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Utica University 2023-24: The Rebuild????

P

Pioneer247

Member
A new year dawns in Utica, ALL of the guys who were on the team pre-Covid have gone, and the Pioneers boast 15 freshmen on the roster, trying to continue the work the previous classes has started

We kick of Friday against the US Under 18's, which personally I put little stock in, but it is a great tune-up before Adrian comes to town next weekend
 
There was certainly some bitter irony last season. Probably the most stacked group of forwards/D in Utica history, and the first season EVER that the goal tending was very suspect from the get-go.

I agree that it won't hurt to play the 17 YO's, and immediately make things real. Those kids absolutely schooled the putative D-1 #1 BU just last weekend.

I have no idea if the new class as a whole will be any good, but it doesn't look like anything has improved much in net.
 
Ur goalie had a 0.919 save% a 1.9GAA and went 25-3-1. I know the UCHC sucks as a conference but Uticas goaltending was not suspect. Other than the 2nd Adrian game and the tournament game he allowed 3 goals or less vs all of the top teams on ur schedule.
 
Lord_Zubin said:
Ur goalie had a 0.919 save% a 1.9GAA and went 25-3-1. I know the UCHC sucks as a conference but Uticas goaltending was not suspect. Other than the 2nd Adrian game and the tournament game he allowed 3 goals or less vs all of the top teams on ur schedule.
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This is more of a testament to how good Utica’s D was last year. The goaltending was very suspect. I don’t recall goaltending winning Utica any games last year. There was a reason they picked up a D1 transfer goalie within a month of the season ending last year. He didn’t come to Utica to play backup.
 
JSicedog said:
This is more of a testament to how good Utica’s D was last year. The goaltending was very suspect. I don’t recall goaltending winning Utica any games last year. There was a reason they picked up a D1 transfer goalie within a month of the season ending last year. He didn’t come to Utica to play backup.
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I'm not disputing what you are saying, but your comment did make me think of a tangent thought.

I am amazed how often D3 teams pick up a D1 transfer goalie, only to have that goalie end up being a backup. (I believe this happened at Oswego recently.)
 
I'm sure Utica fans think this is a rebuild of course, but to be honest, they picked the worst year to do it, this year they could finally be dethroned in their conference. Teams like Nazareth, and maybe Stevenson could easily be at the top of the conference. Do not forget that Nazareth narrowly got defeated in the UCHC championship just last year with possibly the best Utica team there ever was. That Nazareth team is just losing 3 players. 1 their best player. and the other 2 were mostly middle-of-the-pack players. We will see how this year goes but I would not be surprised if they go down once and for all.
 
D3HKYUCHC said:
I'm sure Utica fans think this is a rebuild of course, but to be honest, they picked the worst year to do it, this year they could finally be dethroned in their conference. Teams like Nazareth, and maybe Stevenson could easily be at the top of the conference. Do not forget that Nazareth narrowly got defeated in the UCHC championship just last year with possibly the best Utica team there ever was. That Nazareth team is just losing 3 players. 1 their best player. and the other 2 were mostly middle-of-the-pack players. We will see how this year goes but I would not be surprised if they go down once and for all.
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Last year was not the best Utica team there ever was, not even top 3.

The shots were 50-29 in the UCHC championship, it wasn't a narrow defeat by any means. Game was over before the puck dropped.

You should go start your own Nazareth thread and talk to yourself there.
 
D3HKYUCHC said:
I'm sure Utica fans think this is a rebuild of course, but to be honest, they picked the worst year to do it, this year they could finally be dethroned in their conference. Teams like Nazareth, and maybe Stevenson could easily be at the top of the conference. Do not forget that Nazareth narrowly got defeated in the UCHC championship just last year with possibly the best Utica team there ever was. That Nazareth team is just losing 3 players. 1 their best player. and the other 2 were mostly middle-of-the-pack players. We will see how this year goes but I would not be surprised if they go down once and for all.
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Utica is a "perennial national power." I'm sure they will do just fine, reach the NCAA Tournament and do what perennial national powers do and get eliminated in one game.
 
Sir Nubs said:
Utica is a "perennial national power." I'm sure they will do just fine, reach the NCAA Tournament and do what perennial national powers do and get eliminated in one game.
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What are you and Fish going to argue about once Utica goes D1? Then you will both be in agreement on the perennial national power debate.
 
JSicedog said:
This is more of a testament to how good Utica’s D was last year. The goaltending was very suspect. I don’t recall goaltending winning Utica any games last year. There was a reason they picked up a D1 transfer goalie within a month of the season ending last year. He didn’t come to Utica to play backup.
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Also a testament to how good Utica goaltending has been historically.
 
Russell Jaslow said:
I'm not disputing what you are saying, but your comment did make me think of a tangent thought.

I am amazed how often D3 teams pick up a D1 transfer goalie, only to have that goalie end up being a backup. (I believe this happened at Oswego recently.)
Click to expand...

Midol is the answer.
 
As many have talked about Utica going D1 for hockey, I recently talked to a reliable source stating Utica U is in serious debt (like most or all college/universities are right now) this isn’t a sure thing. In fact I was told it probably isn’t happening. The University recently cut some programs/ and sports teams in hopes of saving a few dollars. Take a look at what’s happening at Potsdam and Clarkson. I’m sure some others are in the same boat but haven’t said anything publicly. Colleges/Universities are trying to keep heads above water without having to close their doors like a few already have.
 
Hockeyguy1424 said:
As many have talked about Utica going D1 for hockey, I recently talked to a reliable source stating Utica U is in serious debt (like most or all college/universities are right now) this isn’t a sure thing. In fact I was told it probably isn’t happening. The University recently cut some programs/ and sports teams in hopes of saving a few dollars. Take a look at what’s happening at Potsdam and Clarkson. I’m sure some others are in the same boat but haven’t said anything publicly. Colleges/Universities are trying to keep heads above water without having to close their doors like a few already have.
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I can confirm with you that this is 100% not true. They cut swimming, water polo, mens tennis, and added mens/womens wrestling and gymnastics. Academically they cut programs with very low student counts which made sense. They are not in debt and just had one of their largest freshmen classes in history. Your source is far from reliable.
 
JSicedog said:
Last year was not the best Utica team there ever was, not even top 3.

The shots were 50-29 in the UCHC championship, it wasn't a narrow defeat by any means. Game was over before the puck dropped.

You should go start your own Nazareth thread and talk to yourself there.
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OK, last year's team lacked goaltending, but was as deep a Utica team as I've ever seen outside of the net.

I suppose the COVID team was better, all things considered.

But, which third iteration would displace last year's team re: the top-3, IYO?
 
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