Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

You make a good point Yale Whaler. I do think the defense has suffered all year from the departures of Martin and Matczak in particular. They were such as rock solid pairing. But there's no question the defense has improved throughout the year as Fallen and Killian have matured and improved.

 

[Yale84]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

Great that Laganiere's hat trick is the top recap today!
Anyone planning to go to Bright this weekend? I am going to be traveling south from a meeting in New Hampshire Friday afternoon and I'm thinking I might go to the game. I'd rather sit with Yalies - anyone want to join me?

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I am in "negotiations" with my significant other about attendance. May try to get to Gamw Two and shoot back up for a a Game 3 of necessary. I think we can put the two Calof goals squarely on whichever forward was supposed to be shadowing him, they left a sniper unchecked on both of those goals. Yales defense IS getting better and more consistent. The main problem they still have is breaking out of the Yale zone, too many times they get caught behind the net waiting for the set play to develop or passing to no one just to get rid of the puck, that said they have steadily improved throughout the year.

Lags was incredible last night as was O'Neill, who really got into the heads of Princeton, especially taking Hagel out of game with penalties. Day was very good and all over the ice. Yale also needs to stay out of the box, I know it is a product of an agressive checking game, but still too many stupid penalties. The officiating last night was really weird, first time I ever saw a call reversed where a player was taken out of the box and an opposing player put in. It WAS the correct call though.

 

[Yale84]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

Yale Athletic ticket office has tickets and recommends coming in or calling today or tomorrow.

 

[goblue78]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I got tickets for Saturday night from the Harvard website. Seems like plenty of tickets are available, but I think I'm sitting in the midst of the Harvard side. If I survive (and after all, it's not like going to Lynah or something) should create some interesting stories.

And I agree with you LT... I've never seen a call reversed like that. I was sitting next to the twenty Princeton fans in attendance and we had a lively discussion about Young, Hagel and Sdao in that last minute and a half. That's the sort of thing I'm looking forward to on Saturday.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I would be curious to know what the Princeton fans said about Hagel in particular.

 

[goblue78]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I would be curious to know what the Princeton fans said about Hagel in particular.

I was trying to be nonconfrontational. All I did was mention that Hagel's penalties didn't end up helping Princeton very much, which is sort of odd behavior from a captain as is getting most of the penalties in the last five minutes of games. What I got back was that Young was a whiny crybaby. I was sitting right where Young got injured on Saturday night, and I admit I was very surprised when he came back out. I pointed out to the Princeton fan that since there was actually no chance of a Princeton penalty on the play where Young got hurt (it was Young making the check against the boards) there was no particular reason for him to writhe in pain strategically. But apparently the notion that he is a crybaby trumped all. I discussed Hagel less than Sdao... and what I got back was that jumping a guy from behind was OK if the guy in question was a whiny crybaby. That's when the conversation stopped because... well, just because.

I think the central issues is that these kids get very tired of facing the same people three nights in a row. Every antic by either side just amps up and up and I think makes it a challenge for the referees to establish order; and I don't really think they're up to the task. It was quite clear that Young and Hagel can't stand each other. And I'll even grant that Young's taunting Hagel when he was penalized to end his career was... ok... a little classless. But "sticks and stones" is a lesson that ought to be learned... even by hockey players. Young is young, but one day he'll probably discover that taunting isn't really a great strategy.... hopefully the penalty last night will do that.

 

[Yale84]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I got tickets for Saturday night from the Harvard website. Seems like plenty of tickets are available, but I think I'm sitting in the midst of the Harvard side. If I survive (and after all, it's not like going to Lynah or something) should create some interesting stories.

I ordered tickets from Yale Athletic Ticket office today. They have tickets for Friday and Saturday's games - or, more accurately, they will have them shortly. They recommend that you either pick the tix up at Ray Thompkins House or have them held at Will Call at Bright. If the series goes to three games the YATO won't have those tickets - Harvard will sell all seats on game day.

 

[Yalewhaler]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

In regards to the Young, Hagel, Sdao fiasco (or whatever you want to call it), I do not mind the battle that was going on between Hagel and Young the whole series (I even liked it and thought Yale needed something like that). After all, it seemed like it all started after Hagel's blatant cheap shot on your captain. Young probably went too far at the end with the "bye bye" gesture, but then again, we do not know what was said between these two players at this time or during the whole series. Sdao coming over was unneeded but at the same time, you have to expect someone to have a short fuse when their season ends.

In terms of this weekend that also relates to Young is that I spoke to someone who said the injury is actually worse than most people expect and seeing Young after the games barely able to walk supports that (but he did not seem too hindered by it during the game). I was also at the game last year when Young dislocated his shoulder and skated across the ice in order to keep the play going as Yale had a scoring chance. Just hope whatever it is, it doesn't affect him this weekend.

Back to what this thread should be about, I really like the matchup against Harvard as I think our depth and team speed can exploit their style of play. Hopefully the beating they gave them last game at Ingalls gives them the confidence to play at the level they did last night (for the whole series, not just spurts). Yale NEEDS to stay out of the box this series as Harvard has one of the nation's top powerplays.

I still think this team is very dangerous and has a shot at winning the ECAC in AC, but consistency has been their issue all year so lets first hope they just bring it this weekend.

