Utica College 2010-11

[ColSkate65]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

OK Guys(and gals)...From a D1 guy who goes to Utica occaisonally. I passed up going to Gate-Harvard(sacriledge if Gate was better)
Place was packed...absolutely no cheering...Crowd should have been a major factor, wasn't. I agree with other posters, people are there for something to do(drink I guess) but beers are five bucks, you wonder where some people get thirty dollars for a round. Anyhoo.

Elmira looked way bigger than the skinny UC players. Halfway thru the second at 3-0 wife wanted to leave and I said one more goal then decide. 3-1 after two and I said if Elmira scores the next we'll go. Third period UC started hitting and tied it and it turned into a great game. Coffman by far is their best player. UC goaltending is very good. I was totally surprised after 3-0 that we came back. Still hoping for an NCAA game at the Aud.

Sounds like you had a good time at the Aud, Shabby. Good thing you stuck around. This is an interesting thread! (How about our weekend sweep in H-ton!

 

[collegehcky2]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

This sounds a lot like Oswego was right before I got there and in the early days of the CC.

Keep working at it. They'll learn eventually. The Oswego student section is almost there. Just gotta get everyone to stand for the game and then we'll be there.

Good one, I laughed.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

(A lot of interesting posts here;thanks for playing!)

IMHO,a good hockey crowd is not about The Wave or knowing any chants...

A good hockey crowd,(among other things),
1.Does not wander around during live action,thus obstructing the view of others.
2.Murmurs excitedly when a good scoring chance appears imminent.
3.Howls like a wounded hyena when an apparent penalty inflicted to their team goes uncalled,and
4.Howls even louder when a marginal call goes against their team.
5.Erupts like a volcano when the puck goes in.

I could go on and on,but you get the picture.As much as Utica would like to consider itself a "hockey town",the acumen there is sadly lacking...But it's still gotta be among the best venues in all of D-3 from the players' perspectives.

I've seen a few other places,too:Hobart(should be bull-dozed into Seneca Lake,and immediately),Geneseo(*yawn*),Fredonia(a morgue),Williams(I'm pretty sure I was the only person there who wasn't employed by the college),Hamilton(struck me as as a de-facto day-care site),and even the storied Domes(which I loved,but mostly for the cave-dweller feel of the place...The crowd was no louder nor any more astute than what I was used to seeing in Utica.)

My point?D-3 hockey is definitely small potatoes in a relative sense,regardless of where you go to see it.

It's great stuff,anyway.A big part of its charm is that nobody gives a **** what happens,except for the players and a small group of hard-core fans.If 4,000 people show up for ANY reason to be at a UC game,it's a positive thing,in the net.(I just wish that the casuals would learn a modicum of hockey etiquette.)

 

[UCBadger]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

Excellent post Mr. Fishman!

 

[Bennycheck]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

Two Colgate guys posting here. Interesting. Shabby, I agree about the Aud crowd. They did get into it at the end, at lease where I was sitting. One guy stood up and yelled at the ref at the missed tripping call with about 30 sec. left. Elmira looked unbeatable the first 25 minuets of the game. The last 35, not so much. Did they run out of gas, or did UC pick it up. Probably a little of both. I think with UC it was a mental thing. They only scored 1 goal in the last 2 games against these guys. Once they were behind 3-0 the just let it all hang out and started hitting and skating. Very young team that still doesn't know how good they are. The sad part is it all means nothing if they can't beat Neauman on Saturday. They just might. Good to see Gate finish with a few wins. Shabby, glad you made the game. There's always Hamilton if UC is out (1st place!!)

Sounds like you had a good time at the Aud, Shabby. Good thing you stuck around. This is an interesting thread! (How about our weekend sweep in H-ton!

 

[ColSkate65]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

I'm a central NY guy and used to attend many Utica Devils and Clinton Comets games, so I have an interest in what goes on at the Aud. I'm glad UC can make use of the facility and that Div-III hockey is alive and competitive in this area. IMHO the Aud has pretty good sight lines and the seats are relatively close to the action. It compares favorably with the Broome Co Arena, which I consider the best place to watch hockey (AHL). ...much better than MSG!

