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 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
- Start date
- Status
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
It sounds like your source has an axe to grind with the current coach, or at least a different opinion on how to run a team.
Smith is in his first half of a season of running this club. He has a team that can't score goals (that is not his fault). His PP is just fine. They create many scoring opportunities, but cannot finish.
Five on five, they have been very good, creating opportunities and not finishing them. His defensive zone play is far and away better than AP's ever was.
I look forward to watching this team grow under Smith. JMO
It sounds like your source has an axe to grind with the current coach, or at least a different opinion on how to run a team.
Smith is in his first half of a season of running this club. He has a team that can't score goals (that is not his fault). His PP is just fine. They create many scoring opportunities, but cannot finish.
Five on five, they have been very good, creating opportunities and not finishing them. His defensive zone play is far and away better than AP's ever was.
I look forward to watching this team grow under Smith. JMO
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
No axe to grind. Just stating some hard objective facts. I genuinely like the man and I hope in the next few years this team is turned around.
No axe to grind. Just stating some hard objective facts. I genuinely like the man and I hope in the next few years this team is turned around.
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
A few thoughts....Great coaches are few and far between. Look just around the ECAC and see who the great coaches are. I look at Schafer, Vaughn, Gaudet, Allain, Pecknold, Donato. They are all great coaches and impress me even during down seasons. If they have an off year, it doesn't last long. I imagine their strongest asset is motivating their players to perform week in and week out and live up to their potential. They win and recruiting becomes much easier. And, I imagine, winning teams /programs draw more attention from pro scouts. The problem for the other coaches is convincing recruits that your school, your team, your coaching are where you want to be. There are also many more D1 programs than there used to be. So the real question is why should the better players come to RPI? And if they and their parents do a reasonable amount of research, they will find an atmosphere where the school president is not liked. Alumni are not supporting the school. The hockey team's record has been consistently pretty bad especially the last few years. There are much better facilities elsewhere ( and all they hear is "better facilities are on the way......someday"). And, if other posts are correct, the close knit family that is hockey is not so gung ho on RPI anymore. And if SA's leftovers are going to be cut loose, that , just on the surface, looks like a lack of commitment from the school. So it's an uphill battle. I agree we need to be patient and give the coach time to create his own stamp on the team. It is frustrating , absolutely. Too many lean years. But we are not going to suddenly start getting elite players. We are not going to rise to the top of the league and be there consistently. We will have to pay dues. Be willing to be a good, top 8 team. And then better players will not only take that chance on this school, this program, this coach, but also will WANT to. Then we will have something to get really excited about.
A few thoughts....Great coaches are few and far between. Look just around the ECAC and see who the great coaches are. I look at Schafer, Vaughn, Gaudet, Allain, Pecknold, Donato. They are all great coaches and impress me even during down seasons. If they have an off year, it doesn't last long. I imagine their strongest asset is motivating their players to perform week in and week out and live up to their potential. They win and recruiting becomes much easier. And, I imagine, winning teams /programs draw more attention from pro scouts. The problem for the other coaches is convincing recruits that your school, your team, your coaching are where you want to be. There are also many more D1 programs than there used to be. So the real question is why should the better players come to RPI? And if they and their parents do a reasonable amount of research, they will find an atmosphere where the school president is not liked. Alumni are not supporting the school. The hockey team's record has been consistently pretty bad especially the last few years. There are much better facilities elsewhere ( and all they hear is "better facilities are on the way......someday"). And, if other posts are correct, the close knit family that is hockey is not so gung ho on RPI anymore. And if SA's leftovers are going to be cut loose, that , just on the surface, looks like a lack of commitment from the school. So it's an uphill battle. I agree we need to be patient and give the coach time to create his own stamp on the team. It is frustrating , absolutely. Too many lean years. But we are not going to suddenly start getting elite players. We are not going to rise to the top of the league and be there consistently. We will have to pay dues. Be willing to be a good, top 8 team. And then better players will not only take that chance on this school, this program, this coach, but also will WANT to. Then we will have something to get really excited about.
sk8tronthepond
Registered User
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
Vaughan? Are you kidding? Gaudet?? Jury is still out on Donato. Things picked up for Harvard when Paul Pearl left Holy Cross, and I would add Bennett to that list!
Vaughan? Are you kidding? Gaudet?? Jury is still out on Donato. Things picked up for Harvard when Paul Pearl left Holy Cross, and I would add Bennett to that list!
