>>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

[jflory81]

Sounds like he's changing up his typically laid back approach this year. Sure glad to hear it. Tonight was a much better effort. Good hustle, and much sharper passing and movement. Hopefully this lesson sticks for the rest of the season.

Well, aside from the first period, which was pretty inexcusable coming off a loss. Whatever he said between the 1st and 2nd he should bottle up, because they came out a completely different team.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Sounds like he's changing up his typically laid back approach this year. Sure glad to hear it. Tonight was a much better effort. Good hustle, and much sharper passing and movement. Hopefully this lesson sticks for the rest of the season.

Well I just came from the Army Air Force game where Air Force won again and swept the weekend series in West Point. We all know Franks style and I can tell you not only does he bark out orders to his players he also grabs the ears of the linesmen and referees and if it means that he gets a call once in awhile where he might not have otherwise and they score on the ensuing power play I’d say it’s worth it to be a vocal coach behind the bench. Glad RIT picked up a late goal and salvaged a tie.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

Hard to believe this team that is now 1-2-1 in Atlantic Hockey play was, not that long ago, top 5 in PWR and had just won 6-1 at homecoming vs a Hockey East foe.

Wilson more or less said tonight that injuries are preventing him from being able to make any lineup changes, which is not a great spot to be in given how the team as a whole is performing.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

Hard to believe this team that is now 1-2-1 in Atlantic Hockey play was, not that long ago, top 5 in PWR and had just won 6-1 at homecoming vs a Hockey East foe.

The PA road trip is never easy. This is also a very young team. It's hard to trust PWR because it's WAAAAAAAY too soon to pay attention to it. It's fun to be sure, but not realistic. Every team goes into slumps. Look at BC this year.

They have a bunch of games coming up at the GPC. Win most of those and everything will be fine.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

They have a bunch of games coming up at the GPC. Win most of those and everything will be fine.

I hope you’re right Komey, looks like 8 of the next 10 will be at home with trips to Northeastern and Niagara being the only 2 away games. Interested to see how this team responds if our coaches are changing their coaching tactics with this young team mid stream.

 

[Hockeyplayer82]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

I hope you’re right Komey, looks like 8 of the next 10 will be at home with trips to Northeastern and Niagara being the only 2 away games. Interested to see how this team responds if our coaches are changing their coaching tactics with this young team mid stream.

look at the numbers. Most numbers are very average, ranked 6 or 7 out of 11. Except scoring last in Atlantic hockey.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

...not that long ago, top 5 in PWR

Not only is it too early to look at PWR, the actual calculation is statistically pretty meaningless, if not downright invalid with this small of a sample size.

and had just won 6-1 at homecoming vs a Hockey East foe.

When did Colgate move to Hockey East?

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

looks like 8 of the next 10 will be at home with trips to Northeastern and Niagara being the only 2 away games.

It doesn't just look like 8 out of 10. It actually is 8 out of 10 ... and for that matter, 9 out of 11 after they complete the home-and-home with Niagara.

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

look at the numbers. Most numbers are very average, ranked 6 or 7 out of 11. Except scoring last in Atlantic hockey.

Give it some time. Nobody else had to play their first four games on the road against RMU and MU. We'll have to wait a while to see how strong these teams end up being on the season, but most years that would be considered a pretty brutal beginning to a season, schedule-wise.

 

[Transplanted Tiger Fan]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

The PA road trip is never easy. This is also a very young team. It's hard to trust PWR because it's WAAAAAAAY too soon to pay attention to it. It's fun to be sure, but not realistic. Every team goes into slumps. Look at BC this year.

They have a bunch of games coming up at the GPC. Win most of those and everything will be fine.

I don't know, man... the home games certainly are nice, and personally I love the GPC as a hockey venue, but statistically it has not been very good to "us", and there is little-to-no evidence of any ‘home ice advantage’ over recent years. Home and Away records since 2014 (both overall and conference), from collegehockeystats:

            [U]Overall Home[/U]  [U]Conf Home[/U]  [U]Overall Away[/U]  [U]Conf Away
[/U]2017-2018:     6-13-1       5-9-0       9-7-1        8-5-1
2016-2017:     6-13-1       5-9-0       8-9-0        8-6-0
2015-2016:     5- 8-3       5-7-2      11-6-3        9-2-3
2014-2015:    10- 6-3       7-4-3       7-7-2        7-5-2

Only one winning season on-record... this must change. Maybe load the team on a bus and drive-around Henrietta before the games?

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

It doesn't just look like 8 out of 10. It actually is 8 out of 10 ... and for that matter, 9 out of 11 after they complete the home-and-home with Niagara.

Just giving myself some “wiggle room” if I mis-read something

This morning I checked up on a few alums. Brady Norrish is the leading scorer amongst defensemen for the ECHL Idaho Steelhead with 8 points in 11 games with 3 goals and 5 assists, with 2 of those goals coming on the power play. I hope he has a great season. Early season certainly looks promising.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Maybe load the team on a bus and drive-around Henrietta before the games?

Drive that bus to a local budget hotel in the neighborhood the night before the games and make the team stay at the hotel, no cable tv and no electronics, they can do homework if they’d like, and a lights out curfew.
They will be plenty upset in the morning, and wanting to get at it. Maybe too many distractions at the comforts of home?

 

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

... and no electronics, they can do homework if they’d like...

