>>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

I can't understand your logic on why we shouldn't be disappointed in another loss. I think your reasons listed are excuses and you're looking for a silver lining in a big bad thunderstorm cloud. I understand why a fan would want to think that way, but they just don't cut it.

I wish I had your optimism but I think this team is getting just what they deserve. They are being outplayed and out coached. I don't see any real measurable improvement. D still isn't doing enough. Goaltending is poor at best. And the offense just doesn't have enough firepower to overcome the bad defense.

I'm just saying, most teams that get out PIM'd 42-4 don't make it to OT.

I'm not sure we're getting out coached, either. It's the same coach we've had for a long time including incredible success in AHA.

It's pretty clear we just don't have the talent we need. We could survive with our D or our goaltending, but we can't survive with the lack of both that we have now. The offense I still don't have a problem with. They score enough to get the job done on most teams. We can't fault them for not scoring 5 goals every night, which is pretty much what we require with current defensive/goaltending.

 

[MattS]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

I'm just saying, most teams that get out PIM'd 42-4 don't make it to OT.

Ok, I get it now. I can see where you're coming from. I think the 42 PIM are a bit misleading (overstated) though. As 20 of the were GM and it's not like there where shorthanded for those minutes. Although I will give credit on killing off as much of the two majors as they did. It could have been much worse. I think I am just really disapointed that they couldn't hold the lead.

I'm not sure we're getting out coached, either. It's the same coach we've had for a long time including incredible success in AHA.

It's pretty clear we just don't have the talent we need. We could survive with our D or our goaltending, but we can't survive with the lack of both that we have now.

Oh I think definately out coached. The players are making the same mistakes and nothing is significantly changing for the better. The talent level isn't what is needed (or at least the players are not showing their talent). And both of those fall on Wilson for at least half of the blame. I suppose I should mention that I am not as enamoured with Wilson like most people here are. Don't get me wrong he's a good coach and RIT could do much worse, but not he's not the not the Jerry York of RIT some want to make him out to be.

The offense I still don't have a problem with. They score enough to get the job done on most teams. We can't fault them for not scoring 5 goals every night, which is pretty much what we require with current defensive/goaltending.

Agreed. Putting up two goals on Torf while being SH so much is definately a good sign. I'm still scared of the D though.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Oh I think definately out coachced. The players are making the same mistakes and nothing is significantly changing for the better. The talent level isn't what is needed (or at least the players are not showing their talent). And both of those fall on Wilson for at least half of the blame. I suppose I should mention that I am not as enamoured with Wilson like most people here are. Don't get me wrong he's a good coach and RIT could do much worse, but not he's not the not the Jerry York of RIT some want to make him out to be.

Though I don't necessarily put Wilson on a pedestal, I'm definitely one of those people who doesn't automatically blame a coach when things go south. Fact is Wilson has been here for a long time and has been successful the vast majority of years. We lose 8 seniors and a ton of talent and now we're struggling. I'm not sure Jerry York himself could keep this defensive core from giving up 4-5+ goals a game, or get Watson to stop giving up the proverbial 1 soft GWG per game.

I get your point that we're making a lot of the same mistakes, but I'm sure Wilson recognizes that and is trying to correct it. But at the end of the day it falls on the players to practice and get better, and to correct their mistakes. Wilson can only tell them what to do, he can't put on their jersey for them and play a shift against Air Force. Besides Saracino, we really don't have an upper classman on the blue line. Noyes to me looks like he really wants to be a forward, Descautaux and Raibl have always been, well...eh. I think the young guys are showing promise though. I like Kuqali and Brownell, and they don't seem to be the ones with the disastrous errors very often.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

I also have a gut feeling that Sacred Heart is not going to be the 'stepping stone' for the beginning of a strong second half for RIT. Sacred Heart is hungry for their first win and will hit the ice playing above their level to beat an RIT team that, frankly, no one is afraid of, and no one in Atlantic Hockey feels sorry for. Coach Wilson is cognizant of this fact, and will need to make sure that his team does not get tripped up.

 

[RITProf]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

I've always had a theory that the refs are scared of Serratore cause I swear nothing is ever called on Air Force and they dive all over the place (in my humble homer opinion)

This is a HHO I can agree with. To be nice about it, it always seems to me that they get the benefit of the doubt. I didn't see, or hear, last night's game, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened again (the lopsided penalty stats, even neglecting the two 10s, support this theory).

Loos like AFA and RIT might be battling for home ice in the first round of the play-offs, not a bye.

