Time to unfurl a new thread for a new season. Let's start by looking at the schedule: once again a pretty soft pre-season line-up. https://rpiathletics.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/schedule.
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RPI 2025-2026
- Thread starter hab
- Start date
I got my men’s season ticket application. In previous years a free pass to women’s games was included but no mention this year. So I am not sure what to expect. I do not feel the games should be free. My plan this year is to make a donation to the team if admission is free.
Wonderful thought on your part. Personally strongly agree with you. Unfortunately would expect the attendance for the women's games, meager as it has been, would plummet to virtually zero if there was a charge levied.
That would be a sad state of support for RPI women’s hockey. That if people had to pay to get in that people would not waste their time. I am not suggesting at all the cost be what it is for the men. Nor do I think the group homes that bring their residents to the games nor the school kids that go should be charged. It is great to see them there. But a nominal fee like $5 or something for the rest of us should be something we should be willing to do. Even a donation jar would be appropriate. I have enjoyed every game I have attended, win or lose. I am retired and it provides an enjoyable way to spend a day.
I have no expectations that this team can be in the top half of the Ecac this year. On paper they look to be a cellar dwellar. But when RPI first emerged as a D1 team there was so much excitement around the team and they beat some high ranked teams and exceeded expectations. It would be nice to rekindle that experience of a team that exceeds expectations. They will need some big contributions from freshmen to do that.
All true - I think we will need to see a lot more from coaching also. We are certainly, on paper, at a distinct disadvantage from the usual top 8 in the ECAC. It is in precisely situations this that coaching and preparation can make a difference as can adjustments made during games and between periods.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
I posted this information on the men's thread, but it makes sense to post it here. It was revealed on Thursday that Matthew Jovanovic will be playing defense for the men this season. Due to injuries he has not played for several years but was highly regarded before that and was a Notre Dame commit.
He has a younger sister, Sophie, a 5'11" goalie, who played goal for the 16U Toronto Marlboro boy's team last season where she had a 1.71 GAA. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/987231/sophie-jovanovic
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdoncWmcTIM
Neutral Zone gives her 4.25 *'s.
I wonder what the chance is that we could get her in two years.
He has a younger sister, Sophie, a 5'11" goalie, who played goal for the 16U Toronto Marlboro boy's team last season where she had a 1.71 GAA. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/987231/sophie-jovanovic
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdoncWmcTIM
Neutral Zone gives her 4.25 *'s.
I wonder what the chance is that we could get her in two years.
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Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Juliana Goffredo probably committed to RPI at least partially because her brother is on the men's team. So it is possible.
BTW, the 16U Marlboro's leading scorer, Cannon Thibodeau, a dual citizen, will play on the USNTDP 17U team for the upcoming season and committed to Notre Dame for 2027. More proof that Jovanovic did not play on a run-of-the-mill team. Also more proof that she probably won't go to Troy.
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I would think a lot of our future recruiting success for both our programs depends greatly on what happens this year. With the incredible turnover we are witnessing, the upcoming seasons for both squads are just impossible to predict. Strong showings could be a very positive influence going forward.
It is hard to evaluate recruits. As a an oversimple approach I look at how teams have attracted members of the Cdn and US U18 teams. Even one or two players from those teams can have a big impact. Recruiting top players from Europe is a wild card, but important. Almost unique in the ECAC, RPI has never recruited a player from Cda or US U18 (correct me if I'm wrong). It is a tough barrier to break through. You need to have some success in order to be attractive to these players. But you also have to make your place an exciting place to play. When the RPI women's team first broke in to D1 it seemed like an exciting place to play...good fan support, great band, some big upsets over strong teams. I think that if we could commit more money to the program we could get back there.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
The roster has been posted. https://rpiathletics.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster
It includes Juliette Thibault who is an addition, https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1083734/juliette-thibault. She was the highest scoring defender for Ottawa in the OWHL. Caely Martin is not at RPI.
It includes Juliette Thibault who is an addition, https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1083734/juliette-thibault. She was the highest scoring defender for Ottawa in the OWHL. Caely Martin is not at RPI.
I suppose the camera is still not working - no team picture displayed from last year's team and no pictures of the ladies this year as yet. I too will be following as best i can. Several of the games however are not slated to be carried on ESPN+ this year (Our local pub does not carry FloSports or any other app). The ECAC is always a big challenge and the top 7 positions are pretty much decided upon rather early in the season. We have some major losses on this squad when compared to last year but also some considerable additions. I am hopeful the coaching can bring them together as a cohesive team but that just may be the most difficult part.