RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

[Waite21]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

The primary impact is on football. With WPI, Springfield and Merchant Marine scheduled to leave the Liberty League (IIRC correctly, it will be after the coming season) they need to add at least two teams to keep an auto-bid to the NCAA D3 tournament. Ithaca used to be a D3 football power. When I went to grad school at Cornell it was generally accepted that the best football team in town was playing on the hill to the south.

I wonder who else will be joining to be the 12th member and the 7th football playing school?

Ithaca football was at kind of a low ebb this past season, as they finished tied for eighth place in what was a nine-team Empire 8 league. They were 4-6 overall, but only 2-6 in league play. Their two non-conference wins were over Union and Hobart.

Theoretically, the remaining members of the Empire 8 would be quite happy to remain in an eight-team league, but if any others might be interested in moving to the Liberty League, one possibility might be Alfred. They, like Ithaca, used to be members of the ICAC. IIRC, they used to have a rivalry with Hobart, though they did not play the Statesmen this past season.

For what it's worth, RPI played two games against Empire 8 schools this season, losing an early-season game to Alfred but winning a bowl game over Buffalo State.

 

[Jasma]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Ithaca football was at kind of a low ebb this past season, as they finished tied for eighth place in what was a nine-team Empire 8 league. They were 4-6 overall, but only 2-6 in league play. Their two non-conference wins were over Union and Hobart.

Theoretically, the remaining members of the Empire 8 would be quite happy to remain in an eight-team league, but if any others might be interested in moving to the Liberty League, one possibility might be Alfred. They, like Ithaca, used to be members of the ICAC. IIRC, they used to have a rivalry with Hobart, though they did not play the Statesmen this past season.

For what it's worth, RPI played two games against Empire 8 schools this season, losing an early-season game to Alfred but winning a bowl game over Buffalo State.

Alfred cold be interested for the reasons you mentioned. Hartwick is also another possibility from the Empire 8. Six schools is all that is required to maintain the NCAA automatic bid, so Liberty League football could stay at 7. I wold think they they would like to have more than 7 so they only need 2 or 3 non-league games to fill out the schedule. they would probably also like to have a team near NYC or Boston to help with recruiting, but there is no need to rush into anything now that the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament is secure.

 

[rpi82]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Alfred cold be interested for the reasons you mentioned. Hartwick is also another possibility from the Empire 8. Six schools is all that is required to maintain the NCAA automatic bid, so Liberty League football could stay at 7. I wold think they they would like to have more than 7 so they only need 2 or 3 non-league games to fill out the schedule. they would probably also like to have a team near NYC or Boston to help with recruiting, but there is no need to rush into anything now that the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament is secure.

With Ithaca coming in and 3 going out, the Liberty League would be at 6 for football. According to this article and others I've read, 7 are required for an auto-bid to the Division 3 playoffs.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0023302012.html

York only had three victories in the NHL, but his numbers indicated that he belonged. In a small sample size, he outplayed the other goalies on the Blue Jackets, but was never given another chance. He had/has the talent to play in the NHL, but the goalie position is just too hard to break into.

Agree, but should have stayed, if no other reason, to not walk into a bad situaton, which is what CBJ was at the time. Never understood his move at all, like D'amigo.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Please read my post again. I did not say it wasn't a mistake; I just said it wasn't a "terrible decision". To me the word "terrible" would imply that it was a complete disaster of a decision -- there have been worse.

Ralph, I disagree. JDA had the potential to be a great pro player, but was in no way shape or form to be ready after a single season. Considering how his career is turning out compared to the potential it started with, I'm calling it 'terrible', without reservation. Waste of a talent and education.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Ralph, I disagree. JDA had the potential to be a great pro player, but was in no way shape or form to be ready after a single season. Considering how his career is turning out compared to the potential it started with, I'm calling it 'terrible', without reservation. Waste of a talent and education.

Boy, are you putting words in my mouth. My original post (#691) was about York, not about JDA. I have not mentioned JDA at all in this discussion. IMHO, his decision to go pro was much worse than York's.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Agree, but should have stayed, if no other reason, to not walk into a bad situaton, which is what CBJ was at the time. Never understood his move at all, like D'amigo.

If you are talking about the front office of CBJ, I totally agree. But if you are talking about the goalie situation there, I totally disagree, The Blue Jackets didn't get a decent goalie until John Davidson took over.
When York got that opportunity in Columbus, he showed that he was probably their best option with the best upside, but the front office didn't think so. So now he travels the country between the ECHL and the AHL. A real waste of talent.
Of course, I see the situation through cherry colored glasses.

 

[Jasma]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Yup, you are right. They need 7 FB teams in the LL by 2019 to maintain the automatic bid. I don't see them merging with another league, so finding another program that fits with the schools currently in the the league is critical.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Ralph, I disagree. JDA had the potential to be a great pro player, but was in no way shape or form to be ready after a single season. Considering how his career is turning out compared to the potential it started with, I'm calling it 'terrible', without reservation. Waste of a talent and education.

Have to wonder how much influence Pirri leaving had on the JDA decision? I had always thought BP was a 2 year stay possible but that JDA was going to be in Troy for at least 2 and more likely 3 years if not all 4. The money game in hockey has changed much over the years and most boys feel (or are told by advisers) that they can always go back to school later if they truly want a degree. Many of these college recruits are already at an age where they have to decide quickly since they are competing for spots in the pros often against 18-20 year old kids who are not playing NCAA hockey.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Have to wonder how much influence Pirri leaving had on the JDA decision? I had always thought BP was a 2 year stay possible but that JDA was going to be in Troy for at least 2 and more likely 3 years if not all 4. The money game in hockey has changed much over the years and most boys feel (or are told by advisers) that they can always go back to school later if they truly want a degree. Many of these college recruits are already at an age where they have to decide quickly since they are competing for spots in the pros often against 18-20 year old kids who are not playing NCAA hockey.

