What's new
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.

Norwich 2022-23 Back to Normal (ish)

Down with stomach bug ..
Missing both games this weekend.
​​​But will be watching, and listening to Craig's call.
Should be a classic!
 
Flint, did you attend / watch last night’s game? Would appreciate your thoughts and observations. Thanks.

Indeed. Overall, I agree with Jerry’s assessment. I still think “we’re” struggling to get our footing offensively. Some questionable shots (VERY low percentage), and there was a too-long stretch where transition was ugly as sin. I was convinced that Elmira was going to capitalize on a neutral zone T.O.

All that to say, it was a good win against a good opponent. Solid defensive game (as usual) and Atherton played a nice game.

It’s going to take a great effort from start to finish to get it done this afternoon. I believe Norwich is more than capable. Have to play a smart game, stay out of the box, and MUST capitalize on every chance.
 
….and down go the traffic cones. In all seriousness those are the most off putting jerseys I’ve ever seen.

hard fought game on both sides. Norwich comes away handing Hobart their first loss. I can see why Hobart is doing so well, they are an extremely fast and relentless squad.
 
Great effort ..
BIG win ...
Get used to Hobart ... They are GOOD and We will see them again ... and likely Again!
 
Last edited:
….and down go the traffic cones. In all seriousness those are the most off putting jerseys I’ve ever seen.

hard fought game on both sides. Norwich comes away handing Hobart their first loss. I can see why Hobart is doing so well, they are an extremely fast and relentless squad.

Well, the streak had to end at some point this season , and figured this could be game, and it was. Congratulations to Norwich on earning a hard fought win. A great experience for this young talented Hobart squad to develop scars against a quality program. Some nice motivation to protect the Cooler in February. See you then.
 
Effort improved from last night, and desire was evident, resulting in vocal fan appreciation ( deserved).
stil a couple things to work on: bad penalties at bad times and too many mistakes from defense at the points in offensive zone. One pairing had a very off night.
still these are things that can improve, or should.

and now the University Games will take their til, but the roster should be deep enough to survive.

mall in all, and much better weekend and trending in the right direction.
 
Well, the streak had to end at some point this season , and figured this could be game, and it was. Congratulations to Norwich on earning a hard fought win. A great experience for this young talented Hobart squad to develop scars against a quality program. Some nice motivation to protect the Cooler in February. See you then.

The streak very well could have stayed alive, fantastic team from top to bottom. Meeting them at the Cooler is going to be the toughest test of Norwich’s regular season.
 
Great gritty win against the Beacons last night. The Cadets probably should’ve had 4 or 5 goals in the second period but had zero puck luck. I was thrilled to see them just keep working to score without two key offensive weapons in Kerner and Elgstam.

Obviously, another great defensive effort securing the shutout. Outstanding team defense, but Keegan Mantaro particularly stood out to me.

Atherton has really come into his own this year. I thought he was a good, solid goalie last year, but I really think he’s improved and seems to get better every week.
 
Okay, how long have you been calling games? Please don’t talk about shutouts or zero shots in the period, etc. I mean, come on…

Also, is it too much for the studio to replay the goals?
 
Okay, how long have you been calling games? Please don’t talk about shutouts or zero shots in the period, etc. I mean, come on…

Also, is it too much for the studio to replay the goals?

I’m planning to ask both why there are no replays anymore, and how we can get them back. If it’s a money issue, I’ll pass the hat myself lol
 
I’ll chip in too, Flint. Wanted to ask if you think we give too much credit to opponents’ goalies? Lots of shots on net, but few finishes. Tonight, of course, is sort of an outlier given the opponent. I keep hearing that we consistently run into hot goalies, but I’m not convinced.
 
I’ll chip in to, Flint. Wanted to ask if you think we give too much credit to opponents’ goalies? Lots of shots on net, but few finishes. Tonight, of course, is sort of an outlier given the opponent. I keep hearing that we consistently run into hot goalies, but I’m not convinced.

I just don’t think there are many snipers or natural pure scorers on the roster. Team is pretty elite defensively and it appears we’ll always have great goaltending with Coach Ellsworth in charge. The Cadets really have to work to put pucks in the net.

It seems to me that some guys want to play NBA style offense; skate it in and try to beat everyone one on one. We don’t seem to get very many of the greasy goals. Not a criticism, just an observation.

I think Kerner will only continue getting better as a scorer, and I think MacKenzie will become a star before his time in Northfield is up. We could certainly use another Ouderkirk type though.

All that said, if you keep the other team from
scoring, you always have a chance and - despite the MANY clowns around here who think THEY built the program - there’s not a whole lot to complain about right now if you’re a Norwich fan.
 
I just don’t think there are many snipers or natural pure scorers on the roster. Team is pretty elite defensively and it appears we’ll always have great goaltending with Coach Ellsworth in charge. The Cadets really have to work to put pucks in the net.

It seems to me that some guys want to play NBA style offense; skate it in and try to beat everyone one on one. We don’t seem to get very many of the greasy goals. Not a criticism, just an observation.

I think Kerner will only continue getting better as a scorer, and I think MacKenzie will become a star before his time in Northfield is up. We could certainly use another Ouderkirk type though.

All that said, if you keep the other team from
scoring, you always have a chance and - despite the MANY clowns around here who think THEY built the program - there’s not a whole lot to complain about right now if you’re a Norwich fan.

