Re: RPI Hockey 2016 - 2017: Here we go again! I hope it's a fun ride.
Hello all, it’s been a long time. I hope this finds all of you well. I would like to extend my holiday wishes to all of you. I see that many of you are very upset about this year’s results; you can count me in as well as being upset with what has transpired. As many of you are aware, I am a fan of Seth Appert and believe that he is a wonderful representative of RPI. I know many of you are aware of this already. Let me add a dose of reality without offending any of you that are Alumni and licensed Engineers. I can tell you that people are not beating down the door to go to RPI if they are good hockey players; the academic standards are very rigorous even in the Lally School. Bottom line, RPI is a small Engineering School in Troy, NY. Now as many of you are aware I am a lifelong Trojan and have spent my whole life here, I love it and the many people who live here but RPI most likely will never be the hockey hotbed of the world as long as these standards are in place. You’re not a Liberal Arts School where hockey players can get by and get a degree; most top flight hockey players, if not all have spent their time on the ice not in the books.
The administration has built a beautiful football field for a D III program while leaving their hockey facility in place making meager cosmetic improvements to the Field House that hosts D1 Hockey. Do you not think prospective recruits see this and wonder what the deal is regarding this allocation of resources? Again, RPI Hockey will not be a major part of the conversation as long as this continues. I love the Field House, I grew up there. I live pretty much next door. Bottom line- until a new facility is built things aren’t going to change much. You need to realize that hockey players come from wealthy families because it is an expensive sport. Players are accustomed to state of the art in their life and the HFH does not scream new, state of the art.
I’m not asking you to change your expectations but you all need to understand the reality. We applaud when the team does well academically but the top talent is not gifted academically. The most talented team that walks off the bus wins, that’s the way of the world folks.
The goaltending has not been good, the defense even worse, the scoring has been anemic. I am hoping for a better second half from the boys. Like the old days I will try to take on all comers who want to come after me. My best to Coach Appert, Vines and Graham. I am a Seth guy and continue to be so.
Hello all, it’s been a long time. I hope this finds all of you well. I would like to extend my holiday wishes to all of you. I see that many of you are very upset about this year’s results; you can count me in as well as being upset with what has transpired. As many of you are aware, I am a fan of Seth Appert and believe that he is a wonderful representative of RPI. I know many of you are aware of this already. Let me add a dose of reality without offending any of you that are Alumni and licensed Engineers. I can tell you that people are not beating down the door to go to RPI if they are good hockey players; the academic standards are very rigorous even in the Lally School. Bottom line, RPI is a small Engineering School in Troy, NY. Now as many of you are aware I am a lifelong Trojan and have spent my whole life here, I love it and the many people who live here but RPI most likely will never be the hockey hotbed of the world as long as these standards are in place. You’re not a Liberal Arts School where hockey players can get by and get a degree; most top flight hockey players, if not all have spent their time on the ice not in the books.
The administration has built a beautiful football field for a D III program while leaving their hockey facility in place making meager cosmetic improvements to the Field House that hosts D1 Hockey. Do you not think prospective recruits see this and wonder what the deal is regarding this allocation of resources? Again, RPI Hockey will not be a major part of the conversation as long as this continues. I love the Field House, I grew up there. I live pretty much next door. Bottom line- until a new facility is built things aren’t going to change much. You need to realize that hockey players come from wealthy families because it is an expensive sport. Players are accustomed to state of the art in their life and the HFH does not scream new, state of the art.
I’m not asking you to change your expectations but you all need to understand the reality. We applaud when the team does well academically but the top talent is not gifted academically. The most talented team that walks off the bus wins, that’s the way of the world folks.
The goaltending has not been good, the defense even worse, the scoring has been anemic. I am hoping for a better second half from the boys. Like the old days I will try to take on all comers who want to come after me. My best to Coach Appert, Vines and Graham. I am a Seth guy and continue to be so.
