RPI 2024 Off-Season: Was 2023 – 2024 Just a Bad Dream?

[DrDemento]

Not sure why I am engaging in this discussion because it certainly never ends well and is somewhat pointless because it is out of our hands, but a few thoughts. I thought rpi82's comment about where the program was at the time of the extension is accurate. First 2 Smith years were poor but pre-transfer portal and hard to overhaul a roster. 19-20 a success, and I think 80% of us were content with 21-22 after the mess that was COVID. Seemed like given the circumstances they were battling pretty hard and seeing the mess the student-athletes endured, I would say that not extending the Coach would have been a pretty quick way to send the roster all the way back to square one and eliminate anything that was built the prior 5 years. FWIW, they played like 45 games that year, the whole 20 loss thing doesn't apply much to that season.

However, I do align with Engineers comment that 5 yrs was too aggressive. 3 was much wiser given the unknowns, and we are paying the debts of that now. I suspect that finances are a bigger problem than any of us on this board acknowledge. I do not feel like giving a million examples for that take, but read the writing on the wall. Shirley ****ed off all the alums and also hated athletics and the dept was severely underfunded. Look at how hard they promoted giving day this year, it seems Bowers and co are trying to fix some of the damage that was done. At the end of the day, a small upstate NY school with 2 D1 programs does not have the budget to compete with the giants, especially when they were poorly run. This trickles down into a bit of everything (coaching decisions, facilities, etc). The school needs to get the $$ figured out and treat this program as seriously as they should if they want to revive it.

Finally, to put it on the record, I think the worst-case scenario this season is a 15ish win season and 7th or so in the league and thus extending this regime. I think for long-term momentum, we either need a change or a season of significant progress (top 5 in league and LP). As always, I will be rooting hard for the Engineers. Wishing you guys a good summer and excited for some hockey coming up soon

CM- Spot on nailing it. Time passes quickly and many of us actually have to think about how long it really has been since we have been a program that produced a contender in the ECAC on a yearly basis. My last trip to Lake Placid for a tournament was just about 23 years ago. And we were never able to see our team down in Atlantic City at all during the years the tournament was held there. And we have a home less than 45 minutes away from each site! We can go over all the reasons we want for the travesty that is the last 2 decades but you have it absolutely correct, It has to be now or never. This season has to be a major turning point, not just a small blip of improvement. We still root fervently for our teams and take pride in what football, lacrosse and soccer have done during the past several years but hockey is and has been our sport. As the only Division I sport it should be our shining star. We look forward as we always do to the upcoming season but more so than ever before, is really does seem like it is now or never for the program. Go RED! And great appreciation to all of those on here who have stuck with RPI hockey for all these years of mostly disappintment.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 28 June 2024. There are 99 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

The halfway point of the offseason was on Wednesday.

 

[Waite21]

I note that the Alumni Association has sent out an e-mail promoting this year's reunion and homecoming which is scheduled for the last weekend in September. The football team will be on the road and the men's hockey team won't be playing any games that early, though the women's hockey team will be playing Holy Cross both Friday and Saturday.

One of the weekend's events will be a "Sunset Spectacular," to be held on Anderson Field.

I couldn't remember anything called Anderson Field from my student days, so I had to look it up on the campus map. I found that it is what used to be called North Field, just east of the E-dorms and North Parking Lot.

Anyone know who Anderson was, or why it was decided to name the field after him/her?

 

[jericho]

I note that the Alumni Association has sent out an e-mail promoting this year's reunion and homecoming which is scheduled for the last weekend in September. The football team will be on the road and the men's hockey team won't be playing any games that early, though the women's hockey team will be playing Holy Cross both Friday and Saturday.

One of the weekend's events will be a "Sunset Spectacular," to be held on Anderson Field.

I couldn't remember anything called Anderson Field from my student days, so I had to look it up on the campus map. I found that it is what used to be called North Field, just east of the E-dorms and North Parking Lot.

Anyone know who Anderson was, or why it was decided to name the field after him/her?

