This Weekend In ECAC Play

RPI at UNH:
Wow, what a start to the season!!! First UVM now another U school. Considering how last weekend went, I am not expecting much out of RPI in this game. Still I think it will be closer than USCHO predicts. I say a loss of 4-2.

USCHO:
The Wildcats aren't really a "tuneup" kinda team for a developing program like RPI's ... 5-1 UNH.

RPI at Bentley:
Playing in a division that barely has any teams, Bentley only does well against the Cansius' of the world. I fully expect a win and if there isn't one forthcoming, then its definitely worry mode for the Cherry and White. Maybe 3-0 for the first shutout of the year?

USCHO agrees with me:
Bentley @ Rensselaer
Thank goodness it's not UNH, right? RPI bounces right back, 4-1

USCHO makes a good point in their weekly notebook about the Puckman jerseys. When I was a lad growing up and watching RPI those were the jerseys I wore and that I associated with the program. I realize that while the other sports programs are the Redhawks or whatever they are, the hockey programs was allowed to keep their Engineers. Still, I would like to see them go from the nondescript Rensslear jersey and back to the Puckman. And while we are at it, bring back the swarm!

USCHO's Take:

• Rensselaer — the good: Vermont went only one-for-nine on the man advantage last Saturday. The bad: RPI went zip-for-five to follow up a miserable .071 performance last season. (Tangent: The Engineers played a league-low 19.2 percent of their ECAC contests with the lead.) Hopefully ‘Tute’s three-for-10 effort against the Under-18s on Sunday will inspire a little more confidence in the fledgling Engineers as they hit No. 6 New Hampshire Friday night.

Not that anyone asked me, but … I miss the Puckman jerseys. There’s nothing wrong with the current sweaters (Easton? That’s a novelty), but ditching Puckman is on par with the Penguins ditching the scarf (they couldn’t even bring it back for the Winter Classic; are you kidding me?). I actually liked the Pens’ stylized triangular logo too, but that’s neither here nor there.

4-1 Eh?

Perhaps RPI is not to that "elite" level yet. You have to crawl before you can walk and I reserve judgment on this team until I see them play some ECAC teams.

All I can say, again, is WHAT HAPPENED IN THE THIRD PERIOD???? All of last year, that was this team's downfall and so it is with letting up 3 goals in the third.

On 6 shots nonetheless!?!?!?!

I wish I were at the game because I have never gone to Quebec City but that result must have been disappointing to all the cherry and white fans that made the trip up the Northway.

This team is still not ready to hang with the CCHA's and the Hockey East's of the world but I remain confident that they are built for ECAC play and the results will show either this season or certainly next.

Let's go RPI!

Aaaaaaand Back!

Hello everyone- with RPI's season about to get underway, I figured the blog should get back to business as well. Sure there were things that happened in the offseason in terms of recruits and all of that but with the warm weather, I guess I wasn't in the hockey blogging mood.

I am also going to do a better job in providing RPI hockey links on the side of the board and more photos of the guys as culled from the web this year.

Season Overview:
I think this year will be a real turning point year for RPI. Last year was a disaster of sorts as SA had the boys ready to play for 2 periods but then had some epic collapses in the third periods. I think the losses in the early going to tough teams kindof deflated the confidence a bit and the Cherry and White had a so-so ECAC run. This season, things are different, other than the Catamounts as the first game in Quebec this weekend (please tell me your experiences in the comments!) RPI has a pretty ho-hum schedule until January when they play BU and Denver. Hopefully they will have some confidence built up by then and can really turn it on in the second half.

The team will look to Mathias Lange again this year to help shepard them through the schedule. I never agreed with splitting the goalies and York being a freshman, hopefully they will be able to ride Lange the whole year. Consistency is the watch word with this team and that also applies to the defense.

RPI has a lot of sophomores and juniors on the blue line this year and hopefully they are now fully on board with the system and will help out Lange as much as possible.

Tyler Helfrich (your my boy Blue!) and Halpern are going to be looking to anchor an impossibly young starting lineup. I really have no idea what to expect from the variety of underclassmen on the wings this year. Appert was known as THE recruiter for that Denver program and his recruiting classes have been in the top 15. You hope that you can see the hype being justified with all of these freshmen running around.

Predictions:
The goal this year is to get home ice for the ECAC playoffs and try to ride that to Albany. Then, with momentum, hopefully taking the crown and getting into the NCAA's. Honestly, I think this team is a year away from the NCAA's but I remain hopefull.

Win the Governor's Cup (Against Union then Colgate)
Win Black Friday (Against Harvard)
Lose the Holiday Tourney (Lose to Mercyhurst but beat Princeton)
Lose the Denver Tourney (Lose to BU but beat CHC)
Win the Big Red Freakout (Against Yale)
And Beat Frickin St Lawrence on Senior Night.

