What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

For my part, I hope Coach decides to start Merriam tomorrow. He's generally played really well for us and Coach could use it as a motivational tool for the rest of the team*:

"Hey guys, it's senior night, and Bryce has done everything we've asked of him and more. Let's send him out on a high note! Go Red!"

That extra enthusiasm could easily outweight any marginal difference in goalie talent. Of course others may disagree; even so, I think it would be a real strong statement of team values and confidence.




* yeah, I know, they already should be motivated anyway playing for second place and all that....sometimes that particular motivator puts more pressure on people since the focus is on what they want for themselves, while what I suggest helps shift the focus toward doing something classy for someone else.
 
FreshFish said:
For my part, I hope Coach decides to start Merriam tomorrow. He's generally played really well for us and Coach could use it as a motivational tool for the rest of the team*:

"Hey guys, it's senior night, and Bryce has done everything we've asked of him and more. Let's send him out on a high note! Go Red!"

That extra enthusiasm could easily outweight any marginal difference in goalie talent. Of course others may disagree; even so, I think it would be a real strong statement of team values and confidence.




* yeah, I know, they already should be motivated anyway playing for second place and all that....sometimes that particular motivator puts more pressure on people since the focus is on what they want for themselves, while what I suggest helps shift the focus toward doing something classy for someone else.
Click to expand...

This doesn't have to be a dispositive factor, but objectively there is not a "marginal" difference in talent.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

I would stick with Kasdorf both nights. Too much on the line in terms of NCAA ranking. If we somehow get a reasonable lead one of these nights then I put Merriam in.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

For those who are interested in such things, in the Cafe - Polls section, the first rounds of the 2012 Poser of the Year election is now underway.

Among notable candidates are FlagDude08, Ralph Baer, DrDemento, and HokyDad.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

FreshFish said:
For those who are interested in such things, in the Cafe - Polls section, the first rounds of the 2012 Poser of the Year election is now underway.

Among notable candidates is HokyDad.
Click to expand...

fyp
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

FreshFish said:
For those who are interested in such things, in the Cafe - Polls section, the first rounds of the 2012 Poser of the Year election is now underway.

Among notable candidates are FlagDude08, Ralph Baer, DrDemento, and HokyDad.
Click to expand...

What a crew!
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

This is IMO the biggest weekend this season if not the last 5 or so years we find ourselves in a spot where we control our own destiny the only option for this team is to take care of business and finish in 2nd place.These are 2 teams we have already beaten and we are better than. Good teams get this done however they can whether its 1 win 2 ties 2 wins whatever. We need to gut this out play as close to mistake free hockey as we can and close the deal. No matter what anyone says this is a pressure packed situation and nerves are going to be raw. This will not be about coaching or strategy this will be about the players putting their Big Boy Panties on and playing their best game of the year. No matter how this end up and no matter what the playoffs hold for us this weekend will say alot about where were at. I don't want to say these are "must" wins because our season will move on no matter what happens but we can not ! can not! can not ! lay and egg...GO RED !!!!!
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

knsmith said:
This doesn't have to be a dispositive factor, but objectively there is not a "marginal" difference in talent.
Click to expand...

You understood the word differently than I intended, which is understandable since the word has multiple meanings!

You read "marginal = minimal" while I meant "marginal = incremental" in which the size of the increment isn't specified.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

troyboy said:
This is IMO the biggest weekend this season if not the last 5 or so years we find ourselves in a spot where we control our own destiny the only option for this team is to take care of business and finish in 2nd place.These are 2 teams we have already beaten and we are better than. Good teams get this done however they can whether its 1 win 2 ties 2 wins whatever. We need to gut this out play as close to mistake free hockey as we can and close the deal. No matter what anyone says this is a pressure packed situation and nerves are going to be raw. This will not be about coaching or strategy this will be about the players putting their Big Boy Panties on and playing their best game of the year. No matter how this end up and no matter what the playoffs hold for us this weekend will say alot about where were at. I don't want to say these are "must" wins because our season will move on no matter what happens but we can not ! can not! can not ! lay and egg...GO RED !!!!!
Click to expand...

We have pretty much been saying each weekend has been the most important now for the past 4+ weekends. Just a sign of how things have changed a bit this year. I remember years recently when it seemed like we were playing out the string to see where we had to travel to for the first round of the ECAC playoffs. What a nice warm fuzzy feeling this is:) But you are correct-everyone has to have some butterflies right now. If the boys play as we all know they can-and I emphasize this, are allowed to play that way-then we will be just fine and be able to live with whatever results we get. These are two good teams we are playing who have a long history of beating us pretty regularly in the past-I am sure SA and crew are not taking anything for granted and will give us everthing they have. Go Red!!
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

Okay, I totally understand those who say "we have a great mix going, don't mess with it, just keep starting the same line-up we've been starting." I'm totally okay with that.

Simultaneously, (a la Schrodinger's Cat), I also would like to see the following even better:
> we've clinched the bye, great feeling, harder perhaps to keep up same intensity?
> every now and then, even when you are doing well, it's a good idea to look at things from a fresh perspective if the situation calls for it.
> Senior Night is a special occasion.

As long as whatever we give up in starting Merriam we gain from other intangibles enough to offset those we'd gain (and besides, the way the team played tonight kept the other team's shot total down, SLU is out its best scorer).

