RPI 2022 Off-season: Surely, We Deserve Better

[sezenack]

Jakub Lacka has entered the transfer portal. Hate that I am continuing to be the bearer of bad news

 

[tony/troy]

][/COLOR]I am happy to see the talk of a major renovation of HFH, or even a new barn, but surely the first priority is to figure out whether support for RPI hockey will return (post-covid) to a level that would justify any capital expenditure. How is RPI hockey going to build back the fan base? That should be the focus. The men's team had a season that should support a rebuilding of fan support. And the women picked themselves up off the mat. But will fans return? What mix of students and public? A lot of uncertainties to deal with before anyone can justify spending $$$ on HFH. The barn, as it is, exceeds the requirements of the very diminished fan base.

Red- Not sure either is really needed. Previously portrayals on this tread of the derelict condition of the facility appear to be the same that any facility would incur that was shuttered for around a year and a half without the proper precautions being taken. That would first and foremost include laying off the entire facility maintenance staff for a number of months. Just as obvious, it appears no one else kept the facility from reaching searing indoor temperatures in the hot months nor kept it warm enough in the cold months while also failing to drain the plumbing and replacing the water with that no freeze stuff every Tom, Dick and Harry with a seasonal camp uses every September. Best short term solution may very well be to just fix the damage and hope the next stewards of the institute come with at least a modicum of real world common sense that would prevent this from happening again.

Blue- Wish I knew the answer. What is obvious is that a simple "you can all come back now, ya hear" after a two year expulsion was not the answer. Not even with now being allowed to use the portions of the bathrooms that were still functional. Result was a three night aggregate attendance in the very low 2,000 range. My suspicions always were that degrading and disparaging paying customers by telling them they needed to be 'SOCIALLY SEPARATED", referring to them as "EXTERNAL SPECTATORS" and issuing releases which stated that their "MANAGEMENT WAS TO BE DETERMINED" would come back to bite them to some degree. It appears that I underestimated the degree and was not the only one who was absolutely seething when reading that garbage.

Not sure that can ever be fully repaired. Some paying customers have probably already written the place off and have moved on never to return. Were it me taking over the big office, all I could think of trying is issuing a very brief non time consuming shoot an arrow up in the air blast communication to the fan base in the hope that against all odds it would somehow draw lightning. It would simply read as follows:

Terms directed at the fan base in the past that can easily be interpreted as disparaging and degrading are not terms that will emanate from this office in the future. Further, the staff that will make up my "cabinet" will not be comprised of anyone who would use those terms in the future either. Their past use was an unfortunate and incredibly stupid error that will never ever be repeated on my watch. In addition, rest assured that we will not cancel anything, lock down everything and once again banish you all whenever even the next SARS, Swine Flu/ H1N1, Ebola or Zika happens to come along. We sincerely hope you will consider rejoining us in the future. Thank you.

How is that for dreaming???

 

[RPI67]

You might have missed it but I posted here that Leppanen has already entered as well sadly. I hope the rest of them stay like you do.

Thanks. I did miss the post. The other L won't post until after POY is announced. I am thinking (with no information) that DS will not extend (even if he as an offer) until he sees where things are at RPI and across college hockey.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 17 March 2022. There are 198 days until RPI's next game. There are 106 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 @#$%^.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Too bad about Leppanen and Lacka, although not unexpected.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

We made pretty good use of the portal this year. And I am sure that we will use it again for the coming season.
I hate losing Lepppanen and Lacka, but they were seniors and there was no reason to think that they would return.
Also, I would expect Linden and Johnson to get professional offers.
Next seasons roster is going to look very different.
I hope that we sort out the coaches situation soon. Because that may cause even more players and recruits to have second thoughts.
It is going to be a very interesting off season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

[/COLOR]

Red- Not sure either is really needed. Previously portrayals on this tread of the derelict condition of the facility appear to be the same that any facility would incur that was shuttered for around a year and a half without the proper precautions being taken. That would first and foremost include laying off the entire facility maintenance staff for a number of months. Just as obvious, it appears no one else kept the facility from reaching searing indoor temperatures in the hot months nor kept it warm enough in the cold months while also failing to drain the plumbing and replacing the water with that no freeze stuff every Tom, Dick and Harry with a seasonal camp uses every September. Best short term solution may very well be to just fix the damage and hope the next stewards of the institute come with at least a modicum of real world common sense that would prevent this from happening again.

