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RPI 2026 Off-Season: Please Pardon Our Appearance As We Upgrade This Area

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sezenack said:
There's currently 17 forwards and 11 defensemen slated to be on the roster next year, and they're not done looking to add skaters. Decent amount of turnover coming our way
Click to expand...
Two big quotes from his appearance on Rodger Wyland today. "Our finish was our finish, but that's nowhere near the standard here." On players returning for next year: "If we can upgrade, we're going to upgrade." Also mentioned all 4 coaches are out on the recruiting trail the next 1-2 weeks and still looking for a handful of players for next year, not even mentioning the portal.

In summary, buckle up for a busy offseason :)
 
sezenack said:
Two big quotes from his appearance on Rodger Wyland today. "Our finish was our finish, but that's nowhere near the standard here." On players returning for next year: "If we can upgrade, we're going to upgrade." Also mentioned all 4 coaches are out on the recruiting trail the next 1-2 weeks and still looking for a handful of players for next year, not even mentioning the portal.

In summary, buckle up for a busy offseason :)
Click to expand...
LFG!!! That’s the shit I like to hear!
 
sezenack said:
Two big quotes from his appearance on Rodger Wyland today. "Our finish was our finish, but that's nowhere near the standard here." On players returning for next year: "If we can upgrade, we're going to upgrade." Also mentioned all 4 coaches are out on the recruiting trail the next 1-2 weeks and still looking for a handful of players for next year, not even mentioning the portal.

In summary, buckle up for a busy offseason :)
Click to expand...
While it’s always typical for a first year HC to make some real roster changes after their first year, I have really found myself less interested in college sports since the new movement rules.

I’m happy for the players get the right to move to better situations, but as a fan I lose the ability to get attached to any players. If they’re good, they’re likely gone. Fewer and fewer players at an institution for three seasons, let alone the full four.

I come into every season now roughly expecting half the roster to be new between freshmen and transfers.

Not a critique of what Lang is doing, just commentary on how different it is now.
 
rsfs04 said:
While it’s always typical for a first year HC to make some real roster changes after their first year, I have really found myself less interested in college sports since the new movement rules.

I’m happy for the players get the right to move to better situations, but as a fan I lose the ability to get attached to any players. If they’re good, they’re likely gone. Fewer and fewer players at an institution for three seasons, let alone the full four.

I come into every season now roughly expecting half the roster to be new between freshmen and transfers.

Not a critique of what Lang is doing, just commentary on how different it is now.
Click to expand...
Well, I believe we just had the first senior day where not a single player being honored enrolled in Troy as a freshman. Players come and players go, either to maximize their personal situation or because the program is "upgrading" their spot. I used to resent players that I felt "used" our school as a stepping stone to a level that was unavailable to them until we gave them an opportunity. But the modern reality is that schools, including ours, are also using players. If they don't develop as predicted or a better alternative presents itself they will get pushed aside. I doubt either side still views it as a 4 year commitment. It's a professional model, right down to the advisors (agents) brokering movement and negotiating deals. It's too late to put the genie back in the bottle and it unquestionably has reduced my interest in college sports. I take in a few minor league games in baseball, hockey and soccer every year, but it's hard to be passionate about any of them because of the frequent turnover and the lack of commitment between player and team. College sports evolving into a pseudo-minor league model will probably not be much different.
 
Agreed on all points. Unfortunately, it's the way it is now. Although next year, I expect we will at least have McNeil who came in as a freshman still graduating with us. I think that the coaching change is the main driver there, not necessarily college sports. Our program will be much more stable in terms of roster turnover after this offseason, in my opinion.
 
sezenack said:
Two big quotes from his appearance on Rodger Wyland today. "Our finish was our finish, but that's nowhere near the standard here." On players returning for next year: "If we can upgrade, we're going to upgrade." Also mentioned all 4 coaches are out on the recruiting trail the next 1-2 weeks and still looking for a handful of players for next year, not even mentioning the portal.

In summary, buckle up for a busy offseason :)
Click to expand...
Just augment what Sez offered...from Lang's final appearance on Wyland:

CCT game
-game "went to script"
-Didn't think RPI was sharp early on, defended more than they wanted to
-30 blocked shots, kept CCT chances to the outside, RPI scored first
- As the game wore, on he really thought RPI would get a goal to tie it... Credited CCT for playing a great game

1st Year of Lang
- Team did a "great job at getting better" and "sprinted through the finish line"
- "Trains, planes and automobiles" now with 4 coaches scouring "North America" over the next few week
- One advantage to being done for the year is the entire staff can be on the road recruiting
-Need a "handful of players for next year"
- Opportunities for upgrades will lead to some "tough conversations" ... need the best players we can bring in
- Grateful to the fans, administration and entire staff....RPI is truly a special place and the future is bright
 
rsfs04 said:
While it’s always typical for a first year HC to make some real roster changes after their first year, I have really found myself less interested in college sports since the new movement rules.