Go Red!!!!

New Recruits

Hot off the press releases are the summaries for the new recruits for Ripeee. It was also reported by RPIhockey.net yesterday (from the Troy Record) and I just thought I would repost the release here:

MEN’S HOCKEY ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2012

Six forwards, one defenseman and a goalie among eight newcomers

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) head men’s hockey coach Seth Appert has announced the team’s Class of 2012. The group of eight student-athletes includes six forwards, a defenseman and a goaltender. Two from the incoming class are from the United States while the others hail from Canada.

“Shawn (Kurulak) and Jim (Montgomery) have again traveled many miles to put together a deep and nationally competitive class.” said Appert. “These eight student-athletes will continue to push our program and our returning players to higher levels of success.”

Below is an alphabetical list of Rensselaer’s recruits with their 2007-08 regular season statistics, notes (if applicable) and a quote from Appert:

Alex Angers-Goulet F 5-10 180 St. Augustin, QC/Langley Chiefs (BCJHL)

44 GP … 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points … 15 PIMs … Named team’s playoff Most Valuable Player after scoring 15 points (7 goals, 8 assists) in 12 games … Brother, Matt, will be a senior forward on the Engineers in 2008-09.

“Alex is an explosive, high-speed player who will fit well in our style of play.”

Mike Bergin D 6-3 200 Kanata, ON/Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL)

33 GP … 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points … 38 PIMs

“Mike should be one of the best freshman defenseman in the country. His skating ability, toughness and two-way play make him a multiple threat.”

Patrick Cullen F 6-0 190 Washington, DC/Indiana Ice (USHL)

58 GP … 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points … 52 PIMs

“Patrick is a goal scorer with a big-time shot who has the ability to be a point producer at our level.”

Christian Morissette F 5-10 180 Beaconsfield, QC/Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

53 GP … 8 goals and 19 assists for 27 points … 22 PIMs

“Christian brings stick skill, imagination and a great offensive mind to our program.”

Josh Rabbani F 5-11 200 Woodland Hills, CA/St. Louis Bandits (NAHL)

57 GP … 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points … 31 PIMs … Team won National Championship … Had 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 11 playoff games.

“Josh has the mind and stick skill to produce at this level as he has produced at every level he has played.”

Justin Smith F 6-2 205 Hampton Plains, NS/Langley Chiefs (BCJHL)

53 GP … 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points … 32 PIMs

“Justin is a big physical power forward who will bring passion, energy and toughness to our team.”

Jordan Watts F 5-10 175 Oakville, ON/Aurora Tigers (OPJHL)

35 GP … 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points … 74 PIMs … Tallied 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) with 29 PIMs in 19 playoff games

“Jordan has speed and skill but it is his intensity and abrasiveness to opponents that will excite our team and fans.”

Allen York G 6-4 180 Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)

37 GP … 24 wins, 5 losses, 3 ties … 2.24 GAA … .911 save % … Team played in Royal Bank Cup Championship for second consecutive season … Posted 11-3 record with 1.86 GAA and .935 save % in 14 playoff games … Sixth round draft pick (158th overall) of Columbus Blue Jackets in 2007.

“Allen is a proven winner who has the size, talent and competitiveness to be an elite collegiate goaltender.”

Thoughts Turn To Quebec

Sorry for not posting my thoughts on the end of season losses to Yale but considering how the lads played down the stretch, I guess you could see that series coming.

The NCAA's just concluded with BC taking the crown. They whupped up on Notre Dame in the final who had schooled RPI twice before this season. Watching these games reminded me that while RPI has come a ways in terms of speed in recent years, they are still lightyears from the cream de la creme of the college hockey world. One hopes that Appert can keep the third period meltdowns from occurring next year.

It was nice to see Jake Morissette and goaltender Jordan Alford get invited to the skillz competition during the weekend.

Still, now my thoughts are turning to a great contest coming up this fall in Quebec City. Partially put together by Joey J, the lads will be taking on Vermont on October 11th. Get on the RPI listserv to get hooked up with information about travel plans up there. I might be making the trip and would love to see the lads north of the border.

Don't forget the hockey banquet is this Friday. Raise a glass to the lads in Cherry and White and I will see you next season!

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

No, its not hockey player Santa- it be the ECAC playoffs. College hockey is great in that no matter how bad a team played during the regular season (see RPI), there is always the chance of redemption and running the table in the tourney in order to get an automatic bid.

That is what RPI is faced with as it goes on the road to Yale this weekend. A split last weekend really did nothing for RPI other then get them acquainted with the Bulldogs.

The questions remains- can Appert stop a third period collapse. Can the young guns score in bunches? Will the passing be there? Which goalies will start?

