Erix_The_Red
is filling his stein.
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
But never forget who gave them their best game of the post season.
But never forget who gave them their best game of the post season.
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Yale - The best team in the country?
- Thread starter hockeyjunkie10
- Start date
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Well, is there any "best" team then? Not one team gets to play every "top" team in the country, so you can never have a "best" team by your definition. That's where statistics come into play.
Additionally, the NCAA tournament is not setup in a way which determines the "best team", a multi-game playoff determines that. A one-and-done system the NCAA uses just dictates which team got hottest (or luckiest) at the right time.
Well, is there any "best" team then? Not one team gets to play every "top" team in the country, so you can never have a "best" team by your definition. That's where statistics come into play.
Additionally, the NCAA tournament is not setup in a way which determines the "best team", a multi-game playoff determines that. A one-and-done system the NCAA uses just dictates which team got hottest (or luckiest) at the right time.
jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
The most reasonable post I have seen from a Eli yet. Well Done sir.
The most reasonable post I have seen from a Eli yet. Well Done sir.
jcarter7669
Registered User
Kepler
Si certus es dubita
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
This just isn't true. There will always be the "EZAC" eejits, but they a vanishingly small, albeit prolific, minority. The vast majority of fans of those conferences do credit strong teams, but are skeptical of our schedule strength, and it's very hard to argue with that when our conference has not produced a national champion in over 20 seasons.
There's definitely an "earn your bones" aspect to the Forum, and it is not necessarily attractive (ask St. Cloud fans), but respect does come when a program performs well over a long period.
And the bottom line is, why does it matter what anybody else thinks? Yale's great right now -- enjoy every minute of it.
This just isn't true. There will always be the "EZAC" eejits, but they a vanishingly small, albeit prolific, minority. The vast majority of fans of those conferences do credit strong teams, but are skeptical of our schedule strength, and it's very hard to argue with that when our conference has not produced a national champion in over 20 seasons.
There's definitely an "earn your bones" aspect to the Forum, and it is not necessarily attractive (ask St. Cloud fans), but respect does come when a program performs well over a long period.
And the bottom line is, why does it matter what anybody else thinks? Yale's great right now -- enjoy every minute of it.
bigblue_dl
Armed
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
I realized that, which is why I said "the author" and not "you".
jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Actually I think the vast majority of college hockey fans believe Yale has a very good team, and has had a program on the up and up. You hit the nail on the head that schedule strength is why most fans from other conferences just aren't ready to say they are the "best". That is further excerbated by threads like this one and the "yale skating circles around ....." It puts a bullseye on their back for catching flack.
Actually I think the vast majority of college hockey fans believe Yale has a very good team, and has had a program on the up and up. You hit the nail on the head that schedule strength is why most fans from other conferences just aren't ready to say they are the "best". That is further excerbated by threads like this one and the "yale skating circles around ....." It puts a bullseye on their back for catching flack.
hockeyjunkie10
New member
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Thanks for the support. I think I prefaced my original post by saying "just opening this up for a healthy debate." Unfortunately, a healthy debate can't be had on here, which is a shame.
Last night, after watching a prep game, I went to Ingalls to watch Yale play live for the 1st time this season (I had watched three other games on whatever B2 is called now). I thought Yale played just alright compared to their potential. Rondeau, though never called on to make a "ridiculous" save, made several high end stops and looks very comfortable between the pipes. He was Yale's best player. I was also impressed with the play of Kenny Agostino, who earned extra time when Jeff Anderson was lost in the first shift. I saw him play twice last year for Delbarton (where he was dominant, obviously). He looks to have gained good size and really will be a force at Yale for the next 3+ years (unless he leaves early). Getting back to the Anderson injury, once he was lost, Yale's 11 remaining forwards never really found a rhythm offensively with the exception of a 5-7 minute stretch in the 2nd where they completely dominated play and showed why they are the top ranked team. That said, the two goals they scored (sans the ENG) were things of beauty. Miller let a missle fly bar-in on a one timer on a delayed penalty and Cahill flicked a backhander under the bar in tight on a scramble which was ridiculous. In the 3rd, UVM came hard with activated defenseman and got many guys and pucks to the net. While they had a lot of shots and certainly controlled the play over the last ten minutes, I don't think the outcome was ever in doubt. That said, UVM played much better than advertised. They are a lot better than their one win would lead you to believe.