They can't do their homework with no electronics.

They will be plenty upset in the morning, and wanting to get at it. Maybe too many distractions at the comforts of home?

I don't think it's as much the excess of comforts for RIT players at home as it might be the excess comfort the visiting teams feel when they come into GPC. Contrast that with the discomfort they used to feel playing at Ritter. It's got to make a difference. The building is much nicer, more modern and better facilities. Not to mention the environment being much less hostile feeling with the stands being so sparsely populated in many areas for most games.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

They can't do their homework with no electronics.


I don't think it's as much the excess of comforts for RIT players at home as it might be the excess comfort the visiting teams feel when they come into GPC. Contrast that with the discomfort they used to feel playing at Ritter. It's got to make a difference. The building is much nicer, more modern and better facilities. Not to mention the environment being much less hostile feeling with the stands being so sparsely populated in many areas for most games.

A couple years ago I was talking to an Army Mom who made the trip to RIT to watch her son and the Army team play the Tigers at the GPC. She said it was a beautiful and very nice arena. Nice atmosphere I suppose. Comfy maybe? I wondered if she shared that same opinion of the Ritter? Probably not. One thing I did notice is a tweet from RIT mentioning that students are free this Friday night and there is a long sleeve orange T-shirt giveaway. Hopefully they fill the place with screaming orange clad fans like a mini brick city. That could only help our Tigers.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

I don't know, man... the home games certainly are nice, and personally I love the GPC as a hockey venue, but statistically it has not been very good to "us", and there is little-to-no evidence of any ‘home ice advantage’ over recent years. Home and Away records since 2014 (both overall and conference), from collegehockeystats:

            [U]Overall Home[/U]  [U]Conf Home[/U]  [U]Overall Away[/U]  [U]Conf Away
[/U]2017-2018:     6-13-1       5-9-0       9-7-1        8-5-1
2016-2017:     6-13-1       5-9-0       8-9-0        8-6-0
2015-2016:     5- 8-3       5-7-2      11-6-3        9-2-3
2014-2015:    10- 6-3       7-4-3       7-7-2        7-5-2

Only one winning season on-record... this must change. Maybe load the team on a bus and drive-around Henrietta before the games?

Not disagreeing with recent history - just saying that it's an opportunity that they need to take advantage of.

 

[Hockeyplayer82]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

Not disagreeing with recent history - just saying that it's an opportunity that they need to take advantage of.

If the Blackhawks can let Quenville go after 3 stanley cups, then anyone can be let go. Penalty issues, recruiting and winning at home are coaching. Figure it out or a winning season is impossible.

 

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

Give it some time. Nobody else had to play their first four games on the road against RMU and MU. We'll have to wait a while to see how strong these teams end up being on the season, but most years that would be considered a pretty brutal beginning to a season, schedule-wise.

Did you miss Army playing their first four conference games on the road against RMU and MU? And going 3-0-1 against them with a 15-7 GF-GA?

 

[Hockeyplayer82]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

Did you miss Army playing their first four conference games on the road against RMU and MU? And going 3-0-1 against them with a 15-7 GF-GA?

That is a good point. No excuses about road games, all teams have to play them. If road games early in the season are to difficult for RIT then the coach should schedule differently. By the way AIC is no joke home or away and they typically steal one while on the road against RIT. This weekend is a very early deciding factor where this season will go. If AIC sweeps, that would be a challenge for RIT to rebound. Split is not good enough at this point because of where RIT is in the standings. So, a sweep for RIT is the only option.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

That is a good point. No excuses about road games, all teams have to play them. If road games early in the season are to difficult for RIT then the coach should schedule differently. By the way AIC is no joke home or away and they typically steal one while on the road against RIT. This weekend is a very early deciding factor where this season will go. If AIC sweeps, that would be a challenge for RIT to rebound. Split is not good enough at this point because of where RIT is in the standings. So, a sweep for RIT is the only option.

Well near capacity crowds could not hurt, let’s hope for big crowds this weekend.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<

If the Blackhawks can let Quenville go after 3 stanley cups, then anyone can be let go. Penalty issues, recruiting and winning at home are coaching. Figure it out or a winning season is impossible.

I don't recall seeing a single thing positive from you about RIT. Are you a dad of a player that is not getting ice time?

Let's be real, it's going to be extremely difficult to get a better coach than Wayne Wilson go to come and coach DI hockey for a team that cannot offer athletic scholarships in a league like Atlantic Hockey. He took a team 5 years removed form a DIII team to a Frozen Four. He has taken RIT to 3 NCAA tournaments in DI with a record of 3-3 in those games. The only candidates that you would likely get are assistant head coaches looking to move to head coaching, DIII head coaches looking to move up, or a coach that is trying to rebuild his reputation. None of these to me are a better option.

Does that mean I think everything is perfect? No. The home ice record gets under my skin a lot - I remember seasons where RIT might lose only 1 home game. The penalties are frustrating - but some of that is incompetence of Atlantic Hockey referees. A bunch of teams won't schedule non conference games with Atlantic Hockey opponents if the AHC refs are used. Early season is getting used to the new points of emphasis - and also some places are notorious for the refs being more generous to the home crowd. Recruiting is hard - especially if you can't offer athletic scholarships. But let's also not forget that other teams in the league have made significant upgrades to their programs.