>>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

"Rumor" has it that Garbowsky maybe done for the season with a hand injury...

If this is true, then I do not see much opportunity for a miraculous turnaround. Not only is he a leader, he's one of the few on this team who doesn't seem to ever take his foot off the gas, win or lose. The team is already this bad with him...hard to imagine it without our second highest points scorer and Captain.

 

[SmallTown]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

In other news, Burt has been called up from the Reign to the Manchester Monarchs on a tryout contract.

http://www.manchestermonarchs.com/news/monarchsnews/?article_id=103

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I'm going to give it until at least mid season before I start pushing it, but the slogan #firewaynewilson is starting to seem justifiable.

I would not support that, and frankly or bluntly say it would just show a sign of an idiot...

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I would not support that, and frankly or bluntly say it would just show a sign of an idiot...

I don't support it either, however it is clear that something about his system causes severe early season issues. And his teams always play far too pretty...he calls them out every week on the radio but it never changes. Does this mean that his system is broken or they aren't listening to him? Either one is concerning.

He runs a more offensively minded team, which traditionally has worked because we had great scoring, medicore defense, and good enough goaltending to make up for it. Now we have mediocre offense, defense, and goaltending so our system just isn't able to hold itself up. We don't have the offense to make up for our poor defense and we don't have the defense to make up for "only" scoring 3 goals a game.

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I'm sorry, but can you point to any signs of progress or improvement over the last 3 seasons? This decrease in performance can be attributed to a lot of things, including coaching, recruitment, or play style, all of which stems from team management. Call me an idiot all you want, but to not consider the faults of the coaching staff and to hold them invulnerable to change is just short sighted.

I would not support that, and frankly or bluntly say it would just show a sign of an idiot...

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Wayne's system has always been aggressive. Years that I see the Tigers struggle has normally been when Defensemen struggle. RIT does a lot of pinching at the points and sometimes a turn over results in an odd man rush. I recall one of the last season where RIT struggled in the D-III days where it seem every goal was off a turnover at the point. I have a hard time calling it a mediocre offense, too much of the offense return from last years team which was second in the league in scoring to Mercyhurst.

You have a coach who has been here for 15 seasons. If there is no turn around this season this would be only his 4th medicore season in my opinion. I think it much more likely to believe there may just be some guys in the room who just are not working out than a coach who has more often than not succeeded. Now can you blame the coaches on recruiting, sure always. But when you consider that Ruby caught the eye of NHL central scounting and Hamburg impressed the scouts enough to get drafted it's hard to say they didn't find talent. Sometimes you get a kid to College and it just doesn't work out no matter how bad you want it to. We have had a few of those over the years, lucky for us not to many bunch together. I don't even think we will know for a few years, it takes time to figure things out. The last time we had a group of bad eggs in there it took us a couple years later before we ID the class that was the problem, but there was little debate on the class that was the issue...

This is all speculation. And because of the talent I do see I still think there is hope. But people's frustration are becoming much more justified this season.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

He runs a more offensively minded team, which traditionally has worked because we had great scoring, medicore defense, and good enough goaltending to make up for it.

I wonder if more teams today in the AHA are employing a neutral zone trap which forces a free wheeling offensive team like RIT into dumping and chasing the puck into the offensive zone. Play another free wheeling offensive team and you have an exciting game with end to end action where either team could win. Play a neutral zone trap team and you can't figure out the trap, and you don't have a forecheck, you could be in for a difficult night. I've read that many teams in the ECAC employ the neutral zone trap including Union and Cornell. I'm not sure about SLU but if RIT can't skate through the neutral zone on Friday night and resorts to dumping and chasing I'll have my answer. I'm not saying that dumping and chasing won't work against SLU but I'm merely repeating what Winters implies, that RIT is an offensive minded team and that a trap could cause and may have already imposed problems for RIT by teams that have already used it. I haven't studied the other AHA teams to know which teams use it.

