Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
John K is a legend in RPI fandom! To your point, the AD didn't even come this weekend.
John K is a legend in RPI fandom! To your point, the AD didn't even come this weekend.
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RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
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Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
Troyboy and I were talking just the other day abt some of our road trips w/ the team and one of our fondest memories was drinking out in the parking lot outside Hobey Baker and having dinner with you ,Jenny and Baboo. Dr D is one of the greatest story tellers I have ever met. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful Jenny!
Troyboy and I were talking just the other day abt some of our road trips w/ the team and one of our fondest memories was drinking out in the parking lot outside Hobey Baker and having dinner with you ,Jenny and Baboo. Dr D is one of the greatest story tellers I have ever met. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful Jenny!
NPC19850330
Sphinx of black quartz judge my vow
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
It's not limited to college hockey. Even at the pro levels and in all sports, attendance is down.
It's not limited to college hockey. Even at the pro levels and in all sports, attendance is down.
Also the premier bar keeper in the capital district and all around good guy !
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
I do not feel that we have the horses to do that, but I certainly like a last minute tying goal for RPI much more than a last minute tying goal against RPI which has happened much more often in recent years. If there were any potential recruits in the HFH yesterday, they probably got positive vibes about RPI. (No one has mentioned any sightings.) It's a start in the right direction which needs to be built on.
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
Dave's winning % thru his first two seasons is .267
Dave's winning % thru his first two seasons is .267
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
Whenever youre in the Electric City you have to stop at http://www.katieobyrnespub.com/
Whenever youre in the Electric City you have to stop at http://www.katieobyrnespub.com/
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
To be fair, I am not blaming everything on Smith. This debacle starts at the top and along those lines Lee's record in hockey at RPI when they took interim off his title is 30-87-10. So the football program is good bx of resources and facility. Not hard Lee!
To be fair, I am not blaming everything on Smith. This debacle starts at the top and along those lines Lee's record in hockey at RPI when they took interim off his title is 30-87-10. So the football program is good bx of resources and facility. Not hard Lee!
RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
It doesn’t help the % capacity calculation that they use a figure (5217) for HFH that hasn’t been accurate for well over a decade. That was the capacity with the old section 1 grandstand in place. Take away the behind stage seats, which no one in their right mind would buy for any game besides the Freakout, and the effective capacity is about 4,000.
In many ways the Field House is a great asset and detriment. On the rare occasion when it is full these days it is still electric. The problem is that when we sit roughly on the median for college hockey (31st out of 60) at 2,500 per game, it’s hard to generate excitement.
Meanwhile, the announcers talked about Union’s nice crowd (1600) in their small barn for a well-known opponent on a Saturday night. But for one of the most extreme examples of fall-off, Yale, only a half-decade removed from a national title, is averaging roughly 60% of capacity and was 500 short of a full house for a Saturday night contest with nationally-ranked Harvard, their biggest rival.
P.S. The currently displayed chart, still at 31, does include this weekend.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It doesn’t help the % capacity calculation that they use a figure (5217) for HFH that hasn’t been accurate for well over a decade. That was the capacity with the old section 1 grandstand in place. Take away the behind stage seats, which no one in their right mind would buy for any game besides the Freakout, and the effective capacity is about 4,000.
In many ways the Field House is a great asset and detriment. On the rare occasion when it is full these days it is still electric. The problem is that when we sit roughly on the median for college hockey (31st out of 60) at 2,500 per game, it’s hard to generate excitement.
Meanwhile, the announcers talked about Union’s nice crowd (1600) in their small barn for a well-known opponent on a Saturday night. But for one of the most extreme examples of fall-off, Yale, only a half-decade removed from a national title, is averaging roughly 60% of capacity and was 500 short of a full house for a Saturday night contest with nationally-ranked Harvard, their biggest rival.
