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

[WillOutDrinkYou]

I'm not entirely sure, I assume it has to do with the sensitivity of the cameras to light and the duration it takes the lights at the Field House to turn on, although this is less of an issue since the new lights were installed last year. There's still an awkward period where the lights put off a nasty green shade as they warm up, but I believe TW usually cuts to commercial during the anthems and warmup period anyway. We requested that lights stay up during our Time Warner broadcast mainly due to the poor low-light sensitivity of our cheaper prosumer cameras.

That makes sense. I had asked SA one time but he didn't know the answer. Thanks. Maybe we need to look into better cameras since I know some of the boys get a little more pumped up for the games when it is dark and the spotlights are on them for introductions. I know as a fan I get chills when they are doing it!!

 

[FlagDUDE08]

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

That makes sense. I had asked SA one time but he didn't know the answer. Thanks. Maybe we need to look into better cameras since I know some of the boys get a little more pumped up for the games when it is dark and the spotlights are on them for introductions. I know as a fan I get chills when they are doing it!!

I thought they had stopped doing it because of the large new window allowing in too much sunlight to make the effect on dimming the lights worthless.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

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

Wicked-As a youngster my dad took me to MSG for every game he could afford during the 50's. We used to go down to the locker rooms after the game to try to get an autograph or two. I still remember the faces of the goalies back then. I jad just seen the original Frankenstein movie-and some of these faces scared me more than that movie. I recall specifically though that it wasn't a goalie face but the face of a forward for Detroit-Ted Lindsay-that made me start to think about doing cosmetic facial surgery for a career. I don't think you could count the stitches that went into that face. BTW I have a vivid memory of the first time I saw a goalie play with a mask at MSG-Jacques Plante came out with what could now be considered a stone age type of mask to play against the Rangers. I think it was late 1959(as i was just reaching my teenage years). It seemed so weird to see him play with a mask on. If I recall though that Sunday afternoon it did not help him much as he took a shot directly in the throat off the stick of either Andy Bathgate or Camille('the eel') Henry. it didn't matter though as usual Montreal crushed my home team Rangers which was the norm for those days. I know-people will say the shots weren't as hard and fast in those olden days-but regardless, you had to have a big set of cajones to play goal back then.

Doc you bring back wonderful memories. My brother and I were in the front row of the end balcony ($2.00) for most Sunday night games. I remember seeing many goalies get hit in the face and come back and finish the games.
Do you remember Joe Schaefer? He was the house goalie at the garden and would play for either team if they had to play without their own goalie. (only one per team back then). Seems crazy now, but Plante took a lot of flak for that mask. I thought he was the only smart goalie in the league.

 

[rpi82]

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

True. However, the city of Worcester has already said they would allow Holy Cross to use the DCU Center for its home games.

Holy Cross is not a serious competitor. The Centrum/DCU Center is far too big and too far from campus. Holy Cross students rarely venture off their hill for anything that doesn't involve alcohol. The locals also don't tend to align themselves with HC athletic teams. I went to games at the Hart Center with no more than 500-600 people in attendance. HC also has a significant female majority. Each new men's scholarship means they need 1.1-1.2 female scholarships. Lastly, it's a very small school (barely more than 1/2 the size of RPI) already struggling to support a Division I athletic program. Adding another full scholarship sport would make things worse.

Quinnipiac could be a candidate for HE, although I was told by people with connections there that they are very happy in the ECAC. The school has grown tremendously in the last 25 years (including adding a law school and a medical school is planned to open within 5 years) in terms of enrollment and academic quality. Yet, like every other private school in CT, they've existed in Yale's shadow. By being in the ECAC they play on even terms with the Bulldogs and the other Ivies instead of games against Wagner, Bryant and LIU in their other Northeast Conference sports. Both rinks are packed for the greater New Haven showdowns. That's not to say the Q wouldn't move to HE if offered the opportunity, but it's not the easy decision many people think.

UConn is, of course, the big competition. After adding a very aggressive new president and getting rid of their dead weight athletic director they've had some recent success in fund-raising for the new basketball facility (about 1/2 of the $28M required), but launching campaigns for the soccer and baseball stadiums has increased the competition for $$ to fund any improvements to hockey. There are also periodic rumors of adding a men's lacrosse program (lax is growing rapidly here and they already have a women's team). Their best hope for hockey is probably to find a naming sponsor (as they did at PSU) to fund a large portion of the upgrade. Otherwise, it probably won't happen and even if it does, it will probably be at the expense of some other sports such as men's swimming and diving. As I said before, I don't think UConn would even be thinking about an upgrade if they didn't see this as a one-time shot - either upgrade now while a clear opportunity exists or put it on the back burner for many years.

