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RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

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Ralph Baer

Ralph Baer

Let's Go 'Tute!
Lousy title. I know, but I figured that it would be bad form to ask for suggestions. :p
Had we lost to Clarkson I was going to use “After An Off-Season Comes a Loooong Off-Season,” but IMO that doesn't apply anymore.


Today is 10 March 2012. There are 210 days (30 weeks) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 6 October for the start of next season.

That is the day that an exhibition game is supposedly scheduled.
 
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Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Wait! Make sure they're eliminated from the NCAA Tournament before you start the Off-season thr---.

Oops. Never mind. :o
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

i am very glad we were able to finish the season well and win the first round of the playoffs. Getting to the second round was something I could never expect given the way this team had played for 3/4 of the season. Frustrating to lose to Union-but we were not destroyed in those games-we did a bit of self destruction but showed that we could give a number 1 seed team a lot to handle for the most part. We are losing a couple of players that we will certainly miss. Malchuk, Cullen and perhaps Bergin(who could elect to play one more year if he desires). I want to thank all of the boys leaving for the effort and devotion they gave to the RPI hockey program.
For next year-what we already have remaining will all have a year of experience under their collective belts. This freshman class has a lot of talent and if they can stay healthy (which was a major problem much of this year) we should be a better offensive club. Our incoming class looks like we will be adding some offense but will still have to win low scoring close games to be able to compete. Next year may well depend on how far the defense and goaltending can take us with some increase in offensive scoring added. i hope we do not have to go through a season scoring only 78 goals (averaging only 2 per game). That just does not leave any room for error and we are certainly not an error free team.
Regardless, I will be here for my 50th year of following RPI hockey. It is always the most exciting 6 months of the year (and quite often the most frustrating). I greatly appreciate the opinions and information from all of our posters and hope we can all stay around for another year of ups, downs, and sarcastic wit.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Always tough and sad seeing the season end so soon but the team didnt give up and didnt stop. They could have thrown in the towel weeks ago but they didnt and for that Im proud of these boys. This season was tough to handle at times but it will only make the team stronger and our fanbase stronger for those who actually stuck around and didnt jump ship at the first chance. I will still check in from time to time during the offseason but I just wanna thank everyone who stuck with this team and showed up night in and night out on the boards or at the field house or on the road. Your all what makes me proud to be an RPI fan and a fan of college hockey in general....October cannot come fast enough now.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Today is 12 March 2011. There are 209 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 6 October for the start of next season.

That is the day that an exhibition game is supposedly scheduled.
 
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Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

turk181 said:
postgame interviews....SA, Bergin & Higgs. Interesting that Higgsy is one. Could SA be grooming him for the next 2 years, i.e. "C" or "A" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60FjPUPVPVY
Click to expand...

Interesting thought Turk...you may be right. I noticed that Higgsie took the faceoff in U's end late in the game with the extra skater. Marty O. might be a candidate also.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

I'll add my congrats to the RPI squad for a really fun ride down the stretch. They rallied hard and gave us all reason to be optimistic for next season. Aside from a win or two in Schenectady, it'd be hard to top the last three weeks. I really like what I see from the freshmen -- A LOT of growth from the boys in the 2nd half. I hope this off-season they remember these last few weeks and what it took to play that well.

Always a great day to be an RPI fan. Thank you Seniors!
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Wicked Slappaahs said:
Interesting thought Turk...you may be right. I noticed that Higgsie took the faceoff in U's end late in the game with the extra skater. Marty O. might be a candidate also.
Click to expand...

Bailen perhaps too. Not personally knowing the leadership qualities of the players, it could be most anyone.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Ralph Baer said:
Bailen perhaps too. Not personally knowing the leadership qualities of the players, it could be most anyone.
Click to expand...

Would it be unheard of to go without a captain? Perhaps just a duo or trio of assistant captains? This team next year will be again very young and i fully expect it to be led by the sophomores and juniors with hopefully the new freshmen fitting in quickly. i can't say i have been happy with these 20+ loss seasons we seem to be accumulting over the past few years but i am already excited for next year and as always my hope springs eternal for RPI hockey.
 
