>>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

[blazer777]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Agree with LtPowers on this...Air Force is playing very well, Serratore and company sent a clear message to Niagara this past weekend. As much as it would be ugly for RIT to get knocked out in the 1st round against AIC it would be even worse for Niagara to get knocked out in the 2nd round and not get into the NCAA after a terrific regular season.

Yeah, but......any team from the east playing up at 5K feet is going to have a hard time keeping up with players that play and live there. Putting AFA in the BCA has a tendency to even things up a bit. I think Niagara will hold them off there after dispatching the next team they face. Pity the team that has to travel to AFA in two weeks too.

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Does anyone know if players still get tickets for the playoff games? I went down to Army two years ago and they said they didn't have player tickets for the playoffs.

 

[MattS]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Part of me kind just wants them be swept out at the Ritter next weekend and head back to the drawing board so we do not have to watch this painful show any more. Bout the only thing that makes me not wish that is 3 Seniors who I really feel deserve better, to think they came in with a Frozen Four run and now are reduce to that... In My Opinion That SUCKS....

I hear you. I pretty much feel the same way. But like you, I hate to see the seniors go out on such a sour note. So here's hoping they can get another win or two or more.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Yeah, but......any team from the east playing up at 5K feet is going to have a hard time keeping up with players that play and live there. Putting AFA in the BCA has a tendency to even things up a bit. I think Niagara will hold them off there after dispatching the next team they face. Pity the team that has to travel to AFA in two weeks too.

I get what you're saying, but I don't buy it. After all, AIC went 1-0-1 in Colorado Springs this year. RIT took them to OT in the worst officiated game of the season. Niagara went out there and got undressed. You don't get outscored 11-3 on the weekend because of the altitude.

 

[mar7967]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

I get what you're saying, but I don't buy it. After all, AIC went 1-0-1 in Colorado Springs this year. RIT took them to OT in the worst officiated game of the season. Niagara went out there and got undressed. You don't get outscored 11-3 on the weekend because of the altitude.

You also don't get outscored 11-3 when you play your starting goalie and 2nd leading scorer...which Niagara did not do on Saturday (when they lost 6-1). I am not trying to imply that the outcome would be different, but I would expect to score to have been much closer had Iuorio and Chubak played.

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Wait... they didn't play the game for real? ARE YOU KIDDING?! That weekend cost them a guaranteed spot in the NCAAs. Wow, good job Burkholder.

You also don't get outscored 11-3 when you play your starting goalie and 2nd leading scorer...which Niagara did not do on Saturday (when they lost 6-1). I am not trying to imply that the outcome would be different, but I would expect to score to have been much closer had Iuorio and Chubak played.

 

[mar7967]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Wait... they didn't play the game for real? ARE YOU KIDDING?! That weekend cost them a guaranteed spot in the NCAAs. Wow, good job Burkholder.

Maybe it was to prove a point - as Chris Lerch pointed out on twitter, it wasn't to rest them, as they have a bye this weekend. It was likely diciplinary. If it was disciplinary, I tend to respect a coach who sits out two of his best players, even if it means losing the game.

Edit: Iuorio was "dinged up", Chubak was a healthy scratch.
https://twitter.com/chrislerch/status/308275314600054784

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Wait... they didn't play the game for real? ARE YOU KIDDING?! That weekend cost them a guaranteed spot in the NCAAs. Wow, good job Burkholder.

The loss on Friday cast serious doubt over their at large bid chances, so the change on Saturday isn't as significant as you imply. Plus, even with their backup goalie and missing one forward, they shouldn't get blown up 6-1.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Nigara is a starange team to me, living out here in Buffalo I've seen them play a lot this year. Everytime I have, since their first game I had the same opinion, they are a solid to to bottom team, the most solid top to bottom team in the AHA. Yet they don't scare me, given their record they should (excluding this past weekend), there just too much other talent out there in this league and they are not head over heals better than anyone in this league. I gotta go with Air Force and Niagara squaring off at Blue Cross in the final game. And if wacky Frank finds a way to win that game, just hand him the crown and hope he drips some of his mojo on Wanye.... Okay I just made myself throw up in my own mouth...

