Re: St. Lawrence University Skating Saints - 2015-2016
Will Carvel directly address the SLU community wither through a written letter or via newspaper interview? I think he needs to step head on into this chasm that this announcement has created and do so directly.
I'm sure his decision was sound and I'm also sure that $ was a definitive factor - something that at some level, we can all relate to (at least I can with a 3yr and a 5yr old and major expenses coming down the pike).
He has started to "reply" to some of the individual comments on the SLU Fan page listed below. To my knowledge that is/has been the only public expression we have seen so far.
I've not commented much on this but I think Tim pretty much summed up how we feel in his comments. Few will ever judge anyone for getting ahead, taking care of his family or pursuing ones dreams. Where the train went off the rails is he told us that we/SLU/Canton were his dream, only to cast it aside for another better dream.
While he has the incredibly close ties to Canton and SLU having played and grown up there.......we've read his wife is from Amherst and as others have mentioned he has his advanced degree from UMass. When you are a very talented individual....it is inevitable that other Universities and Teams (even Pro) will come after you. I think the main reason why everyone (myself included) is so emotionally charged about it is the timing and way it happened and how abruptly he left. Some random thoughts that have touched the nerves of many........
-No one has mentioned how he came to be here. He had "lost" his NHL job and Joe Marsh gave him a place to land. That in term blossomed into a head coaching position and as others have articulated it was his "dream job."
-Granted Joe was ill and needed to take care of his health....but the most beloved coach in the history of SLU "stepped aside" so Greg could take over the program and Joe said he was leaving it in good hands. (Those good hands just didn't stay around for long which I am sure is not what Joe or anyone else expected.)
-Greg had just signed an extension with SLU........that signaled to everyone that it was his dream job and he was happy being here and going to stay here.
-The program was growing in ways Joe did not have it growing. It was modernized, in the computer age....on social media, inclusive of past players, alumni and fans in a way it hadn't been in the past. Recruiting was taken to higher level and better caliber players were here and coming.
-The feeling that the good work Greg was doing had just been started.......and it was unfinished..... and very incomplete. He walked away from it with much yet to be done.
-Everyone had high expectations for next year. Solid incoming recruits and the best "D" and goalie returning. To us all it was going to be an NCAA year next year. (And still can be provided everyone committed comes in and no one bolts.)
It was as if he was engaged to be married to his high school sweetheart....went on a trip to a big city......met a glitzy, glamorous girl....broke off the engagement and left without saying a word.
I agree with you Bothman that he owes an explanation or something, in particular to those in the Saints Hockey society whom he so carefully cultivated. He made illusions (I read them as excuses) that "we don't know everything"..........he has been on a whirlwind tour culminating in his appearance tonight on NESN in the Bruins pre-game show where he was interviewed by Billy Jaffee. Maybe now that the initial dust has settled...we will learn more and he will address the greater SLU community and the Saints Society he formed and cultivated. Of course at this point it doesn't matter. It's done and we've got to move forward and keep the program going in a positive direction. Maybe someone better than him is possible and I certainly hope we can find that.
How do I get on the SLU facebook hockey page?
Vic.........it is a public group on Facebook called...... "St. Lawrence Hockey Fans" Just find it and follow or like it and you will get the notifications.