I’m happy for the players get the right to move to better situations, but as a fan I lose the ability to get attached to any players. If they’re good, they’re likely gone. Fewer and fewer players at an institution for three seasons, let alone the full four.

I come into every season now roughly expecting half the roster to be new between freshmen and transfers.

Not a critique of what Lang is doing, just commentary on how different it is now.
Click to expand...
I remember buying a used textbook from the RPI bookstore. When I opened it up, I discovered that the previous owner had been Bill Daniel, a member of the varsity hockey team. He had taken good care of the book.

I can remember one year, the guys from my dorm got together and formed an intramural softball team.

Our first game was against the Canucks, a team composed of players from the varsity hockey team. Rich Scammell was their captain.

They beat us 26-2, and it probably could have been much worse.

But they were RPI students, like me (except for being vastly more athletic). They cared about getting a good education. I could feel some attachment to guys like that.

It is hard to feel the same attachment to hockey players who come and go through a transfer portal.
 
Wicked Slappaahs said:
Just augment what Sez offered...from Lang's final appearance on Wyland:

CCT game
-game "went to script"
-Didn't think RPI was sharp early on, defended more than they wanted to
-30 blocked shots, kept CCT chances to the outside, RPI scored first
- As the game wore, on he really thought RPI would get a goal to tie it... Credited CCT for playing a great game

1st Year of Lang
- Team did a "great job at getting better" and "sprinted through the finish line"
- "Trains, planes and automobiles" now with 4 coaches scouring "North America" over the next few week
- One advantage to being done for the year is the entire staff can be on the road recruiting
-Need a "handful of players for next year"
- Opportunities for upgrades will lead to some "tough conversations" ... need the best players we can bring in
- Grateful to the fans, administration and entire staff....RPI is truly a special place and the future is bright
Click to expand...
I'm surprised that Mathias isn't "scouring Europe" right now. Perhaps all the upheaval in student visa programs and pressure to reduce international student populations has made Europe less attractive for near term recruiting. Looking at Heisenberg's list I see even fewer direct from Europe (as opposed to Europeans already playing in North American junior leagues) than normal. Or, it may indicate they've locked in on a few NA goaltender candidates and it's his mission to reel one in.
 
sezenack said:
Two big quotes from his appearance on Rodger Wyland today. "Our finish was our finish, but that's nowhere near the standard here." On players returning for next year: "If we can upgrade, we're going to upgrade." Also mentioned all 4 coaches are out on the recruiting trail the next 1-2 weeks and still looking for a handful of players for next year, not even mentioning the portal.

In summary, buckle up for a busy offseason :)
Click to expand...
Just augment what Sez offered...from Lang's final appearance on Wyland:

CCT game
-game "went to script"
-Didn't think RPI was sharp early on, defended more than they wanted to
-30 blocked shots, kept CCT chances to the outside, RPI scored first

1st Year of Lang
-Team did a "great job at getting better" and "sprinted through the finish line"
- "Trains, planes and automobiles" now with 4 coaches scouring "North America" over the next few week
- One advantage to being done for the year is the entire staff can be on the road recruiting
-Need a "handful of players for next year"
-Opportunities for upgrades will lead to some "tough conversations" ... need the best players we can bring in
rpi82 said:
I'm surprised that Mathias isn't "scouring Europe" right now. Perhaps all the upheaval in student visa programs and pressure to reduce international student populations has made Europe less attractive for near term recruiting. Looking at Heisenberg's list I see even fewer direct from Europe (as opposed to Europeans already playing in North American junior leagues) than normal. Or, it may indicate they've locked in on a few NA goaltender candidates and it's his mission to reel one in.
Click to expand...
Anything is possible. There were a several weekends when Mathias wasn't behind the bench, so he may have gotten his European work done earlier in the season. Time will tell I suppose !
 
Waite21 said:
I remember buying a used textbook from the RPI bookstore. When I opened it up, I discovered that the previous owner had been Bill Daniel, a member of the varsity hockey team. He had taken good care of the book.
Click to expand...
Coincidentally, I heard a similar story at an unrelated school where that storyteller also noted the athlete "had taken good care of the book," but it was a euphemism for not having opened the book to study/go to class ;-)
 
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