 

[DrDemento]

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

Doc you bring back wonderful memories. My brother and I were in the front row of the end balcony ($2.00) for most Sunday night games. I remember seeing many goalies get hit in the face and come back and finish the games.
Do you remember Joe Schaefer? He was the house goalie at the garden and would play for either team if they had to play without their own goalie. (only one per team back then). Seems crazy now, but Plante took a lot of flak for that mask. I thought he was the only smart goalie in the league.

If I recall the story correctly-my dad had told me that Plante used to wear a mask in practice and warm ups. But never during a game because Toe Blake refused to allow it. One day in 1959 he took one in the face from a Ranger (I seem to think it was Andy Bathgate but not sure about that) and refused to come back out to play without the mask. Blake gave in-since he had no back up goalie as you were right-they did not carry any back ups at the time. Plante then went on to win a long string of games and Blake allowed him to wear the mask from then on. We often sat in the end balcony-but never got the front row-always way back. With no netting to protect the fans we got pucks up there all the time. Didn't matter much though since i was just in awe of going to games in MSG (and then to the Automat to get something to eat). Some of these memories are from 55-60 years ago and they are still very clear-just shows how inspiring going to those weekend hockey games at the old Garden were.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

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

If I recall the story correctly-my dad had told me that Plante used to wear a mask in practice and warm ups. But never during a game because Toe Blake refused to allow it. One day in 1959 he took one in the face from a Ranger (I seem to think it was Andy Bathgate but not sure about that) and refused to come back out to play without the mask. Blake gave in-since he had no back up goalie as you were right-they did not carry any back ups at the time. Plante then went on to win a long string of games and Blake allowed him to wear the mask from then on. We often sat in the end balcony-but never got the front row-always way back. With no netting to protect the fans we got pucks up there all the time. Didn't matter much though since i was just in awe of going to games in MSG (and then to the Automat to get something to eat). Some of these memories are from 55-60 years ago and they are still very clear-just shows how inspiring going to those weekend hockey games at the old Garden were.

Totally agree about the memories. I remember my first game at the garden, the were playing the Bruins. I had only seen hockey on black and white tv to that point.
When I walked through the tunnel to get to our seats, I saw the ice and the teams warming up in color for the first time. I was about ten years old, and I still get chills just thinking about that sight. I was hooked on hockey for life.

 

[DrDemento]

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

Totally agree about the memories. I remember my first game at the garden, the were playing the Bruins. I had only seen hockey on black and white tv to that point.
When I walked through the tunnel to get to our seats, I saw the ice and the teams warming up in color for the first time. I was about ten years old, and I still get chills just thinking about that sight. I was hooked on hockey for life.

Very similar memory here-walking out into the stands and seeing ice all lit up and the bright colors of the teams-something you can never forget. I still remember the mid 50's getting my first chance to see the Blackhawks come in with Elmer 'Moose' Vasko and some young blond kid named Bobby Hull. Vasko was the biggest player I had seen up to that time(now would probably be a smallish forward) and Hull, well there was nothing like him on the ice to compare to.

 

[WillOutDrinkYou]

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

Has anyone on here heard the rumor of them wanting to sell beer again at the games?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

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

Has anyone on here heard the rumor of them wanting to sell beer again at the games?

I heard they're trying to put in a cafeteria area where the band used to be. Hopefully they "enclose it" for the 21+ crowd to enjoy a nice product of Brown's (assuming they still sponsor the team).

 

[Ralph Baer]

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

Today is 21 March 2012. There are 199 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.

 

[WillOutDrinkYou]

I heard they're trying to put in a cafeteria area where the band used to be. Hopefully they "enclose it" for the 21+ crowd to enjoy a nice product of Brown's (assuming they still sponsor the team).

That would be nice! They should sponsor them since a lot of the team members and families give them business throughout the season. Plus the staff that go there as well.

 

[ibanezist00]

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

That would be nice! They should sponsor them since a lot of the team members and families give them business throughout the season. Plus the staff that go there as well.

I may be completely wrong (and don't feel like doing the research right now), but isn't there now an NCAA rule that does not allow the selling of alcohol in any school-owned sports facility? A lot of schools get around this -- i.e. Siena basketball holding games at the Times Union Center -- and on top of that, RPI is technically a "dry campus" if I remember correctly...

