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

[DrDemento]

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.

i believe Jenny spent a bit less for our Sub Zero a few years ago! She said she need one big enough to hold at least 2 bodies.

 

[DavidNardolillo]

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.

Some percentage of players in the transfer portals, for all sports, are those that have been told by coaches that they don't have a spot on the team next year and/or their scholarship has been yanked. Not suggesting that is what is going on in any of the cases you highlight, but that's something to keep in mind.

 

[DrDemento]

My Mack contact said he's a good pickup. Big frame, can play center or wing, stays out of the box, hard worker, blocks shots , etc.
Seems to fit the type that Lang is looking for and has Doc D size .

Becoming more important all the time - but especially on defense. Something we have lacked for some time. As forwards, at least at the NCAA level, talented and speedy fellows can succeed.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Do you think that his nickname is Sonny? or perhaps Pro

Ha ha...just don't call him Cher.... LOL

 

[rpi82]

My Mack contact said he's a good pickup. Big frame, can play center or wing, stays out of the box, hard worker, blocks shots , etc.
Seems to fit the type that Lang is looking for and has Doc D size .

I like the sounds of “stays out of the box.” Our last guy from there was skilled and could play center or wing, but he also had season tickets in the penalty box. Even if we had a decent PK (we didn’t come close) our team wasn’t talented or deep enough to overcome the steady stream to the box. Lang must demand discipline and a tight game as cornerstones of his culture. It’s not the most exciting thing to watch (except to aficionados and cross-over soccer fans), but neither is being down 2-0 in virtually every home game before we start to play.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

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.

What we're really talking about is jackhammering the concrete floor out and replacing the refrigerant lines and pouring a new slab. Just with demolition costs alone I gotta think those $1- 4 MIL numbers will easily be met.

For context, when the AD was speaking this fall of the HFH building study she declared that a "phased HFH renovation project" was the decision so that the teams would not need to find another place to play, which would be the case if the decision was made for a new building. One of the renovation phases she mentioned was a new ice surface , that was to include a new seating configuration (seating right up to the glass) and I would presume new boards and glass as part of that. Given our current operational status or lack thereof, this would need to be Phase 1 to maintain suitable ice worthy of the HFH which, for most of its life has had great ice. Of course there has been ZERO public mention of these grand plans or anything resembling a project kickoff or schedule.

I hope I'm wrong, but barring a surprise, Phase 1 isn't happening this summer. I suppose if they skipped the seating reconfiguring, they could do the work this summer....but I'm not holding my breathe.

 

[25+years]

What we're really talking about is jackhammering the concrete floor out and replacing the refrigerant lines and pouring a new slab. Just with demolition costs alone I gotta think those $1- 4 MIL numbers will easily be met.

For context, when the AD was speaking this fall of the HFH building study she declared that a "phased HFH renovation project" was the decision so that the teams would not need to find another place to play, which would be the case if the decision was made for a new building. One of the renovation phases she mentioned was a new ice surface , that was to include a new seating configuration (seating right up to the glass) and I would presume new boards and glass as part of that. Given our current operational status or lack thereof, this would need to be Phase 1 to maintain suitable ice worthy of the HFH which, for most of its life has had great ice. Of course there has been ZERO public mention of these grand plans or anything resembling a project kickoff or schedule.
In
I hope I'm wrong, but barring a surprise, Phase 1 isn't happening this summer. I suppose if they skipped the seating reconfiguring, they could do the work this summer....but I'm not holding my breathe.

I have talked with a few people about the need for HFH renovations. And the one thing every one of them mentioned they want to see is handrails to go up to their seats. I have no idea if that is feasible or what the impact would be (e.g. would rails impact the view ) but I know I’m not getting any younger and eventually the lack of rails will make it difficult for me.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I have talked with a few people about the need for HFH renovations. And the one thing every one of them mentioned they want to see is handrails to go up to their seats. I have no idea if that is feasible or what the impact would be (e.g. would rails impact the view ) but I know I’m not getting any younger and eventually the lack of rails will make it difficult for me.

One of the many things they can solve if and when they renovate. ADA improvements (including wheelchair designated seating, hand rails, etc.) which any code review of any major renovations stipulate.

