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RPI 2025 Off-Season: HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rpi82 said:
They were probably well on their way to their new destinations before Lang was even hired. What could Zirnis even tell them - "I'm still here and I might be staying so keep us in mind even though I can't tell you who will be HC"? In the long run it may not make much difference if we got the right guy, but the portal has definitely changed the dynamics on coaching changes. When it was harder to transfer the risk of losing players was much less and there was less incentive to rush a new hire to get access to the in motion pool. Every day matters.
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All true
 
Who ever we have come October, it is going to be like a box of chocolates.
The team will consist of a group of players who will have to be introduced to each other.
Individual skills will not make a team.
Lang will have a lot of work to do no matter who is on the ice.
 
I just checked the transfer portal. Looks like about 1/3rd to 1/2 of the mens players on the portal have committed to new schools. But only like 1 player on the women’s side has. Why is that the case? The women’s portal closes earlier than the men’s from what I see.

Secondly Payant has entered the portal AFTER Lang was hired? Gotta wonder why that is.
 
Ralph Baer said:
Too bad AIC's own goalie 6'6" Chase Clark, an NHL draft choice, is unlikely. He has only one year of eligibility since he played in 22-23 for QU and 23-24 for SHU. Thus he would not be able to get a degree from RPI.
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It took some time for Freshman Adam Manji to get used to playing college level, but I liked what I saw of him before he got hurt. (We actually had to cancel a game because all 3 of our goalies got hurt in December.) But Coach Lang will know if he's right for RPI.
[th][/th]
 
Ralph Baer said:
It is suspected that Sanborn is going to be a 2026 recruit. I think that "they" don't want the two primary goalies to be in the same class if possible. He has had an excellent year for Trenton (OJHL), but Trenton has a great team which probably helps him a lot.
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Any chance that changes....since the cupboard in Troy is bare ? I know this is an open question...we have no idea what OGC Lang is thinking between the pipes. I noticed both of LIU's keepers are still out there...at least according to the lists. I gotta think Rupprecht would follow Riley to Ferris, but Outen has good #s in a 15 game sample.
 
DavidNardolillo said:
How many players are leaving due to graduation/portal? My informal count is 16 . . . assuming people still in the portal complete moves elsewhere. That's a big chunk.
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Not an exact quote but the words were used it's not a rebuild it's a start up make no mistake the cupboards are bare especially with recruits. It's gonna be a bit of a lift just to put a team on the ice and I hope I never have to say this again it has nothing to do with covid or for the most part Shirley it was a bad hire that we allowed to go on for way to long but I agree I think We have Our Guy now and as time goes on I belive we will get exponentially better.
 
troyboy said:
Not an exact quote but the words were used it's not a rebuild it's a start up make no mistake the cupboards are bare especially with recruits. It's gonna be a bit of a lift just to put a team on the ice and I hope I never have to say this again it has nothing to do with covid or for the most part Shirley it was a bad hire that we allowed to go on for way to long but I agree I think We have Our Guy now and as time goes on I belive we will get exponentially better.
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Agree with this. I do like our defense recruits...but getting them to Troy is another sales effort that has just started. My overall philosophy is that wins and losses start in your own end with defense and goaltending. Cornell has been proving this for literally decades now. But we need our goaltender ...

Bottom line, This is gonna be a process and folks need to temper expectations in the short term...we're gonna take some lumps.
But as UConn hoop Coach Dan Hurley said early in his tenure: " “People better get us now, That's all. You better get us now. Because it's coming.”
 
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Wicked Slappaahs said:
Agree with this. I do like our defense recruits...but getting them to Troy is another sales effort that has just started. My overall philosophy is that wins and losses start in your own end with defense and goaltending. Cornell has been proving this for literally decades now. But we need our goaltender ...

Bottom line, This is gonna be a process and folks need to temper expectations in the short term...we're gonna take some lumps.
But as UConn hoop Coach Dan Hurley said early in his tenure: " “People better get us now, That's all. You better get us now. Because it's coming.”
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Danny was right, but he was also taking on a program that was NCAA champs 4 years before. However, I went to a game at Gampel in his 2nd year just as the pandemic was setting in and expectations were so low as he worked to rebuild that I got $5 flash sale tickets. Three years later they were back as champs and then repeated.

College sports is largely about the coach. If we got the right guy we’ll be back as a respected program. But we’ve got to give him the tools he needs and recognize it may take some time. After all, for us it’s been 40 years, not 4.
 
rpi82 said:
Danny was right, but he was also taking on a program that was NCAA champs 4 years before. However, I went to a game at Gampel in his 2nd year just as the pandemic was setting in and expectations were so low as he worked to rebuild that I got $5 flash sale tickets. Three years later they were back as champs and then repeated.

College sports is largely about the coach. If we got the right guy we’ll be back as a respected program. But we’ve got to give him the tools he needs and recognize it may take some time. After all, for us it’s been 40 years, not 4.
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Operative words TOOLS HE NEEDS!!!

A little research showed that the needed new refrigeration system ranges anywhere from 1 to 4 million, depending on the quality of ice desired (public skating vs. higher levels of hockey). I doubt the lower half of those figures will suffice for college hockey.

If the 1983 refrigeration system is not replaced and the tarp over the deteriorating concrete floor is still around the next time we meet, he probably don't have the tools he needs!!! At least not for now.
 
Wicked Slappaahs said:
Agree with this. I do like our defense recruits...but getting them to Troy is another sales effort that has just started. My overall philosophy is that wins and losses start in your own end with defense and goaltending. Cornell has been proving this for literally decades now. But we need our goaltender ...

Bottom line, This is gonna be a process and folks need to temper expectations in the short term...we're gonna take some lumps.
But as UConn hoop Coach Dan Hurley said early in his tenure: " “People better get us now, That's all. You better get us now. Because it's coming.”
Click to expand...
Love this Hurley quote. Chase Clark could be an option as a grad depending on where he is academically maybe he graduated early? Probably not though as I suspect if that were the case we would already have him. Don’t forget USports is an option as well now for transfers.

As much as I tip my hat to Bowers and Hernberg for getting this hire right (we hope), Lang was also under their nose the whole time and it took them over a month to make it happen. Can’t really blame him if next years roster isn’t ideal because of the late start he got in the portal and the bare cupboard he inherited.

Build up the culture, get your guys playing hard, get some momentum on the recruiting trail, and find a few young pieces that can be a part of your first core here. I know the portal can patch holes but let’s not let our biases blind the fact that this is an absolute total rebuild. I believe Lang can do it, but be patient. I think the real roster turnover will happen a year from now
 
troyboy said:
Not an exact quote but the words were used it's not a rebuild it's a start up make no mistake the cupboards are bare especially with recruits. It's gonna be a bit of a lift just to put a team on the ice and I hope I never have to say this again it has nothing to do with covid or for the most part Shirley it was a bad hire that we allowed to go on for way to long but I agree I think We have Our Guy now and as time goes on I belive we will get exponentially better.
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You and I have been on the Kirk for Coach train for two years but at this moment of time, I believe Eric is the right choice. Knows the portal and can recruit for a niche program. One last word bro..covid...lol Regarding rebuild vs. Start up...Dave was an unmitigated disaster. Can't stress that enough because we need to give Coach Lang time. Thanks Dave.
 
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