Richard Anderson, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. Played football and lacrosse after he served in WWII. Member of the 1948 RPI Lacrosse team that played in the Olympics in London. Served as the Freshman football coach and helped renovate the field which is named in his honor. The RPI Football team used to practice there when they played on ‘86 Field.


https://rpiathletics.com/hof.aspx?hof=112&path=&kiosk=

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 29 June 2024. There are 98 days (14 weeks) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.

 

[Waite21]

Richard Anderson, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. Played football and lacrosse after he served in WWII. Member of the 1948 RPI Lacrosse team that played in the Olympics in London. Served as the Freshman football coach and helped renovate the field which is named in his honor. The RPI Football team used to practice there when they played on ‘86 Field.


https://rpiathletics.com/hof.aspx?hof=112&path=&kiosk=

Sounds like a good choice for naming the field.

I can remember the RPI football team practicing out there. Coach Dick Riendeau used to line up volunteers before late-season practice sessions (after daylight saving time ended) to park in North Lot and turn their car headlights toward the field, so that the team could have some illumination.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 30 June 2024. There are 97 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 1 July 2024. There are 96 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

I was trying to figure out the roster for the upcoming year and hit some snags. Corrections, additions, and opinions about who is missing or shouldn't be there are appreciated.

The goalies are clear: Watson, Giesbrecht, Dorfman

defenseman: returnees: Goffredo, Agnew, Smolinski, Strom, Matta; transfers: Gilson, McDermott; freshmen: Ozolins and maybe Maguire

forwards: returnees: Beaton, Lee, Muzzatti, Sullivan, Brackett, Tinling, Gagnon, Hotson, McNeil, Payant; transfer: Tonelli; freshmen: Rullers, Bourgault, Caron, perhaps Tapper or Janus

 

[DrDemento]

I was trying to figure out the roster for the upcoming year and hit some snags. Corrections, additions, and opinions about who is missing or shouldn't be there are appreciated.

The goalies are clear: Watson, Giesbrecht, Dorfman

defenseman: returnees: Goffredo, Agnew, Smolinski, Strom, Matta; transfers: Gilson, McDermott; freshmen: Ozolins and maybe Maguire

forwards: returnees: Beaton, Lee, Muzzatti, Sullivan, Brackett, Tinling, Gagnon, Hotson, McNeil, Payant; transfer: Tonelli; freshmen: Rullers, Bourgault, Caron, perhaps Tapper or Janus

Good job RB- i think you got every 2024 we had listed. Only other maybe (and I am reaching here) could be
Jackson Kyrkostas who is listed as a 2025 but is the only one for that year who has a 2004 birthdate. I do not think he comes early but all other 2025's are birthdate 2005 or later.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Good job RB- i think you got every 2024 we had listed. Only other maybe (and I am reaching here) could be
Jackson Kyrkostas who is listed as a 2025 but is the only one for that year who has a 2004 birthdate. I do not think he comes early but all other 2025's are birthdate 2005 or later.

Kyrkostas said he was going to delay to 2025 because he wanted to play with a prep school linemate who is going to West Kelowna. That sounded a bit like he wants to go to someplace not in Troy.

Another question is are there any others who are returning who we thought are not coming back.

 

[rpi82]

Kyrkostas said he was going to delay to 2025 because he wanted to play with a prep school linemate who is going to West Kelowna. That sounded a bit like he wants to go to someplace not in Troy.

Another question is are there any others who are returning who we thought are not coming back.

Did Kyrkostas say that? The article I saw had a past (KUA) and possibly future (WK) teammate saying he wanted to play with Kyrkostas again and that Jackson was expected to return. The kid also said that another former teammate was also going to be there so it wasn't just because of one player. So I'm not sure if that means Jackson, who still lists himself on social media as an RPi recruit, would necessarily turn down an offer to enter this fall. Statistically, his play certainly improved as the season went on. Whether he needs another year of junior is between that odd balance of the player, his family, his advisors, his junior coaches and the college coaching staff. I guess we'll see. Since we just signed another center for the fall, Rullers, my guess is that may have been a clear indication that Kyrkostas won't be joining in a month or so.

