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RPI 2023-24: In Our 200th Year, We're Getting It Right
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
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If that game didn't quicken your pulse and make you cheer for the Cherry and White, not much will.
Down 3-1, RPI battled back to tie it at 3 and then tie it again at 5 on an all-time goal by Hotson. Hotson had an absolute heater of a game: goals and assists; finishing hits; kept his emotions in check despite being chirped at by Gate; and could have had even more points based on the quality of his passing. Brackett had a hell of second period and Lee was a man possessed in the third.
Sure the defense overcommitted time and again, leaving Watson out to dry; there was no sustained offensive zone play or forecheck and the penalty kill predictably let in another goal and RPI eventually lost in the shootout. This season is going nowhere but a game like this with the fans and pep band pumped up for a Freakout reminds you why you going to the Fieldhouse can be such an uplifting experience. Whether better days are ahead or not, nights like this make it worth it to be a RPI fan.
Down 3-1, RPI battled back to tie it at 3 and then tie it again at 5 on an all-time goal by Hotson. Hotson had an absolute heater of a game: goals and assists; finishing hits; kept his emotions in check despite being chirped at by Gate; and could have had even more points based on the quality of his passing. Brackett had a hell of second period and Lee was a man possessed in the third.
Sure the defense overcommitted time and again, leaving Watson out to dry; there was no sustained offensive zone play or forecheck and the penalty kill predictably let in another goal and RPI eventually lost in the shootout. This season is going nowhere but a game like this with the fans and pep band pumped up for a Freakout reminds you why you going to the Fieldhouse can be such an uplifting experience. Whether better days are ahead or not, nights like this make it worth it to be a RPI fan.
Find a new narrative dude. Dan is an awesome ambassador of our program that pumps it up with the radio show and different interviews he does. Losing Perry sucked but we got a great replacement. L take
His call on the Hotson goal was awesome. I actually don’t know how you make this argument
DavidNardolillo
Member
I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. Great crowd and the roof would have lifted off if Lee's shot that hit the post in overtime had somehow found a way in. Frustrating defense again, but the power play finally enjoyed a good night. The team didn't give up, which was great to see.
I am a little frustrated because really careless defense cost RPI 3 points, but it was fantastic entertainment. And they finally hit the goal in the last minute of the second period--free hamburgers next week!
DavidNardolillo
Member
I agree. Whether someone likes a commentator or not often comes down to purely subjective personal taste, and I don't have a problem with that, but I don't think there is any question that Dan Bahl is a competent play-by-play announcer.
DavidNardolillo
Member
I watched the last five minutes and OT back on ESPN on demand when I got home. Dan's announcing definitely rose to the occasion--great energy and great job.
Compared to the radio crew he's a cross between Bob Costas and Howard Cosell. How's that for a nonsequitur?
He's a nice young kid and I predict he'll get better.
It was bizarre and I hope we hear the back story but I'm guessing that's just a dream. The guy who I think was thrown looks like Comic Book Guy from "The Simpsons". Maybe he sounds like him too.
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
You said it all. Play in the defensive zone has been awful all year. It cost us games and put tremendous pressure on our goalies.
Having said that, last night was a very exciting game and could have gone either way. We never gave up, and played with energy the entire 65 minutes.
It was a great game with the wrong ending.
I think RPI has a really beaten down fanbase, yet a very loyal one. I remember feeling like there was a huge community during the 19-20 run and again in the 22 playoffs. Last night didn’t really lead me towards any conclusions about the roster or the coach or even the brutal defense , I just felt removed from the miserable season it’s been when Hotson scored and was genuinely just excited. Honestly first time all year at that level of excitement. I think that’s the type of goal that keeps you coming back and reminds us that RPI is special with the building that full.
One of the refs was RPI hockey alum CJ Hanifin. Great game and crowd. Like the old dats.
I watched the game from home (due to illness) but could feel the energy. Been a long, long time since we've had that in the old barn.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
All 5 goals are on the team's twitter account https://twitter.com/RPI_Hockey? . I won't post individual links because it is simpler just to fix the link on the left and go to each tweet. Some are definitely worth watching including Hotson's tying goal.
Despite the shootout loss. It was a great game. Watson should not feel bad. If it weren’t for him, RPI would have been down 4 or 5 to 1 in the first. I loved the hard work and the grit and the effort to come back each and every time. What I saw last night is a team that could play far better than what they have.
The real question for me is will this effort be a one and done or the start of the climb upwards? There are so many teams I watch at every level: the women’s team, other men’s teams, the Montreal Canadiens and others where the team plays far better than they look on paper. They put the frustration and discouragement aside and put on an effort every game that is fun to watch. I certainly hope this team learned that last night. Because the record can still be sub .500 and people will come to watch.
The real question for me is will this effort be a one and done or the start of the climb upwards? There are so many teams I watch at every level: the women’s team, other men’s teams, the Montreal Canadiens and others where the team plays far better than they look on paper. They put the frustration and discouragement aside and put on an effort every game that is fun to watch. I certainly hope this team learned that last night. Because the record can still be sub .500 and people will come to watch.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
Agree 100% He clearly likes hockey and supports it on his radio show and I think he's the reason that Smitty, the A.D., etc. get as much attention on his station and on his show.
Are you really comparing a guy with tons of paid experience broadcasting games, both at Quinnipiac and now RPI, and a guy who has his own radio show with the biggest sports media company in the world to students/alums who have their own lives and jobs outside of radio, and some who this is their only broadcasting experience?
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you do realize Seth had a sub-.500 record too right?
and even in the ONE year the team made the NCAA’s, 1) they backed in after they lost to last place Brown at home in the first round of the ECAC playoffs and 2) got blown out by North Dakota in the aforementioned NCAA playoff game in a game that wasn’t that exciting.
Seth treated the Freakout as just another game and not the biggest game of the year, I think his teams maybe won one or two in his tenure, whereas his predecessor was 14-0 in Freakouts. Matt Murley, on the bench during the legendary Clarkson comeback, told his team “At RPI, we don’t lose Freakouts” and the rest was history.
but hey, at least Seth was a nice guy.
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