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/fSgv4IKBXU">https://t.co/fSgv4IKBXU</a></p>— Coach Dave Smith (@RPI_HockeyCoach) <a href="https://twitter.com/RPI_HockeyCoach/status/957597110932787201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/fSgv4IKBXU">https://t.co/fSgv4IKBXU</a></p>— Coach Dave Smith (@RPI_HockeyCoach) <a href="https://twitter.com/RPI_HockeyCoach/status/957597110932787201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
I am not kidding. Even when they are not in the top four, they always have teams that are hard to play against. And why do these guys, particularly Vaughn and Gaudet, have such longevity? Their jobs never seem to be in jeopardy Do you think the fans in Hamilton and Hanover think their teams are consistent Frozen Four material? I am sure recruiting is not easy for those guys, but they put a decent team on the ice. Year in and year out. That's what I mean by great coaches. They play the hand they are dealt. Ask yourself the following question. If the top four teams had to choose who they would rather play to get the W, do you think they would choose Colgate or RPI, or Dartmouth or RPI? I suspect in both cases they would rather play RPI because they are not hard to play against. I do not expect RPI to be a consistent, elite team (not to say I would not welcome that). Recruiting top tier players here is hard. I suspect it is also hard at Dartmouth and Colgate. But for some reason, over the last several years, we can't crack the top 8 and be a team other teams worry about. And I think the reason for that is the coaching and the atmosphere in the locker room. I am not saying that Dave Smith cannot create a decent, top 8 team. Just that I would be pretty happy to see us win 10-15 games a season, for the majority of the time.
I am not kidding. Even when they are not in the top four, they always have teams that are hard to play against. And why do these guys, particularly Vaughn and Gaudet, have such longevity? Their jobs never seem to be in jeopardy Do you think the fans in Hamilton and Hanover think their teams are consistent Frozen Four material? I am sure recruiting is not easy for those guys, but they put a decent team on the ice. Year in and year out. That's what I mean by great coaches. They play the hand they are dealt. Ask yourself the following question. If the top four teams had to choose who they would rather play to get the W, do you think they would choose Colgate or RPI, or Dartmouth or RPI? I suspect in both cases they would rather play RPI because they are not hard to play against. I do not expect RPI to be a consistent, elite team (not to say I would not welcome that). Recruiting top tier players here is hard. I suspect it is also hard at Dartmouth and Colgate. But for some reason, over the last several years, we can't crack the top 8 and be a team other teams worry about. And I think the reason for that is the coaching and the atmosphere in the locker room. I am not saying that Dave Smith cannot create a decent, top 8 team. Just that I would be pretty happy to see us win 10-15 games a season, for the majority of the time.
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
Vaughn is a good Coach and I also think that Bennett is good. Both benefit from academic standards and course offerings at their school. Your postings have been spot on. There are pieces on this team, 4 draft picks. Reilly, Wilson, Marshall, Jesper's brother, Vik and Burgess are all decent D1 players. Lee and Shirls own this debacle for the reasons the hockey alumni stated this off season. Dave should have time but it is going to be tough because he will have a team full of froshs next year with plethora of recruits he has in the cue.
Vaughn is a good Coach and I also think that Bennett is good. Both benefit from academic standards and course offerings at their school. Your postings have been spot on. There are pieces on this team, 4 draft picks. Reilly, Wilson, Marshall, Jesper's brother, Vik and Burgess are all decent D1 players. Lee and Shirls own this debacle for the reasons the hockey alumni stated this off season. Dave should have time but it is going to be tough because he will have a team full of froshs next year with plethora of recruits he has in the cue.
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
What debacle? Shirl and Lee have hired two exceptional men to coach the team. SA turned out to be a better man than coach. They could not see that coming. Smith looks like he is turning this team around, but he is going to need more than one scorer to make it to the top of the league. Jerry seems to be a good start in that direction. I look forward to next year as this team is gaining confidence and playing much harder than they did in previous years.
As an outsider, I can see that you guys have a problem with Shirley, but why? She rules the same way that the current POTUS rules, and I know that all of you think that he is just great.
What debacle? Shirl and Lee have hired two exceptional men to coach the team. SA turned out to be a better man than coach. They could not see that coming. Smith looks like he is turning this team around, but he is going to need more than one scorer to make it to the top of the league. Jerry seems to be a good start in that direction. I look forward to next year as this team is gaining confidence and playing much harder than they did in previous years.
As an outsider, I can see that you guys have a problem with Shirley, but why? She rules the same way that the current POTUS rules, and I know that all of you think that he is just great.
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-One-Leader-Set-a-Toxic/240655
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Behind-RPIs-Highly-Paid/150441
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Troubled-alumni-stop-donating-12512869.php
http://www.saratogian.com/article/ST/20180121/NEWS/180129951
http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20171112/rpi-protesters-face-disciplinary-action
etc. etc. etc. EHF #MakeRPIGreatAgain
https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-One-Leader-Set-a-Toxic/240655
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Behind-RPIs-Highly-Paid/150441
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Troubled-alumni-stop-donating-12512869.php
http://www.saratogian.com/article/ST/20180121/NEWS/180129951
http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20171112/rpi-protesters-face-disciplinary-action
etc. etc. etc. EHF #MakeRPIGreatAgain
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
OGC sits atop the Eastern Division of USHL playing teams that have older kids. 22 wins this season...so far.
http://www.ushl.com/view/#/team-stats
Also, has two National Championships on his resume. You are right he is a great man.