 

[cplinford]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

There is a hockey cliche that you build a team from the goaltender out. We definitely had some question marks there last year and that has sort of stabilized. You could argue if Ruby is as good as Madalora or DeMike but either way the situation is better than last year. Moving out from the goalie I agree with Tom that I think we have struggled to find that stud defenseman since Ringwald graduated. Your offense starts with the breakout. Even Haltigan did not fair as well when he moved into that senior first defensive pair role. Having Tanev leave school after one year probably hurt the last couple of years but not this one.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

You could argue if Ruby is as good as Madalora or DeMike but either way the situation is better than last year.

He's not....

yet

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

I wonder if more teams today in the AHA are employing a neutral zone trap which forces a free wheeling offensive team like RIT into dumping and chasing the puck into the offensive zone. Play another free wheeling offensive team and you have an exciting game with end to end action where either team could win. Play a neutral zone trap team and you can't figure out the trap, and you don't have a forecheck, you could be in for a difficult night. I've read that many teams in the ECAC employ the neutral zone trap including Union and Cornell. I'm not sure about SLU but if RIT can't skate through the neutral zone on Friday night and resorts to dumping and chasing I'll have my answer. I'm not saying that dumping and chasing won't work against SLU but I'm merely repeating what Winters implies, that RIT is an offensive minded team and that a trap could cause and may have already imposed problems for RIT by teams that have already used it. I haven't studied the other AHA teams to know which teams use it.

SLU has a reputation in the ECAC as being one of only a few teams who typically play a fast, free wheeling game (Yale and arguably RPI being the others). That isn't to say they absolutely will never utilize a trap, however it is not their common system.

SLU is a pretty young team, skating 8-10 freshmen every game. The Carey brothers have come out of the gate as our top offensive weapons, however our 4th year starting goaltender has appeared to have some issues thus far. I wouldn't be shocked to see one of the other net minders for at least 1 game, and maybe both. With our youth, there has been some frustrating games so far, especially last weekend.

Hopefully it will be some exciting hockey at Ritter.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Team* has become.

Whatever problems many of us think they have, I seriously disagree with them being a "joke". They're not good, for sure. But last year's UAH team or the AIC teams of 5-10 years ago were jokes. RIT has some talent (at least on offense) and can compete. They just need to figure a few things out, shore up some positions here and there, and put things together and they will improve.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I wonder if more teams today in the AHA are employing a neutral zone trap which forces a free wheeling offensive team like RIT into dumping and chasing the puck into the offensive zone. Play another free wheeling offensive team and you have an exciting game with end to end action where either team could win. Play a neutral zone trap team and you can't figure out the trap, and you don't have a forecheck, you could be in for a difficult night. I've read that many teams in the ECAC employ the neutral zone trap including Union and Cornell. I'm not sure about SLU but if RIT can't skate through the neutral zone on Friday night and resorts to dumping and chasing I'll have my answer. I'm not saying that dumping and chasing won't work against SLU but I'm merely repeating what Winters implies, that RIT is an offensive minded team and that a trap could cause and may have already imposed problems for RIT by teams that have already used it. I haven't studied the other AHA teams to know which teams use it.

I'm not so sure the trap is the source of RIT's problems.
For one thing, although it is used by some teams, it isn't very easy to pull off without a red-line.
For another, it takes a lot of discipline and positioning while taking the skill and entertaintment level away from the game. Many schools realize the entertainment value needed to maintain fan bases, especially the ones that are not going to seriously contend for a national title. The programs that are all about winning national titles may consider it more, but those teams tend to attract high end talent and don't need to play a trapping style to win.
For another, when the Tigers decide to turn it on (for one or two periods each game usually), they buzz the opponents' net mercilessly as though there is no defense out there. Those teams most likely weren't trapping, or at least not very well.

I wasn't watching for it so I'm not sure, but I could imagine that the way the Colgate and Air Force games went that they could have been trapping. RIT generated very little sustained offensive pressure in the offensive zone and most of the offense they did generate was a long distance shot and no rebound.