 

[MattS]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Though I don't necessarily put Wilson on a pedestal, I'm definitely one of those people who doesn't automatically blame a coach when things go south. Fact is Wilson has been here for a long time and has been successful the vast majority of years. We lose 8 seniors and a ton of talent and now we're struggling. I'm not sure Jerry York himself could keep this defensive core from giving up 4-5+ goals a game, or get Watson to stop giving up the proverbial 1 soft GWG per game.

I get your point that we're making a lot of the same mistakes, but I'm sure Wilson recognizes that and is trying to correct it. But at the end of the day it falls on the players to practice and get better, and to correct their mistakes. Wilson can only tell them what to do, he can't put on their jersey for them and play a shift against Air Force. Besides Saracino, we really don't have an upper classman on the blue line. Noyes to me looks like he really wants to be a forward, Descautaux and Raibl have always been, well...eh. I think the young guys are showing promise though. I like Kuqali and Brownell, and they don't seem to be the ones with the disastrous errors very often.

It's certainly not all Wilson's fault the team's record is where it is. But he certainly should take his fair share. I'm not saying fire him or anything like that, but I do not think he should get a pass because the team lost 8 seniors. Who's fault is that? Not the players, his.

Yes, it is the players who ultimately have to play the game, but it's the coach's job to teach. And I think part of the teaching is getting players to improve. So far that isn't happening this season.

In my mind it's a 50/50 split between coaches and players as to who is to blame for the season.



I think my biggest problem, and I know I sound like a broken record, is why hasn't that FF run turned into at least one stud player? I certainly understand the limitations Wilson has with recruiting at RIT and don't expect him to pull in a Trouba caliber talent, but I think at least one or two highly (for RIT) talented players isn't out of the question. The sophomore class certainly doesn't have that type player and so far the freshman do not either. These are the same talent level players RIT was recruiting four and five years ago. Good AHA caliber talent but not great AHA talent.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

This is a HHO I can agree with. To be nice about it, it always seems to me that they get the benefit of the doubt. I didn't see, or hear, last night's game, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened again (the lopsided penalty stats, even neglecting the two 10s, support this theory).

Loos like AFA and RIT might be battling for home ice in the first round of the play-offs, not a bye.

AF had issues with the penalties during the Friday night game against Mercyhurst where AF was called for 7 infractions vs 4 for Mercyhurst. With the same same crew refereeing the Sunday game, IMO, it would have been hard for ANY team to play against AF on Sunday and not be called for more penalties.

 

[cplinford]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

AF had issues with the penalties during the Friday night game against Mercyhurst where AF was called for 7 infractions vs 4 for Mercyhurst. With the same same crew refereeing the Sunday game, IMO, it would have been hard for ANY team to play against AF on Sunday and not be called for more penalties.

Listening to the broadcast it seemed like several flagrant calls weren't made on air force. In Serratore's post game video he was asked about that. There was at least 1 reference to a possible drama major being offered at Air Force or something to that effect (in the broadcast not the post game interview )

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

I'd honestly say that most of the penalties last night were deserved, despite how lop sided the calls were. What really upsets me is that Air Forces first goal was a blatant kick into the net.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

I think my biggest problem, and I know I sound like a broken record, is why hasn't that FF run turned into at least one stud player? I certainly understand the limitations Wilson has with recruiting at RIT and don't expect him to pull in a Trouba caliber talent, but I think at least one or two highly (for RIT) talented players isn't out of the question. The sophomore class certainly doesn't have that type player and so far the freshman do not either. These are the same talent level players RIT was recruiting four and five years ago. Good AHA caliber talent but not great AHA talent.

This is a good question, and I don't have an answer to it. On paper, we had some great recruits. For example, Hamburg is our first ever draft pick, and Ruby was once touted as one of the USA's top goalie prospects. However we have not seen the production from any of them that we expected. Whether that's just bad luck or coaching or guys being overrated I don't know, but you are right that the results aren't there. Three years later we're still searching for the next Brenner or Favot.

 

[Zyklon]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

This is a good question, and I don't have an answer to it. On paper, we had some great recruits. For example, Hamburg is our first ever draft pick, and Ruby was once touted as one of the USA's top goalie prospects. However we have not seen the production from any of them that we expected. Whether that's just bad luck or coaching or guys being overrated I don't know, but you are right that the results aren't there. Three years later we're still searching for the next Brenner or Favot.