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Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Maybe it is just me, but it seems really hard for incoming freshmen to flourish without the help of the upperclassmen.
D'Amigo and Pirri came in and played very well, but they had Polacek and Helfrich to help them (especially on the ice).
This years freshmen had no accomplished scoreres to take some of the pressure off.
These guys have talent, and I see a huge increase in scoring next year.
Not only will they be better, but they will help the incoming freshmen. After Higgs, there is not a lot of scoring in the upperclassmen, but they are a great group of workmen.
I like our defensive core and the goalies look capable.
We will have a good mix of grinders and scorers and if we can find the chemistry, we will be tough to beat.
And that is why I like the off season, hope springs eternal. :)
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

engineerhockeyfan said:
Maybe it is just me, but it seems really hard for incoming freshmen to flourish without the help of the upperclassmen.
D'Amigo and Pirri came in and played very well, but they had Polacek and Helfrich to help them (especially on the ice).
This years freshmen had no accomplished scoreres to take some of the pressure off.
These guys have talent, and I see a huge increase in scoring next year.
Not only will they be better, but they will help the incoming freshmen. After Higgs, there is not a lot of scoring in the upperclassmen, but they are a great group of workmen.
I like our defensive core and the goalies look capable.
We will have a good mix of grinders and scorers and if we can find the chemistry, we will be tough to beat.
And that is why I like the off season, hope springs eternal. :)
Click to expand...

Very sensible. And watch for a few others to really show the improvement. I expect a lot from Matt Tinordi and Luke Curadi. In addtion to their talent they seem to jus have the right temperment on the ice. When you bang up against them, you know you can expect to feel something rock solid that bangs back.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

DrDemento said:
Very sensible. And watch for a few others to really show the improvement. I expect a lot from Matt Tinordi and Luke Curadi. In addtion to their talent they seem to jus have the right temperment on the ice. When you bang up against them, you know you can expect to feel something rock solid that bangs back.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with those two.
Also, I was greatly surprised by Leboeuf (even if I have to look up the spelling of his name every time) this season. Leonard is going to be a good one for three more years.
The defense looks solid.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

OK, I'm back from the *HT where I had to get out a bunch of bent-up anger. Here are a few good things we can take from this year.

1. If you assume a scatter plot of our games, there is a general slope of improvement. Since we're not yet at the pro level, you really want this.
2. We played more official D-I games this year than last. It's a technicality, but if you count up the games, it's true.
3. Coach is finally taking charge and leading the team. Not to say he wasn't before, but I think he was more of a figure-head in the past.

Things that still need to improve:

1. Consistency in high performance. Not consistently ****.
2. Focus in game play. Coach can put together system he wants, say anything he wants, but when push comes to shove, there needs to be focus, elimination of distractions, and perfect execution of the process from those on the ice. Let's face it, it's no different when you're out of hockey and dealing with the real world.
3. Eliminating the playoff curse. We haven't made it to the championship weekend since the institution of the Union rule, and we're the only team that hasn't.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Might I add goaltending to this. Merriam was the starter the majority of games this year, and if that is to continue, he needs to be sharper. Not saying he needs to be York, as they styles are way different, but there were times this year when I said to myself, and on air, that Merriam needs to stay in his net. Diebold is a more than capable back up, and since Kasdorf is an unknow, it all starts with Bryce. If he can be the kind of goaltender where he can stealk a game a two, RPI will be very good. Part of the reason for the second half improvement was related to the second half improvemtn of Merriam. I agree with Higgs and O'Grdy being named the captain and assistant captain, and possibly Bailen, but may I also throw Tinordi in the mix. He reminds me a Joel Malchuk grinder, and although it wasnt quite successful this year, I feel that RPI needs players with that styles leading the team. Also Rogic. Those two aren't stars, but I felt that at times this year they played excellent games.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

jericho said:
Might I add goaltending to this. Merriam was the starter the majority of games this year, and if that is to continue, he needs to be sharper. Not saying he needs to be York, as they styles are way different, but there were times this year when I said to myself, and on air, that Merriam needs to stay in his net. Diebold is a more than capable back up, and since Kasdorf is an unknow, it all starts with Bryce. If he can be the kind of goaltender where he can stealk a game a two, RPI will be very good. Part of the reason for the second half improvement was related to the second half improvemtn of Merriam. I agree with Higgs and O'Grdy being named the captain and assistant captain, and possibly Bailen, but may I also throw Tinordi in the mix. He reminds me a Joel Malchuk grinder, and although it wasnt quite successful this year, I feel that RPI needs players with that styles leading the team. Also Rogic. Those two aren't stars, but I felt that at times this year they played excellent games.
Click to expand...

