>>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Way back at the beginning of January, did anyone think we'd be finishing the season in third place?

Heck did anyone think third place was realistic on Thursday?

As the radio crew noted, of the top five teams, only RIT is on any sort of a winning streak heading into the playoffs.


Powers &8^]

RIT is definitely picking the right time of year to peak. It's very encouraging to see that even on a night when the MGM line is held scoreless and the other team's goalie stands on his head, the team is able to win thanks to stellar defense and strong goaltending.

 

[Rochester]

My question is, is RIT really in third or fourth and will RIT play Mercyhurst?

 

[Rochester]

I think a congratulations is in order for our RIT Women's hockey team after an underwhelming season and even being out shot 3-1, beat Robert Morris! Bring on Mercyhurst!

 

[TigerFan15]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

My question is, is RIT really in third or fourth and will RIT play Mercyhurst?

Final AHA Standings:

1. Robert Morris
2. Canisius
3. RIT
4. Bentley
5. Mercyhurst
-------------------
6. Holy Cross
7. Air Force
8. Sacred Heart
9. Army
10. AIC
11. Niagara

 

[blazer777]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

My question is, is RIT really in third or fourth and will RIT play Mercyhurst?

Tigers play the winner of 6 vs. 11if 6 wins otherwise they would play the highest remaining seeded team. Bentley plays Merceyhurst at Bentley

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Tigers play the winner of 6 vs. 11. Bentley plays Merceyhurst at Bentley

This assumes that HC beats Niagara right? If Niagara wins then Romo would get the lowest seed. After next weekend the lowest seed gets Romo, the next lowest Canisius and the highest remaining seed would get RIT.

 

[jflory81]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

This assumes that HC beats Niagara right? If Niagara wins then Romo would get the lowest seed. After next weekend the lowest seed gets Romo, the next lowest Canisius and the highest remaining seed would get RIT.

Yes. We could also play Air Force or the Army/AIC winner. Don't think Mercyhurst is complaining about going to Bentley instead of coming back here in a couple of weeks, either. Personally, I feel like I'd rather have seen Mercyhurst than either Holy Cross or Air Force, but the 3 seed and home ice is certainly nice to have. And they are playing exceptional hockey right now.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

My question is, is RIT really in third or fourth and will RIT play Mercyhurst?

Technically, RIT and Bentley finish tied for third. RIT gets third seed in the playoffs on the third tie-breaker, which is head-to-head goal differential (6-4).


Powers &8^]

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

RIT is definitely picking the right time of year to peak. It's very encouraging to see that even on a night when the MGM line is held scoreless and the other team's goalie stands on his head, the team is able to win thanks to stellar defense and strong goaltending.

I wonder how much of that is confidence with the goal that was disallowed. Mercyhurst had an interesting strategy for defending the MGM line in game 2 - play it like a power play for RIT. I hope that Coach can figure out a way to attack that defense.

Rotolo and the defense have been playing very well lately. They will be even more of a key come the playoff games. Here's hoping all 3 series go 3 games so they are extra tired.

 

[blazer777]

This assumes that HC beats Niagara right? If Niagara wins then Romo would get the lowest seed. After next weekend the lowest seed gets Romo, the next lowest Canisius and the highest remaining seed would get RIT.

It is now, doh!

 

[Rochester]

Can someone please explain to me why a school with 18,000 students and a city metropolitan area with 1.1 million can't sell out at senior night? We have a beautiful new arena and a winning team.

Does rit not advertise?

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Can someone please explain to me why a school with 18,000 students and a city metropolitan area with 1.1 million can't sell out at senior night? We have a beautiful new arena and a winning team.

Does rit not advertise?

On TV it still looked like a pretty good crowd, student sections looked full so you have to give RIT that, the students showed up for their team.

 

[blazer777]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

On TV it still looked like a pretty good crowd, student sections looked full so you have to give RIT that, the students showed up for their team.

And that's why it won't sell out. There are those who won't get dressed and drive over, walk to the rink from one of the lots and pay to see a game the can see on TV for free and in the comfort of their home It's not like football where you can tail gate, get rip roaring drunk and then go catch a game sad to say.

