RPI 2024–25: Come for the Hockey, Stay for the Football

[CMcGarvey]

I think way too much has happened in the past 8 years of RPI hockey to make a blanket statement about what has happened. Summarizing the themes of this week on the thread, we all can agree Barr was an excellent candidate at the time. We also can all agree Shirley did absolutely nothing to help hockey at RPI and treated it like the other d3 programs at the school. We can again agree that in year 3 (in a pre-transfer portal time where turnarounds took longer), Dave had the team on an excellent path. Yes, Appert recruits like Reilly and Burgess were the leadership, but tons of Dave's underclassmen at the time contributed and went on to have great careers, like Linden, Johnson, Leppanen, Savory, etc. Then the program gets the legs cut out from under it, pushing fans away in droves and tanking the roster/ recruiting classes/ future recruiting pitches.

Post-covid, I felt that the 21-22 season was a success. Considering they had no fans in the building, that team with Ture Linden in Watson's freshman year was pretty successful. The year after was disappointing but that team really wasn't talented. They lost everything but Mahshie and Watson from the year before basically. The portal class did not help much and the team was just weak.

Last year, it was reasonable to think that the team did not graduate much besides Mahshie, returned their goalie, brought in talented players like Hotson, Regula, Brushett and should have been good. It was a total disaster.

Too early to judge this year's team. They look just ok to me. But the totality of big-picture questions in the program do not look promising like they used to. Fan engagement is so down, attendance, recruiting, etc. is all looking down, while some of our peers are rising again like Dartmouth, Union, and yes, Maine. None of us really know what the admin has planned, I do think we all undersell just how bad fundraising was when they came in, as a result of SAJ. There are wholesale upgrades that need to happen including facilities, staffing and support to help the program regardless of who the coach is. But, they need to be weary of letting this avalanche grow to a point that they can't dig out of it

 

[DrDemento]

Odds for the weekend - we are underdogs in all games. Boys are 2.5 goal underdog to QU and 0.5 underdog at Princeton
Girls are 0.5 goal underdog at Brown and 1.5 underdog at Yale. Hoping we can surprise in perhaps 2 of these games! Go Red!!!

 

[Sparkee]

Not talking about players that came in this year I'm talking about commitments in 2024 that will be coming in the future are there any idk I'm asking ?

Yes, go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...wTSI/htmlview#

click on listing by college, scroll down to RPI, you will see you have an 08 birth year commit

use this page to track your recruiting in addition to your own three on recruits:

https://fanforum.uscho.com/forum/co...vision-i/3885069-rpi-recruit-thread-2024-2025

 

[Ralph Baer]

Yes, go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...wTSI/htmlview#

click on listing by college, scroll down to RPI, you will see you have an 08 birth year commit

use this page to track your recruiting in addition to your own three on recruits:

https://fanforum.uscho.com/forum/col...read-2024-2025

Thanks. I just want to add that Heisenberg is missing Matt Hanscom. I wrote him about that and that Landen Hilditch was traded, but he made neither change. I don't regard Hanscom as a big loss if he is no longer our recruit, but he is still listed as an RPI by the NAHL. I do think that the recruits we have are on a par with the current freshmen.

My main concern is in goal. Sanborn has much better stats with Trenton (OJHL) than he had earlier this year and last year, but I don't know how much of that can be attributed to Trenton being a dominating team.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Point was, if we have an opening, I suspect you will see more of the top assistant at a top program, like Beal and Dumais. Rather than the head coach of an atlantic team because we just tried that

Well that would be circular logic then, as one of the supposed reasons they chose Smitty over BB was that BB had never been a head coach ... as was true when they hired Seth.

 

[AspyDad]

Think we'll have a good idea where things are with the team after playing a very much retooled Qpac and a Princeton team that sweep #12 Ohio State.

 

[DrDemento]

Speaking of the Princeton game tomorrow. Anyone making plans to come down here to NJ for that game? We are thinking of going (about 50/50 at this stage). We do not have tickets as yet but have been assured there are many available.

 

[Sparkee]

Thanks. I just want to add that Heisenberg is missing Matt Hanscom. I wrote him about that and that Landen Hilditch was traded, but he made neither change. I don't regard Hanscom as a big loss if he is no longer our recruit, but he is still listed as an RPI by the NAHL. I do think that the recruits we have are on a par with the current freshmen.

My main concern is in goal. Sanborn has much better stats with Trenton (OJHL) than he had earlier this year and last year, but I don't know how much of that can be attributed to Trenton being a dominating team.

He’s outplaying the other goalies on his team at least. He is still making 25 saves per game. However, it isn’t a good sign when he went down a league from BCHL to OJHL. He is an 05, so he might be asked to wait a year depending on other goalies that are on RPI headed into next fall after transfer portal settles. On Hanscom, I see no sign he isn’t still going to RPI, so consider him still going to RPI. Heisenberg list is all of college hockey so he gets few thing wrong now and then. Still, very thankful he maintains it to the level he does.