OGC sits atop the Eastern Division of USHL playing teams that have older kids. 22 wins this season...so far.
http://www.ushl.com/view/#/team-stats
Also, has two National Championships on his resume. You are right he is a great man.
Last edited:
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
FWIW, the USNTDP is made up of two teams, a U18 team and an U17 teams. Each plays some of the games. He only coaches the U18 team, so he did not coach all of those wins. That is not meant to belittle has accomplishments this season.
FWIW, the USNTDP is made up of two teams, a U18 team and an U17 teams. Each plays some of the games. He only coaches the U18 team, so he did not coach all of those wins. That is not meant to belittle has accomplishments this season.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
I realized that after i first posted and quickly, but not quickly enough, deleted that line.
I realized that after i first posted and quickly, but not quickly enough, deleted that line.
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
Excuse me Ralph, he's only got 20 wins this season; you get the point.
http://www.usahockeyntdp.com/schedule/team_instance/3003962?subseason=435040
Excuse me Ralph, he's only got 20 wins this season; you get the point.
http://www.usahockeyntdp.com/schedule/team_instance/3003962?subseason=435040
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
AD, I read all of you articles and stand by my statement. Shirley/Donald rule the same way.
I wonder what might be said of her if she were an old white conservative male?
AD, I read all of you articles and stand by my statement. Shirley/Donald rule the same way.
I wonder what might be said of her if she were an old white conservative male?
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
Appert's an all-stars coach. Remember that he has the cream of the crop under his wing. They have enough talent to win on talent alone at that level. You wonder why Polacek, Zalewski, Haggerty, and Pirri were so touted.
The issue has always been that he's not a good bench coach. He doesn't have a Plan B. Aside from goalies, he's not that good with developing the rest of the talent. Sure, he has two national championships, but as an assistant. Gwozdecky was the lead.
Appert's an all-stars coach. Remember that he has the cream of the crop under his wing. They have enough talent to win on talent alone at that level. You wonder why Polacek, Zalewski, Haggerty, and Pirri were so touted.
The issue has always been that he's not a good bench coach. He doesn't have a Plan B. Aside from goalies, he's not that good with developing the rest of the talent. Sure, he has two national championships, but as an assistant. Gwozdecky was the lead.
FlagDUDE08
Banned
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
Trump is not a despot. He might be eccentric, but he doesn't disband an entire senate when they announce, through a vote, that they don't like him.
Trump is not a despot. He might be eccentric, but he doesn't disband an entire senate when they announce, through a vote, that they don't like him.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
highlights from yesterday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j-qDuE0YxI&feature=push-u&attr_tag=f6zkDHsnVjKfOt-E-6
highlights from yesterday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j-qDuE0YxI&feature=push-u&attr_tag=f6zkDHsnVjKfOt-E-6
ServinisScores
I'm an Implant Engineer
Re: RPI Hockey 2017 - 2018: A Wealth of Notions
I see it's that time of year to re-start the excuse machine. And we're back on two of my favorites; admissions and facilities.
Has it ever crossed anyone's mind that the previous and current coaching staffs were told "Coach, we will invest in the facility, but you need demonstrate you can perform first. Get us to the ECAC Frozen Four once or twice, and then we will commit."
That seems like a rational, achievable ask (assume they are rational enough to pose these, whether they did or not is a separate debate
)
What say you? In all of these excuse recycling sessions, the data of RPI being one of the worst performing programs in the ECAC over the last 10-15 years goes unmentioned. And I think we'd all agree the HFH is not the worst facility in the ECAC.
Thoughts?
We can touch on admissions later.
I see it's that time of year to re-start the excuse machine. And we're back on two of my favorites; admissions and facilities.
Has it ever crossed anyone's mind that the previous and current coaching staffs were told "Coach, we will invest in the facility, but you need demonstrate you can perform first. Get us to the ECAC Frozen Four once or twice, and then we will commit."
That seems like a rational, achievable ask (assume they are rational enough to pose these, whether they did or not is a separate debate
) What say you? In all of these excuse recycling sessions, the data of RPI being one of the worst performing programs in the ECAC over the last 10-15 years goes unmentioned. And I think we'd all agree the HFH is not the worst facility in the ECAC.
Thoughts?
We can touch on admissions later.
- Status