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

I hear you. I pretty much feel the same way. But like you, I hate to see the seniors go out on such a sour note. So here's hoping they can get another win or two or more.

You know its all sad doom and gloom when we agree

But that was has me more concern, I look at the Seniors leaving and I don't see the big problem there. So that means a big part of the problem will be coming back next year. Smith always been solid and really developed into a nice goal scorer. I have spent 4 years trying to figure out how to turn on Beast mode on Adam Hartley but despite my grumblings about wanting to see he drive over someone he has solid face off numbers and has been one of those players who just seems to find a way to score OT winners. I had a quick conversation with Wanye Wilson after last year and one comment stuck me, he talked about maybe over acheiving a bit and he sighted Potts going down when he was hot. The Mads suspension. But what I did not see as a big deal was Saracino going down. Now I always loved Chris as a solid defenseman, but it wasn't really untill this year that I realized how good of a shot he has, how good he can move the puck, and create out there. Of course lets also not forget that this should be a class with Tanev in it, we know where he is. Yet to see the drop from where they came in and where they may finish, just is hard to stomach... Its so bad that I am now making MattS look like the optimist...

Problem is going to be coming back next year, its not a lack of talent. It lack of the good smart and aggresive play we have come to know and expect from Tiger hockey. In short we need to pull are heads out of or back ends and get to some good old fashion hard work!

 

[blazer777]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

I get what you're saying, but I don't buy it. After all, AIC went 1-0-1 in Colorado Springs this year. RIT took them to OT in the worst officiated game of the season. Niagara went out there and got undressed. You don't get outscored 11-3 on the weekend because of the altitude.

So, if I were to have you run around for 30 to 45 seconds, give you a minute off in between and do this again for three 20 minute periods in Rochester and then ask you to fly out to Colorado Springs on a Friday and do the same exercise, that physically you would perform the same? I'm not saying AFA is invincible and let's face it, it's a bunch of guys on skates chasing and shooting a rubber puck on ice so things happen, just that they have an advantage when teams come to visit them based off living and playing at altitude all the time.

If only the 'STATS' division from WITR had the time to research this, I'm sure a pattern would emerge.

 

[RITProf]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

But that was has me more concern, I look at the Seniors leaving and I don't see the big problem there.

Yep. I was thinking that on Friday night. If it had been a great year, we'd be saying "wow and only 3 seniors are leaving". But I had to think it through after a bad year. As you said, it turns into something like ... "**** and only three seniors are leaving". This team needs some reinvigorating and a turnover of more than 3 would help that (of course that might still happen).

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

So, if I were to have you run around for 30 to 45 seconds, give you a minute off in between and do this again for three 20 minute periods in Rochester and then ask you to fly out to Colorado Springs on a Friday and do the same exercise, that physically you would perform the same? I'm not saying AFA is invincible and let's face it, it's a bunch of guys on skates chasing and shooting a rubber puck on ice so things happen, just that they have an advantage when teams come to visit them based off living and playing at altitude all the time.

If only the 'STATS' division from WITR had the time to research this, I'm sure a pattern would emerge.

But how do you find a statistical pattern to validate or invalidate your hypothesis? Air Force is always a top 4 team, so chances are their home record is pretty good..because their overall record is. Plus, most teams (especially those with fan bases and nice rinks) tend to play better at home anyway. Combine those, and you have the formula for home success. To say that the reason for that is altitude would require you to do research on the other sports teams in Colorado, and determine if, as a state, they are more successful at home than on the road.

Anecdotally, RIT has had more success against Air Force in Colorado than they have in Blue Cross.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Yep. I was thinking that on Friday night. If it had been a great year, we'd be saying "wow and only 3 seniors are leaving". But I had to think it through after a bad year. As you said, it turns into something like ... "**** and only three seniors are leaving". This team needs some reinvigorating and a turnover of more than 3 would help that (of course that might still happen).

