Re: Norwich Cadets '13-14 - A New Look Forward
It's been a great season guys, you went a lot farther than any of us could have predicted with so many new faces on the team. We'll remember you seniors for the four great years you had here and your positive influence you had on the team and community. To the underclassmen, see you next year, you've got a great start to your career. Thanks for the entertainment.
Wish it could have lasted one week longer, but it was a good run. The big problem that I saw was a bit of a lack of "killer instinct" and an inability to finish. In some of the games they lost they either had taken control or taken the lead, and then kind of let up on the gas and went defensive. That is never a good thing. It's been a learning year, and it will be interesting to so what happens next year. At least we didn't lose to Oswego
. Would like to have seen a better power play and more productive shots in general. It's great to outshoot the other guys by a 2-1 margin and all, but you need to shoot the puck at the corners of the net, not at the goalie's chest.
With Czarnota graduating, it's either back to Marensic in goal and/or find another. It seems as though since Klinger graduated that the quest for a consistent goalie has been an issue. The guys we have had - Marensic, Czarnota, and Carroll have been spotty - and it has been a constant search for a #1 starter. Those three have sometimes been really great, sometimes not so great. Historically, for whatever reason, Norwich has had that kind of a history with goalies. In a number of cases a guy has come in - had a great year, and been a flop the following year. I'm trying to remember the last goalie who had a run 3 or more years as the go to guy.
The other thing we need (and maybe we already have him, but he hasn't emerged) is the guy who can pick up the game and carry the team when it really needs a boost. We got a little of that from time to time with the seniors this year, but sometimes that factor wasn't there when we really needed it. We didn't have a Bellemare, or an Aucoin, or a Healey, or a McLean, or a Kashirsky to take the puck and make real magic when things got sticky. Sometimes you need a "big dog" to get the other team's attention - then the secondary guys can make things happen, too.
That's not to be critical, because I never thought there was even a shot at the start of the season for a reg. season title or another NCAA bid.
Something to build on.
Now I can go back to watching the NHL as soon as the NU women get (hopefully) one more shot at Plattsburgh.