Blue- Wish I knew the answer. What is obvious is that a simple "you can all come back now, ya hear" after a two year expulsion was not the answer. Not even with now being allowed to use the portions of the bathrooms that were still functional. Result was a three night aggregate attendance in the very low 2,000 range. My suspicions always were that degrading and disparaging paying customers by telling them they needed to be 'SOCIALLY SEPARATED", referring to them as "EXTERNAL SPECTATORS" and issuing releases which stated that their "MANAGEMENT WAS TO BE DETERMINED" would come back to bite them to some degree. It appears that I underestimated the degree and was not the only one who was absolutely seething when reading that garbage.

Not sure that can ever be fully repaired. Some paying customers have probably already written the place off and have moved on never to return. Were it me taking over the big office, all I could think of trying is issuing a very brief non time consuming shoot an arrow up in the air blast communication to the fan base in the hope that against all odds it would somehow draw lightning. It would simply read as follows:

Terms directed at the fan base in the past that can easily be interpreted as disparaging and degrading are not terms that will emanate from this office in the future. Further, the staff that will make up my "cabinet" will not be comprised of anyone who would use those terms in the future either. Their past use was an unfortunate and incredibly stupid error that will never ever be repeated on my watch. In addition, rest assured that we will not cancel anything, lock down everything and once again banish you all whenever even the next SARS, Swine Flu/ H1N1, Ebola or Zika happens to come along. We sincerely hope you will consider rejoining us in the future. Thank you.

How is that for dreaming???

I agree that there are paying customers who have abandoned RPI. Although Coach Smith has given positive comments about the people who attended the games at the HFH against Dartmouth, we did not even sell all of the about 1000 tickets per game which were available. It will take effort to win them back and attract new fans.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

In order for there to be new east end seating, we would have to find a new place for the zambonis, which adds another thing to the to-do list.

Not necessarily. If the seating were on the end wall only (not the corners) you could still have room for the machines. But ideally you are right, and building a bump out (which I am sure the facilities staff has been crying for) you'd have more room for the machines and related rink equipment, not to mention more room for accessing the visitors locker room.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I agree that there are paying customers who have abandoned RPI. Although Coach Smith has given positive comments about the people who attended the games at the HFH against Dartmouth, we did not even sell all of the about 1000 tickets per game which were available. It will take effort to win them back and attend new fans.

Several friends in our tight knit group of ticket holders refused to attend (several of whom are high income donors). They will not spend another dime until she is gone -- and have delivered that message to the fund raising staff.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Several friends in our tight knit group of ticket holders refused to attend (several of whom are high income donors). They will not spend another dime until she is gone -- and have delivered that message to the fund raising staff.

Will all be forgiven when she is gone, assuming that Schmidt does not act similarly?

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Will all be forgiven when she is gone, assuming that Schmidt does not act similarly?

Yes. Assuming positive messaging/actions are taken to bridge the divide.

 

[DrDemento]

Not trying to start any rumors. Hopefully what I am about to post is without any basis in fact, but the fact that 2/3 of the L line have already entered the portal along with one other might have something to do with already being privy to some news that will be forthcoming about both the program and coach Smith. I really would be very upset if he is not offered at least an extension and salary commensurate with what he has already done for the program (which cannot be simply measured in his won-lost record).
Obviously HFH needs a huge update but i would simply appreciate being able to see through the thin layer of ice and be able to see the blue lines and markings.

 

[DavidNardolillo]

I agree that there are paying customers who have abandoned RPI. Although Coach Smith has given positive comments about the people who attended the games at the HFH against Dartmouth, we did not even sell all of the about 1000 tickets per game which were available. It will take effort to win them back and attend new fans.

