RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

[jstadts]

Someone pointed out to me that 3, maybe 4 other ECAC goalies maintain gaudy sub-2.00 goals against averages, but in a big game, we're going with Kazzie.
I hope he's not too gassed from last night's game...

I don`t like thinking about where we would be without him.In all honesty I thought we would lose last night.For an offensively challenged team we have overachieved for sure.This team imo is one of the best in years so far as really wanting to win night in and night out. Not once this year did I feel that I cared more about the outcome than the players did which hasn`t always been the case in the recent past.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Last time an RPI goalie had a 49 save effort wasn't too long ago... Scott Diebold's freshman year at Colgate. That was a REALLY fun game.

We cannot finish lower than 9th. A win, coupled with a Union loss or tie, means we clinch home ice for at least one weekend.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Last time an RPI goalie had a 49 save effort wasn't too long ago... Scott Diebold's freshman year at Colgate. That was a REALLY fun game.

We cannot finish lower than 9th. A win, coupled with a Union loss or tie, means we clinch home ice for at least one weekend.

Don't get too far ahead of yourself. One game at a time,
Too many times this year we have lost games we should have won and won games we should have lost.
I love this years team, but they are a heart attack waiting to happen.

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Both teams are certainly living and dying by their goaltending.

Yes and so is my weekend. Son and I had tentative plans to go to Dartmouth tonight but heading in to Bright last night we were thinking... probably not if RPI lost a 4th in a row. Kasdorf's performance changed that ... now we feel like we have to go as the last two games we've been to at Brown and at Harvard have been wins - not to mention thoroughly entertaining.

The Gillespie goal last night was truly an odd one. We were sitting behind the net and saw the original shot clearly before it deflected a couple of times and somehow disappeared. My eyes were on Madsen and the RPI forward at the right post who both though the puck might have been in his equipment. As I was watching the RPI forward try to shake it loose, the puck was suddenly hitting the back of the net. Like magic almost to my angle... whereas my son saw Gillespie put it in and thinks the Harvard D man (Jaw) had it trapped between his glove and his pants, dropped it when there was no whistle and then KG whacked it in from mid air. I saw the KG shot clearly on replay but didn't get a good view of where the puck was. We were only 15 feet from the play and yet .. still shows what a fast and tough game it can be to follow sometimes.

Third period was really fun because we were in among a group of older Harvard fans, likely alums, and the incessant whining from them was pure gold. Had my 12 yr old daughter with me and she could hardly keep from laughing a few times (but she didn't laugh... unlike when I was a kid she is far too respectful for that!).

Hanover here we come. Last game that we attended we had a very good meal at I forget where with some great pizza. Got to the game and ... won the row of the night drawing which entitled us to about 12 free pizzas. Made a lot of friends that night giving 11 of them all away (yes... my kids still managed to eat one of them.).

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

This team continues to play for each other. The game felt closer than the shot total indicated, especially In the 3rd period - they were even for the first 10 minutes and then RPI went into a shell. Hopefully they can continue to play for each other and keep going. LGR!

 

[DeepRed72]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

I think that the recruiting of Chase Perry as a second scholarship goalie indicates that SA knows that also, even though Kasdorf has left the possibility open in recent interviews.

I think Kasdorf's 'leaving the possibility open' speaks to the fact that it is really Buffalo's call and out of his hands. Apparently he has not yet received word from them that they will assign him to Rochester or Elmira or not.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Don't get too far ahead of yourself. One game at a time,
Too many times this year we have lost games we should have won and won games we should have lost.
I love this years team, but they are a heart attack waiting to happen.

Oh, the only thing I'm counting is not finishing below 9th, because it is a mathematical certainty. Gotta get it done tonight, hope we can get a split. We have only lost one series thus far this year, and that's to CCT (1-3). Yale and SLU are splits, while Brown and Harvard are wins (3-1), and Union a sweep. This is the only series where we have to win to salvage a split. The remaining ones are 3 ties and a win (Cornell). What's going to hurt the most are the ties, because ECAC wins is the tiebreak on a split, and we are most likely to lose that.

 

[turk181]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Pretty cool.......... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reminder: Our game tonight against <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHClub_Cats">@UNHClub_Cats</a> can be seen live online courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/rpitv">@rpitv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ACHA?src=hash">#ACHA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SECHLHockey">@SECHLHockey</a></p>— RPI ACHA Hockey (@rpiacha) <a href="https://twitter.com/rpiacha/status/698607878811316224">February 13, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[rvd5star69]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Can't always expect kasdorf to save the day

 

[lugnut92]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Can't always expect kasdorf to save the day

I was only able to follow on twitter, but it sounds like we played one period and tried to ride it out.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

I was only able to follow on twitter, but it sounds like we played one period and tried to ride it out.