 

[sshablak]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

Benny...According to most of the people on other threads UC is in the NCAA's either as a playin game or outright. Both games are showing at the AUD too !!!!!

 

[Bennycheck]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

Benny...According to most of the people on other threads UC is in the NCAA's either as a playin game or outright. Both games are showing at the AUD too !!!!!

Shabby, can't speak to that. I have no idea how DIII picks the at large bids and I don't have time to take the class to learn. I hope you're right but I have a hard time believing that loosing 4 times to Neuman and not being able to beat Elmira will get you a home game in the NCAA's. I know the OOC games mean a lot so as I said, I hope you're right. If they can beat Neumann I think they could do some damage in the playoffs. I'd love 1 more home game at the AUD. Even with the shortcommings of some of the crowd, it sure beats going up on the hill and watching Hamilton play in the worst rink in North America (from a fans point of view, of which there isn't any). The only rink I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot) that doesn't have a good seat in the house. As us townies always say since the "renovation", it's clear that Hamilton's not an engineering school!!

 

[sshablak]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

My "understanding" is that UC is ranked #3 in the East ahead of Neumann and that doesn't change in the last week. They are #1 in Pool "C' and supposedly three or four teams have to lose their Division championships for UC to be kicked out of Pool "C". Someone help me here if I'm wrong.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

My "understanding" is that UC is ranked #3 in the East ahead of Neumann and that doesn't change in the last week. They are #1 in Pool "C' and supposedly three or four teams have to lose their Division championships for UC to be kicked out of Pool "C". Someone help me here if I'm wrong.

Shabby,if you want to chip in to hire a Philadelphia lawyer,maybe we can figure it out...

As it looks right now,UC is 3rd nationally in the KRACH (which doesn't actually count,but is generally considered to be the most objective comparison tool available),and around the 11th spot in either PWC you care to look at.I don't have a clue if Utica is in a position to get a bid...Looks like the D-3 selection process this year will be as mysterious as ever.If UC wins out and goes nowhere,I'll scream out loud,though.They merely need to beat NC,and have whomever defeat EC to get a home game in two weeks...Easy,right?

(BTW,what has gotten into Colgate lately?They are steam-rolling good teams,and after a lousy start.Might have to take a ride down 12B to see them soon.)

 

[sshablak]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

You won't see "Gate" at homethis year...no more home games. Playoffs away also.

 

[Pioneerfan11]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

As it looks right now,UC is 3rd nationally in the KRACH (which doesn't actually count,but is generally considered to be the most objective comparison tool available),and around the 11th spot in either PWC you care to look at.I don't have a clue if Utica is in a position to get a bid...

The PWR is sorted by win percentage... you can actually sort it using any of the criteria listed. Click on SOS and watch Utica fall right near the top. What you actually may want to do is click on the team-by-team comparisons at the top of that page. That will give you a good idea of how UC stacks up against other Pool C candidates at this point in the game.

BTW - If UC were to win out and take the ECAC-W tournament crown, I can see no scenario where they don't get into the NCAA tournament. Just my two cents...

 

[sshablak]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

UC is now SEVENTH in the NCAA rankings in the east. Need to beat Neumann it looks like this weekend.

 

[Pioneerfan11]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

UC is now SEVENTH in the NCAA rankings in the east. Need to beat Neumann it looks like this weekend.

It's hard to tell how this happened, but UC does now lose the comparison to Plattsburgh and is tied with Castleton - I think... it's all very confusing.

What does appear to be the case is that SOS is not being weighed in comparison to WIN % as heavily this year. See - Adrian in the #2 spot out west. Castleton's high win percentage and Neumann's win at Elmira on Friday likely had a lot to do with this change.

I stand by what I said earlier today, if Utica wins the ECAC-W tournament they will get into the NCAA tournament. However, It now looks like they HAVE to beat Neumann to have any chance at all.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

UC is now SEVENTH in the NCAA rankings in the east. Need to beat Neumann it looks like this weekend.

Absolutely need to beat Neumann this weekend to have any prayer.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

It's hard to tell how this happened, but UC does now lose the comparison to Plattsburgh and is tied with Castleton - I think... it's all very confusing.

