What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

RPI 2022 Off-season: Surely, We Deserve Better

Status
Not open for further replies.
Wicked Slappaahs said:
It should be noted that both UMass and AIC play in nice facilities. UMass essentially has an on-campus AHL rink and AIC plays in one in Springfield.
Click to expand...

I think facilities might be a piece of it, but I think the larger universe of investments in adjunct facilities (training/weight rooms/lounges/fully-stocked stick room) and other features (student supports, nice residences, etc.) might be just as important. UMass has had the Mullins Center for about 30 years, and only recently became a regular feature in the NCAA tournament. But there's also a potential of diminishing returns to that spending. There are a few big boys with really nice rinks that have been out of the national frame recently. And small schools can be a mixed bag; jury is still out on impact of new Colgate rink on the on-ice product, although late run to Lake Placid is a good sign.
 
DavidNardolillo said:
I think facilities might be a piece of it, but I think the larger universe of investments in adjunct facilities (training/weight rooms/lounges/fully-stocked stick room) and other features (student supports, nice residences, etc.) might be just as important. UMass has had the Mullins Center for about 30 years, and only recently became a regular feature in the NCAA tournament. But there's also a potential of diminishing returns to that spending. There are a few big boys with really nice rinks that have been out of the national frame recently. And small schools can be a mixed bag; jury is still out on impact of new Colgate rink on the on-ice product, although late run to Lake Placid is a good sign.
Click to expand...

AIC and UMass are actually tributes to what having a good coach can do. UMass attendance had plummeted to approximately 25% of capacity at the Mullins Center. It didn't become a beneficial playing environment againuntil after Carvel and company gave fans a reason to come back. As for AIC, they've built a winner while averaging about 300 fans per game in the Mass Mutual Center, the old Springfield Civic Center, which was always considered one of the worst facilities in the AHL. I haven't been there in 12 or so years (shortly after they did a renovation that made the place minimally acceptable to the AHL) but I don't believe they have done much to improve it since. The fact that Lang built a winner playing in an almost empty 50 year old echo chamber made his achievement even greater.
 
Last edited:
Today is 12 April 2022. There are 172 days until RPI's next game. There are 80 days until RPI has a new president.


This is based upon 1 October 2022 for the start of next season and 1 July 2022 for the end of @#$%^.
 
Wicked Slappaahs said:
Uggh. They stole Union's Graf also (leading scorer)....the rich get richer..... Pretty soon team rosters will look like the tote boards in Vegas with rosters changing by the minute....
Click to expand...

A few days ago I had posted about that very subject. The portal is being used so that the rich will indeed get richer. The top tier teams will have their pick of those who had played for the "minor league teams". For those old enough, kind of similar of how the NY Yankees used to use Kansas City to enrich their roster before the trading deadline.
 
Well the state budget includes $10 million for a new arena, seating 2,850, near the casino for Union College. Union will have their coaching situation settled soon and they can now offer scholarships. One of the arguments for the state putting up the money, for a private school, is the facility on campus is old and outdated. And the program in the area that has far more tradition and a much older and outdated facility gets squat. With the coaching situation up in the air and student athletes abandoning the school faster than passengers got off the Titanic. Plenty of reason for us to be optimistic. Maybe what Troy needs is a casino.
 
Today is 13 April 2022. There are 171 days until RPI's next game. There are 79 days until RPI has a new president.


This is based upon 1 October 2022 for the start of next season and 1 July 2022 for the end of @#$%^.
 
As far as people leaving early, at least up to now we have done the best with 3 goalies who were teammates a few years ago. Cornell's Joe Howe is in the portal, Dartmouth's Clay Stevenson turned pro, and we still have Jack Watson.

I better not have jinxed us.
 
MarkEagleUSA said:
That's a bit unfair. The kids choose to enter the portal and are available to everyone that wishes to pursue them. Nobody is stealing anyone.
Click to expand...

I was referring more to losing Johnson as our best defenseman. That said, all of these kids have "advisors" who know all of the coaches -- if you think there isn't back channel stuff going on, then I have a bridge to sell you. It's the wild west out there now... for better or for worse. I hold no grudges and wish him nothing but the best...until he plays vs. RPI.
 
Wicked Slappaahs said:
I was referring more to losing Johnson as our best defenseman.
Click to expand...
I guess I'd be asking why a top kid decides to leave a team...


That said, all of these kids have "advisors" who know all of the coaches -- if you think there isn't back channel stuff going on, then I have a bridge to sell you. It's the wild west out there now... for better or for worse. I hold no grudges and wish him nothing but the best...until he plays vs. RPI.
Click to expand...
I agree with the wild west assessment. And the back channel stuff has always gone on behind the scenes. It didn't just start with these new transfer rules.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top