 

[AspyDad]

Speaking of the Princeton game tomorrow. Anyone making plans to come down here to NJ for that game? We are thinking of going (about 50/50 at this stage). We do not have tickets as yet but have been assured there are many available.

Oh shoot would love to see you and Jenny. My travel partner and I have a family event. Hope you and Nurse Jenny have a great time. Go Red!

 

[AspyDad]

#31 played lights out. That third goal needed to be reviewed

 

[RPI Hockey Guy]

I think it's safe to say tonight was just not our night. Two power play goals by Qpac in 5 opportunities ultimately made the difference and won the game for Qpac. Likewise, RPI had 3 power play opportunities, but only took 2 shots total while on the power play which is not good. That's not to say that it was all bad, as our goalie was putting up a great performance. I listened on the radio, it it sounded like he was robbing Qpac of goals left and right. Our offense is ice cold right now, but if Smith can get them hot again like they were at the beginning of the season, in combination with getting this team more disciplined and consistent good goaltending like tonight, I think we will have a good chance of starting to win in conference play.
Side note, was watching some highlights from tonight after the game. Does anybody know why Qpac's third goal was not challenged by Coach Smith? The video is a bit blurry but the puck doesn't appear to go anywhere near the net, and both teams keep going clearly not thinking it went in after the shot. Even the Qpac ESPN announcer sounds shocked it was ruled as going in.

 

[rpi82]

I was sitting behind the RPI bench. I said at the time that I didn’t see it go in, but it appeared to go behind Giesbrecht (who reacted as if something was wrong but it wasn’t obvious if it was disbelief or frustration at our giving up a breakaway) and out of view from our side. The only person really in a position to see for sure whether it was a goal was the ref, who immediately pointed to the net. He was along the goal line in the proper spot and never gave any indication that he wasn’t sure of the call. However, after I saw the overhead view, it seems clear he got it wrong.

i can tell you who knew the call was wrong - the QU media staff. They started to show the replay on the scoreboard to celebrate the goal and just as the forward moved to put the puck on net, it clicked off to another graphic. I wish I could accurately synchronize the stream of events in my head. I know the officials and players had moved to line up at center ice, but I don’t think they had restarted play, so killing the replay may have prevented an opportunity for a challenge.

 

[vicious]

I was sitting behind the RPI bench. I said at the time that I didn’t see it go in, but it appeared to go behind Giesbrecht (who reacted as if something was wrong but it wasn’t obvious if it was disbelief or frustration at our giving up a breakaway) and out of view from our side. The only person really in a position to see for sure whether it was a goal was the ref, who immediately pointed to the net. He was along the goal line in the proper spot and never gave any indication that he wasn’t sure of the call. However, after I saw the overhead view, it seems clear he got it wrong.

i can tell you who knew the call was wrong - the QU media staff. They started to show the replay on the scoreboard to celebrate the goal and just as the forward moved to put the puck on net, it clicked off to another graphic. I wish I could accurately synchronize the stream of events in my head. I know the officials and players had moved to line up at center ice, but I don’t think they had restarted play, so killing the replay may have prevented an opportunity for a challenge.

Watch the replay on ESPN+. A clear no-goal. At no point does the puck cross the line. Even the QU announcers expressed disbelief that the "goal" was allowed to stand. The coaching staff should have demanded a review of the play. Yet from the TV broadcast, there was no objection at all from the RPI bench.

 

[Engineers]

Hey my friend. Let's hope this is the case because I have not seen enough from Bowers yet. Maybe she has not pulled the bandage yet because of $$$ but we need to see a sense of urgency from her and Marty. Appreciate your takes.

Time will tell if it’s $$$.

 

[Engineers]

Think we'll have a good idea where things are with the team after playing a very much retooled Qpac and a Princeton team that sweep #12 Ohio State.

Aspy I think we have an answer. Our offense has gone cold at the same time our defense is starting to look like last year. Not a good combination. Letting in 4 goals a game with a sub 70% penalty kill. Giesbrecht is a good goalie unfortunately he has no help. PP has gone dormant. Just overall very little chemistry with this team. Currently sit at the bottom of ecac conference. Unless this coaching staff can turn this around quickly which I have zero confidence they can it’s another rough year. If we lose to mercyhurst next week it’s a wrap. Mercyhurst is the worst team in D1 currently
You mentioned it’s a down year for ecac. I disagree pal I think having 4 ranked teams and a Princeton team on the rise is good. Union had a tough weekend but sits at 9-5
Maybe we should just schedule canisius and Miami for all our games

 

[Engineers]

