RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I'm not sure if we'd see Merriam much this year, if at all. We're getting ready for league play, and right now York is on. Unless Yorkie's game goes to you-know-where, I expect us to ride his coattails.

I like the idea of Rabbani being a 2nd PP unit front man. I'd keep Brutlag for now in the front on the top unit, as he seems to have that knack for screening the goalie and helping quarterbacks like Bergin or Bailen (or even Polacek at one of the circles) get off a one-timer.

I would still like to see Merriam in one of these two games. Just to keep him game ready. These are unimportant in the standings and I would hate to have York suffer from fatigue later in the season because of over utilization earlier. I agree though and like Rabbani in front of the net and would also like to see if Tinordi can do something in that position. I have felt for some time we are still a bit small up front and it becomes noticed more on the power play. Just my 2¢

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

30 games is nothing for a kid his age. If he were in MJ's he'd be playing a lot more than 30 games. You don't see Cornell platooning goalies when they have kids like Scrivens...he played 35, 36 and 34 games in three years as a starter. As was said earlier, its time for Seth get this thing rolling. I have every confidence Seth knows how to handle goalies. But if its me, I hand Allen the keys to the bus and tell him to point it toward A.C. It wouldn't bother me to see Merriam for one game this w/e, but barring performance issues, I fully expect to see York take the vast number of games this year.

Seeing as how we only play one game next weekend, I'd guess that if you were going to see Merriam, you'd see him tomorrow night. Then York could play Sat. and then have a near-normal week heading into the U game in Lake Placid. OR...Seth could start Allen both games this w/e, then give York the LP game off and give him a rest before league play. FWIW, following this weekend, the next five games are : Union (@LP), @ Dartmouth, @ Harvard, @ Union, Union.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I would still like to see Merriam in one of these two games. Just to keep him game ready. These are unim portant in the standings and I would hate to have York suffer from fatigue later in the season ecause of over utilization earlier. I agree though and like Rabbani in front of the net and would also like to see if Tinordi can do something in that position. I have felt for some time we are still a bit small up front and it becomes noticed more on the power play. Just my 2¢

I think we are a better team with Rabbani in the regular line up. I think Merriam should see some time this year to keep game ready. Also, I might take a little heat on this one but Allen is not a bulky kid and I think he wears down a little.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

Again, in college Scrivens was about 6'0 170-175 soaking wet and he played 105 games in three years as a starter.
The Sabres' Ryan Miller is 6'2 175. I've had the pleasure of getting to know Mike Richter and the first time I met him - in Montreal - I was taken aback by how averaged-sized he was.
In his playing days he was right around 5'11 185 lbs. Point being, for goalies it isn't about bulk... its about aerobic fitness, flexibility and strength. FWIW -- York's listed stats are bigger than all of the above guys -- 6'4 190.

Also, if our D is as good as we think it is, York should see far fewer nights where he is facing 40 shots..unlike years past.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

Again, in college Scrivens was about 6'0 170-175 soaking wet and he played 105 games in three years as a starter.
The Sabres' Ryan Miller is 6'2 175. York is listed at 6'4 190. For goalies, it isn't about bulk... its about aerobic fitness, flexibility and strength.

Also, if our D is as good as we think it is, York should see far fewer nights where he is facing 40 shots..unlike years past.

All of this is interesting to talk about-but if York plays all of these non league games, and in just one he badly pulls a hamstring-we all are going to be saying that he should have had a day off . Also-I am sure merriam works hard in practice and should receive some sort of reward for that. I am not saying platoon at all (and have never said that). I believe in going with the hot guy and riding one goalie. But not in these games that count for absolute squat. It is a long enough season that the second string goalie can be given a couple of chances to play. Again-just my 2¢

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I think we are a better team with Rabbani in the regular line up. I think Merriam should see some time this year to keep game ready. Also, I might take a little heat on this one but Allen is not a bulky kid and I think he wears down a little.

Not sure about York wearing down-but I like Rabbani also. But I want to see someone in front of the net on the power play who can put the puck in the net-if he doesn't do it, someone else might.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I don't think we're disagreeing Doc, But, I'd never second guess Seth for starting York every night. Its not asking any more of him than any other stud D1 keeper. League, non-league, exhibition, at the end of the day its still only 30-something games. He's our #1, that's why Seth brought him here. Barring a meltdown, Seth will choose carefully if and when he sits Allen.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I don't think we're disagreeing Doc, But, I'd never second guess Seth for starting York every night. Its not asking any more of him than any other stud D1 keeper. League, non-league, exhibition, at the end of the day its still only 30-something games. He's our #1, that's why Seth brought him here. Barring a meltdown, Seth will choose carefully if and when he sits Allen.

WS-No real disagreement here. Just a slightly differently feeling about 1 or 2 games. The one part of coaching that I trust SA most with is goaltending.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

WS-No real disagreement here. Just a slightly differently feeling about 1 or 2 games. The one part of coaching that I trust SA most with is goaltending.

And he knows a lot about being a backup goalie.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

Ed Weaver game article http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/10/21/sports/doc4cc10adeb2e93248978404.txt.