What does appear to be the case is that SOS is not being weighed in comparison to WIN % as heavily this year. See - Adrian in the #2 spot out west. Castleton's high win percentage and Neumann's win at Elmira on Friday likely had a lot to do with this change.

I stand by what I said earlier today, if Utica wins the ECAC-W tournament they will get into the NCAA tournament. However, It now looks like they HAVE to beat Neumann to have any chance at all.

If Utica won the ECAC West tournament by beating Neumann and Elmira...They would likely get the Pool B and at the very least would definitely get a Pool C.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

It's hard to tell how this happened, but UC does now lose the comparison to Plattsburgh and is tied with Castleton - I think... it's all very confusing.

What does appear to be the case is that SOS is not being weighed in comparison to WIN % as heavily this year. See - Adrian in the #2 spot out west. Castleton's high win percentage and Neumann's win at Elmira on Friday likely had a lot to do with this change.

I stand by what I said earlier today, if Utica wins the ECAC-W tournament they will get into the NCAA tournament. However, It now looks like they HAVE to beat Neumann to have any chance at all.

I used to like the fact that D-1 hockey,as opposed to D-3 hockey,had the PWR in place as an objective and transparent (albeit flawed) basis upon which to select the NCAA field...But even D-1 has tinkered with the rules in mid-season this year,rendering the whole process suspect.

It's looking like Five Card Monte from both divisions now;nobody outside the dealer knows what's going on.There are "rules",but the rules are increasingly obscure and malleable.

Oh well,typical human politics...I don't suppose that these petty intrigues will result in mass casualties or anything,and I'm leaning pretty strongly to go to Philly this weekend,just the same.(I've never seen the Ice Works,but by all accounts it's a travesty.Sounds like a good time to me!)

 

[vcxc3200]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

UC is now SEVENTH in the NCAA rankings in the east. Need to beat Neumann it looks like this weekend.

who the hell spiked their coffee?

i don't understand how tying a team ranked higher than you causes you to drop 4 spots. that makes absolutely no sense to me. at all. i don't care what plattsburgh and castleton may or may not have done, what have they done in the last week that suddenly makes them better than us?

not to mention, if win percentage is so important in these rankings suddenly, why didnt the rankings reflect this earlier instead of suddenly shafting us at the end of the season?


stuff doesnt add up.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

who the hell spiked their coffee?

i don't understand how tying a team ranked higher than you causes you to drop 4 spots. that makes absolutely no sense to me. at all. i don't care what plattsburgh and castleton may or may not have done, what have they done in the last week that suddenly makes them better than us?

not to mention, if win percentage is so important in these rankings suddenly, why didnt the rankings reflect this earlier instead of suddenly shafting us at the end of the season?


stuff doesnt add up.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Plattsburgh beats Utica in 3 of 4 criteria with just a slight edge in SOS...Castleton also picked up 2 WINS against ranked teams...I have a feeling its more because teams 3-7 are so close they can flip flop any week.

 

[Pioneerfan11]

Re: Utica College 2010-11

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Plattsburgh beats Utica in 3 of 4 criteria with just a slight edge in SOS...Castleton also picked up 2 WINS against ranked teams...I have a feeling its more because teams 3-7 are so close they can flip flop any week.

I agree with all of that. I don't have a problem with moving Plattsburgh ahead of Utica this week. They clearly win a comparison between the two teams at this point. While I also agree that teams 3-7 are very close, I understand the thoughts of those who wonder how tying the team directly ahead of you in the rankings can result in such a sharp fall in those same rankings. I also believe that the perceived strength of the ECAC-W and SUNYAC versus the other eastern conference this year would lead many to believe that UC should be ahead of Castleton, despite their high win percentage. Depending on the first weekend of the conference tournaments, the order of these teams could look drastically different next week.

To all of the Utica fans... and I'm playing Devil's Advocate here because those of you who know me personally know how much I'd love to see the Pioneers finally break through and EARN a bid into the NCAAs... do we honestly think that Utica has EARNED a bid if they lose to Neumann on Saturday and go 0-8-1 against them, Elmira and Oswego? I just can't see it.

Win this weekend and there is a good chance and plenty of hope... no matter what happens in the ECAC-W finals. Win that game too and they are getting in.