P.S. The currently displayed chart, still at 31, does include this weekend.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
ServinisScores
I'm an Implant Engineer
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
After being there Friday and paying attention to the surroundings more than usual:
- the students weren’t there and outnumbered by the locals. That’s amazing to me given the fact the state of the program the last 15 years.
- the HFH environment is horrible. The band has been minimalized like a visiting teams band. They’re not allowed to play during most breaks. The piped in music is old and embarrassing and not topical given the crowd. It’s too old for the students and too young for the locals. Whoever owns this aspect should be fired ASAP.
- the product on-ice isn’t inspiring. It hasn’t changed from the previous regimes dumpster fire which I’m sure further depresses the crowd. On top of that, most of the ECAC doesn’t play the brand of hockey you see on the TV. can you identify the pro style in what transpired on ice this weekend?
- the RPITV production surpasses most, all(?) college hockey productions available today. Why would you go unless you were guaranteed an exciting experience?
- the local fan base is fed up, understandably. I sensed a lot of bitterness in general. The team has been poor for the last 15 years, and folks are tired of the stupid mistakes, poor play, low emotion.
It’s too bad the program is in shambles. It exposes a lot of the rough edges (Troy, HFH) that aren’t a factor when winning, but when losing become all too glaring. This decay isn’t a recent development, but it’s very sad to see what has been allowed to happen in the last 15 years.
After being there Friday and paying attention to the surroundings more than usual:
- the students weren’t there and outnumbered by the locals. That’s amazing to me given the fact the state of the program the last 15 years.
- the HFH environment is horrible. The band has been minimalized like a visiting teams band. They’re not allowed to play during most breaks. The piped in music is old and embarrassing and not topical given the crowd. It’s too old for the students and too young for the locals. Whoever owns this aspect should be fired ASAP.
- the product on-ice isn’t inspiring. It hasn’t changed from the previous regimes dumpster fire which I’m sure further depresses the crowd. On top of that, most of the ECAC doesn’t play the brand of hockey you see on the TV. can you identify the pro style in what transpired on ice this weekend?
- the RPITV production surpasses most, all(?) college hockey productions available today. Why would you go unless you were guaranteed an exciting experience?
- the local fan base is fed up, understandably. I sensed a lot of bitterness in general. The team has been poor for the last 15 years, and folks are tired of the stupid mistakes, poor play, low emotion.
It’s too bad the program is in shambles. It exposes a lot of the rough edges (Troy, HFH) that aren’t a factor when winning, but when losing become all too glaring. This decay isn’t a recent development, but it’s very sad to see what has been allowed to happen in the last 15 years.
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
Is it a fact that the band music has been cut back? If it is, someone needs to be fired.
The band was a big reason that I drove 2 hours to see the games. I remember great games when the opposition brought their band and our band would go against them. Just as much fun as some of the action on the ice. Also, I remember a game at Army when we brought our band and Army had to scramble to get their own band in the building. Great entertainment for all the fans.
Is it a fact that the band music has been cut back? If it is, someone needs to be fired.
The band was a big reason that I drove 2 hours to see the games. I remember great games when the opposition brought their band and our band would go against them. Just as much fun as some of the action on the ice. Also, I remember a game at Army when we brought our band and Army had to scramble to get their own band in the building. Great entertainment for all the fans.
fishcore12
Alleged Kool-Aid Drinker....OH YEAH
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
Apparently my response to the Red Army tweet last night wasn't taken so well by those in leadership of said group. Hey what's a boomer by the way?
Apparently my response to the Red Army tweet last night wasn't taken so well by those in leadership of said group. Hey what's a boomer by the way?
fishcore12
Alleged Kool-Aid Drinker....OH YEAH
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
Watch out calling out the students, they will call you a boomer. Whatever that is.
Watch out calling out the students, they will call you a boomer. Whatever that is.
NPC19850330
Sphinx of black quartz judge my vow
fishcore12
Alleged Kool-Aid Drinker....OH YEAH
DavidNardolillo
Well-known member
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
You can smooth things over by buying them some beer. I think you are flush with cash after your trip inside the SEFCU Money Machine on the ice between periods!