A second article about Marty O'Grady http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/10/21/sports/doc4cc10b186d17c156649301.txt.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

All of this is interesting to talk about-but if York plays all of these non league games, and in just one he badly pulls a hamstring-we all are going to be saying that he should have had a day off . Also-I am sure merriam works hard in practice and should receive some sort of reward for that. I am not saying platoon at all (and have never said that). I believe in going with the hot guy and riding one goalie. But not in these games that count for absolute squat. It is a long enough season that the second string goalie can be given a couple of chances to play. Again-just my 2¢

I mentioned in my recap of the Bentley game that I was watching Merriam in warm ups and was impressed by his attention to his task. He seemed much more confident and took the warm ups very seriously. He is definitely ready to step in for a game or two.
I don't think that any one goalie should play all the games, and the back up should have some game time before the league games start. Injury can happen to anyone at any time. We need to be prepared.
I also thought that Tinordi looked good and would like to see him get some time in front of the net on the power play. He looked very hard to play against. JMO

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I mentioned in my recap of the Bentley game that I was watching Merriam in warm ups and was impressed by his attention to his task. He seemed much more confident and took the warm ups very seriously. He is definitely ready to step in for a game or two.
I don't think that any one goalie should play all the games, and the back up should have some game time before the league games start. Injury can happen to anyone at any time. We need to be prepared.
I also thought that Tinordi looked good and would like to see him get some time in front of the net on the power play. He looked very hard to play against. JMO

Obviously I can't remember whom, but I do remember some talk on here a couple years ago that we should pick one goalie early to be our go-to guy instead of splitting weekends and never knowing who's going to be your backstop. Now that we have that wish, I hear talk about going the other way. I realize the grass is greener on the other side, but for gosh sakes, let's pick one instead of just complaining!

On a separate topic, I wonder if Rogic is going to be like Halpern, where he plays the speed games (Yale, Olympic-ice teams, etc.), but sits the rough games (Union, Cornell, etc.) for someone a little more favorable in size, like Rabbani, Smith, or even rotating 7 defensemen.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

Obviously I can't remember whom, but I do remember some talk on here a couple years ago that we should pick one goalie early to be our go-to guy instead of splitting weekends and never knowing who's going to be your backstop. Now that we have that wish, I hear talk about going the other way. I realize the grass is greener on the other side, but for gosh sakes, let's pick one instead of just complaining!

On a separate topic, I wonder if Rogic is going to be like Halpern, where he plays the speed games (Yale, Olympic-ice teams, etc.), but sits the rough games (Union, Cornell, etc.) for someone a little more favorable in size, like Rabbani, Smith, or even rotating 7 defensemen.

I don't think that anyone on this board is looking for splitting the goal tender duties. We have a number one, but we need to get Merriam into game situations before it becomes necessary. A couple of starts before the ECAC gmes start is all that I am looking for. Once the league games get underway, it should be York all the way. When we get involved in OOC games and tournaments, we can get Bryce in for more experience.
Don't forget, in two years or maybe less, he is going to be our go to guy. Lets get him some help.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I don't think that anyone on this board is looking for splitting the goal tender duties. We have a number one, but we need to get Merriam into game situations before it becomes necessary. A couple of starts before the ECAC gmes start is all that I am looking for. Once the league games get underway, it should be York all the way. When we get involved in OOC games and tournaments, we can get Bryce in for more experience.
Don't forget, in two years or maybe less, he is going to be our go to guy. Lets get him some help.

It is not certain that he will ever be our go-to guy. It's quite possible that whoever replaces York will step right in, or at least will during his first year as York did by the end of the season. I suspect that SA has his sights on someone who is capable of stepping in, perhaps Izyk, perhaps not.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

It is not certain that he will ever be our go-to guy. It's quite possible that whoever replaces York will step right in, or at least will during his first year as York did by the end of the season. I suspect that SA has his sights on someone who is capable of stepping in, perhaps Izyk, perhaps not.

I certainly hope that you are right. But for now, he is our goaltender of the future. And we had better think of him as that. An incoming freshman would have to be very good to step in and lead a team with high expectations.
I personally think that Merriam is pretty good now, and by his senior year, SA will have him ready.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

InCH article on CJ Lee at http://insidecollegehockey.com/inch/2010/10/21/ecach_0903/ among other topics.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

I don't think that anyone on this board is looking for splitting the goal tender duties. We have a number one, but we need to get Merriam into game situations before it becomes necessary. A couple of starts before the ECAC gmes start is all that I am looking for. Once the league games get underway, it should be York all the way. When we get involved in OOC games and tournaments, we can get Bryce in for more experience.
Don't forget, in two years or maybe less, he is going to be our go to guy. Lets get him some help.

Exactly!!

 

[vizoroo]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

Someone from RPI should apply to be Brian Sullivan's "Guest Guesser" for his weekly picks. I'm sure there are enough knowledgeable characters on this thread to be a good choice.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

Tonigh'ts lines:

Lee- Polacek- Helfrich
AAG-Malchuk-Brutlag
Rabbani-Higgs-Ogrady
Tinordi-Rogic-Halpern
Bergin-Foss
JFK-Dolan
Lebouef-Bailen

York

 

[Waite21]

Re: RPI 2010-11: Houston, We've had a Facelift!

All of this is interesting to talk about-but if York plays all of these non league games, and in just one he badly pulls a hamstring-we all are going to be saying that he should have had a day off . Also-I am sure merriam works hard in practice and should receive some sort of reward for that. I am not saying platoon at all (and have never said that). I believe in going with the hot guy and riding one goalie. But not in these games that count for absolute squat. It is a long enough season that the second string goalie can be given a couple of chances to play. Again-just my 2¢

There's certainly something to be said for getting Merriam some work so that he won't be stone cold if the occasion arises when he is really needed.

On the other hand, I remember that RPI played Niagara back in November 1999 in a game that we thought, at the time, counted for absolute squat. Niagara won the game, 2-1.

At the end of the season, Niagara (whose league did not yet receive an automatic NCAA berth for their champion) got into the NCAA tournament and RPI, with what was arguably a better overall record, did not.

Unless you have a team that's a shoo-in for an at-large berth even if they fail to win their league championship, it's hard to find a meaningless game on the schedule any more.