Agree completely with Flint here. Nagles snipe in OT on Friday surprised the crap out of me because it is such an anomaly for this team…especially outside of Kerner and Elgstam. Not saying the rest can’t put it in, we just haven’t seen it consistently.

I don’t see enough shots actually put on net and the ones that we actually let go miss far too often. Put pucks on net, get bodies in front of the net, good things will happen.

I can see where the low offensive fire power might off-put some fans but the fantastic one goal games we’ve seen them pull through should give all hope!
 
2-1 wins are still wins. If you look back at how UMass Lowell was while Coach Ellsworth was there for nearly a decade, you'll see very similar scores and the best success that program has had in its program's existence.

While this team might not be as "flashy" as some of the other Norwich teams of the past. They still have a ton of talent and the ability to beat any team on any given night. Given the defensive philosophy and the lack of pure goal scorers that can take a game over at any point though, bumps in the road can and will happen.

It starts with goaltending and limiting the number of grade A scoring chances for the opportunities and then try to get to 2 to 3 goals. They've been very good at it so far this year and they've been able to find one or two players to step up and score in a game that haven't been Kerner or Elgstam, which is something they severely lacked last year.

Johnny Johnson and Paul Schmid to name two have been important contributors this year that have helped this team take a step up.

On another note, does Middlebury become droppable from the schedule at some point? I'm all for history and tradition and obviously the First Light will still happen every year with the chance or guarantee to play them based on where it is, but is that non-conference game doing anything for the Cadets right now? We're to a full decade now where the Panthers have not been a strong program, including a few VERY down years (like this one is).

Would Norwich be better served trying to get a yearly game against Endicott/Salve Regina/UNE/Trinity/Oswego/Utica etc?

Instead of just playing one game opening weekend, Norwich could do a Friday/Saturday. Imagine opening up with a Endicott/UNE on back to back nights or a Oswego/Utica?
 
2-1 wins are still wins. If you look back at how UMass Lowell was while Coach Ellsworth was there for nearly a decade, you'll see very similar scores and the best success that program has had in its program's existence.

While this team might not be as "flashy" as some of the other Norwich teams of the past. They still have a ton of talent and the ability to beat any team on any given night. Given the defensive philosophy and the lack of pure goal scorers that can take a game over at any point though, bumps in the road can and will happen.

It starts with goaltending and limiting the number of grade A scoring chances for the opportunities and then try to get to 2 to 3 goals. They've been very good at it so far this year and they've been able to find one or two players to step up and score in a game that haven't been Kerner or Elgstam, which is something they severely lacked last year.

Johnny Johnson and Paul Schmid to name two have been important contributors this year that have helped this team take a step up.

On another note, does Middlebury become droppable from the schedule at some point? I'm all for history and tradition and obviously the First Light will still happen every year with the chance or guarantee to play them based on where it is, but is that non-conference game doing anything for the Cadets right now? We're to a full decade now where the Panthers have not been a strong program, including a few VERY down years (like this one is).

Would Norwich be better served trying to get a yearly game against Endicott/Salve Regina/UNE/Trinity/Oswego/Utica etc?

Instead of just playing one game opening weekend, Norwich could do a Friday/Saturday. Imagine opening up with a Endicott/UNE on back to back nights or an Oswego/Utica?

This.

From a results standpoint (which is, you know, what matters) Norwich fans should be pretty happy.

Also, I somehow neglected to mention Schmid in my initial post. Another star in the making.

Your Middlebury points are all valid. It’s really a shame that both in state rivals are currently in the toilet. I know Castleton can still occasionally pull off the upset, but this was a top 10-15 program not long ago. Middlebury’s decline is, obviously, even more staggering. I think Middlebury HAS to stay on the schedule and we all need to hope they can get back to respectability.
 
On another note, does Middlebury become droppable from the schedule at some point? I'm all for history and tradition and obviously the First Light will still happen every year with the chance or guarantee to play them based on where it is, but is that non-conference game doing anything for the Cadets right now? We're to a full decade now where the Panthers have not been a strong program, including a few VERY down years (like this one is).

This did not age well.
 
This thread is really dying eh?

I was thrilled to see a bit of an offensive “explosion” yesterday. NEC isn’t exactly a top tier opponent, but putting up that many goals is a real positive for this team. Exciting few weeks coming up with senior day, the crucible weekend out in NY, and NEHC tourney time.
 
This thread is really dying eh?

I was thrilled to see a bit of an offensive “explosion” yesterday. NEC isn’t exactly a top tier opponent, but putting up that many goals is a real positive for this team. Exciting few weeks coming up with senior day, the crucible weekend out in NY, and NEHC tourney time.

As long as they don't implode, at least the #2 seed is all but a lock. That's huge to have at least two rounds of home ice advantage (assuming wins in each round, which I know is a lot to assume in how good the NEHC is).

#1 is actually still very much in play too if Norwich can have considerable success out in NY. But that's a gauntlet of a weekend at Elmira and Hobart and just getting at least three points would be a very successful weekend.

Right now it appears Hobart and Norwich are back on their collision course to meet in the NEHC title game...although this year it could happen in Geneva for the first time after three years in Northfield. Lots of hockey left to be played though and Norwich still has work to do to stay in the Pool C hunt should they not end up winning the league. Any minor or major slip-ups could have grave consequences on getting into the big dance if you don't win your autobid.
 
Back
Top