 

[lmg6841]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

If I mentioned that an Atlantic Hockey team had a 1-6-2 record to a casual college hockey fan I'm sure they would come up with a description similar to "joke." The AHA as a league is still deemed far inferior in college hockey, and as it stands now we're below mediocre of the worst. Yes, I'm glad we're not UAH or AIC of recent years past, but I can't even pretend to call this RIT team a comparable program on the college hockey landscape. The potential is there, I agree, but potential doesn't win you championships, execution does.

Whatever problems many of us think they have, I seriously disagree with them being a "joke". They're not good, for sure. But last year's UAH team or the AIC teams of 5-10 years ago were jokes. RIT has some talent (at least on offense) and can compete. They just need to figure a few things out, shore up some positions here and there, and put things together and they will improve.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Whatever problems many of us think they have, I seriously disagree with them being a "joke". They're not good, for sure. But last year's UAH team or the AIC teams of 5-10 years ago were jokes. RIT has some talent (at least on offense) and can compete. They just need to figure a few things out, shore up some positions here and there, and put things together and they will improve.

And now look where RIT is, and where AIC is. That just hurts...

I wasn't watching for it so I'm not sure, but I could imagine that the way the Colgate and Air Force games went that they could have been trapping. RIT generated very little sustained offensive pressure in the offensive zone and most of the offense they did generate was a long distance shot and no rebound.

Air Force has mastered how to play against that. They just stuff 3 guys in the box so we have no lanes to get pretty. RIT is allergic to throwing pucks at the net (which also encourages players NOT to stand in the lanes) so we end up with little to no good opportunities. I don't think the neutral zone is our problem, nor is our puck possession. It's what we do with it once we have it in the offensive zone, which, to quote a friend of mine, is..."pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass to defense." If we stopped being pretty and just started generating offense by shooting pucks, we'd see more goals.

Think about all the success the PP had last year with Saracino on the point. They would pass back to him and instead of passing it along, he would fire a slapshot at the net. Not only did he get a pretty big number of goals for a defenseman, it opened up rebounds and more opportunities.

 

[QUAlum2004]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

RIT picked up a recruit today. Max Mikowski from the Buffalo Jr Sabres. A forward who has 6 goals and 11 assists in 20 games played. 3rd season with the Junior Sabres in the OJHL. He comes for the 2014-15 campaign.

 

[mar7967]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

It's what we do with it once we have it in the offensive zone, which, to quote a friend of mine, is..."pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass to defense." If we stopped being pretty and just started generating offense by shooting pucks, we'd see more goals.

you need a few more passes in there I think.

 

[Scott Biggar]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

RIT is allergic to throwing pucks at the net (which also encourages players NOT to stand in the lanes) so we end up with little to no good opportunities. I don't think the neutral zone is our problem, nor is our puck possession. It's what we do with it once we have it in the offensive zone, which, to quote a friend of mine, is..."pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass to defense." If we stopped being pretty and just started generating offense by shooting pucks, we'd see more goals.

I'm not arguing against your basic point, however you do realize that RIT is averaging 31.4 shots on goal per game, and had 36 SOG last night against Canisius, right? The opportunities were there, particularly in the second period but the biscuit wouldn't go in the basket, as they say.

And we were told prior to last night's game that Garbowsky is out indefinitely.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I'm not arguing against your basic point, however you do realize that RIT is averaging 31.4 shots on goal per game, and had 36 SOG last night against Canisius, right? The opportunities were there, particularly in the second period but the biscuit wouldn't go in the basket, as they say.

And we were told prior to last night's game that Garbowsky is out indefinitely.

We also had a ton of shots against Air Force, but really only a handful of chances. They weren't shots off rebounds or from the point, they were shots from individuals skating in against 3 guys and shooting right into Torfs chest. So frustrating.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

I thought some of the best chances missed the net Descoteaux and Colavecchia especially on the power play. They sometime though seem like they are stuck in-between trying to pick the corner when they can and just getting a good low hard shot that you would get a rebound goal on...

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS 2013-2014 - Rocking The Ritter One Last Time <<<<<

The opportunities were there, particularly in the second period but the biscuit wouldn't go in the basket, as they say.

And the beat goes on...