>>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

[Ed Trefzger]

Every RIT Tigers freshman class in the Wayne Wilson era has left with a championship of some sort. The coach told Kevin Oklobzija that this year's seniors know they have this season to keep the streak alive, saying, "We're on the clock."

Welcome to the RIT 2019-2020 regular season thread.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I was thinking about that this offseason. I think the streak goes longer than that if I am not mistaken.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

This weekend's game is going to be an interesting one. While I prefer to start with the exhibition game, having a real game off the bat can be a good thing as everyone will be excited to go. I think this is a very winnable game against a Colgate team picked to be near the bottom of the ECAC and had an anemic offense last season.

I think the key for RIT is who will step up in scoring and make up the top line. There are several candidates that had solid seasons.
Defense will be important while the offense question gets figured out. I'm looking for a big year out of Brubaker.
Drackett will hopefully improve on a good year last year.

Go Tigers!

 

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

PSA: For those of you with ESPN+, RIT-Colgate is being aired right now. Will also be available on replay after the fact if you have the service.

 

[unscarred76]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Solid win tonight, great powerplay and penalty kill for first game! However, they carried over their problem with committing penalties. Got a jump start on the most penalty minutes stat. But Drackett look great, he had a shot on the empty net but shot it wide. Has there ever been a goalie in RIT history to score? I bet he does before he graduates

 

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Like last year, I thought they got a little passive once they took the two goal lead in the 2nd (and of course started taking penalties again), but they played better in the 3rd at least up until Willett's selfish feel-good retaliation penalty halfway through it (and obviously the PK'ers did a nice job of killing that). Drackett was a little adventurous, and frankly was a little lucky a couple of times, but was really good when he was actually inside his crease.

How do suspensions work in non-conference games? Does Atlantic Hockey still control the discipline? I can easily see Willett's rush of the blood to the head cost him at least one game next weekend. In terms of the officiating, certainly there could have been a minor for the hit on Willett that started the scrum, but once nothing was called in the moment, the only major in the sequence was Willett's cross check to the head of an opponent.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Solid win tonight, great powerplay and penalty kill for first game! However, they carried over their problem with committing penalties. Got a jump start on the most penalty minutes stat. But Drackett look great, he had a shot on the empty net but shot it wide. Has there ever been a goalie in RIT history to score? I bet he does before he graduates

Quite a few of the penalties were by the freshmen, so I'm willing to give them a pass for now as they adjust to the speed of the game. They can't take that many penalties next weekend with the step up in quality of competition. Good to see Drackett, Cameron, and Brubaker get off to good starts.

 

[sammich824]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Solid win tonight, great powerplay and penalty kill for first game! However, they carried over their problem with committing penalties. Got a jump start on the most penalty minutes stat. But Drackett look great, he had a shot on the empty net but shot it wide. Has there ever been a goalie in RIT history to score? I bet he does before he graduates

For what it's worth RIT was 4th in PIM last year in Atlantic Hockey and 23rd overall in Division I

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

For the Icebreaker, what is the protocol for ties since it is a tournament? Will they just do shootout after 5x5? 3x3 then shootout?

 

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

For the Icebreaker, what is the protocol for ties since it is a tournament?

Eastern teams should don ascots while the Western teams should wear the bolo.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Eastern teams should don ascots while the Western teams should wear the bolo.

My ascot wears an ascot....

 

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Well, Atlantic Hockey is up against it in regards to the schedule this weekend - 6 AHA teams are playing against ranked opponents - but for the moment the AHA is up to 4-3-1 in non-conference play after Mercyhurst beat St. Lawrence 5-3 this afternoon.

The only other game tonight where an Atlantic Hockey team is playing a non-ranked opponent is Army vs. UConn. Overall 11 of the AHA's 14 non-conference games this weekend are against ranked teams. Hopefully the conference can pull a couple of other shocks as well...beginning at Bowling Green, of course.

Also, looks like you're getting your answer in Game 1 of the Icebreaker, Komey...looks like 5 min 5X5 OT followed by 3X3 OT followed by a shootout? Doesn't look like the RIT game will start on time.

EDIT: Apparently collegehockeynews.com was just on drugs and the Mercyhurst-St. Lawrence game has a normal 7:05 start time today (currently 1-1) . My bad. Still leaving the above up for the rest of the info lol.