 

[goblue78]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I agree with you, Whaler, both about the Princeton series and about the Harvard series. What worries me about this weekend is really the 7-1 score last time. It's not that I think Yale will come in overconfident, it's just that I think Harvard will remember all too well. I agree with CGYF that the matchup is about as good as we could have hoped for. A team with that many ties is clearly a better defensive team with a questionable offense. That's an excellent recipe for a tight series that will turn on breaks. Keep Killorn bottled up and neutralize Biega somehow (his penalties being my preferred solution) and the Yale chances are really good.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

Another Yale advantage will be being in the Harvard goalies Mikalec's head. He has started and won every game since the Yale Game, hopefully we shoot often on him, which was not the case this weekend. I find that Yale on the PP is still making WAY to many passes and not taking enough shots, the wide angle one timer is getting to be old school with Yale and the opponents know it. I know Biega and one other Harvard D-Man are basically pro ready, Yale needs to somehow get around them and also keep them scoreless. Watching the Princeton goalie all weekend, he knew when Yale would shoot on the PP, very tedious. It looks like I am probably going to be a go for Friday as I have to cover work on Saturday. Gonna make a day trip out of it with my wife as long as she can get the day off. Should be a great series.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I think its all about staying out of the penalty box for Yale. Given the aggressive style they play, they are going to take some penalties, and those can be forgiven. What can't happen are the mindless, he hit me so I am going to hit him back penalties. They feel good in the moment, but cost the team in the long run. Yale will beat Harvard even strength. Harvard needs an edge on the PP to win this series. I am very surprised by the KRACH rating system that gives Harvard a 60% or so chance to win the series. The ECAC was marked by parity this year, with the exception of Union and Cornell. Harvard finished 3 points ahead of Yale, but with 9 ties in league. Head to head they won a close one at Bright (when Yale was playing their worst hockey of the season) and were crushed at Ingalls. I am not saying Yale should be favored, but at worst this should be a pick'em series.

 

[klumpmypants]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

Just read the game summary on the Yale website and got my answer on the goalie decision. Allain said that goalies in this league aren't used to playing 3 consecutive nights. I would assume that Maricic will get the start at Harvard on Friday.

I would expect to see Malcolm play until he loses, just like Maricic. That seems to be his general trend with the goalies. I don't see anything from Maricic that makes him a better choice. Or from Malcolm. Virtual equals.

 

[klumpmypants]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

Another Yale advantage will be being in the Harvard goalies Mikalec's head. He has started and won every game since the Yale Game,

Michalek has not played since he got pulled midway through the 2nd after allowing 5 goals to Yale. Raphael Girard played and won both games against North Country. Could still easily see Michalek, but he has not played since.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

You are correct, I mistakenly looked at the two games after the first Yale/Harvard game of the season. I actually would like to see the local guy do well, but not at Yale's expense.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

I don't know if Yale fans remember in the glee of the Harvard rout, but Raphael Girard played very well after Mikalec was pulled. He made a number of Grade A stops and kept the Yale goal total from reaching double digits.

As for the duo of Malcolm and Maricic, I agree that they are essentially equals. But, if Allain played Malcolm on Sunday simply due to Maricic's potential fatigue, them Maricic should start Friday since he didn't really lose the job. But who really knows how these Goalie decisions are made at Yale. I suspect that whoever starts will have been deemed by Allain to have had the better week of practice.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

For all yale fans looking to go to either Friday or Saturday's game at Harvard, there is a Group On which gives you two tickets for $15 which is 50% off the normal price. There is a limited qty available and the deal runs for 2 more days or until it's sold out. If anyone is interested, log on to Group On and go to the Boston deals

 

[Yale84]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

From the Harvard thread: "As for the fans, well, the program has suffered from losing seasons and apathy since back in the early nineties. We have routinely been outnumbered by opposing fans even from schools such as Brown and Princeton. SLU always brings a strong vocal contingent. However, I didn't think last night was any great shakes by the SLU faithful. Harvard fans used to make a lot of noise and got behind the team. No longer. If you so much as raise your voice, you get dirty looks from other fans. It has become a joyless crowd and it really doesn't help the team at all. Unfortunate."

Unlike Harvard's, Yale's crowd is joyful and pumped. Let's bring it to Bright. I don't care what kinds of looks the H fans give us. We had a good and vocal group at Quinnipiac for the final game and it certainly didn't hurt the outcome.

I hope the YPHB is coming this weekend - even with numbers way down due to the spring break, they are a big part of the energy at Ingalls.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

For all yale fans looking to go to either Friday or Saturday's game at Harvard, there is a Group On which gives you two tickets for $15 which is 50% off the normal price. There is a limited qty available and the deal runs for 2 more days or until it's sold out. If anyone is interested, log on to Group On and go to the Boston deals

I just picked up two for Friday on the groupon site, you will have to will call the tix at the door, they don't tell you which seats, but they are in Sections 8-9-10 which is the corner that Harvard shoots at twice, if you are looking from the main entrance it is the far corner to the right. I just spoke to a friend who said there was talk of a possible bus out of Yale, if I hear anything else I will let you guys know. What sections are they selling at Tompkins?

 

[Yale84]

Re: Yale Bulldogs Hockey 2011 -2012

What sections are they selling at Tompkins?

They didn't say - they hadn't received the tickets yet. Hoping for visitors' side, mid-ice. The visitors tickets for Quinnipiac spoiled me. Generally, I've found that the tickets the Y Tix office has are better than what I can get online. We'll see.