 

[kwh7433]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

And that's why it won't sell out. There are those who won't get dressed and drive over, walk to the rink from one of the lots and pay to see a game the can see on TV for free and in the comfort of their home It's not like football where you can tail gate, get rip roaring drunk and then go catch a game sad to say.

And it's not like RIT's target student is a sports fan, let alone a hockey fan.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Although I'm a little surprised we didn't have a single sell out (especially on opening night) I don't think we can complain about attendance this season. Every game was at least hundreds more people than Ritter can hold and for the second half of the season we were above 3,000 every night, I think.

The team was bad last year so people weren't overly excited about the season, which is why attendance has improved as we've gone on. I'm sure playoff attendance will also be pretty high.

But it's all about building the base. A few successful years and some more buzz around the program and these problems will solve themselves. A move to the ECAC with games against more noteworthy programs will help too.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Although I'm a little surprised we didn't have a single sell out (especially on opening night) I don't think we can complain about attendance this season. Every game was at least hundreds more people than Ritter can hold and for the second half of the season we were above 3,000 every night, I think.

The team was bad last year so people we're overly excited about the season, which is why attendance has improved as we've gone on. I'm sure playoff attendance will also be pretty high.

But it's all about building the base. A few successful years and some more buzz around the program and these problems will solve themselves. A move to the ECAC with games against more noteworthy programs will help too.

Spot on. It's also true that most students at RIT are not hockey fans but most of the students who do attend the games were probably not hard core hockey fans before they came to RIT either. The college hockey experience that RIT offers their students is what has drawn the majority of RIT students to the GPC. Keep building the base and attendance will continue to grow.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

You kind of need TV to generate the buzz about the program. Showing RIT winning more games is likely to induce people to come up and buy a ticket when they can. But I also think RIT is in a good spot with their attendance. It was shown that RIT needed the more room, and there is more room to grow for getting a really big game.

I don't know if a move to ECAC would generate that much more attendance. College hockey fans might recognize the team names coming in, but would the casual fan? Would games against Brown be better attended than games against Sacred Heart, for example? Let's not forget that a move to ECAC would likely mean at least short term a worse winning percentage, which to me could nullify the gains of better teams.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

You kind of need TV to generate the buzz about the program. Showing RIT winning more games is likely to induce people to come up and buy a ticket when they can. But I also think RIT is in a good spot with their attendance. It was shown that RIT needed the more room, and there is more room to grow for getting a really big game.

I don't know if a move to ECAC would generate that much more attendance. College hockey fans might recognize the team names coming in, but would the casual fan? Would games against Brown be better attended than games against Sacred Heart, for example? Let's not forget that a move to ECAC would likely mean at least short term a worse winning percentage, which to me could nullify the gains of better teams.

I think so, yes. Name recognition is important. Does a casual fan really want to come see RIT play American International? Or Bentley? These are schools a lot of people have never even heard of. But if RPI or Cornell or Harvard are in town..people know those names and know they have rich histories.

Additionally, hockey fans in the community will be more drawn in because these bigger name teams actually have drafted players on their rosters, so there is a draw to see (potential) future pro players playing rather than a bunch of guys you've never heard of on Mercyhurst.

 

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

Re: >>>>> RIT TIGERS - Roaring into the postseason <<<<<

And it's not like RIT's target student is a sports fan, let alone a hockey fan.

Brutally true statement....

Tigers play the winner of 6 vs. 11. Bentley plays Merceyhurst at Bentley

Teams are reseeded after the quarter finally. Most probably Holy Cross or Air Force...

One last note, the referee who waived off the goal last night, despite video evidence that seemed to suggest his call was wrong, was also part of a crew at Niagara this year that refused an RIT request to review a goal. Here is to hoping we don't see him again this year...

 

[lmg6841]

And it's not like RIT's target student is a sports fan, let alone a hockey fan.

Honestly? I never watched a game of hockey before RIT. The combination of my roomie freshman year being a die hard sabres fan, hanging out with some lady hockey players, and RITs success made me into a big fan. Now I play 2-3x a week and catch as many Avs games I can on top of streaming RIT games on the weekends.

That being said, definitely a niche market and I know it won't resonate with everyone. If RIT could push the tail gate engironment it may being in some bigger crowds.