what is wrong with the one-and-done playoff system. Clearly NU is the better team, but one mistake will cost the Cadets the season.

The scoreboard says we're equal right now... (I know what you're saying...but at the end of the day, win. It's the only way to control your own destiny....)

 

[Birdwatcher]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

I HATE the term “regular season champion”. Either do away with conference tournaments and just have the #1 team get the AQ (my preference) or eliminate the term and just have top seed host the tourney without a “champion” tag. The “regular season champions” banners in Kreitzberg p*ss me off.

Conference tournaments, especially at the D3 level (where they aren’t making big bucks), are stupid. But, if we must play them, the winner is the champ and gets the AQ; there is no other “champion”

There...you got it !

 

[NU Pastime]

I HATE the term “regular season champion”. Either do away with conference tournaments and just have the #1 team get the AQ (my preference) or eliminate the term and just have top seed host the tourney without a “champion” tag. The “regular season champions” banners in Kreitzberg p*ss me off.

Conference tournaments, especially at the D3 level (where they aren’t making big bucks), are stupid. But, if we must play them, the winner is the champ and gets the AQ; there is no other “champion”

Completely, 100% agree with this.

 

[Sir Nubs]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

I find it hard to believe Castleton did not generate a shot on goal in any of the overtime sessions. Who tracks shots at NU? Helen Keller?

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

I find it hard to believe Castleton did not generate a shot on goal in any of the overtime sessions. Who tracks shots at NU? Helen Keller?

 

[NUProf]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

The scoreboard says we're equal right now... (I know what you're saying...but at the end of the day, win. It's the only way to control your own destiny....)

I know it is they way it is, but I think teams should have to qualify for the playoffs. Letting a team that finishes last in the regular season participate in the league championship tournament seems wrong to me. I know NU won this time, but I still remember that UMB debacle.

 

[802Hockey]

I find it hard to believe Castleton did not generate a shot on goal in any of the overtime sessions. Who tracks shots at NU? Helen Keller?

How’d you know?! And somehow I was still convinced the puck was gonna find its way into the Norwich net...seemed like one of those games. Was there at the game and if there was a shot it wasn’t a memorable one...then again...not many were in this game. But I’ll take that last shot any day

 

[KrbFlint]

I know it is they way it is, but I think teams should have to qualify for the playoffs. Letting a team that finishes last in the regular season participate in the league championship tournament seems wrong to me. I know NU won this time, but I still remember that UMB debacle.

A conference “playoff” where everyone makes it is no kind of playoff at all.

 

[KrbFlint]

I find it hard to believe Castleton did not generate a shot on goal in any of the overtime sessions. Who tracks shots at NU? Helen Keller?

You probably should’ve watched the game then

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

I know it is they way it is, but I think teams should have to qualify for the playoffs. Letting a team that finishes last in the regular season participate in the league championship tournament seems wrong to me. I know NU won this time, but I still remember that UMB debacle.

This will be the last year of that. Next year it will be 8 of 10 like it used to be.

 

[Birdwatcher]

Re: Norwich 2017-18 Season Thread: Defending the Crown

A conference “playoff” where everyone makes it is no kind of playoff at all.

Only the top six make the playoffs in SUNYAC. 3- 6 play a quarter final round and the 1-2 host the semis. Earning the last playoff spots almost always comes down to the last night of the regular season.