In any case, your list of what we think are firm members of the roster is at 22 skaters. With 19 skaters now allowed to dress we definitely need at least a couple more from the "maybe category." IIRC we were high at forward (17?) and short on defense (8?) last year. Since Dave generally prefers to dress a 7th defenseman as the extra, I would think 15 or so forwards and 9 D would be required. Given the Kyrkostas discussion above I'd guess Tapper and Maguire (although I was hoping one of Adrian and Lemieux might enter early). Then again, Sullivan and Goffredo were added out of seemingly nowhere last season so who knows?

 

[DrDemento]

Kyrkostas said he was going to delay to 2025 because he wanted to play with a prep school linemate who is going to West Kelowna. That sounded a bit like he wants to go to someplace not in Troy.

Another question is are there any others who are returning who we thought are not coming back.

I suppose any excuse suffices when you need it to. When I was watching the NHL draft the other night and saw that so many very young kids were being taken so early, I find it hard to follow the reasoning of anyone wanting to delay moving forward. Every year that you delay, you just have to compete with a new group that comes up along with all those who delayed with you from the previous year. Time moves on and you cannot fight it plus each year you have the chance of injury which can delay or end further career moves.
I am feeling some of the excitement that I get every year waiting to see what we will be putting on the ice. After the disappointment of last season and the existence of the portal for transfer I must admit I was expecting more changes that we are seeing for the line up.

 

[DrDemento]

I think I may have to brush up on my Latvian since I have had little or no use for the language in the 55+ years since leaving Medical School where I had spent considerable time with a Latvian girl friend.

 

[rpi82]

I think I may have to brush up on my Latvian since I have had little or no use for the language in the 55+ years since leaving Medical School where I had spent considerable time with a Latvian girl friend.

You may not want to discuss which choice phrases you remember. We tend to remember those that are said with the most emphasis. They often include swear words and other exclamations for which this may not be the appropriate context.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 2 July 2024. There are 95 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Did Kyrkostas say that? The article I saw had a past (KUA) and possibly future (WK) teammate saying he wanted to play with Kyrkostas again and that Jackson was expected to return. The kid also said that another former teammate was also going to be there so it wasn't just because of one player. So I'm not sure if that means Jackson, who still lists himself on social media as an RPi recruit, would necessarily turn down an offer to enter this fall. Statistically, his play certainly improved as the season went on. Whether he needs another year of junior is between that odd balance of the player, his family, his advisors, his junior coaches and the college coaching staff. I guess we'll see. Since we just signed another center for the fall, Rullers, my guess is that may have been a clear indication that Kyrkostas won't be joining in a month or so.

In any case, your list of what we think are firm members of the roster is at 22 skaters. With 19 skaters now allowed to dress we definitely need at least a couple more from the "maybe category." IIRC we were high at forward (17?) and short on defense (8?) last year. Since Dave generally prefers to dress a 7th defenseman as the extra, I would think 15 or so forwards and 9 D would be required. Given the Kyrkostas discussion above I'd guess Tapper and Maguire (although I was hoping one of Adrian and Lemieux might enter early). Then again, Sullivan and Goffredo were added out of seemingly nowhere last season so who knows?

I could not find the article about Kyrkostas delaying, and I don't remember all of the details. I thought that Kyrkostas said that, but I could have gotten things backwards. I have also seen no indication he would decommit from RPI, it was just a concern.

I am in agreement that 15 F and 9 D seems like the goal. Adrian and Lemieux would be more desirable than Maguire, but Maguire may fit in better with the 18-scholarship profile.

 

[jericho]

The 2023-2024 offseason is the last of the Covid madness correct? I k ow well still have the transfer portal, but it won’t be as much as we’ve seen right?

 

[jericho]

The 2023-2024 offseason is the last of the Covid madness correct? I know we’ll still have the transfer portal, but it won’t be as much as we’ve seen right?