Back to Yale. This is a team that has a lot of depth with high end guys (Little, Miller, Kearney, O'Neill, Cahill) but their secondary guys are tremendous as well. Last night, Little was just okay. He was stoned on a breakaway and obviously him and Kearney were kept off the score sheet. No big deal, Yale just called on their other guys to carry the load as they have all season. Obviously they play a real risk/reward game. They tried to make a lot of plays last night that they didn't connect on, but when it all comes together, holy christ, look out! Yale is excellent in transition and they do a great job with good angles and active sticks on the forecheck. They also are tremendous with back-pressure and lifting sticks on the way back. One of their strengths, for sure.
To be a championship team, you have to be capable of winning games all types of ways, and Yale has shown that they can do that. There are a lot of very good teams, BC, Duluth, NoDak, Miami, UNH that will be there at the end and Yale certainly is among them. While you can make a case for most of these teams, especially UMD and BC (who, for the record as the defending champs, are still the team to beat until they are eliminated) as the best in the country, you can make a very valid argument for Yale, which is all that I was trying to do with this thread. They have solid goaltending, high end skill, secondary scoring, solid special teams, a great staff, and a ton of experience from the trials and tribulations of the last couple seasons. I believe they are the best team in college hockey.
To the limited number of fans who posted thoughtful responses, whether they were for or against my position, thank you for your comments. I wish all of you and the teams you root for nothing but success the rest of the way. We should have a great second half and an exciting Frozen Four in Minnesota.
Happy holidays!
Thanks for the support. I think I prefaced my original post by saying "just opening this up for a healthy debate." Unfortunately, a healthy debate can't be had on here, which is a shame.
Last night, after watching a prep game, I went to Ingalls to watch Yale play live for the 1st time this season (I had watched three other games on whatever B2 is called now). I thought Yale played just alright compared to their potential. Rondeau, though never called on to make a "ridiculous" save, made several high end stops and looks very comfortable between the pipes. He was Yale's best player. I was also impressed with the play of Kenny Agostino, who earned extra time when Jeff Anderson was lost in the first shift. I saw him play twice last year for Delbarton (where he was dominant, obviously). He looks to have gained good size and really will be a force at Yale for the next 3+ years (unless he leaves early). Getting back to the Anderson injury, once he was lost, Yale's 11 remaining forwards never really found a rhythm offensively with the exception of a 5-7 minute stretch in the 2nd where they completely dominated play and showed why they are the top ranked team. That said, the two goals they scored (sans the ENG) were things of beauty. Miller let a missle fly bar-in on a one timer on a delayed penalty and Cahill flicked a backhander under the bar in tight on a scramble which was ridiculous. In the 3rd, UVM came hard with activated defenseman and got many guys and pucks to the net. While they had a lot of shots and certainly controlled the play over the last ten minutes, I don't think the outcome was ever in doubt. That said, UVM played much better than advertised. They are a lot better than their one win would lead you to believe.
Back to Yale. This is a team that has a lot of depth with high end guys (Little, Miller, Kearney, O'Neill, Cahill) but their secondary guys are tremendous as well. Last night, Little was just okay. He was stoned on a breakaway and obviously him and Kearney were kept off the score sheet. No big deal, Yale just called on their other guys to carry the load as they have all season. Obviously they play a real risk/reward game. They tried to make a lot of plays last night that they didn't connect on, but when it all comes together, holy christ, look out! Yale is excellent in transition and they do a great job with good angles and active sticks on the forecheck. They also are tremendous with back-pressure and lifting sticks on the way back. One of their strengths, for sure.
To be a championship team, you have to be capable of winning games all types of ways, and Yale has shown that they can do that. There are a lot of very good teams, BC, Duluth, NoDak, Miami, UNH that will be there at the end and Yale certainly is among them. While you can make a case for most of these teams, especially UMD and BC (who, for the record as the defending champs, are still the team to beat until they are eliminated) as the best in the country, you can make a very valid argument for Yale, which is all that I was trying to do with this thread. They have solid goaltending, high end skill, secondary scoring, solid special teams, a great staff, and a ton of experience from the trials and tribulations of the last couple seasons. I believe they are the best team in college hockey.
To the limited number of fans who posted thoughtful responses, whether they were for or against my position, thank you for your comments. I wish all of you and the teams you root for nothing but success the rest of the way. We should have a great second half and an exciting Frozen Four in Minnesota.
Happy holidays!
theprofromdover
The Original Dope Detector
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
LAST season, Yale was the only team I saw that could match BC in team speed. Their two man forecheck caused BC problems. That being said, their defense and goalie situation was weak. As fast as they were they had difficulty transitioning from offense to defense and gave BC too many odd man rushes. I hope I get to see Yale play in person this season. They won't sneak up and surprise teams this year as they did to the Sioux last year.