I thought D'Amigo left before Pirri? Or was that only because we heard about D'Amigo's first because he was straight-forward about it, while "wedding" is code for pros for others.

I seem to remember, during the alumni gathering in Ithaca in 2009, the Colonel mentioning those two had some big carrots dangled in front of them.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

CHN midseason ECAC review http://blog.collegehockeynews.com/2015/12/ecac-first-half-review/

Cam Hackett is the goalie on the All-Rookie team.

4. Rensselaer (10-6-3, 4-1-3)

RPI has probably been the most disrespected team in the country thus far. Ya, the way the get wins isn’t always pretty, but they have bee getting the job done. Their nine game unbeaten streak was second best in the conference, until it was broken by Harvard in South Bend. It has gotten key contributions from Riley Bourbonais and his 16 pts, 10 goals, while its youngsters have also been good. During its nine game unbeaten streak, the RPI was without Jason Kasdorf. Cam Hackett was 6-2-2 in relief, while Kasdorf was injured and he came up big.

I've not seen us called tRPI before.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Jury still out on a few who left early (Zalewski and Haggerty along with D'Amigo). For me, I think Cavosie could have benefited from one more year. As you mention we have had several who may have not made the best decision to leave early. But we had one who most certainly did in Adam Oates.

Zalewski did pretty well in seeing limited time in his rookie campaign on a stacked Utica team that made the Calder finals. Many from that team are gone and Z is now seeing consistent ice time. He's already equaled his point total from last year in the first 25 games (7-5-12). At the ripe age of 23, I expect to see him continue to develop toward a shot in the NHL in another year and half or so.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

RPI Archives article about the Holiday tourney http://archives.rpi.edu/blog/2015/12/22/twas-the-season/#1.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Zalewski did pretty well in seeing limited time in his rookie campaign on a stacked Utica team that made the Calder finals. Many from that team are gone and Z is now seeing consistent ice time. He's already equaled his point total from last year in the first 25 games (7-5-12). At the ripe age of 23, I expect to see him continue to develop toward a shot in the NHL in another year and half or so.

Wicked-Time will tell us how this all works out. Speaking only for myself, I felt he could have used at least one more year in Troy (perhaps more). Obviously I do not know anything about his personal situation but as of this moment, his decision has not looked good. But as i mentioned, just too early to tell.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Boy, are you putting words in my mouth. My original post (#691) was about York, not about JDA. I have not mentioned JDA at all in this discussion. IMHO, his decision to go pro was much worse than York's.

Ralph - I stand corrected, I meant to include York in my laast reply to you, but it was too late and too many IPA's in. My sincere apology.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

If you are talking about the front office of CBJ, I totally agree. But if you are talking about the goalie situation there, I totally disagree, The Blue Jackets didn't get a decent goalie until John Davidson took over.
When York got that opportunity in Columbus, he showed that he was probably their best option with the best upside, but the front office didn't think so. So now he travels the country between the ECHL and the AHL. A real waste of talent.
Of course, I see the situation through cherry colored glasses.

hello, yes I was referring to the front office - every one had a goalie favorite, and York's wasn't high enough in the organization.

 

[joecct]

Alfred cold be interested for the reasons you mentioned. Hartwick is also another possibility from the Empire 8. Six schools is all that is required to maintain the NCAA automatic bid, so Liberty League football could stay at 7. I wold think they they would like to have more than 7 so they only need 2 or 3 non-league games to fill out the schedule. they would probably also like to have a team near NYC or Boston to help with recruiting, but there is no need to rush into anything now that the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament is secure.

I believe D-III requires 7 teams to establish the AQ.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Ralph - I stand corrected, I meant to include York in my laast reply to you, but it was too late and too many IPA's in. My sincere apology.

apology accepted.

 

[RPI fan 4 life]

RPI Archives article about the Holiday tourney http://archives.rpi.edu/blog/2015/12/22/twas-the-season/#1.

Thanks for sending that out, Ralph. It brings back a lot of memories for me, as I attended more than half of them (from 1974 to 2010). The team from Sweden was from Vasby, Sweden. I remember them putting a puck in their own net during a delayed penalty. Not a great memory, but they were really not a very good squad. It was a shame that it had to end, but no one wanted to step up as a sponsor.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016:: Six Flags Over the HFH

Thanks for sending that out, Ralph. It brings back a lot of memories for me, as I attended more than half of them (from 1974 to 2010). The team from Sweden was from Vasby, Sweden. I remember them putting a puck in their own net during a delayed penalty. Not a great memory, but they were really not a very good squad. It was a shame that it had to end, but no one wanted to step up as a sponsor.

I was at that tourney also. What I remember is that Maine's goalie Jim Tortorella (John's brother) scored a goal against Vasby while Vasby's goalie was in that net. Vasby's other goalie, not that one who played against Maine, was some guy named Keith Allain. I wonder what happened to him. I think that Tortorella's goal was shorthanded. I have the program and my scorecard, but I am too lazy to look for it. I have a vague recollection that a goalie in the last few years scored another goal against a guarded net.

IIRC, Keith's father was the one who got Vasby invited to the tourney.


Edit: I didn't realize the significance of Tortorella's goal at the time, only years later when it was brought up either on Hockey-L or here on USCHO.