Yes, go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...wTSI/htmlview#

click on listing by college, scroll down to RPI, you will see you have an 08 birth year commit

use this page to track your recruiting in addition to your own three on recruits:

https://fanforum.uscho.com/forum/co...vision-i/3885069-rpi-recruit-thread-2024-2025

I look at that list of recruits and I see one player committed for 2024? Sanborn commited back in 2021 which is crazy. He’s gotten worse every year. Not sure why this coaching staff has not pivoted to another player?? I think the lack of players committing tells me the word is out to advisors and teams smith is gone after this year. Lame duck coaching staff.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I think it's safe to say tonight was just not our night. Two power play goals by Qpac in 5 opportunities ultimately made the difference and won the game for Qpac. Likewise, RPI had 3 power play opportunities, but only took 2 shots total while on the power play which is not good. That's not to say that it was all bad, as our goalie was putting up a great performance. I listened on the radio, it it sounded like he was robbing Qpac of goals left and right. Our offense is ice cold right now, but if Smith can get them hot again like they were at the beginning of the season, in combination with getting this team more disciplined and consistent good goaltending like tonight, I think we will have a good chance of starting to win in conference play.
Side note, was watching some highlights from tonight after the game. Does anybody know why Qpac's third goal was not challenged by Coach Smith? The video is a bit blurry but the puck doesn't appear to go anywhere near the net, and both teams keep going clearly not thinking it went in after the shot. Even the Qpac ESPN announcer sounds shocked it was ruled as going in.

9 penalties in two games leading to 4 PPGs allowed....you can't play much offense when you are busy killing penalties. Lee picked up the mantle from Caron for most outstanding penalty-taker with 4 on the weekend I believe. RPI has allowed 21 goals in its last 4 games.

The only thing Smith has going for him at this point is he's only got one home game in the next month plus...so the boo birds will only have limited opportunities.

 

[Engineers]

9 penalties in two games leading to 4 PPGs allowed....you can't play much offense when you are busy killing penalties. Lee picked up the mantle from Caron for most outstanding penalty-taker with 4 on the weekend I believe. RPI has allowed 21 goals in its last 4 games.

The only thing Smith has going for him at this point is he's only got one home game in the next month plus...so the boo birds will only have limited opportunities.

21 goals in the last 4 games is unreal!
lee is a goon. Constantly putting the team in a bad position killing one penalty after another. No idea why he even plays.
New Hampshire comes to town end of the month to hang 6-8 goals on us. Honestly it’s almost comical at this point.!

 

[rpi82]

Watch the replay on ESPN+. A clear no-goal. At no point does the puck cross the line. Even the QU announcers expressed disbelief that the "goal" was allowed to stand. The coaching staff should have demanded a review of the play. Yet from the TV broadcast, there was no objection at all from the RPI bench.

I watched it. In fact, I brought it up on my phone just a a few minutes after it happened but the game had restarted. That’s why I said from the overhead view it certainly looked like a bad call. However, it was impossible to see from visitor's bench where it went after going behind Giesbrecht. The coaching staff on the bench doesn’t get real-time TV or overhead views and QU made sure not to show the critical moments of the replay in rink so there is really no way Smith could have seen that it didn’t go in. The ref was in the right position to make the call and immediately and emphatically said it was in. I doubt even Giesbrecht knew for sure it didn't go in after it went behind him. He appeared upset with the play but didn't signal to the bench that it was not a goal. I suspect he was unhappy about a breakaway that effectively put away a game in which he played really well.

I asked this question on the Q board, but it also applies here: Are teams allowed to have a staffer in the press box or similar location monitoring the video feeds and notifying the bench of an incorrect call? That's the way it works in the various major league sports, but I've never heard of such a thing in college hockey. Either that, or bring back goal judges

 

[AspyDad]

I watched it. In fact, I brought it up on my phone just a a few minutes after it happened but the game had restarted. That’s why I said from the overhead view it certainly looked like a bad call. However, it was impossible to see from visitor's bench where it went after going behind Giesbrecht. The coaching staff on the bench doesn’t get real-time TV or overhead views and QU made sure not to show the critical moments of the replay in rink so there is really no way Smith could have seen that it didn’t go in. The ref was in the right position to make the call and immediately and emphatically said it was in. I doubt even Giesbrecht knew for sure it didn't go in after it went behind him. He appeared upset with the play but didn't signal to the bench that it was not a goal. I suspect he was unhappy about a breakaway that effectively put away a game in which he played really well.

I asked this question on the Q board, but it also applies here: Are teams allowed to have a staffer in the press box or similar location monitoring the video feeds and notifying the bench of an incorrect call? That's the way it works in the various major league sports, but I've never heard of such a thing in college hockey. Either that, or bring back goal judges

Gotta challenge it. All the players kept on playing. Critical time in the game.