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RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

hab said:
Many of the comments from this year's recruits confirm my impression that RPI's science and engineering standards can be advantages, not hurdles, in recruiting female hockey players: http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/20...ens-hockey-welcomes-seven-in-class-of-20.aspx
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From the count of returning players, Heidi Niskanen probably won't be on the roster. I also wonder if the team will be going with just two goalies this season. I would think that it would be difficult to find a women's walkon, but conceivably they already have one/
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">D-partners become rivals &#55357;&#56847; <a href="https://t.co/d8SSnwazga">https://t.co/d8SSnwazga</a></p>— kirsten iwanski (@kiwanski18) <a href="https://twitter.com/kiwanski18/status/757612230561017857">July 25, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

There is a real pattern to RPI's recruiting and I think that it makes a lot of sense. For reasons that I don't completely understand we do not attract the players that are in the U18 development streams (US and Cda) that end up being the big impact players on other squads. Instead, we get a lot of 'under the radar' players with a lot of potential, work hard to develop both their athleticism and their hockey skills, and try to build a well-balanced, competitive team from there. Best recent example, of course, was finding a certain second tier Swedish goalie (about to join a weak Tier 1 Swedish team) who proved to be a leader for RPI last year and will likely be so for another three years. Iwanski was probably not a highly recruited player but I am optimistic she will be a solid addition to the team. By her own admission, she did not seem to have college hockey potential (let alone D1) until the last couple seasons, but RPI saw potential. http://site562.goalline.ca/news.php?news_id=1265768
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

hab said:
There is a real pattern to RPI's recruiting and I think that it makes a lot of sense. For reasons that I don't completely understand we do not attract the players that are in the U18 development streams (US and Cda) that end up being the big impact players on other squads. Instead, we get a lot of 'under the radar' players with a lot of potential, work hard to develop both their athleticism and their hockey skills, and try to build a well-balanced, competitive team from there. Best recent example, of course, was finding a certain second tier Swedish goalie (about to join a weak Tier 1 Swedish team) who proved to be a leader for RPI last year and will likely be so for another three years. Iwanski was probably not a highly recruited player but I am optimistic she will be a solid addition to the team. By her own admission, she did not seem to have college hockey potential (let alone D1) until the last couple seasons, but RPI saw potential. http://site562.goalline.ca/news.php?news_id=1265768
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Not surprised. Joe Flanagan UNH '92 is the brother of Bill Flanagan RPI '90. They own the Northern Cyclones facility and franchise.
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

RPI is in the same boat as the other 30 some teams, they do not attract the U18 developement girls because Frosty and Johnson gobble them all up. Other than the top few girls most of them are happy just being a third or fourth liners on these powerhouse teams. These part time third or fourth liners could be superstars on most clubs and would benefit the rest of the 30 some teams that are always chasing the big 3
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

brokentwig said:
RPI is in the same boat as the other 30 some teams, they do not attract the U18 developement girls because Frosty and Johnson gobble them all up. Other than the top few girls most of them are happy just being a third or fourth liners on these powerhouse teams. These part time third or fourth liners could be superstars on most clubs and would benefit the rest of the 30 some teams that are always chasing the big 3
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Well if you play 3rd line at Wisconsin you get plenty of playing time and are certainly not a "part time" player. My wife and I have been attending Badger Women's Hockey games for the last 12 years or so and Coach Johnson rolls his top 3 lines for most of each game. Even the 4rth liners get in most games.
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

brokentwig said:
RPI is in the same boat as the other 30 some teams, they do not attract the U18 developement girls because Frosty and Johnson gobble them all up. Other than the top few girls most of them are happy just being a third or fourth liners on these powerhouse teams. These part time third or fourth liners could be superstars on most clubs and would benefit the rest of the 30 some teams that are always chasing the big 3
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Gophers 3rd line forwards always play regular shifts as well. 5 and 6 'D' usually play full regular shifts although occasionally their shifts are shortened or cut. 4th liners will play but not usually in a tie game :)

Not saying there isn't something to your general point, however
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

brokentwig said:
RPI is in the same boat as the other 30 some teams, they do not attract the U18 developement girls because Frosty and Johnson gobble them all up. Other than the top few girls most of them are happy just being a third or fourth liners on these powerhouse teams. These part time third or fourth liners could be superstars on most clubs and would benefit the rest of the 30 some teams that are always chasing the big 3
Click to expand...