That pretty well sums it up.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

We now have 77 goals, not a lot, but that is equal to last year's total in 9 fewer games.

 

[Jasma]

previous thread http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?113572-RPI-Hockey-2015-2016-Six-Flags-Over-the-HFH

Just 26 goals in the last 13 games and 5 in the last 5 contests. Offense always seems to be a challenge for Appert teams.

 

[jericho]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

For the sake of keeping the other thread closed, allow me to respond to this here:

You sound as if we have a reasonable chance for a home ice bye or an NCAA berth. The former is about 16% per my model, Lugnut can provide you a better number in a day or so. As for an NCAA berth, that would be no better than 5% at this point. I can hardly believe that these numbers are any better than your low pre-season expectations. Every team has injuries, defections, suspensions, etc. But some of those teams win every now and then. Despite the two wins, the last six games have been horrible. Easily we could have lost all six. If this team according to you was trying 100% of the time then that speaks volumes about their talent level. But to answer your question we have won 128 games in the last 10 seasons, 128-175-43 (346 games a big enough sample size?). So that there is no misinterpretation - my rancor is not directed at the boys. We need new leadership to make RPI Hockey great again.

Yes, I think they have a reasonable chance. Why? Quite simply, there's still four games left. That's 8 points. With only two points separating RPI and SLU, and 5 separating RPI and Yale, anything can happen in the yearly roller coaster ride that is the ECAC. Is it going to take a great effort? Yes, it's going to take a great effort, but it's hardly impossible. Also, I'd appreciate you not putting words in my mouth about low expectations, I've never put words in your mouth, so don't do it to me. Also, this season I would hardly say that RPI has won "every now and then" in regards to their injuries, the majority of the time they've come away with at least a point. Remember, RPI isn't a Michigan, OSU, Penn St, BC or any other school with a big athletic budget. These are kids that choose to come to RPI because they want to be here, get an education and play hockey. I for one am glad that RPI isn't lowering the standards of admission, I don't want to devalue my own degree. Please read my previous post, I never asked how many games RPI won in the past ten years, because, quite frankly, it's irrelevant to this season. I was simply making a generalization (something you like to do.) But, if you like to answer questions that were never asked to help you prove a point, so be it. I'll remain optimistic in my view of the team, and you can remain thinking that RPI will never recover.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

For the sake of keeping the other thread closed, allow me to respond to this here:



Yes, I think they have a reasonable chance. Why? Quite simply, there's still four games left. That's 8 points. With only two points separating RPI and SLU, and 5 separating RPI and Yale, anything can happen in the yearly roller coaster ride that is the ECAC. Is it going to take a great effort? Yes, it's going to take a great effort, but it's hardly impossible. Also, I'd appreciate you not putting words in my mouth about low expectations, I've never put words in your mouth, so don't do it to me. Also, this season I would hardly say that RPI has won "every now and then" in regards to their injuries, the majority of the time they've come away with at least a point. Remember, RPI isn't a Michigan, OSU, Penn St, BC or any other school with a big athletic budget. These are kids that choose to come to RPI because they want to be here, get an education and play hockey. I for one am glad that RPI isn't lowering the standards of admission, I don't want to devalue my own degree. Please read my previous post, I never asked how many games RPI won in the past ten years, because, quite frankly, it's irrelevant to this season. I was simply making a generalization (something you like to do.) But, if you like to answer questions that were never asked to help you prove a point, so be it. I'll remain optimistic in my view of the team, and you can remain thinking that RPI will never recover.

Well said. In spite of what Vince Lombardi said, winning is not the only thing.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

For the sake of keeping the other thread closed, allow me to respond to this here:



Yes, I think they have a reasonable chance. Why? Quite simply, there's still four games left. That's 8 points. With only two points separating RPI and SLU, and 5 separating RPI and Yale, anything can happen in the yearly roller coaster ride that is the ECAC. Is it going to take a great effort? Yes, it's going to take a great effort, but it's hardly impossible. Also, I'd appreciate you not putting words in my mouth about low expectations, I've never put words in your mouth, so don't do it to me. Also, this season I would hardly say that RPI has won "every now and then" in regards to their injuries, the majority of the time they've come away with at least a point. Remember, RPI isn't a Michigan, OSU, Penn St, BC or any other school with a big athletic budget. These are kids that choose to come to RPI because they want to be here, get an education and play hockey. I for one am glad that RPI isn't lowering the standards of admission, I don't want to devalue my own degree. Please read my previous post, I never asked how many games RPI won in the past ten years, because, quite frankly, it's irrelevant to this season. I was simply making a generalization (something you like to do.) But, if you like to answer questions that were never asked to help you prove a point, so be it. I'll remain optimistic in my view of the team, and you can remain thinking that RPI will never recover.

