Re: Norwich Hockey 2019-2020 ... The Road to Buffalo
Tough loss to Middlebury Friday night. In all honesty, I wasn't sure what to post after that game, because I did not see much that was positive to talk about and felt Norwich didn't deserve to win. However, Middlebury played well against Eau Claire also and almost tied them in the 3rd period. The Eau Claire team is in the top of their division too, so maybe Middlebury is better than we all thought? They certainly looked better than I have seen them play in the last couple of years. I also felt Norwich was slow on the ice Saturday against Plattsburgh. I am not sure what coach said during the second intermission, but the Cadets came into the 3rd with a bit of fire and energy. I know the guys were a little beat up and sore from the UMB game, and they have a few out with injuries, but I just didn't see the energy I saw with UNE and NEC.
Norwich's defense is rated #1 in the country. A total of 7 goals against and 5 out of 9 games being shut outs is the proof of how good it really is. Our offense on the other hand, even in the games won, is almost as bad as the defense is good. In 9 games, the Cadets have scored over 2 goals in only 4 games. Lack of a coordinated offense could be due to many factors such as line changes, injuries, a good freshman class who are learning the system, and the fact that it is only the first half of the season (albeit 3 games shy of the end of the first half). What I can't make sense of is why in the early games of the season, the offense looked like they had be playing together all summer, even the new recruits! Yet a game later (and in subsequent games), they look like it was the first time they have ever played. Our offense has great talent on it, both in the veterans and the recruits, but they are having frequent trouble with passing and getting out of the defensive zone. Is it possible that they expend so much energy on defense that the offense is taking the back seat? Or, is it that college hockey is not the same as it use to be, all teams are getting better and the games are that much more competitive? I can point out what I think is going wrong, but I am no coach, and I can't come up with a way to fix it. I am very confident that these issues will be addressed and corrected by Coach Ellsworth. Just like last season, he has been looking at different combos on the lines, until he feels confident in the groupings and guys recover from injuries. Just like last year, we have a very talented and deep bench, with all players giving 100% and deserving to start a game. Finally, it really is true that it's not how you start the season, it is how you end it. They have had a very decent start and I am sure they will kick the offense into sync soon.
As I said, I am not a coach or a former player. I only played with my family and friends on the ice of Lake Champlain. At the young age of 6, I spent Saturday nights watching the Canadians play on TV with my Dad, and he installed in me the love of the game. Once hockey became an interscholastic sport in my Junior year, I went to all my high school games. After college, I moved back to Plattsburgh and became a Cardinal fan, one that went on frequent road trips to Oswego and to a National Championship in Massachusetts. I finally moved to Barre, Vt in the late 80's and went to a Norwich vs Plattsburgh game in Northfield in the winter of `93. I went there thinking that Plattsburgh was still my #1 team. It took only 1 period for me to realize that Norwich was the better team and worthy of my of my devotion. Actually, they "had me" at the National Anthem by standing proud and tall, absolutely still while the Cardinals shuffled their feet. Again, I followed this team on the road, Dartmouth, Castleton, Middlebury, Plattsburgh and a few National Championship games in Lake Placid! I was hooked and it has been a wonderful 30+ years of hockey. I may find fault with the team's play, but I couldn't be prouder of the team. I will always cheer them on and wish that I could be in the seats of Kreitzberg yelling my lungs out. Stay positive Cadets, it will come.
I would be interested in hearing other fan's thoughts about the play of the team and specifically the PrimeLink tournament. I would love this site to be more active and I will never be too old to learn something new about the game or the team.
