Re: Suny cortland season thread 1.
Thanks Remi for your thoughts, I totally enjoy most of your comments but must call you out on this one. As a Red Dragon fan ( No Norm, I’m not the zamboni driver!!) I think the Cortland program is already in the rebuild mode and has been for the past two seasons. Remember Baldy was only brought in three seasons ago with the sole purpose of rebuilding the program. He is now a bit more knowledgeable when it comes to the recruiting landscape, and yes he’s even brought in some Canadian players and significant transfers (maybe not up to Oz/Platts standards, but significant non-the-less). I realize there’s still a ways go but progress is happening whether you choose to believe it or not. The FA situation that you say is so critical to a program’s success, may be true but there is still a wealth of quality players out there that fall through the cracks and just want to play, and are more than willing to pay their own way. I realize its big business for teams like OZ and Plattsburgh, and I truly respect those teams and their respective fan base. But to count Cortland out of this coming season’s playoff picture without an acknowledgment of their progress is a bit hard to swallow. My assessment of the upcoming season is slightly different than yours with the thoughts that there are some true questions that need to be asked in regard to some of those teams that you’ve picked above the Dragons. Fredonia, have they replaced their two top scoring forwards (who accounted for nearly 50% of their goals scored)? Morrisville, Have they replaced their goaltender (Relkoff)?, whom I think was the best goalie in the league by a wide margin. Potsdam, regressed last season, what makes you think there will be improvements? Buffalo State, has issues with consistency (same as Cortland), which team will show up is always a question mark, and I for one question the quality of coaching there. I really think it’s up for grabs once you get past Plattsburgh, Oz, and Geneseo and I say why not Cortland? They are, by no means, an easy W anymore. Regardless, it’s great to be talking about Cortland Hockey for change on this forum. Remi, I look forward to reading your take on all things D3 this up coming season, and can’t wait for October…NYhockeygy, Thanks for getting this thread going, I promise to check in on a more than occasional basis.
When did I ever NOT acknowledge that? I've been very impressed and said it several times. Again don't get confused with me saying I don't project them beating out Morrisville for the last playoff spot and "not improving"....two totally different things.
A few things….
I am not saying Cortland is regressing or not getting better. I think I said it several times that they are moving up. However failing to use the resources like Buff State and Morrisville have done will make the road that much harder. Can it be done? Maybe. Cortland has 1 Canadian on their incoming freshman and several EJHL 2nd and 3rd line players. Where as you go look at Fredonia’s incoming freshman and you see the difference in both the quality of the league and players they have coming in. Same will be said for Morrisville’s group.
Second, Fredonia only loses 29% of their goals scored in conference play not 50%. They bring back Ross who scored more points then Cortland’s top 2 returning scorers COMBINED. Yes I realize Cortland only loses 15% but Plattsburgh has lost 40% and Oswego with 30%. But it’s the quality of players the teams have that can fill those rolls. With Cortland only losing 3 seniors, it’s not unusual to see them with a low percentage. Where even Fredonia (with 5 seniors) didn’t lose too much compared to others. They still return 6 of their top 9 scorers.
Third, Morrisville has Transfer Sophomore goaltender Chris Azzano (Wentworth ECACNE) who in 23 games last season Azzano went 13-7-3 with a 2.52 GAA and a .914 Save%. They also have some very good recruits coming in not listed as they give out very generous financial aid packages. They have continually progressed every year. The first couple years in the league they relied on Relcoff, but last year they gave Relcoff some much needed help offensively, putting up several games with 35+ shots on goal. They’ve continued to pull in some great recruits as they years moved on.
Fourth, I never said Potsdam would beat Cortland, I just said they would be better. The last playoff spot will come down to Morrisville, Potsdam and Cortland. I don’t forsee either team beating out Morrisville who continues to get better every year.
Fifth, Baldy is a great coach for sure, however comparing UWSP to Cortland is like apples and oranges. Baldy had the recruit pipeline into the Minnesota/Wisconsin junior systems (AWHL, USHL, NAHL) the NY Junior systems are a far cry to those. He might have had 1 or 2 Canadians in his system back then because they weren’t needed due to the Mid-West junior system pipe line. Yes Baldy has brought in some transfers and will continue to grow.
Again teams like Buffalo State and Morrisville have shown a commitment to their hockey program. It’s no longer playing second fiddle to the rest of their sport programs. Since they started offering the FA packages their teams have sky rocketed. Yes Cortland is making strides, my point is Buff State and Morrisville have made bigger strides. I don’t think anyone has said Cortland has no chance, there is always a chance. They proved it last year that they can play with everyone. But over a 16 game season and the fact of how much the other 2 teams I have fighting for the last spot have improved (Buff St/Morrisville) Cortland hasn’t shown enough to overcome the deficit. I was actually really surprised of the players Baldy has coming in, I would have expected more.
One of the things to be commended on, and probably due to Baldys influence is the fact that Cortland was the 2nd least penalized team in the SUNYAC. They years prior they were the most penalized twice out of 4 seasons, 2nd most and 4th most in the other two seasons. That right there is a major factor in turning a program around. Something I don’t think you will see again as long as Baldy continues to be a part of the program.
I am all for Cortland getting better and will be the first to acknowledge their improvement. I think what a lot of people are frustrated at is the fact that Cortland spends so much time, effort and funds into the other sports and do so well only to see a 6-17-2 hockey team. Baldy was step one for sure, but I don’t think fighting for the last playoff spot each year is what he intends to happen at Cortland. But until Cortland changes their recruiting and allows the FA practices like the other SUNYAC schools do, that pretty much what they can look forward to. I understand some kids can pay their way, but obviously not a lot seeing how Cortland has had ONE Canadian player in the past 10 years. Obviously if they could afford it, or wanted to, there would be more. Over the past 10 years I had a chart of Canadian players to a teams success ratio, and it was pretty obvious. Like I said, yes it can happen but it’s a constant uphill battle being A) a State school and B) a State school with a bottom tier hockey program.