one just left for BU, another did a couple years ago, and another a couple years before that (to Bemidji)

so over the next 30 years, there is a good chance you'll be getting one

In men's hockey, since everyone is chasing the dream of a big NHL contract, it makes sense to go to a lesser known school than be a 3rd or 4th liner on a top contending team, the opportunity to be on a scoring line and the PP could be life changing

but in women's hockey going to a big school like MN or WI means you have the choice of numerous educational opportunities that aren't available at a smaller school
in addition what good would saying you were the leading scorer at a job interview do you? telling them you were a member of a national champion team tells them all they need to know, organizations want team players with a history of success
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

pokechecker said:
one just left for BU, another did a couple years ago, and another a couple years before that (to Bemidji)

so over the next 30 years, there is a good chance you'll be getting one

In men's hockey, since everyone is chasing the dream of a big NHL contract, it makes sense to go to a lesser known school than be a 3rd or 4th liner on a top contending team, the opportunity to be on a scoring line and the PP could be life changing

but in women's hockey going to a big school like MN or WI means you have the choice of numerous educational opportunities that aren't available at a smaller school
in addition what good would saying you were the leading scorer at a job interview do you? telling them you were a member of a national champion team tells them all they need to know, organizations want team players with a history of success
Click to expand...

Agreed.. I will also add that even though women's hockey is an Olympic sport and there is a 4 team professional league (NWHL), the pinnacle for any aspiring female hockey player is still NCAA D-1 hockey. And if said player is good enough to be a USA U-18 or Canadian U-18 player then it is very likely she will be recruited by one of the powerhouse WCHA teams.. In my opinion this is easily the best conference in the country with UM and UW always being in the race for the National Championship.. Why wouldn't a player want to go to either one of those schools?
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

hab said:
I was hoping to see a walk-on goalie. Always a bit risky for a hockey team to go into a season with only 2 keepers, but on the other hand it is hard to justify using 3 scholarships.
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The roster has been removed, as has the men's. There still could be a third goalie. There wasn't one on the men's roster either.
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

hab said:
I was hoping to see a walk-on goalie. Always a bit risky for a hockey team to go into a season with only 2 keepers, but on the other hand it is hard to justify using 3 scholarships.
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Respectfully disagree on the three scholarships. A D1 team HAS to have three goalies - a starter (usually Junior/Senior), a future starter (usually Freshman/Sophomore), and a second backup (usually a previous future starter who didn't quite make it). This is the most important position on ANY hockey team and skimping on scholarships in this position is a poor, poor choice. Plus RPI has a full allotment, so why wouldn't they use 3 on goalies? They can always get 3 or 4 position recruited walk-ons ....
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

HockeyEast33 said:
Respectfully disagree on the three scholarships. A D1 team HAS to have three goalies - a starter (usually Junior/Senior), a future starter (usually Freshman/Sophomore), and a second backup (usually a previous future starter who didn't quite make it). This is the most important position on ANY hockey team and skimping on scholarships in this position is a poor, poor choice. Plus RPI has a full allotment, so why wouldn't they use 3 on goalies? They can always get 3 or 4 position recruited walk-ons ....
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The RPI men's team also almost always uses a walk-on as its third goalie. It is a function of the fact that many players just are not attracted to technical majors -- both men and women -- and more full scholarships have to be awarded. There is the additional fact, when compared to public colleges, that tuition is significantly more expensive and a partial athletic scholarship is not as attractive.

I would be quite surprised if any school uses three full athletic scholarships on goalies, leaving only 15 for skaters. Three partials, or two partials and a full, I can see.
 
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Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

Ralph Baer said:
The RPI men's team also almost always uses a walk-on as its third goalie. It is a function of the fact that many players just are not attracted to technical majors -- both men and women -- and more full scholarships have to be awarded. There is the additional fact, when compared to public colleges, that tuition is significantly more expensive and a partial athletic scholarship is not as attractive.

I would be quite surprised if any school uses three full athletic scholarships on goalies, leaving only 15 for skaters. Three partials, or two partials and a full, I can see.
Click to expand...

I think that the 'walk-on' #3 goalie, or the half-scholarship #3 goalie often becomes one of most valued players on the team...valued by teammates and valued by fans. There is a recognition that this person puts in the same kind of work day after day as the scholarship players who get the lion's share of ice time, and is always prepared to put on the pads when needed. Certainly seems that Sara Till was that kind of athlete over the last 4 years and was clearly a key part of the team. Big challenge to find a replacement.
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to goaltender Lovisa Selander on RPI Freshman of the year!! <a href="https://t.co/kfrd53pikW">pic.twitter.com/kfrd53pikW</a></p>— RPI Women's Hockey (@RPI_WHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/RPI_WHockey/status/771143447264817152">September 1, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Re: RPI Engineers 2016-2017: 10 Years on

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">20 days until <a href="https://twitter.com/RPI_WHockey">@RPI_WHockey</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RPIHockey?src=hash">#RPIHockey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ECACHockey?src=hash">#ECACHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/UfxTOCgLKf">pic.twitter.com/UfxTOCgLKf</a></p>— RPI Athletics (@RPIAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/RPIAthletics/status/772406653866151936">September 4, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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