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Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

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Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

AnthonySaxe said:
I meant, you know, recruits who actually ended up playing for Union. I'll try to be more clear next time.
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Nah, don't bother I was just being a wise a**. And while I'm at it, I hope Ghost isn't afraid to come back from Russia. This team is really in a funk, nothing's going right and another road trip next weekend with two teams that are playing very well. A month and a half on the road, not exactly what the doctor ordered, but at this point I'm not sure it makes much difference. Still, the league is a real jumble at this point. Other than Qpac and now Princeton, I don't see any teams that are playing consistently, so if we can get our act together, we're still in it.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

For a team that returned all but 3 regulars (White, Welsh, Zajac) off a Frozen Four team, this slide (1-4-3) is puzzling.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Union played well both games but the Lakers strength which is our tenders and a team defensive game plan won it.

Both games were closer then the score would indicate.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Union's vaunted power play, which entered the weekend tops in Division I at 30.1%, went 1-for-11 in the two losses to Lake Superior State.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Gostisbehere on his NHL readiness:

“I’m not even close (to NHL ready),” Gostisbehere told the Courier-Post in a phone interview from Russia, fresh off the ice after practice. “I’m still only 170 pounds. I’ll get killed out there, but it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to and working toward in the future. But nowhere near the near future.”
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Full read: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ar...lyers-draft-pick-Gostisbehere-no-rush-get-NHL
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Senna said:
I dont know what this post means....but I really like this kid and wish he was at RPI instead. He has been really solid from every tournament game I've seen thus far. Also, if you dont think that all that kind of "silent" chopping, hooking, slashing goes on at every level in every game, then you just havent played (at least at a high level). He shoulda went over and stepped in the guy for being such a snowflake. With an act like that I can assure you that the guy doesnt have the set of attachments that he acted as if got injured. Silly move to make by the Ghost ? Clearly....but happens in every game. Someday that guys grandkids will see the video of grandpa taking a fall and wonder what grandma ever saw in him and why she married such a wimp.
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Agreed. That was pretty pathetic from the Slovakian and even more so from the referee for giving a 5 and a game.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Recruit Michael Pontarelli started the new year with a hat trick and 2 assists against Hawkesbury in an 8-0 blowout.. He scored short handed on the PP and even strength. We surely could use some of that scoring ability now.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Wholin1 said:
Recruit Michael Pontarelli started the new year with a hat trick and 2 assists against Hawkesbury in an 8-0 blowout.. He scored short handed on the PP and even strength. We surely could use some of that scoring ability now.
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Be patient when he arrives. His production will be a work in progress at the D-1 level compared to where he is now.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Dutchfan said:
If this isn't rock bottom...:(
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This is not rock bottom, not even close.. see 1999 and a 3 win season for a frame of reference. Also, Lake State is a good team that has beaten some very good teams this season and plays a tight defensive style with excellent goaltending.. in many ways not much different than what U saw with Ferris State in the F4. I'm not happy about being swept, but there is no huge shame in losing two tight games on the road like this. U's record is still 9-6-4 which really isn't much different than where they were last season at 9-5-5 and coming off getting swept out in Colorado.

However I do agree that there is a lot to be concerned about. The team hasn't beaten anybody that is or could be TUC worthy. Last season at this point there were several good wins over TUC teams (as well as a couple near misses) and the team was clearly building chemistry and momentum heading into league play. The last 7-8 games this season have been very uneven and the lineup appears to still be a work in progress. The offense has mostly gone south and unlike last season the defense/goaltending hasn't quite been able to bail them out. Right now I would say Union is MAYBE the 5th or 6th best team in ECAC and any hopes of making the NCAAs will rest on essentially running the table in league play or winning the league tournament.

There are lots of theories out there about what the problems are, but I think its mainly team cohesion and the getting down to outworking, outhitting, and paying the price in front of the net. One disturbing theme in many of Union's losses this season is an opponent that plays very tough in their own end and keeps U's forwards to shots from the outside. U needs to find a way to get shots and bodies to the net. Its also time for the top players on this team to make big plays that help win games. I'm pretty sick of hearing that somehow its the freshmen's fault. There are something like 25 returning letter winners and they are the ones that need to step up. Wilkens is going to be a good player, but he isn't on the PP and probably won't have big points this season. The big guns need to come from Simpson, Carr, the Bodies, Jooris & Ghost and players like Ciampini, Novak, Hatch also have to contribute. EVERYBODY needs to win puck battles.

I'm hoping this stretch of games is a wake-up call and puts more urgency in the team's play. The next 4 games are beyond critical.. Princeton & Qpac on the road and home with Cornell and Gate. 4 teams with very different styles that give Union tons of matchup trouble. I think we will know a lot more of where this team is heading in the next 2 weeks.
 
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Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

As usual, ADK has a good analysis and also saved me a lot of typing. Going into the season I knew that the loss of Welsh, Zajac and White would be big and I think we are realizing now, just how large a void these guys have left, not only for their skills but for their leadership. Who is the "leader" of this team now. I think that's still an evolving scenario.

Going into the season I was hoping for a top four league finish which could still be attainable. Realistically, I think the league, barring an collapse by Qpac, which seems unlikely, is now competing for spots 2 through 4 at the top. A look at the league standings shows just how competitive the rest of the ECAC is going to be. The next 5 games including the Tuesday game with Harvard will loom very large. At least we finally have some home games to look forward to.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Just got back from Shayne Gostisbehere's media session at Messa Rink.

Here's a raw audio file (.mp3) of Gostisbehere's session: http://bit.ly/WpXyx5

The defenseman discusses his experience in Russia, winning the gold, the differences between the college game and the international game, playing for the great Phil Housley, and more.

More raw audio from the session: Rick Bennett discusses Gostisbehere winning the gold and more: http://bit.ly/Zih2pZ
 
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Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

In all seriousness, congrats on the gold, Ghost. What's next in your little game of "Anything you can do"?
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

The hits just keep coming. USHR just tweeted that 2014-2015 commit Ryan Scarfo is out for the year with a separated shoulder.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

Well, on the bright side, he should be good to go for 2014-2015.... but all kidding aside, the lost development time is a killer. I wonder how he was doing, statistically, this year.
 
rdf8585 said:
Well, on the bright side, he should be good to go for 2014-2015.... but all kidding aside, the lost development time is a killer. I wonder how he was doing, statistically, this year.
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Apparently he had been out with an injury and then seperated his shoulder on his first shift back.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2012-2013 - Unfinished Business

That's just brutal. Here's hoping he heels fast and there's no long term effects from it.
 
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