You can smooth things over by buying them some beer. I think you are flush with cash after your trip inside the SEFCU Money Machine on the ice between periods!
DavidNardolillo
Well-known member
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
I, too, would like to hear the band play more, except for "The Office" theme song, which seems permanently on the playlist. Not sure how gets into a pep band playbook.
I don't know if it has been cut back but for a number of years, the band leader has had a headset on to communicate with somebody in the press box so they don't play over the reading of sponsor advertising, etc. Recorded music has also been piped in seemingly during about half of the breaks in play for a number of years, instead of the band playing, but I am not sure why that is. I did notice the band doing a dance routine to recorded music after the alma mater both nights this weekend, which gave me a chuckle.
I, too, would like to hear the band play more, except for "The Office" theme song, which seems permanently on the playlist. Not sure how gets into a pep band playbook.
DavidNardolillo
Well-known member
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
That's a good point, and I would also take the USCHO stats with a grain of salt. Those numbers are self reported and each school counts differently (e.g. tickets sold or given away instead of actual attendance). Watching Minnesota on TV this year, there is no way they are over 80% capacity, unless half the people attending have dressed as empty seats.
That's a good point, and I would also take the USCHO stats with a grain of salt. Those numbers are self reported and each school counts differently (e.g. tickets sold or given away instead of actual attendance). Watching Minnesota on TV this year, there is no way they are over 80% capacity, unless half the people attending have dressed as empty seats.
fishcore12
Alleged Kool-Aid Drinker....OH YEAH
Flush with crumpled up $1 and $5 bills and the blower not running the first 10 seconds haha.
DavidNardolillo
Well-known member
Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined
You can find RPI's season by season record here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RPI_Engineers_men's_ice_hockey_seasons
It's a bit hard to read, but it confirms your point of an overall trend. Fridgen was 18 games over .500 over his tenure, but 28-39-8 his last two years. Seth was 69 games under .500. Even Mike Addesa's last 3 seasons were under .500. Going back further, you can see plenty of down periods. RPI's all-time record is just over .500.
In other words, I think it is fair to say that the attendance is probably down for a combination of reasons not solely down to poor play. Disinterested students, competition from increased sports entertainment options (locally, online, and otherwise), and a lack of immunity from national attendance trends are all part of the mix.
The real issue with the atmosphere this weekend is that the team is in a real funk in terms of scoring and running an effective power play, and even creating good chances for that matter, so both games seemed pretty uninspiring even though RPI controlled the shots on goal statistic. Part of that is a lack of scoring talent, an evergreen issue for RPI hockey over the last 10+ years, but I'd like to see a bit more aggressive pressing forecheck style to try and create turnovers. That was effective early in the season, but RPI has seemed to abandon it, perhaps out of fear of defensive lapses.
You can find RPI's season by season record here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RPI_Engineers_men's_ice_hockey_seasons
It's a bit hard to read, but it confirms your point of an overall trend. Fridgen was 18 games over .500 over his tenure, but 28-39-8 his last two years. Seth was 69 games under .500. Even Mike Addesa's last 3 seasons were under .500. Going back further, you can see plenty of down periods. RPI's all-time record is just over .500.
In other words, I think it is fair to say that the attendance is probably down for a combination of reasons not solely down to poor play. Disinterested students, competition from increased sports entertainment options (locally, online, and otherwise), and a lack of immunity from national attendance trends are all part of the mix.
The real issue with the atmosphere this weekend is that the team is in a real funk in terms of scoring and running an effective power play, and even creating good chances for that matter, so both games seemed pretty uninspiring even though RPI controlled the shots on goal statistic. Part of that is a lack of scoring talent, an evergreen issue for RPI hockey over the last 10+ years, but I'd like to see a bit more aggressive pressing forecheck style to try and create turnovers. That was effective early in the season, but RPI has seemed to abandon it, perhaps out of fear of defensive lapses.
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