Bingo. Plus, in my era we won more than 50% and the Clarkson games (along with Harvard, RPI and Vermont) were always the most memorable. Cornell too actually. They are great recruiting tools because what kid doesn't want to see a game with a high energy rivalry? They sell tickets, they are fun for the players, everyone gets to sleep in their own beds, and it's a North Country affair (which sucks for those of us that don't live in the NC).
As long as I live, I'll never forget losing to them 10-1 in December 1985 where we without all four of our top defensemen and Derek Ray and Scott Nickerson went toe to toe at center ice, or playing them a month later and beating them at Appleton in OT 6-5 after Hurley took a retaliation penalty and Don Vaughan was screaming some inappropriate things from the press box over where the President used to sit. I'll never forget beating them 8-4 in 1988 with 5 guys suspended from a fight at Dartmouth and Buckeridge making a move that even they applauded. Or beating them 3-0 in the 1988 ECAC Championship game where shooter had a perfect one-timer on the PP from the top of the circle. Or Mike McKenzie putting on a one man show in period 3 of game 3 at Appleton 3-4 years ago to come from behind and win. Clarkson even eventually got a lame D-1 rink (Cheel) to replace the Canton Pavilion North (Walker). Other than shutting out Cornell at Lynah, the 9-8 game where Lappin and Neweindyk went back and forth, and beating them like a drum 6-1 in the 1989 Semi's and beating them 6-3 after trailing 3-0 at Appleton after 2, I'd say those are the games I remember the best. Now, we add to that with a nice shutout in their building. I'll take it, league game or not.
The only thing about Hayton who I knew last year when I watched him in the USHL was going to be really good for us is, if he keeps playing this way, he may be gone too quickly. Kyle, if you are reading this, see Derek Gustafson....stud goalie, now pumping gas someone where in OR and probably growing fatter. Stay at SLU. You'll never regret playing with a team like this that has the potential in a couple of years on the national stage.
Would the NHL really look at signing a 145 lb. goalie early?
My comment about the games is that with four dates, with Cheel being a boring corporate rink, that a lot of the hate has gone out of this rivalry.
When I was a kid, things were much more serious. Too much mutual respect these days for my taste. You had to line up outside of Appleton at 5:30pm to get in the door. In the sixties, we genuinely considered Clarkson players to be toothless, brainless troglodyte thugs, Clarkson students ugly dumb zit faced dips&$ts with excess facial hair. You could tell a Clarkson student from an SLU student from several miles away. I'd much rather see us do pick up a couple more Pairwise worthy non conference opponents. Four Clarkson games further devalues the rivalry. It should be home and home last weekend of the season when the rivalry and the ECAC Standings are both on the line.
I would think with all of the realignments, that should work to our benefit in scheduling non-conference games, possibly even with some of the "won't go to Appleton" teams like BC. BU, Wisc, Mich. I would think that any of those teams would a ) be a wash as far as home game revenue vs. The extra Clarkson game and b) might make us some revenue for off year travel to those venues.