All of these questions will be answered this weekend. Personally, I think RPI survives this weekend and moves on. Your predictions are welcomed in the comments. Go Red!

Last Stand

Here we go folks- the last weekend of the regular season. RPI's season has been a disappointment. There has been massive losing streaks, third period meltdowns and the first Freakout loss in forever. If this team is going to inspire me with any hopes for any type of playoff run, this is the weekend to do it.

Going up against weaker Ivys should do the trick. I predict a sweep this weekend for the cherry and white. Of course, it matters not as they are the road team next weekend for the ECAC playoffs but let's show some spirit. USCHO disagrees with me. Do you?

USCHO's picks.

Rensselaer @ Brown
Brown has been playing better, and holds an advantage in a game between two sputtering offenses. 3-2 Bruno.

Rensselaer @ Yale
No reason for it, but just to demonstrate my wild and wacky antics, I'm picking RPI on a hunch. 4-2, and this one's a 5:30 p.m. start at the Whale.

Different Location Same Results

On non-consecutive weekends, RPI played SLU and Clarkson and came away 1-1-0 from the weekend. What does this mean? Is it the only team RPI can defeat is SLU? Why didn't Clarkson know that they still suck?

TH is coming on in the goal scoring category which I think is more important for the team then him racking up assists. He has been consistently the leading point scorer on the team but with much more assists. Hopefully he will develop into a goal scorer which seems to be lacking recently.

I really don't have much to add as I am very fearful the season will end with the first round of the playoffs this year. Maybe I will feel better if they destroy the Ivyies this weekend.

Weekend Fun

Ok- here we go. My last post was pretty depressing. And I am kind of keeping that theme for this weekend's predictions. I mean, I thought they would split and now they have the North Country contingent coming to town. If I had hope, I would say they would beat SLU and lose to Clarkson but at this point I say a tie with SLU and a loss to the Golden Knights. There needs to be a change in the team's attitude and this is definitely the weekend to do it.

USCHO picks:

St. Lawrence @ Rensselaer
"Oh dear God, you're speechless. I won I won an argument Jack, it's unprecedented. We'll be at the playground drinking beer. Oh God, we love beer." Rensselaer wins this argument, and celebrates accordingly. At the playground. 4-2 'Tute.

Clarkson @ Rensselaer
"Or ... we could skip the day-trip to Unnecessary Land and instead simply concede that Mrs. Wilk is my patient and that, while we are both attendings, we are in no way equals — we are in fact not equals. We are — hmmm — unequals." These teams? Unequals. 5-2 Knights.

Shellacked

Wow- was I wrong. Here I was thinking the Dartmouth game was a turning point in the season. Something to look back upon and say- hey this team is FINALLY going in the right direction but what do we have......

4-0 and 7-1 losses? Sure Central New York is not kind this year but man, that was just rough. I guess for me, its really all about seeing if they can do anything in this next stretch of games otherwise its just looking at my watch until they lose in the first round of the playoffs.

These are dark times in RPI-fan-land. I think the team gave up after that holiday tourney in Florida. Once they went up against the cream de la creme and lost AGAIN they spiraled downward. Appert clearly can't steer this team back this year. Here is to next year!

The Weekend That Will Be

A tough stretch of games in the heartland of NY for sure but who isn't pumped up after that spirited comeback last week? USCHO seems less than positive about this weekend's tilts but I still hold out hope. Will the cherry and red beat Cornell? Doubtful. Will they give Colgate a good tussle- yes! I foresee a split weekend which would be a good confidence builder for the lads (its sad that is where we are in the season but so be it).

RPI 4-3 over Gate and 5-2 losers against Cornell. You heard it here first!


Rensselaer @ Colgate
Could be a good one; RPI's alright on the road, and Colgate's got a good home record. Goalie battle? 2-1 Raiders.

Rensselaer @ Cornell
Lynah is a harsh mistress to those who don't feed her daily. Open up, we've got some Engineer for you... 3-1 Cornell.

Turning The Corner?

Its not a win but damn it was exciting to read about how RPI "roared" back from a 4-0 deficit to tie Dartmouth! Uryadov with the game winner (and pretty sick from the Troy Records recounting).

TH with a goal and an assist very nice.

Great quote from SA

“I wasn’t happy that we gave them that lead,” Appert said, “…but when all seemed to be going against us, we were struggling … to have the resiliency to come back and to play that hard, I was really happy to see that. It showed (there’s) a lot of character in that room.”

So is this the turning point? Is this when we look back on this season as the point where the team didn't give up and instead turned on the jets in the third period and beat teams? This couldn't come at a better time due to the Central New York swing with two very tough teams in Cornell and Colgate (thoughts on this coming later in the week). Still, a hopefully night at the Troy Fieldhouse.