"The coaches and the team require your loyalty to them to succeed, on Senior Night we recognize our loyalty to you for all the service and sacrifice you gave for us."

I've seen another highly successful program have a long-standing tradition that all seniors start (and play meaningful minutes too) on Senior Night. It's not just for the players, it's for their families and friends too...at least at this particular program (very high profile) with which I am familiar. The rest of the team is inspired by it and it works out just fine in the end.

Turn the game into a sort of party, celebration, whatever (as coaches) and the players respond by playing loose and focused and energized. My two circular slaps of copper overlay on a zinc core embossed with Lincoln's profile on one side and his memorial on the obverse.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

FreshFish said:
Okay, I totally understand those who say "we have a great mix going, don't mess with it, just keep starting the same line-up we've been starting." I'm totally okay with that.

Simultaneously, (a la Schrodinger's Cat), I also would like to see the following even better:
> we've clinched the bye, great feeling, harder perhaps to keep up same intensity?
> every now and then, even when you are doing well, it's a good idea to look at things from a fresh perspective if the situation calls for it.
> Senior Night is a special occasion.

As long as whatever we give up in starting Merriam we gain from other intangibles enough to offset those we'd gain (and besides, the way the team played tonight kept the other team's shot total down, SLU is out its best scorer).

"The coaches and the team require your loyalty to them to succeed, on Senior Night we recognize our loyalty to you for all the service and sacrifice you gave for us."

I've seen another highly successful program have a long-standing tradition that all seniors start (and play meaningful minutes too) on Senior Night. It's not just for the players, it's for their families and friends too...at least at this particular program (very high profile) with which I am familiar. The rest of the team is inspired by it and it works out just fine in the end.

Turn the game into a sort of party, celebration, whatever (as coaches) and the players respond by playing loose and focused and energized. My two circular slaps of copper overlay on a zinc core embossed with Lincoln's profile on one side and his memorial on the obverse.
Click to expand...

I am just the typist here (Jen) but here is Doc's opinion. Although he agrees with the sentiment and it would be wonderful as a gesture. We are also in the hunt for an NCAA bid and position in that list is crucial. He would prefer if we do indeed make it into the tournament that we get the absolute best pairing possible and more importantly the best venue to play in. There is a huge difference between going in as number 16 seed and being shipped to Osh Kosh to play a number one seed (See NDak a couple years ago-which was the worst possible draw for us)-and somehow getting to the number 11 seed and not having to face a number 1 seed in any region. He does not know if that is even possible-that is why he had focused so much on that late bad call in the Union game which cost us perhaps 2 positions in the PWR (whatever that is). Losing or getting a tie tomorrow by not playing your best players does 2 things-first it breaks up some chemistry that has taken 30+ games to develop. Second it softens the confidence of the team which right now is playing just so well (supporting the puck like we have not seen in a long time). But thirdly-if changes are made and a bad results happen-mentally it changes the focus of a team to begin to think-'what if'. He would change nothing-he would go out there tomorrow and try to win with your best against a team that is still dangerous even without a star player. (Now i hope this works since i do not know how to do it) But he says it is just his 2¢ and all of this could be wrong if a star player gets hurt tomorrow.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

With second place wrapped up, they need to play Bryce tomorrow night for Senior Night. It can't hurt us and let him have his one last hurrah before the playoffs. This will also give Jason a bit more of a rest, while it may only be one game, it is still one less chance for any issues to arise. Excellent run we have been having and congrats to Coach on his first ever first round bye. Let's raise that banner boys!
 
Volbeat16 said:
With second place wrapped up, they need to play Bryce tomorrow night for Senior Night. It can't hurt us and let him have his one last hurrah before the playoffs. This will also give Jason a bit more of a rest, while it may only be one game, it is still one less chance for any issues to arise. Excellent run we have been having and congrats to Coach on his first ever first round bye. Let's raise that banner boys!
Click to expand...

Please explain how "it can't hurt us." We were in a tie for 14th in PWR last I looked tonight.

(With that said, I'm not saying that playing Merriam is the wrong decision. But it ABSOLUTELY is one that could hurt us -- very severely in fact -- an that must be recognized.)
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight while enjoying another RPI victory, I was given some shocking news from one of our favorite and most respected posters AspyDad. In his words, he is hanging up the keyboard and has asked me, as his Section 9 bodyguard and protector, to inform everyone of this great board that he is going into retirement from the USCHO message boards. He has fought long and hard to show the great people of this board that Seth Appert is indeed "Our Great Coach" and feels his job has been done. I would like to thank AspyDad for his countless hours of hard work and thoughtful comments about our team and the great sport of college hockey. He may give a retirement post in the near future but for now he will just be another guy in the stands of Houston Field House doing what he does best.....enlightening the refs of the ECAC. Thank you.
 
Re: RPI Hockey 2012-2013 Part IV: Not A Finished Product Yet

knsmith said:
Please explain how "it can't hurt us." We were in a tie for 14th in PWR last I looked tonight.

(With that said, I'm not saying that playing Merriam is the wrong decision. But it ABSOLUTELY is one that could hurt us -- very severely in fact -- an that must be recognized.)
Click to expand...

oh, knock it off. you are saying that with Jason we win but with Bryce we lose. Go take a cold shower and come back when you are ready to accept that chances are good we'd win either way. :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top