LAST season, Yale was the only team I saw that could match BC in team speed. Their two man forecheck caused BC problems. That being said, their defense and goalie situation was weak. As fast as they were they had difficulty transitioning from offense to defense and gave BC too many odd man rushes. I hope I get to see Yale play in person this season. They won't sneak up and surprise teams this year as they did to the Sioux last year.
cross cheque
Make the playoffs, not war.
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Because the rest of the leagues haven't been shining the Gale's knobs for beating unranked Cornell and unranked Colorado College for the November National Championship
.
I watched last nights Gale v Vermont game and there's a good reason the catamounts have one win, their man advantage looks like a seizure. Rondeau made 4 quality saves all night and UVM couldn't help but turn the puck over right in front of their net with the exception of the last minute empty netter. It's impossible to judge Gale until they play a decent team and effing Union doesn't count.
Because the rest of the leagues haven't been shining the Gale's knobs for beating unranked Cornell and unranked Colorado College for the November National Championship
.I watched last nights Gale v Vermont game and there's a good reason the catamounts have one win, their man advantage looks like a seizure. Rondeau made 4 quality saves all night and UVM couldn't help but turn the puck over right in front of their net with the exception of the last minute empty netter. It's impossible to judge Gale until they play a decent team and effing Union doesn't count.
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
I see you're taking the approach of "if I intentionally disrespect them, I'll prove myself right." I love it.
Because the rest of the leagues haven't been shining the Gale's knobs for beating unranked Cornell and unranked Colorado College for the November National Championship
I watched last nights Gale v Vermont game and there's a good reason the catamounts have one win, their man advantage looks like a seizure. Rondeau made 4 quality saves all night and UVM couldn't help but turn the puck over right in front of their net with the exception of the last minute empty netter. It's impossible to judge Gale until they play a decent team and effing Union doesn't count.
I see you're taking the approach of "if I intentionally disrespect them, I'll prove myself right." I love it.
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jcarter7669
Registered User
Biddco
Follow me on Twitter: @Biddco
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
How did you watch them?
Because the rest of the leagues haven't been shining the Gale's knobs for beating unranked Cornell and unranked Colorado College for the November National Championship
I watched last nights Gale v Vermont game and there's a good reason the catamounts have one win, their man advantage looks like a seizure. Rondeau made 4 quality saves all night and UVM couldn't help but turn the puck over right in front of their net with the exception of the last minute empty netter. It's impossible to judge Gale until they play a decent team and effing Union doesn't count.
How did you watch them?
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
I was going to ask the same thing, I couldn't find that game on last night.
I was going to ask the same thing, I couldn't find that game on last night.
Runninwiththedogs
Tech Hot
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Hah! So what you're saying is... Yale beating UND last year means nothing! Yay!
Hah! So what you're saying is... Yale beating UND last year means nothing! Yay!
Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Here what some are skeptical; your team hasn't played anybody that is good yet, hanging big numbers on the weak sisters of the poor proves nothing, other than you're players have inflated stats for playing against bad teams... That's why people are skeptical of your record because your SOS is really low. Losing to AFA didn't help your case either, because at the time they were really bad... No one is saying that the Yale Bulldogs aren't good to decent team, because they are a good team that deserves to be in the top 10, but until Yale replicates a tougher schedule of a team like, DU, UND, B.C. UMD etc.
Do you think Yale could be 12-1-0 if they played in the WCHA, CCHA or Hockey East? There are no off weekends in any of those leagues, every week is a battle. You don't get push over teams very often in the WCHA. If anything I would love to see what UMD, UND, DU or UNO could do against the schedule you played.
Here what some are skeptical; your team hasn't played anybody that is good yet, hanging big numbers on the weak sisters of the poor proves nothing, other than you're players have inflated stats for playing against bad teams... That's why people are skeptical of your record because your SOS is really low. Losing to AFA didn't help your case either, because at the time they were really bad... No one is saying that the Yale Bulldogs aren't good to decent team, because they are a good team that deserves to be in the top 10, but until Yale replicates a tougher schedule of a team like, DU, UND, B.C. UMD etc.
Do you think Yale could be 12-1-0 if they played in the WCHA, CCHA or Hockey East? There are no off weekends in any of those leagues, every week is a battle. You don't get push over teams very often in the WCHA. If anything I would love to see what UMD, UND, DU or UNO could do against the schedule you played.
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Re: Yale - The best team in the country?
Exactly, we don't hang banners in November and December...Because the rest of the leagues haven't been shining the Gale's knobs for beating unranked Cornell and unranked Colorado College for the November National Championship