RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

[C-H-C]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

"UNH Back On Track with 5-2 Win Over RPI"

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

All this talk about coaches and talent and play is fine, but my frustration comes from inconsistancy.
This team can compete with the likes of BU SCSU and Ferris State. They can play two strong periods against Minn. St. and give it away in the third. They played a good game against Quinnipiac. But even the first period last night was not that good, and they were no where to be found for the rest of the game.
They rarely put together three good periods against a top team, because they don't seem to have another gear when the good guys kick it up.
Well, the "pre season" is over. The real games start next week. Lets see what we have learned.
Lets go red!!!!!!!

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Question, were Higgs and O'Grady healthy scratches? I'm staring 2 think Higgs is a D3 level player myself.

I wouldn't say that. He played incredibly well in the last two seasons, but is experiencing a drop-off similar to what Pat Cullen had. If Coach challenges him, I think he'll answer the challenge.

 

[Umileated]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

I'm not that frustrated. I thought they played a good game at BU. Tonight, I'm just wondering if they had too many injuries/illnesses for a team as good as UNH. We played dump and chase on an olympic sized rink which is an odd strategy. I think Appert must have been trying to get by with what he had available. Without Neal, Higgs, Schroeder and O'Grady we simply couldn't come close to matching their skill level.

Don't be too alarmed by dump and chase - the boys in blue do it all the time. The corners have been converted to 28' radius NHL spec, which I guess helps.

 

[sk8tronthepond]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Looked at the first 3 UNH goals against. Just to break them down, on the first one, #24 is playing their D man one on one, and then curls off of him and #3 is too late to pick up giving time and space, hence goal. Why did #24 back off?

On the second goal, real bad back check from #39, he stopped skating just inside the blue line and if he keeps his feet moving, he would have had that pass across to #16 for UNH who scored.

On the third goal, #18 gets puck watching and allows his point man #2 for UNH to slide down back door.

They didn't show the 4th or 5th goal. I did not use names and used numbers on purpose.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Legitimate question in who to bring in. I'm not privy to the next hot coach but let's try Jim Montgomery.
I'm really just frustrated and blowing off some steam. A lot of resources have been pumped into the program since Fridgen was fired with just one good year to show for it. Maybe it's just the nature of the college game theses days. The days of clarkson, RPI, and other small strong academic schools being national powers may be gone. Perhaps this is about the best we can get. I hope not, but that may be the reality.
At any rate, you are right about not spinning the coaching wheel every few years. But at what point do you say this isn't working?

FIRE TIMMAY HIRE JIMMAY!

 

[Jasma]

Ok, fishcore12 talked this frustrated fan off the ledge last night. While the PP continues to be a huge problem, the UNH game was the fifth in 10 days. They played 4 games on the road against top teams. The best players are frosh and sophs, so they are still learning. A strong non-conference schedule is designed to get ready for the stretch run in the ECAC, so the next 14 games will be the real test. The truth is, none of us on this board is close enough to this team to know whether this group is going to come together down the stretch. We just need to wait and see. Waiting for 19 and 20 year olds to grow and develop into a successful team is frustrating and difficult for fans. It must be much more so for coaches.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Ok, fishcore12 talked this frustrated fan off the ledge last night. While the PP continues to be a huge problem, the UNH game was the fifth in 10 days. They played 4 games on the road against top teams. The best players are frosh and sophs, so they are still learning. A strong non-conference schedule is designed to get ready for the stretch run in the ECAC, so the next 14 games will be the real test. The truth is, none of us on this board is close enough to this team to know whether this group is going to come together down the stretch. We just need to wait and see. Waiting for 19 and 20 year olds to grow and develop into a successful team is frustrating and difficult for fans. It must be much more so for coaches.

To be the best, you gotta beat the best. To beat the best, you gotta know who the best is and then play them. I seem to remember us facing a similar schedule in 2007-08 when we played the Gophers, BC, Miami (who had this possibly known ranking of #1), Colorado College (#2), among others. Obviously we didn't do all that hot, but look what that experience brought us in three years. We never would have made it there if we didn't play those high caliber teams. Coach thinks long term, and if he thinks long term, he deserves a long term chance. I know many people want ECAC championships, but last I checked, the ultimate goal of college hockey isn't an ECAC championship.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Question, were Higgs and O'Grady healthy scratches? I'm staring 2 think Higgs is a D3 level player myself.

Both have been playing hurt all year.

I see a lot of people giving UNH zero credit. That's awful.

 

[DavidSec17]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

I'm staring 2 think Higgs is a D3 level player myself.

I give Brock Higgs a ton of credit comming back from what he went thru a couple of seasons ago in Alabama.

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Both have been playing hurt all year.

I see a lot of people giving UNH zero credit. That's awful.