If Jericho can respond to a post from teh scores thread, I can move over here my response to the same post.
Outside of a few small disagreements, we seem to be on exactly the same page. I am not a statistician or mathematician. But 10 years is more than enough time to get a representation of the program. Pick any ten year period you want. It is not the recruits coming in, it is not the boys, it is not the injuries, it is not the bad bounces, and it is not the constant having to play against the hot goaltender. Every goaltender seems to be hot against us in the third period and in any playoff games that we are fortunate enough to play. I think that over the past decade we have had as much talent or as little as any ten year period in RPI history. And what is more telling is compare our last ten years to two other ECAC teams that changed coaches around the same time as we did. Yale and Union are a very fair comparison and I think anyone here would trade our record for theirs over that time period. Perhaps it takes a longer term perspective to really see the difference in this program and guys like me, DeepRed, and Ralph have a somewhat different set of expectations as we have seen far more years of the program.

Can I remain optimistic? Sure. But I have to keep a practical outlook. 10 years of history makes me think that we are witnessing the same thing again. Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them (or something like that). i love this team, I love this program and I am a fervent supporter of the school. I have been and will be even when going through person tragedies. But there is nothing wrong with loving and supporting the program and the boys playing and yet still being able to be critical of what one sees as repeated failures. I do not doubt these boys are trying to be the best they can be. What i see is not the failures of our boys but the program failing the boys. These kids just deserve better and I do not think it is their fault. Just one old man's opinion (and that is all it is, an opinion) who has been following this team for a very long time. Those with other opinions are welcome to post them and they are all just as valid, but don't even attempt to try to tell me how I should feel.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

great post Doc. This year's team feels different, and I can empathize with seeing the program dwindle to irrelevance since it's pinnacle 30 some years ago. This year's team feels different than the past few years and am wanting to give them and Appert a wide berth - they play for each other and give max effort. I hope I'm not fooled. LGR!

 

[Jasma]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Very reasoned, and well said.
however, I am still optimistic for this year, and even more so for next year. I know, I sound like a Mets' fan from the 80's and 90's. There has been some offensive talent pass through the RPI program in the past decade. Players such as Helfirch, Polacek, Higgs, Bailen, Pirri and Haggerty and Neal have finished in the top 20 in points and/or goals in the ECAC but that has resulted in only one NCAA trip and no appearances in the ECAC final four, and that is frustrating. This year's team has been hit with some significant injuries to major offensive contributors. Tironese was lost after just six games and was the leading scorer (1-6-7) at the time. Bubela, Melanson and Bourbonnais have all missed 4 or more games and Reno has missed the last 10 games and may not return until the playoffs. Also, don't forget that freshman forward Brady Wiffen was supposed to be a significant contributor this year and has not played at all. It is indeed frustrating to see this team consistently out shot by sometimes huge margins and to watch them lose draw after draw, but the loss of so many games to injury by some of the most skilled players certainly has contributed greatly to those stats. If Melanson and Reno come back before the playoffs, and there are no more significant injuries, this team can rebound and make it to Placid. LGR!

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Very reasoned, and well said.
however, I am still optimistic for this year, and even more so for next year. I know, I sound like a Mets' fan from the 80's and 90's. There has been some offensive talent pass through the RPI program in the past decade. Players such as Helfirch, Polacek, Higgs, Bailen, Pirri and Haggerty and Neal have finished in the top 20 in points and/or goals in the ECAC but that has resulted in only one NCAA trip and no appearances in the ECAC final four, and that is frustrating. This year's team has been hit with some significant injuries to major offensive contributors. Tironese was lost after just six games and was the leading scorer (1-6-7) at the time. Bubela, Melanson and Bourbonnais have all missed 4 or more games and Reno has missed the last 10 games and may not return until the playoffs. Also, don't forget that freshman forward Brady Wiffen was supposed to be a significant contributor this year and has not played at all. It is indeed frustrating to see this team consistently out shot by sometimes huge margins and to watch them lose draw after draw, but the loss of so many games to injury by some of the most skilled players certainly has contributed greatly to those stats. If Melanson and Reno come back before the playoffs, and there are no more significant injuries, this team can rebound and make it to Placid. LGR!

I wonder how optimistic we should be about next year without Kasdorf. Hackett did perform well when Kasdorf was injured, but he is still a question mark, and Chase Perry is even more of a question mark. I do think the forwards and defensemen look better on paper.

 

[jericho]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

I wonder how optimistic we should be about next year without Kasdorf. Hackett did perform well when Kasdorf was injured, but he is still a question mark, and Chase Perry is even more of a question mark. I do think the forwards and defensemen look better on paper.

Save it for next season, no use getting into that now.