 

[DavidNardolillo]

I have talked with a few people about the need for HFH renovations. And the one thing every one of them mentioned they want to see is handrails to go up to their seats. I have no idea if that is feasible or what the impact would be (e.g. would rails impact the view ) but I know I’m not getting any younger and eventually the lack of rails will make it difficult for me.

I agree that accessibility at HFH in general is an issue, which is why I thought a new build would have some appeal.

 

[sezenack]

I've heard that Phase 1 alone for the renovations costs $40 million. I also heard that the school won't be funding any of it and it'll have to be entirely funded from donations and fundraising, but I truly hope that part of it proves to be incorrect

 

[sezenack]

Nathan Sullivan to the transfer portal. I believe these are cuts given the late timing but no actual information there. Just my theory

 

[25+years]

Nathan Sullivan to the transfer portal. I believe these are cuts given the late timing but no actual information there. Just my theory

Both Sullivan and Payant entered after Lang was hired. I have to wonder if they didn’t like what they heard from him or there was another reason they waited this long to enter the portal.

 

[Engineers]

Both Sullivan and Payant entered after Lang was hired. I have to wonder if they didn’t like what they heard from him or there was another reason they waited this long to enter the portal.

I think these are roster cuts. I’m not sure they fit into what lang is looking for.

 

[bgtrpi]

If everyone who entered the portal leaves, we would only have 9 from last year’s squad returning.

 

[Engineers]

Nathan Sullivan to the transfer portal. I believe these are cuts given the late timing but no actual information there. Just my theory

Agreed! Looking at the portal grimes and zetterberg from BU look like solid options. Giampa is still available as well.
I wonder if lang is going to grab some guys from major juniors?

 

[sezenack]

Agreed! Looking at the portal grimes and zetterberg from BU look like solid options. Giampa is still available as well.
I wonder if lang is going to grab some guys from major juniors?

Would like any of those guys for sure. Would also like going for major junior guys. Given Lang's late start, I would assume he's looking anywhere and everywhere for good players. I could also see him looking to USports to get some transfers who used to be top major junior players

 

[AspyDad]

I've heard that Phase 1 alone for the renovations costs $40 million. I also heard that the school won't be funding any of it and it'll have to be entirely funded from donations and fundraising, but I truly hope that part of it proves to be incorrect

Build a new barn then. Don't sink 40 million in HFH. I give Marty and Kristie credit but Eric was an easy hire. Next part is going be much harder re : resources.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Build a new barn then. Don't sink 40 million in HFH. I give Marty and Kristie credit but Eric was an easy hire. Next part is going be much harder re : resources.

Union's new rink is a $50mil build. There's no way $40 million is only for phase one...you'd have gold plated seats if that were the case....There's no way they can wait to raise 100% of the funds before they fix the playing surface.... that's a non starter.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 18 April 2025. There are 169 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 4 October 2025 for the start of next season.

 

[rpi82]

Union's new rink is a $50mil build. There's no way $40 million is only for phase one...you'd have gold plated seats if that were the case....There's no way they can wait to raise 100% of the funds before they fix the playing surface.... that's a non starter.

It’s also tiny (2,200 seats) and even then it’s either going to be quite basic or I don’t believe the number.

UConn spent north of $70M for the 2,600 seat Toscano Forum. It should be a bit higher in capacity as they wasted space with a student standing room deck and an ice level table top setup replacing several hundred seats behind one of the nets).

Sacred Heart’s cost estimates went $60M -> $70M -> $75M -> $84 M according to the submission below from the architects. That’s for a truly striking arena at the old GE HQ campus, but the claim that it seats 3,600 is fiction. It seats about 3,000 (2,600 in the bowl plus several hundred upstairs). It might get to 3,600 with standing room.

I think SHU is a good model from a size perspective (3K seated, 3.5K total) and I don’t think we need something quite so fancy (e.g. bar and dining club on the upper level, massive glass wall over-looking the Merritt Parkway, etc.) but you are looking at $70M-$80M for a new building of that size.

2023 Facilities of Merit Winner: Sacred Heart University Martire Family Arena | JLG Architects

Construction Cost: $84 million Area / Square Feet: 131,000 Occupancy Date: January 2023 With its dramatic hillside location and pavilion-like form, Martire Family Arena upends the typology of an ice rink as a windowless box. Designed to create an immersive and intense game experience for fans...

jlgarchitects.com