Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Don't worry WMU can't win two in a row against the same team.

Yeah, no way that happens.

Another unorganized, poorly coached train wreck of a game. Sadly, the team looks equally inept on TV as it does live and in person. For only the second time since I have held season tickets did I willingly miss a game when I was in town and able to attend. I got season tickets for the first time in 1978. It may be arrogant to say, but when people like JJfP and I willingly stay away from a Notre Dame hockey game, the program has deep, deep issues.

Another 2-0 lead on home ice blown. At least they didn't waste time blowing it, what did it take, 2 minutes after ND went up 2-0 it was tied?

The head coach inserts Bo Brauer into the lineup and touts his "shoot the puck" mentality. Yet how many shifts did he even play? The only extended time he spent away from the Irish bench was when he was serving Wade's major penalty. Why dress the guy and say what you said about his game and then treat him like a grocery stick? What have you got to lose? Stick him on the power play. It isn't like ANYONE who has seen extended power play time has actually earned any more of it.

Jackson changes the goalie in some feeble attempt to spark the team in the third, but even with 5:34 of PP time the team manages just 6 shots on goal over the final 20 minutes.

A step forward with the quick power play goal in the first, but by the end of the game it was business as usual. On the 4 minute double minor to McKee Notre Dame was offsides more times (2) than shots attempted (1). I counted 2 clean clears by WMU in that 4 minutes. The rest of the time the puck was in the offensive end. How do you spend that much time NOT shooting the puck? They generally couldn't look more inept on the power play if they tried.

Russo badly blew fundamental responsibilities on WMUs 3rd goal. He used neither his stick or his body and basically let LaPorte shoot the puck unmolested. Ryan made about three mistakes handling the puck before turning it over and letting WMU get a wide open look on Petersen for the game winner. That's 2 upperclass defensemen with nearly 200 games between them blowing goats for WMUs final two goals in a tied game. So much for youth or inexperience being the issue.

Hopefully one of the four teams playing in the NCAA regional at the Compton in March is one I can root for, since the one team I was hoping to root for won't be any closer to the ice than I'll be.

 

[irishstate]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Well on Friday I am glad that I will get to see Jackson's 400th win I guess. I mean, the one positive we have is that we will sweep UConn. It is practically guaranteed.
UConn only beats the really good teams, they tend to lose to the really bad teams..... and that qualifies us for the sweep.

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Well on Friday I am glad that I will get to see Jackson's 400th win I guess. I mean, the one positive we have is that we will sweep UConn. It is practically guaranteed.
UConn only beats the really good teams, they tend to lose to the really bad teams..... and that qualifies us for the sweep.

I'll believe it when I see it. At this point there's a better chance this team finishes out the season without a win than in the NCAAs. In 2004-05 Dave Poulin had 15 tries to win his 100th CCHA game as a head coach. We're still waiting.

 

[Sec2 Row 13 Seats 567]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Notre Dame I think generally feels it is beneath them to show replays of controversial plays on the video boards, a very misguided and transparent attempt to appear "classy." They also are very quick to blare something over the sound system at the first hint of a bad call by a referee, thus preventing fans from letting the refs know what they think. Maybe they are getting away from this because they did show replays of the waived off goal against UML, so that was a welcome sight at least.



In the final few seasons at the Joyce the crowd was much more involved. The band was the main source of music and while they did play a few things over the PA it wasn't the constant Jock-Rock crap we put up with now, and it wasn't at a dangerous volume level, and it wasn't at every stoppage in play. The place was a lot more intimate than the CFIA and players on both teams and the referees were always able to hear what was directed towards them by a lot of individual fans as well as the collective crowd.

Despite the fact everyone considered the place a dump (it wasn't, it was just cramped and small and didn't have all the bells and whistles the CFIA has) I loved it. We were just as good at home there as we are in the CFIA. Better if you consider we didn't load up on NCAA bottom feeders for non-conference play on a regular basis. We are 9-0 the last two seasons against LSSU, UAH and Niagara. Hockey was what mattered.