1. Hamburg has looked good, but 1 player does not make a line.
2. Goalies can't live on the uncertainty of playing or not, honestly platooning does not work in my opinion and I'd rather it not be done that much. Yes, if a goalie is not playing well play the other one or give him a game off here or there, also realize these goalies have not seen a lot of action at the collegiate level and not up to speed, it takes time. If you remember when madolora first started it took him a little while to get up to speed. I remember how bad he looked even his freshman year against Wisconsin when they put him in at the end.
3. Favot/Brenner... well those were individual players. Knowles was kinda like Favot and Miller seems to flash similar speed every so often. Brenner was a big guy up front, I think a lot of our defensemen have been trying to play that role (for good or bad) rather than a forward. Also realize, we're looking for output not necessarily play style. Adam Mitchell (quietly, everyone always seems to forget about him as he doesn't have much flare) and Smith have been putting up good offensive numbers so far this year.

Just my 2 cents, I could've made a mistake and I didn't proofread or re-read at all.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

1. Hamburg has looked good, but 1 player does not make a line.

Maybe we have to agree to disagree here. I expected more out of an NHL draftee than 4 points (1g) in 11 games. He's played on a number of lines and hasn't produced on any of them. Surely someone of his talent should be capable of more than 4 points?

2. Goalies can't live on the uncertainty of playing or not, honestly platooning does not work in my opinion and I'd rather it not be done that much. Yes, if a goalie is not playing well play the other one or give him a game off here or there, also realize these goalies have not seen a lot of action at the collegiate level and not up to speed, it takes time. If you remember when madolora first started it took him a little while to get up to speed. I remember how bad he looked even his freshman year against Wisconsin when they put him in at the end.

True, but there's no option besides platooning in order to decide who should get into the drivers seat. Platooning isn't going to help, but that's no excuse for Ruby to have a GAA over 4.00 and a save percentage below 88%. Watson earned the #1 spot more for Ruby fighting the puck than for his own talent, though he has posted reasonable numbers in AHA contents. I hope Watson continues to improve. At this point he has one or two glaring flaws in his mechanics that are haunting us during every contest and you can be **** sure any opponent's coach is telling his guys to shoot 5 hole and make him go post to post.

3. Favot/Brenner... well those were individual players. Knowles was kinda like Favot and Miller seems to flash similar speed every so often. Brenner was a big guy up front, I think a lot of our defensemen have been trying to play that role (for good or bad) rather than a forward. Also realize, we're looking for output not necessarily play style. Adam Mitchell (quietly, everyone always seems to forget about him as he doesn't have much flare) and Smith have been putting up good offensive numbers so far this year.

Individual players who were very good, which is the point. Why have we not managed to recruit such stellar individuals since? Mitchell is quietly having a good year, but he's not on pace to get 22 goals like Brenner got. We're not whispering about the NHL scouts at the rink to watch him play. Smiths good year has been derailed by his injury, hopefully he comes back and picks up where he left off.

 

[Zyklon]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Maybe we have to agree to disagree here. I expected more out of an NHL draftee than 4 points (1g) in 11 games. He's played on a number of lines and hasn't produced on any of them. Surely someone of his talent should be capable of more than 4 points?

I'm not going to say we have to disagree. Yes, he should perform better. However if you look at his stats he didn't put up any absurdly gaudy stats in the USHL like McGowan, Garbowsky and Reid did in the BCHL.
Hamburg - http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=40885
McGowan - http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=47364
Garbowsky - http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=47165
Reid - http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=46053

True, but there's no option besides platooning in order to decide who should get into the drivers seat. Platooning isn't going to help, but that's no excuse for Ruby to have a GAA over 4.00 and a save percentage below 88%. Watson earned the #1 spot more for Ruby fighting the puck than for his own talent, though he has posted reasonable numbers in AHA contents. I hope Watson continues to improve. At this point he has one or two glaring flaws in his mechanics that are haunting us during every contest and you can be **** sure any opponent's coach is telling his guys to shoot 5 hole and make him go post to post.

I agree, both Watson and Ruby were actually highly recruited. Ruby was known to be a very streaky goaltender who could put up absurd numbers at times. Watson had equally as impressive stats.

Watson - http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=47172
Ruby - http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=76873

Individual players who were very good, which is the point. Why have we not managed to recruit such stellar individuals since? Mitchell is quietly having a good year, but he's not on pace to get 22 goals like Brenner got. We're not whispering about the NHL scouts at the rink to watch him play. Smiths good year has been derailed by his injury, hopefully he comes back and picks up where he left off.

True, we don't have any pure goal scorers who will just continually light it up. As mentioned earlier I think both Garbowsky and McGowan have that ability. Colavecchia could but he'd need to be on the right line (although his Jr stats suggest he was actually a better defensive forward than scorer, +25). Potts in the juniors also put up nice numbers and was a goal scorer.