 

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

HOLY FRESHMEN!

Great win after needing a period or so to wake up . Atlantic Hockey as a whole remains at .500 (4-4-0 tonight) despite playing 6 of 8 games against ranked opponents.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Great win for RIT. The freshmen have come up huge so far. It's been a while since RIT has started 2-0. I don't think they have been 2-0 ever in the DI era.

The league as a whole getting all thee win early will be huge for NCAA seeding for whomever comes out of the league, and possibly help garner an at-large berth.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I'm going to "borrow" from one of my favorite Baseball Writer/radio show host and do a little RIT review for every game I attend this year, or at least will try too.

Orange Cat Review RIT Vs. Bowling Green - Ice Breaker Game


Puck Drop: Coming off a nice opening win at Colgate RIT faced a very good and ranked #17 Bowling Green Falcons in the second game of the Ice Breaker. The guys in mostly Orange came out in the first in dominant fashion the problem for the Tigers was that they were wearing mostly black. The game got going late thanks to the first game going all the way to the shootout and the Tigers looked like they showed up late getting out shoot 15-3 in the first. But Logan Drackatt got to the game on time stopping all but one Bowling Green shot in the 1st. The Falcons did put two goals in the net in the first, but one was decided to be with a high stick after review. The Tigers did flip the script though and ended up walking out with an OT win that will count in the NCAA Selection process.

Blame Game: I want to blame the LED Lights that gave me a headache and the crazy bounces that come off the boards in the Huntington Center. Other than that it really is a great arena and could really be a great regional site.

Hockey Hero: Caleb Moretz OT Winner, lots been talked about this freshman and he picked a great time to score his first collegiate goal.

Turing Point: RIT looked like a lower level team vs. the Falcons for the first period, it was ugly. You need not advance metrics to know Bowling Green was dominating puck procession and in control of play. In the second the Tigers clawed their way back in evening play on the ice, but went down 2-0 when Casey Linkenheld scored to give Bowling Green a 2-0 lead, but just 34 seconds later Brody Valette found himself at the top of the circle and fired the puck past goaltender Eric Dop. I am not sure the Tigers stay in the game if that goal is not scored quickly, was so deflating after playing better to go down 2-0, and to get that one back was big.

Hey, You Did Good: Colton Trumbla, Bryson Traptow, and Jordan Peacock was RIT’s best line tonight. Trumbla had 2 assists, the primary on that big Valette goal, and the secondary on the game winner. Peacock chipped in an assist too.

Look, You Need to Do Better: Look, RIT defense core is a strength of this team but there is one weakness I see back there that teams are going to exploit if they don’t get better with quick transition coverage in the open ice. Both Bowling Green goals came off of even rushes into the RIT goals where they got some open ice and just skated by an RIT defense that needed a GPS cause they got lost with all the quick twists and turns. Bowling Green is a great quick team, but this is something I noticed especially in RIT season ending loss last year to Niagara, you make RIT Defense get very mobile they start running into problems.

Good Move Wayne: I thought the coaching staff did a great job of getting the team to stick with it counter punch and came out with a big OT Win

WILSON!!!!!!!!! (Second-Guessing Wilson): Whatever the pregame speech was throw it out. Tigers were terrible in the first, I need another $8.75 Budweiser

Breathless: Last year the Tigers really benefitted from the growing pains of Logan Drackett’s freshman year. Well this year they could really have something as Logan, maybe he didn’t steal the game, you could have a good debate, but he certainly kept it from getting out of hand and gave his team a chance to win. He has now stopped 63 of 66 shots for a .955% save percentage. Got Goalie? Yes the Tigers do and you can win when you have that.

Next Shift Up: After slaying their first ranked opponent the Tigers will face #12 ranked Ohio State who got by Western Michigan in a shoot out win earlier today. Winner takes home the Championship of the Ice Breaker. It will be interesting to see how the 2-0 RIT Tigers come out…

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Good breakdown Tom.

A couple points I want to add from listening to the broadcast. While I don't think that the first RIT goal needed to be THAT quick after Bowling Green scored their second goal, I do think that they needed to score the next goal. That goal was clearly a game changer, though.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Good breakdown Tom.

A couple points I want to add from listening to the broadcast. While I don't think that the first RIT goal needed to be THAT quick after Bowling Green scored their second goal, I do think that they needed to score the next goal. That goal was clearly a game changer, though.