Notre Dame is wandering through some very dangerous territory right now. There is a serious disconnect between where they were when the CFIA opened and where they are now. All the crap going on there that I hate has done nothing to make the team more formidable than it was at the Joyce, nor has it helped preserve large crowds. No games with fewer than 4000 in attendance in the first 3 season and now 5 already this year. Sellouts are happening with much less frequency now than in the first two seasons (11 in each of the first two regular seasons, 6 last year in more home games than ever before and on a pace this season for 5). As they've added more and more distractions to the experience, the average crowd has shrunk and the sellouts have dropped quite alarmingly. The response from Notre Dame will probably be to add even more distractions and play even more NCAA bottom feeders. And I've got news for the powers that be at Notre Dame. Its' quite obvious you are lying about the crowds at most games anyway this season. Sellouts 3 years ago had few empty seats. Now they have hundreds, if not more. And some of those so-called crowds of 4000? You were lucky to have 2500 in the place.

When they opened that building I couldn't believe what I was seeing. 35 years after seeing my first Notre Dame hockey game I was moved nearly to the point of tears as the Star Spangled Banner played before that first game against RPI. Beating BC in the dedication contest a couple of weeks after that was one of the most exciting sporting events I have ever witnessed in person. Now there are so many things about it that turn me off, the excitement of going to a game is nearly gone. I didn't even make the opening faceoff for the OSU game. As JJfP said in her post, it isn't the bad hockey. Let's face it, for most of the time I have been a fan, the hockey was mediocre at best, downright awful at worst. I'm no fair weather fan. I can put up with poorly played or poorly coached hockey. But not at the same time I have to put up with 2 and half hours of overwhelming assault on my senses. I go to sporting events because they are fun. When they stop being fun, I stop going. Based on what I am seeing in the ways of 1000s of empty seats at the CFIA, I'm guessing a lot of people aren't finding it fun anymore.

Just thought I would let you know, that the "POWERS to BE" are listening. Saturday's night game was void of almost all Jock-Rock Music. The only Music was from a 15 member Pep Band, IT WAS WONDERFUL ! I could even hear the players yelling at each other, even from my nose bleed perch. The announcer's volume was turned down, so you could understand him, not distorted and garbled. No camera's sweeping the stands looking for kids on a sugar high, yelling and screaming. So I guess Social Media does work, Thank God ! It's working over at WBB Too, just ask Taya.

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Just thought I would let you know, that the "POWERS to BE" are listening. Saturday's night game was void of almost all Jock-Rock Music. The only Music was from a 15 member Pep Band, IT WAS WONDERFUL ! I could even hear the players yelling at each other, even from my nose bleed perch. The announcer's volume was turned down, so you could understand him, not distorted and garbled. No camera's sweeping the stands looking for kids on a sugar high, yelling and screaming. So I guess Social Media does work, Thank God ! It's working over at WBB Too, just ask Taya.

Holy crap! I'll be there Friday (mainly because I have never seen UConn play), so let's hope the trend continues so I won't leave with a splitting headache.

I've been thinking of changing my handle. No offense towards Coach Jackson (and to a greater degree, Coach Pooley), but I want my team to play well and win, and you ain't cuttin' it anymore. I wonder if Dan Bylsma would coach college... I wonder if Norm Bazin would jump ship...

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Just thought I would let you know, that the "POWERS to BE" are listening. Saturday's night game was void of almost all Jock-Rock Music. The only Music was from a 15 member Pep Band, IT WAS WONDERFUL ! I could even hear the players yelling at each other, even from my nose bleed perch. The announcer's volume was turned down, so you could understand him, not distorted and garbled. No camera's sweeping the stands looking for kids on a sugar high, yelling and screaming. So I guess Social Media does work, Thank God ! It's working over at WBB Too, just ask Taya.

In addition to social media, direct communication with the appropriate people. This is good but I'll only believe a substantial change when I see if for a number of games.

One of the things that concerns me is that no matter how badly attendance has been bleeding at men's basketball games (and it has without a doubt cratered) Notre Dame has been unwilling to do anything to try to end the hemorrhaging. Their non conference schedule is one of the worst in the NCAA. They jacked up prices after the renovation. They refuse to do any kind of actual marketing. They assault the senses of those in attendance as much as they do at the CFIA. And despite the fact the team has had one of the best home records in the NCAA (non-conference and until last year conference alike) the place is at best half full most nights. Without a truly marquee opponent, the place is always a morgue.

