Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Mr Red Cloud, sir.
The more you write the more I like what you write.
I don't know who your team is (I have a guess), but I appreciate the fairness with which you have discussed the topic, as well as the knowledge you have about the way the computer rankings work. It is not easy to intelligently "debate" with some of the guys on this board, but you are relentless in nailing them down. It has been fun to watch.
I played the game as a kid and first saw Yale play in the early 70's when I went to college in Massachusetts. I watched my first game at the Whale about 20 years ago after we moved to CT and have watched about 100 games there since then.
Its been a long ride. We had some competitive teams in the late 90s, atleast within the ECAC, and took a one game trip to the NCAAs in 1998, I believe. There was a great deal of hope that the program was on an upswing going into the turn of the century, about the time that Christopher Higgins (now with the Florida Panthers) played with us. Unfortunately, our long term coach, Tim Taylor, was nearing the end of his run, the admissions office was pretty hostile to the team, and the facility was becoming a recruiting liability. Mercifully perhaps, in hindsight, a coaching change was made in 2006. Since then, the turn around has been nothing short of miraculous.
Keith Allain had never coached at the college level, and was therefore a bit of an unknown quantity, but he is a Yale grad and had been an assistant in the NHL. He has been able to find guys who are producing and thriving in the program and in the university. He has been able to co-opt, or neutralize, the admissions office, and good kids who can contribute are now getting in (a problem most other programs don't have) and the program is building on itself and its success. Last year a building renovation was completed which has not only improved the viewing and overall fan experience but has also upgraded the locker rooms, weight room and player amenities. My impression is that the building is now a major draw for kids looking at the school. Last but not least, it had never hurt to offer a kid a chance to play D1 hockey and pick up a Yale degree. Now the program offers a kid the chance to play in a seriously good D1 program and pick up a Yale degree.
(As an aside, Coach Allain is coaching the US team in the World Juniors in two weeks. It will be interesting to see if he can continue his winning streak.)
You are right that there aren't a whole lot of long time Yale fans on the board (although the building is selling out). A handful, perhaps. I've read all the posts, though, and whether long-timer or recent joiner, I don't perceive anyone to be irrationally exuberant. My sense is that all are realistic, and understand that a championship is still far off and will have to be won on the ice. All of us are pretty happy just to be where we are. Five years ago it was pretty inconceivable.
Thanks for your support.
Mr Red Cloud, sir.
The more you write the more I like what you write.
I don't know who your team is (I have a guess), but I appreciate the fairness with which you have discussed the topic, as well as the knowledge you have about the way the computer rankings work. It is not easy to intelligently "debate" with some of the guys on this board, but you are relentless in nailing them down. It has been fun to watch.
I played the game as a kid and first saw Yale play in the early 70's when I went to college in Massachusetts. I watched my first game at the Whale about 20 years ago after we moved to CT and have watched about 100 games there since then.
Its been a long ride. We had some competitive teams in the late 90s, atleast within the ECAC, and took a one game trip to the NCAAs in 1998, I believe. There was a great deal of hope that the program was on an upswing going into the turn of the century, about the time that Christopher Higgins (now with the Florida Panthers) played with us. Unfortunately, our long term coach, Tim Taylor, was nearing the end of his run, the admissions office was pretty hostile to the team, and the facility was becoming a recruiting liability. Mercifully perhaps, in hindsight, a coaching change was made in 2006. Since then, the turn around has been nothing short of miraculous.
Keith Allain had never coached at the college level, and was therefore a bit of an unknown quantity, but he is a Yale grad and had been an assistant in the NHL. He has been able to find guys who are producing and thriving in the program and in the university. He has been able to co-opt, or neutralize, the admissions office, and good kids who can contribute are now getting in (a problem most other programs don't have) and the program is building on itself and its success. Last year a building renovation was completed which has not only improved the viewing and overall fan experience but has also upgraded the locker rooms, weight room and player amenities. My impression is that the building is now a major draw for kids looking at the school. Last but not least, it had never hurt to offer a kid a chance to play D1 hockey and pick up a Yale degree. Now the program offers a kid the chance to play in a seriously good D1 program and pick up a Yale degree.
(As an aside, Coach Allain is coaching the US team in the World Juniors in two weeks. It will be interesting to see if he can continue his winning streak.)
You are right that there aren't a whole lot of long time Yale fans on the board (although the building is selling out). A handful, perhaps. I've read all the posts, though, and whether long-timer or recent joiner, I don't perceive anyone to be irrationally exuberant. My sense is that all are realistic, and understand that a championship is still far off and will have to be won on the ice. All of us are pretty happy just to be where we are. Five years ago it was pretty inconceivable.
Thanks for your support.