I don't know anything is possible, but it was highly deflating to see them play better than give up a goal which really was just a break down. Perhaps they still would have come back, but the quick goal drastically changed the game...

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Orange Cat Review RIT Vs. Ohio State - Ice Breaker Championship Game


Puck Drop: Coming off their win Friday RIT faced the state nuts for the right to lift the Ice Breaker Championship trophy. RIT played a good first and was rewarded with a 1-0 lead when Alden Dupuis scored on the power play for RIT. Power play is off to a good start for the Tigers at 27%. However a bad bounce and penalties later lead to RIT dropping the game 3-1. Overall not a bad weekend but a little disappointing and Logan Dracket was hands down the best goaltender at the tourament and gave RIT a chance to win that tournament. More on Logan later.

Blame Game: Referees I guess, everyone always wants to blame them, but the tigers really hurt themselves with bad penalties. Look the Roughing call on Nick Bruce in the third was a bad call, he angled off his guy, knocked him off the puck, the guy falls awkwardly into the lines man and somehow Bruce gets the penalty by the ref who has the worst view of the hit. But the Tigers really flirted with and finally got a major which lead to the PP Goal that did them in. Andrew Petrucci was really careless with his hit and flirted with more than 2 minutes, I think 2 was the correct call, but it caught my attention. But it's hard to argue a review that lead to Brody Valette getting sent to the showers early. I was afraid that their was head contact. The only argument I think you can come up with is that AHA officials rarely seem to review this call, but it's hard to blame WCHA refs for doing their job correctly.

Hockey Hero: Ronnie Hein, the senior from Chelsea, Michigan had two power play goals including the game winner for Ohio State.

Turing Point: RIT was in the zip code of playing Ohio State Even when around 9 minutes and 30 seconds when Logan Dracket attempted to play a puck behind his net that he fired around the glass and appeared to hit flat and somehow bounced straight towards the net. Miguel Fidler was right there who moved the puck to Quinn Preston who just as quickly got the puck to Ronnie Hein for the equalizer. I can't afford to buy new boards, but will offer to donate a level to the Huntington Center. Saw some of the craziest bounces all weekend. They need to work on those boards...

Hey, You Did Good: Logan Drackett was better than good he was great all weekend. He kept the Tigers in, and made a highlight quality save late. Logan has now stopped 94 of the 100 shots he has faced in 3 games. Makes for an easy time computing his save percentage too.

Look, You Need to Do Better: Calling all upper clansmen, we still looking for a vet to step up with scoring. It's going to be a search for a Brennan Sarazin to emerge to score some goals.

Good Move Wayne: I think the game plan was sound, and was working. When the team took a punch with the bad bounce it really did not recover, Ohio State really dominated play the rest of the game.

WILSON!!!!!!!!! (Second-Guessing Wilson): As mention before Bad Penalties are still a bad characteristic of this program. It really started 3 years ago, there has been some improvement, but it still happens. This day and age Officials are trained to call it tight on head shots and hits along the board. Team has to get with it, or sit in the box, or the locker room if they get kicked out.

Breathless: So RIT is 2-1-0, with two games played against national rank opponents. Good News, but the bad, you know how I said that Logan Drackett has faced 100 shots, RIT has put just 61 shots on the other goaltenders...

Next Shift Up: RIT is coming home for Brick City at Blue Cross with a game against Merrimack who was swept by Lake Superior to start the season and lost 11-5 tonight to Wisconsin. Merrimack will play a Thursday game at Holy Cross. RIT should be a favorite. This kind of reminds me of Blue Cross when Penn State played there after being beat by Buff State the night before. Hope to see a better game by RIT.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I think if you did a poll of RIT fans asking if they would be happy coming away with a win on the weekend where they play 2 ranked team, I think most would take it. And even in the loss, they weren't blown away, but killed themselves with penalties. Being 2-1 going into the homecoming game against a so-far struggling Merrimack makes me think that a good result is in the offing. 'Mack also has a date against Holy Cross on Thursday, so that should be advantage RIT in terms of rest.

I think the thing the team can take out of these 3 games is that they can play with just about anyone. I think they should be confident about being able to win a lot of games.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Surprised not to see any coverage of the Ice Breaker on USCHO.com. Used to be big news around these parts.


Powers &8^]