Hockey is becoming more and more like this. Students won't show up for any game in force now except for probably BC. Season ticket holders are no shows far too often. The crowd numbers far less than the stated attendance almost every game. The non-Notre Dame games in the three tournaments the CFIA has hosted have been complete failures as far as atmosphere.

I even look for Notre Dame to replace the Shillelagh Tournament in the near future with just another home weekend against some horrible non conference game. There is no upside for them to host it since no one shows up to spend any money at the first games, so they lose their shirts on paying for the other three teams anyway. May as well just buy a game from one team and save the money on putting up the other two. Pooley's son plays for Holy Cross, so maybe we'll see them for the next few years.

 

[irishstate]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

I'll be at the game Friday. All I've got left to hope on is improve the 9-9-2 HE record and 8th place from last year. I mean, we've got to do something.....

Plus, for the sake of WeareNDHockey there..... I want to hear the goal horn a lot. (more than the 3 times they hit the ice).

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Plus, for the sake of WeareNDHockey there..... I want to hear the goal horn a lot. (more than the 3 times they hit the ice).

Thanks a lot... If you get there for the skatearound an hour prior, you can hear it at least four times...

 

[#1collegehockeyfan]

Notre Dame is wandering through some very dangerous territory right now. There is a serious disconnect between where they were when the CFIA opened and where they are now. All the crap going on there that I hate has done nothing to make the team more formidable than it was at the Joyce, nor has it helped preserve large crowds. No games with fewer than 4000 in attendance in the first 3 season and now 5 already this year. Sellouts are happening with much less frequency now than in the first two seasons (11 in each of the first two regular seasons, 6 last year in more home games than ever before and on a pace this season for 5). As they've added more and more distractions to the experience, the average crowd has shrunk and the sellouts have dropped quite alarmingly. The response from Notre Dame will probably be to add even more distractions and play even more NCAA bottom feeders. And I've got news for the powers that be at Notre Dame. Its' quite obvious you are lying about the crowds at most games anyway this season. Sellouts 3 years ago had few empty seats. Now they have hundreds, if not more. And some of those so-called crowds of 4000? You were lucky to have 2500 in the place.

Notre Dame needs to put more effort into the hockey program. To get more fans in the new rink.

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Oh. My. God.

This was, by a country mile, the most enjoyable time I've had at the CFIA in a long, long time. S2R13S5,6,7 was right! The band played more than they have in YEARS. The canned music was played as little as human(e)ly possible--and it didn't blast me out of my seat. And. Wait for it. The students actually showed up. Honest. Notre Dame students took time away from their cell phones and wine tasting to cheer on their fellow student-athletes.

Oh, and the hockey was pretty enjoyable too.

If everything can be EXACTLY like this for the rest of the season, I may renew my 35-year old season ticket. If it returns to annoying form, I will stay home and watch the games on t.v. In my quiet home. Where I can park close by. And I can pay attention to college hockey. Ball's in your court athletic program. Are you going to drive away a 35-year veteran fan? Or will you care about my vote?

 

[candycanes99]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Oh. My. God.

This was, by a country mile, the most enjoyable time I've had at the CFIA in a long, long time. S2R13S5,6,7 was right! The band played more than they have in YEARS. The canned music was played as little as human(e)ly possible--and it didn't blast me out of my seat. And. Wait for it. The students actually showed up. Honest. Notre Dame students took time away from their cell phones and wine tasting to cheer on their fellow student-athletes.

Oh, and the hockey was pretty enjoyable too.

If everything can be EXACTLY like this for the rest of the season, I may renew my 35-year old season ticket. If it returns to annoying form, I will stay home and watch the games on t.v. In my quiet home. Where I can park close by. And I can pay attention to college hockey. Ball's in your court athletic program. Are you going to drive away a 35-year veteran fan? Or will you care about my vote?

I noticed the change. Way more band playing versus PA music. They had to get in their "Centuries" because every single sporting event needs multiple Fall Out Boy songs apparently.