As can be seen, most of those guys were playmakers or snipers/goal scorers. The Freshman actually are more assist guys, Josh Mitchell's stats in Jr's were "33 goals [and] 105 assists for 138 points in 173 games" and Schuler in 2 seasons in BCHL was "68 points on 28 goals and 40 assists".

-All quotes from RIT website or eliteprospects for stats.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Goaltending is poor at best.

Only if anything below "stellar" is "poor".


Powers &8^]

 

[AFHockeyFan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

This is a HHO I can agree with. To be nice about it, it always seems to me that they get the benefit of the doubt. I didn't see, or hear, last night's game, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened again (the lopsided penalty stats, even neglecting the two 10s, support this theory).

Loos like AFA and RIT might be battling for home ice in the first round of the play-offs, not a bye.

Air Force got hosed with a bunch of ticky-tack calls friday night against Mercyhurst, which led to 3 PPG. This crew just isn't very good.

The league is just making sure RIT sells a bunch of tickets for our visit next year, since it looks like both teams will be on the road for the playoffs and neither will make it to the BCA.

I think everyone is a little scared of Serratore...

I know I am!

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Only if anything below "stellar" is "poor".


Powers &8^]

Josh Watson (8 GP):
3.19 GAA
0.899 SvPct

Jordan Ruby (5 GP)
4.78 GAA
0.873 SvPct

I'm sorry but a save percentage below .900 at any level can certainly not be considered good. For a goalie in the AHA, .910 should really be the low bar. Watson's numbers are nearing respectable in AHA play, admittedly, but you definitely can't call our goaltending situation good, and I would agree that it is definitely poor.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

So Watson's numbers are "nearing" respectable, but the situation is still "poor"?

Are you sure we haven't just been spoiled and need to have our perception of what constitutes "fair" or "OK" goaltending realigned a bit?


Powers &8^]

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

So Watson's numbers are "nearing" respectable, but the situation is still "poor"?

Are you sure we haven't just been spoiled and need to have our perception of what constitutes "fair" or "OK" goaltending realigned a bit?


Powers &8^]

Yes, because he's still not there. And the guys behind him on the bench are all not ready at all. I think to say Watson is our go-to number 1 starter is a poor situation to be in. And you know what? I don't think we were spoiled by Madolora. Look at the Niagara goalie, or the AIC goalie, or Komm over at Bentley. All those guys are real good. Guys that might not have the hype that Mads had, but they have great numbers and they are performing well, even with bad teams. Miesner couldn't have a worse defensive unit infront of him and yet he stands on his head and wins games. Watson doesn't do that. Pretty much every single team in the AHA has better goaltending and team GAA numbers than we do. That's poor.

Plus, look at the teams Watson has played in the AHA so far. He still has to face off against RMU, Niagara, Bentley, Army, etc.

 

[Bing]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

1. Our goaltending is not as good in D1 hockey as we thought it would be. I think that when recruiting our 3 goalies, we thought we were getting the cream of the crop, but we really weren't. Guimond was much better than the clowns we have in goal now. I'm not usually so critical, but we can't count on any of our goalies to make saves when we need them.

2. We have the offense.

3. We have terrible defense. Saracino cannot make up for the lack of talent on D. That's right... lack of talent and lack of effort to be good students of the game and do whatever it takes.

4. We have no enforcer. If we're going to take penalties, we had better make them count. I'm looking at you Kuqali.

5. We will make it to the quarter finals, but only after winning a play-in round this year. We might even make it to the semis, but I doubt any further. If we won the league, it would be a shame, because we would go nowhere in the NCAA tourney.

6. We need better recruiting and we need to use the Pollesini Center to draw in A-level talent. I was really disappointed when WW said that RIT will rarely (if ever) have players that go straight to the NHL. While that mindset is pragmatic, that's not what he should be saying on TV. He should say that as the program develops, and as the Rochester Community builds around this team, and if RIT goes all-D1 in 5-10 years, we'll have all the talent we can handle.

/rant.

 

[RITProf]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2012-2013 - Locked, Loaded, And Ready To Roar <<<<<

Only if anything below "stellar" is "poor".

"Poor" will be getting swept this weekend (I'd say P > 0.25).

"OK" would be sweeping this weekend and splitting the next 10 or so.

"Stellar" would be sweeping this weekend and then going on a 15 game unbeaten streak.

There's plenty happening right now that is "poor" or close to it and very little, if anything, that makes the word "stellar" come to mind.