Don't get me wrong though, I'd like to see all of that horsehocky completely lifted and be able to buy a cold one at an RPI game...

 

[FlagDUDE08]

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

I may be completely wrong (and don't feel like doing the research right now), but isn't there now an NCAA rule that does not allow the selling of alcohol in any school-owned sports facility? A lot of schools get around this -- i.e. Siena basketball holding games at the Times Union Center -- and on top of that, RPI is technically a "dry campus" if I remember correctly...

Don't get me wrong though, I'd like to see all of that horsehocky completely lifted and be able to buy a cold one at an RPI game...

Isn't HFH still an auxiliary service?

Also, RPI is NOT a dry campus. How does the Clubhouse Pub exist in the Student Union?

 

[burgie12]

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

Quinnipiac sells in their arena, but it's in a separate, enclosed room (which is potentially what RPI is planning?). Same with Yale, I think. Disclaimer: I haven't been to either arena, I'm just reporting what I remember from weekend threads.

I do know that BU sells at Agganis, but I think that ibanezist is correct in that it's not school-owned in some fashion.

 

[DrDemento]

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

Sometimes it is nice to be a bit older-just so I can remember the days when we could get a beer at the HFH. In more recent years (but before the 9-11 fervor of the pat downs at the door-we brought flasks into every game anyway). Nothing beats a little Chopin Vodka gimlet while watching a little RPI/Clarkson action sitting in section 6 or 7 at HFH on a friday or saturday evening.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

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

Quinnipiac sells in their arena, but it's in a separate, enclosed room (which is potentially what RPI is planning?). Same with Yale, I think. Disclaimer: I haven't been to either arena, I'm just reporting what I remember from weekend threads.

I do know that BU sells at Agganis, but I think that ibanezist is correct in that it's not school-owned in some fashion.

I could have sworn I saw beer being sold at the Carrier Dome (I've only been there once though), and I believe SU owns that. I thought it is NCAA-sanctioned events, such as the national tournaments, where booze is a no.

 

[turk181]

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

If I recall the story correctly-my dad had told me that Plante used to wear a mask in practice and warm ups. But never during a game because Toe Blake refused to allow it. One day in 1959 he took one in the face from a Ranger (I seem to think it was Andy Bathgate but not sure about that) and refused to come back out to play without the mask. Blake gave in-since he had no back up goalie as you were right-they did not carry any back ups at the time. Plante then went on to win a long string of games and Blake allowed him to wear the mask from then on. We often sat in the end balcony-but never got the front row-always way back. With no netting to protect the fans we got pucks up there all the time. Didn't matter much though since i was just in awe of going to games in MSG (and then to the Automat to get something to eat). Some of these memories are from 55-60 years ago and they are still very clear-just shows how inspiring going to those weekend hockey games at the old Garden were.

I've heard Stan "The Hockey Maven" Fischler tell this story just as you recall Doc. I too have great memories of stopping at one of the many Horn & Hardats as a kid. I never thought of it the way you put it Doc but you're right, you have to have the years to have the many memories.

 

[johnk]

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

Sometimes it is nice to be a bit older-just so I can remember the days when we could get a beer at the HFH. In more recent years (but before the 9-11 fervor of the pat downs at the door-we brought flasks into every game anyway). Nothing beats a little Chopin Vodka gimlet while watching a little RPI/Clarkson action sitting in section 6 or 7 at HFH on a friday or saturday evening.

The flasks still make it in.

 

[burgie12]

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

I could have sworn I saw beer being sold at the Carrier Dome (I've only been there once though), and I believe SU owns that. I thought it is NCAA-sanctioned events, such as the national tournaments, where booze is a no.

I haven't been to the Dome since I was 12 and beer wasn't exactly in the forefront of my consciousness back then, so I really can't provide any insight.

The flasks still make it in.

Yes they do.

 

[Rolevio]

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

Quinnipiac sells in their arena, but it's in a separate, enclosed room (which is potentially what RPI is planning?). Same with Yale, I think. Disclaimer: I haven't been to either arena, I'm just reporting what I remember from weekend threads.

I do know that BU sells at Agganis, but I think that ibanezist is correct in that it's not school-owned in some fashion.

Some years ago (2001?) Union was considering selling beer in a tent connected to one of the unused exits. But not much came from it. Probably a combination of the Princeton Review ratings that year and cash flow.

I believe Agganis Arena is univeristy owned but privately managed. Not 100% on that though.