I choose to look at it differently. I believe the reason we struggled so much (particularly early in the season) was because we had so much turnover last year. We we're rotating goalies, we were mixing up lines, chemistry was definitely not up to par. Though the team still hasn't performed up to the level of excellence we all hope to, the second half of this season has shown a significantly better Tiger team. Next year, almost the entire team will be returning, meaning that that chemistry will still be there, and coach will have a lot fewer question marks heading into the season. I fully expect a return to form for RIT.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Yep. I was thinking that on Friday night. If it had been a great year, we'd be saying "wow and only 3 seniors are leaving". But I had to think it through after a bad year. As you said, it turns into something like ... "**** and only three seniors are leaving". This team needs some reinvigorating and a turnover of more than 3 would help that (of course that might still happen).

I"m fairly certain we will see a decent sized recruiting class. Note that there were only 2 scratches all year. With the re-addition of Thomson, I would suspect that Coach will try to bring in 5 or 6 guys to replace the 3. To me, I think having 5 extra players is about right - a backup line and a set of defensement. That should cover for injuries and possibly play matchups.

 

[five8five]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

But how do you find a statistical pattern to validate or invalidate your hypothesis?

A good start would be to compare AF's opponents' overall road records vs AF's opponents' records at AF.

 

[five8five]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Yep. I was thinking that on Friday night. If it had been a great year, we'd be saying "wow and only 3 seniors are leaving". But I had to think it through after a bad year. As you said, it turns into something like ... "**** and only three seniors are leaving". This team needs some reinvigorating and a turnover of more than 3 would help that (of course that might still happen).

I think the real problem is there are *only three seniors*. This team is loaded with talent and hard working players but they could use some more senior leadership.

 

[EZ Winner]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

I recall a discussion awhile back about having East/West divisions within AH. With all of the Eastern teams traveling to the West this weekend, it looks like most of the talent (for this year at least) is in the West. Is this a blip or a trend?

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

We do have to remember that there are a lot of pieces that this team was supposed to have... and didn't.

The consensus seems to be that Brandon Thompson was supposed to bring a bit of a physical presence to the team, but he had to sit out the year. And one of the big complaints this year is that we don't have a McReynolds-type or Favot-type player who just loves to bang folks around.

Rajan Sidhu is 6-3; had he stayed on the team, he might have brought a more physical presence on the blue line. (Of course, Brownell is 6-4 and hasn't played hardly at all... not even Saturday when we only had 17 skaters on the ice. Perplexing?)

Greece native Woody Hudson was slated to come to RIT but decommitted. Not sure what kind of role he was intended for, but it may have left a hole in this year's class.

Adam Mitchell was a big part of our front-of-the-net presence and played a significant role in our improved play at the beginning of 2013, then got injured.

So look at next year -- we lose a good goal-scorer in Smith, and a good faceoff guy in Hartley, and our best defenseman. But we'll hopefully be getting Thompson back, and maybe Sidhu. Adam Mitchell should hopefully play a full season. Potts, thanks to a redshirted junior year, can hopefully rebound from an off season to be a big senior presence. We don't need new goalies. We'll have a strong core of three senior defensemen, with now-fully-acclimated Shumway and Kuqali backing them up. McGowan/Garbowsky/Schuler should mature into one of the best forward lines in the league.

I mean, just look at how many games we played without a full bench. Fixing that alone would be good for another win or two. =) But it looks like we also will be able to fill some holes that our team had this season.


Powers &8^]

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-13: Clawing our way up the standings in the 2nd half

I recall a discussion awhile back about having East/West divisions within AH. With all of the Eastern teams traveling to the West this weekend, it looks like most of the talent (for this year at least) is in the West. Is this a blip or a trend?

They are called pods and has pretty much always been the Western pod dominating the Eastern pod.