I am sure there is frustration but I still think there is some significant COVID hesitation--attendance for most things is still down, even for Siena hoops who were relatively competitive this year. Plus, my impression has always that the non-student crowds have always been weaker in that ECAC playoff weekend.

 

[rpi82]

We made pretty good use of the portal this year. And I am sure that we will use it again for the coming season.
I hate losing Lepppanen and Lacka, but they were seniors and there was no reason to think that they would return.
Also, I would expect Linden and Johnson to get professional offers.
Next seasons roster is going to look very different.
I hope that we sort out the coaches situation soon. Because that may cause even more players and recruits to have second thoughts.
It is going to be a very interesting off season.

We've got three guys in the portal - all graduating seniors. All were committed enough to the program that they stayed through their original 4 year commitment even though others (and I do not blame them given the pandemic mess) decided to move on. I wish them well although at least one I'd take back in a heartbeat if he reconsidered.

If Coach Smith wasn't returning we'd know by now. Although his contract presumably ends on or about 4/5 (the anniversary of his hiring), both sides would have moved on. His office would be cleaned out and there would be a press release announcing a mutual parting of the ways and creation of the review committee. In addition, he would have notified the undergrads during their end of season meetings so several would also be in the portal. In fact, I'd expect even more to bail if he said something like "Well, it's not decided whether I'll be here next season." He must have given them some sort of assurance that he was coming back. Having said that I'm baffled why we haven't seen even an informal statement. When we need stability the most we just can't seem to achieve it under this administration. A new era for my alma mater can't come soon enough.................

 

[rpi82]

I am sure there is frustration but I still think there is some significant COVID hesitation--attendance for most things is still down, even for Siena hoops who were relatively competitive this year. Plus, my impression has always that the non-student crowds have always been weaker in that ECAC playoff weekend.

The fact that they waited until a few days before the first game to announce the revised policy and different sources offered conflicting information certainly didn't help. Again, this administration failing to listen to its constituency and communicate clearly and proactively.

 

[25+years]

If you played for a team for four years and performed pretty well, you have an option to see if you could take it to the next level, initially collegiately. Think Jacob Hayhurst going to Michigan. The extra year of eligibility ends and then many players won’t be able to do this, not as seniors anyway.

As to attendance at games, this team hasn’t made the ECAC final four in 20 years much less the big dance. That certainly causes interest to wane. Add to that a compe

 

[The Sicatoka]

... There are 106 days until RPI has a new president.
... and 1 July 2022 for the end of @#$%^.

And the western branch of the choir praised "Amen!"



Remember: There's an RPI MS degree on The Sicatoka's wall.

 

[25+years]

Sorry….add to our lack of success a competing D1 school 20 miles away that has won a national championship and an aging facility and the lower attendance is not surprising. An AHL franchise couldn’t make a go of it here due to poor attendance. The real question I think is how important the new administration will view athletics, particularly a D1 hockey program with a storied history, and will they invest in a program going forward? Do they view things from a view that you have to i vest to achieve success or do you invest only after success is achieved. I would point out that same D1 school across town won the Frozen Four and is still awaiting a new facility they have also wanted. And now they are slipping into the same non winning spot in the standings we have occupied. I imagine DS is asking himself that. Unfortunately he won’t get an answer until July. I think his future will depend on that, what other programs are looking for a Head Coach, and if he wants to enter the ‘coaching portal’.

 

[Engineers]

Theirs 61 head coaching jobs in division 1 hockey I doubt Dave smith wants to enter the coaching portal? He wants to stay at RPI.

 

[troyboy]

This team deserves all the credit it is getting but unless I'm missing something we have lost 20+ games 3 of the last 4 years and have been playing our butts off to get to .500 and can't quite get there. With what we have coming in I foresee that struggle continuing . In the not to distant past we brought in the likes of D'Amigo, Perri, Haggerty, Zelewski, Laliberte, Kassdorf these and others were significant recruiting battles that we won and other than covid that affected everyone nothings changed same School same Prez same AD same Barn I would like to think we can be headed back there. When we fired the last bunch and reset this is not the glide path that I expected .We need to shake it up. My fear is we're mid pack and we like it.