The students showed up because a) first event with their friends since they got back, and b) promise of free (and pretty sweet if I do say so) shirts. They also didn't immediately take their shirts and leave because they were promised pizza after the 1st. But even then almost all of them stayed for the whole game. I was very happy about that. Despite my split allegiance (see signature), nothing would make me happier than to see those student sections packed all the time. ND Hockey deserves the student support. Hopefully those who aren't already college hockey fans weren't turned off by the tie. It was still an exciting finish imo.

 

[irishstate]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

First time this season I had seen it packed the way it was. I was in section 7 and 17 and when I was away from the student side the leprechaun came and got our side fired up too yelling let's go Irish. They made some..... what in the world plays... but it seemed like they should have won too. Now if they can actually use the whole zone in the power play instead of just below the dots.... but

WE SCORED A POWER PLAY GOAL!!!!! My favorite part was when the announcer said "The Notre Dame goal scored on the power play....." at which point I cheered loudly.... and I wasn't the only one. LOL

Things that need to change with the game: When the other team scores they need the red lights to come on. The whistle blows and the green light behind the goals stays on, which usually means there is no goal scored, everyone is "safe." When they score on the opposite end of the ice, it can be very difficult to determine if they score. I've had this problem a few times this year.... where I have to watch the scoreboard to determine if the puck went in. Just kick the lights on so I can booo accordingly. Makes it hard to follow the game.

Then if I dream.... I wish the rest of us knew what the band was cheering (or that they'd keep it the same, because at times they change in when we score and want to harass the goalie). Then we could all join in the cheers like I see at other hockey rinks. Really get the blood flowing for ND hockey. Right now most people just stand there and go "what did they say???" I don't want to become classless like Tech, Western, or Vermont etc. But let's get some cheers going. They can put on the penalty box "here is where opponents come to confess their sins. The door is always open" or something like that.... surely we can get some good cheers that can turn into a tradition??? It just seems odd that a school that has so so much tradition has about 0% hockey tradition.

 

[FiveHole12]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Things that need to change with the game: When the other team scores they need the red lights to come on. The whistle blows and the green light behind the goals stays on, which usually means there is no goal scored, everyone is "safe."

Green light means the clock has stopped or end of a period. Red light is not always a goal, and play continues if the goal judge was in error. Watch the reaction of the teams, then look immediately to the ref behind the net. If the ref is pointing down at the net, he's signalling a goal.

 

[irishstate]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Green light means the clock has stopped or end of a period. Red light is not always a goal, and play continues if the goal judge was in error. Watch the reaction of the teams, then look immediately to the ref behind the net. If the ref is pointing down at the net, he's signalling a goal.

Yea, usually I can pick up on it. But usually its a few seconds later than it needs to be. Especially if I can't really see the ref or its one of the close plays. There have been a few times when the teams don't huddle up with the... "yea we scored" and then the skate through has taken awhile. We are sitting there going, Did they just score? I think so. I'm not sure, no one is moving. Well, it looks like it. Well I don't think so, looks like they will do a face.... nevermind scoreboard just changed.

I just find it annoying to have to wonder for 5 seconds when a light would tell me the other team sucks even more now. LOL (there are times you know right away but..... I want the lights dang it.) Plus the lights might tick off our players so they actually fight for a whole game.

 

[irishstate]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

and I definitely don't know rules in detail. It just seems like a green light should mean clock stopped without a goal. Whether end of period, or stoppage etc. And a red light means stoppage of play due to some goalie or defender being an idiot etc. LOL

 

[candycanes99]

Green light means the clock has stopped or end of a period. Red light is not always a goal, and play continues if the goal judge was in error. Watch the reaction of the teams, then look immediately to the ref behind the net. If the ref is pointing down at the net, he's signalling a goal.

This happens constatnyly at Compton though. There's no doubt that whoever is controlling the lights is doing it wrong. If the ref points and the whistle blows, turn on the red light.

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Does Notre Dame even use a goal judge anymore? Most teams don't bother stationing one behind the net anymore. More important to sell the seat. Goal judges are kind of a waste since their input is unofficial and were rarely if ever consulted by the referees.

How about that Joe Aiken? Those are the kinds of players that deserve to be rewarded by scoring. Game winner no less. Good weekend for Notre Dame. Any time you can get three points against a team with wins or ties against BC, BU, and UML that's a good haul. They have a couple of other good wins on their schedule as well.