Agreed RC. Both guys played against BU and the team played very well with them. Coach seemed to indicate that they sat for a combination of injury and motivational reasons. Fair enough as this was the last non-conf game and the bigger ice surface may have exposed them if their injuries are slowing them down.

I'm still in the needs convincing camp on Appert's game and special team coaching abilities. But even so, this weekend is no cause to start going out on a ledge. I have a hard time reconciling some of the commenters after this game (and after the OT loss) actually went to RPI based on their knee jerk reactions. Perhaps they forgot their knowledge and thoroughness when they left Troy or haven't gained it yet.

 

[New Hampshire 'Cats Fan]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Highlights from the UNH and RPI game:

 

[fishcore12]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Agreed RC. Both guys played against BU and the team played very well with them. Coach seemed to indicate that they sat for a combination of injury and motivational reasons. Fair enough as this was the last non-conf game and the bigger ice surface may have exposed them if their injuries are slowing them down.

I'm still in the needs convincing camp on Appert's game and special team coaching abilities. But even so, this weekend is no cause to start going out on a ledge. I have a hard time reconciling some of the commenters after this game (and after the OT loss) actually went to RPI based on their knee jerk reactions. Perhaps they forgot their knowledge and thoroughness when they left Troy or haven't gained it yet.

I have fully stated before I'm a UAlbany grad so all I know how to do is party and use tax payers money to build huge buildings on our campus.

 

[fishcore12]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Ok, fishcore12 talked this frustrated fan off the ledge last night. While the PP continues to be a huge problem, the UNH game was the fifth in 10 days. They played 4 games on the road against top teams. The best players are frosh and sophs, so they are still learning. A strong non-conference schedule is designed to get ready for the stretch run in the ECAC, so the next 14 games will be the real test. The truth is, none of us on this board is close enough to this team to know whether this group is going to come together down the stretch. We just need to wait and see. Waiting for 19 and 20 year olds to grow and develop into a successful team is frustrating and difficult for fans. It must be much more so for coaches.

If at the end of the year we finish last or below .500, I will step back and watch everyone go off the ledge. As for now, just trying to keep things real.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

I see some of the talent but wonder as well if the "coaching staff" is good enough 2 bring out the best in them. Hands down we all seem 2 agree we have the talent but seriously do we have the coaching staff to bring it out of them? It seems in the last 6 or 7 years we do not....so I ask what do we need?

Did you formulate this masterpiece while you were polishing off the miller lites I brought over to watch the game? You haven't been on the thread for too long but there is a rule against PWI (Posting While Intoxicated). DrD is the only one we allow to do that.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

If at the end of the year we finish last or below .500, I will step back and watch everyone go off the ledge. As for now, just trying to keep things real.

I agree with everything you have said. I believe SA beat #1 Yale, BU a couple of times (including that classic at HFH where Capt. Jack blew a top), Michigan when BP and JDA were here. Nobody, I repeat nobody is going to bring in the talent that SA brings in with the academic standards we have...bottom line.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

Did you formulate this masterpiece while you were polishing off the miller lites I brought over to watch the game? You haven't been on the thread for too long but there is a rule against PWI (Posting While Intoxicated). DrD is the only one we allow to do that.

I'm not sure i have posted much without being PWI. It certainly makes reality a bit easier to take.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

I'm not sure i have posted much without being PWI. It certainly makes reality a bit easier to take.

BTW- I meant to put a smiley face next to that comment. See you Sat. my friend.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

I agree with everything you have said. I believe SA beat #1 Yale, BU a couple of times (including that classic at HFH where Capt. Jack blew a top), Michigan when BP and JDA were here. Nobody, I repeat nobody is going to bring in the talent that SA brings in with the academic standards we have...bottom line.

Agree 1000% with your last statement. But have to agree also with those posting who feel we need to address in game strategy and most importantly-special teams play. I would feel a whole lot better if i did not have keep taking deep breaths while we are a man up on the power play (or even two men up). We just seem so darn predictable all the time and other teams seem to make in game and between periods adaptations better than we do. I am never one to throw in the towel-haven't been in the 49-50 years of following RPI hockey-and i am firmly convinced we will be a better team for the rest of the season than we have shown thus far.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI & BU (Friday 12/4) & UNH (Saturday 12/5)

I agree with everything you have said. I believe SA beat #1 Yale, BU a couple of times (including that classic at HFH where Capt. Jack blew a top), Michigan when BP and JDA were here. Nobody, I repeat nobody is going to bring in the talent that SA brings in with the academic standards we have...bottom line.

It's not only the academic standards since quite a few schools in the ECAC have higher standards. It's the choice of majors, the ratio, and the beauty that is Troy. (Yes it has been pointed out that most of the players already have girl friends and have little problem finding others.)