Actually, I don't know if I would necessarily call Diebold a more than capable backup, but rather a more than capable goaltender. One thing I witnessed in the first half of the season (whether audibly or visually) was that the defense played tough in front of Merriam, but not so much in front of Diebold, and it almost makes me wonder if it had anything to do with the capabilities of the goaltenders, because Diebold can play absolutely out of his mind, not so much so with Merriam (with stark exception to the Yale and Dartmouth away games this year, not to mention a couple of our playoff outings). In addition, Diebold doesn't seem to play very well cold, unlike Merriam had done when filling in for either York or Diebold (second replacement in the Freakout). I realize you want experience above all else in trying times, but for next year, if I were the coach, I would seriously consider flipping the script and have Merriam back up Diebold.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

jericho said:
Might I add goaltending to this. Merriam was the starter the majority of games this year, and if that is to continue, he needs to be sharper. Not saying he needs to be York, as they styles are way different, but there were times this year when I said to myself, and on air, that Merriam needs to stay in his net. Diebold is a more than capable back up, and since Kasdorf is an unknow, it all starts with Bryce. If he can be the kind of goaltender where he can stealk a game a two, RPI will be very good. Part of the reason for the second half improvement was related to the second half improvemtn of Merriam. I agree with Higgs and O'Grdy being named the captain and assistant captain, and possibly Bailen, but may I also throw Tinordi in the mix. He reminds me a Joel Malchuk grinder, and although it wasnt quite successful this year, I feel that RPI needs players with that styles leading the team. Also Rogic. Those two aren't stars, but I felt that at times this year they played excellent games.
Click to expand...

I believe that Diebold will be the presumptive #1 goalie next year. He proved in several games that he is going to be a good college goalie who can steal you those games (i.e. Colgate, 49 saves). I think Bryce is more than capable back up but not a #1. There were several goals this weekend that should have been stopped. The rest of the team made leaps and bounds especially Tinordi and McGowan. McGowan is a beast and is that power guy up front that you need, add Zalewski and our prospects are looking fine. I like our blue line and don' think we're going to skip a beat this coming year in this area. Of course the power play needs to improve and should include some power guys like McGowan, Tinordi and a Zalewski to get those dirty goals needed on PP. Great gut check by this group of guys and coaching staff. Hey we beat Clarkson in a playoff series, never would have thought that on 1/1/12.
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

Just wanted to give you guys a little shout out...your boys played very well the past three weekends and truly have something to be optimistic about going into next season. Perhaps one of the better coaching jobs by Appert to keep them playing their hearts out and never giving up. I was nervous all week coming into this series and for good reason. RPI gave Union everything they could handle. I was impressed at how they didn't fold or throw in the towel after falling behind in both games.

Here's to three more meetings next season and maybe (but hopefully not) a matchup in AC!
 
Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2012: An Off-Season to Be Optimistic

AspyDad said:
I believe that Diebold will be the presumptive #1 goalie next year. He proved in several games that he is going to be a good college goalie who can steal you those games (i.e. Colgate, 49 saves). I think Bryce is more than capable back up but not a #1. There were several goals this weekend that should have been stopped. The rest of the team made leaps and bounds especially Tinordi and McGowan. McGowan is a beast and is that power guy up front that you need, add Zalewski and our prospects are looking fine. I like our blue line and don' think we're going to skip a beat this coming year in this area. Of course the power play needs to improve and should include some power guys like McGowan, Tinordi and a Zalewski to get those dirty goals needed on PP. Great gut check by this group of guys and coaching staff. Hey we beat Clarkson in a playoff series, never would have thought that on 1/1/12.
Click to expand...

ADad, after what we saw with JL this year (granted there was an injury in the mix, but at least of the games where we saw him play), I'm going to suggest that we do not hype any more RPI recruits until we've seen them play at the college level. Granted I certainly expect him to step up in the next year or two, but you can't help but feel we got a little burned this year on that part (of course after what we saw with Pirri and D'Amigo, perhaps our standards were too high).

As for the power play, we need a better system. It's too predictable. I haven't taken a close look at film, but are there any opposing players that play a "loose mark" on one of our guys because they almost know that player is not going to be the one to take the shot?
 
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