It's obvious the team approached these games differently. They actively looked for shots in both games. A couple of players (I'm thinking especially Hinostroza) have still got to get with it, but as a group I am more than happy with their 85 shot output on the weekend, at least 20 more than UConn usually gives up over 2 games.

UConn made Notre Dame pay dearly for a couple of really ill-timed D-man pinches on Friday but other than that it looked like the best effort at home in many games. I'd rather this team take a bit of high risk/high reward approach though, since the way they played in the first half will not get it done. Recognize when it is prudent to join a rush though, which they did not do on Friday. Yesterday was the most complete game all year. The blowout of Niagara was nice, but this was on the road and against a team with a lot of good games under their belt.

We still have at least two games in hand on all the teams in front of us and 3 series left against teams really struggling. After 8 straight graduating classes that enjoyed at least some NCAA tourney success this team is left without a player who has enjoyed a win in the tournament. How about making their own mark as the team that came out of absolutely nowhere to make the NCAAs? I'm not holding my breath (just like I'm not about the improved environment at the CFIA) but I can dream, right?

 

[Split-N]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

...If the ref points and the whistle blows, turn on the red light.

Not quite. The goal judge immediately turns the red light on whenever he/she believes the puck entered the net. The referee, however, makes the final decision on whether or not a goal was actually scored. (Rule 5-4 Sec 6.) The goal judge is just that, a judge and not just a light switch operator. The rationale is that the speed of the game is such that none of the officials may have been in a position to actually see the puck enter the net, especially on a "bang-bang" play or if the puck trickles behind the goalie, who scoops it back out before the referee can see it. In the old days, the referee would confer with the goal judge verbally if he (the ref) didn't see it go in. These days, it goes to video review. The light signals are supposed to be wired so that the green light automatically turns on (and lock out the red light) when the clock reaches zero, thereby preventing the red light from lighting up once time has expired.

Looking forward to hosting some of you guys and gals at Matthews, the oldest continuously operating ice stadium in the world (and the one on which the Compton design is based), this weekend. If anyone is making a road trip, I'd recommend the Colonnade Hotel on Huntington Ave., which is about a 7-minute walk from the arena. The Sheraton or Hilton at Prudential Center would work too. Ask for the Northeastern rate.

 

[candycanes99]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

Not quite. The goal judge immediately turns the red light on whenever he/she believes the puck entered the net. The referee, however, makes the final decision on whether or not a goal was actually scored. (Rule 5-4 Sec 6.) The goal judge is just that, a judge and not just a light switch operator.

Definitely understood, I didn't say anything that conflicts with that. The referees have the final say on what is/isn't a goal. But when the referee is the one who indicates goal, why would the in house scorekeeper (no goal judges) turn on the green light (mid-period, not the automatic end of period). There are no dedicated goal judges down low at Compton, so there really is no longer a scenario where they would turn on the red light without the referees indicating goal. As you said, these days they just consult video review if there was a close play that they ruled no goal on the ice but were unsure about.

Looking forward to hosting some of you guys and gals at Matthews, the oldest continuously operating ice stadium in the world (and the one on which the Compton design is based), this weekend. If anyone is making a road trip, I'd recommend the Colonnade Hotel on Huntington Ave., which is about a 7-minute walk from the arena. The Sheraton or Hilton at Prudential Center would work too. Ask for the Northeastern rate.

Wish I could go back, Matthews is always a fun place to watch a hockey game. Except for the pots, pans, horns, etc. Talk about your auditory assaults.

 

[irishstate]

Re: Notre Dame Hockey 2014-15: The year of the Freshman

but I can dream, right?

While we are dreaming.... PP at about 8.2% or so I think? 3 straight games with a PPG, and frankly the one with Russo on Sunday was a PPG but doesn't count officially by 2 seconds. As much as we have bashed the PP, maybe there is life.
And Northeastern has a PK unit around 75% right now. They have started to play really well (only losing 1 of last 8 games) so the PP might play a huge role in the series.

Joe Aiken scoring is just awesome!

Also had first from Wade, first assist by Oslie etc.

Vinnie needs to shoot the puck more and I would think he would score more. So many times he is getting in a good position and then pulls up. I'm not sure why. Still my favorite player but shoot the puck. On the flip side, doesn't he lead the team with assist?