I can't say it any better than this:

“Goals seems to come in bunches, especially when you’re struggling,” said RPI captain Jake Morissette. “You get that (first) one and the confidence comes and you’re able to put a couple more in the net.”

Here We Go Again

The fanbase is restless. Reading the fan posts over on the USCHO forum is an exercise in trying not to kill yourself when looking at this team. Passing seems to be an issue. Why is this an issue- haven't these guys been playing for all of their lives? Scoring seems to be an issue. Again.....

This weekend, we get one of the weaker teams (like us!) in the ECAC. My dad's old alma mater. Dartmouth over the last few years have shed their pathetic hockey lineage but this year has em right back in the crapper again and if there is anything to look forward to (i.e., home ice in the ECAC playoffs) this is the game to kick start things. I agree with USCHO, this should be a win.

Dartmouth @ Rensselaer
The Big Green are looking greener by the minute, at 0-3-1 in their last four, and in the midst of a four-game road swing. RPI needs to pounce here and now if the 'Tute wants to stay in the running for home ice. 3-1 Engineers.

What The Hell???

17 Freakouts without a loss until this one. Losing to a team called the Bobcats.

I had a conversation with my father about this ridiculous situation and it seems to me that SA is a better recruiter than coach. After all, doesn't this seem exactly like last year. The team starts off super hot and then go through a prolonged losing streak?

Is it time to start thinking of a change?

Get Your Freak On!!!!

I have my Freakout shirt all ready to wear in solidarity for the lads in Troy this weekend. Growing up, this was my favorite time to go to RPI. Every year I would beg my dad to take me and then get me one of those great red noise horns. There was a stack of them in my parent's house until recently.

This is one of the great traditions in college sports (not just hockey) and I am a wee bit sad that I will miss it. In honor of the weekend I am predicting a sweep for the lads in cherry and white. USCHO is doing the same! Any thoughts are welcomed in the comments:

USCHO's take:

Quinnipiac @ Rensselaer
These two teams always play it close. RPI's trying to rebound from the skid, and will be mighty driven to take two points going into the Freakout. 3-2 'Tute.

Princeton @ Rensselaer
I just can't pick a Freakout! to go bad in good conscience. If anyone belongs at an event called "The Freakout!" it's me. 4-2 'Tute.

Princeton @ Rensselaer: Saturday, 7 p.m.

It’s the Big Red Freakout! It’s also the meeting of one of the league’s top teams, Princeton, and one that’s under more teams than it’s on top of, in Rensselaer.

The programs are surprising in opposite ways thus far. The Tigers were picked to finish eighth by the coaches and media (and seventh by yours truly) in the preseason poll, and yet were in possession of first place as of two weeks ago. RPI, well, the Engineers were picked low, but I doubt even their heartiest detractors expected the Engineers to suffer a 10-game losing streak midseason.

It’s the second game of the weekend for each team, and RPI hasn’t lost a Freakout! game in decades.

“The fans at RPI are with you through thick and thin,” said volunteer assistant coach (and former Engineer captain) Ben Barr. But the Big Red Freakout! is an entirely different beast.

“You can be there an hour before the game, and the place is packed; it’s electric. It’s one of those things that seems to be sold out before tickets even go on sale.”

RPI head coach Seth Appert deferred to Barr on the Freakout!, as Appert has only experienced one so far, and none as a player.

Early each February for the past quarter-century, the school’s Alumni Weekend has corresponded with an otherwise everyday hockey game. It’s not a Homecoming game; there is no traditional pageantry or pomp to accompany the game. It is as though an arbitrary contest were picked off the calendar, but everyone in Troy knows when it is and where to be.

“You kinda get goosebumps as you walk out” to the ice, said Barr. “You don’t want to let your community down, or your school.” The energy is raw, dynamic, and contagious.

Barr noted a couple of contests from his playing days, in which rival Clarkson had come to town for the Freakout! “You can get jacked up, and let the moment control you a bit and get you running around,” Barr said of some of the undesirable side effects.

While that happened against ‘Tech, it didn’t sink the ‘Tute.

“We came back from down 3-0 [in 2002] and 2-0 [2004] late to win. It’s not the way you want to do it, but the fans loved it,” Barr recalled.

“Right now, this is one of the toughest weeks of the season,” said Appert, whose team draws Quinnipiac on Friday before the big fiesta on Saturday. “The power play’s taken a step in the right direction [2-for-6 last weekend] … Quinnipiac has one of the most dynamic offenses in our league.”

Appert and the team are focused first and foremost on Friday. But if you feel a little extra buzz around the Capital District on Saturday evening, now you know why.

Now We Know Where We Stand

RPI is not an elite team in the ECAC. They couldn't beat Clarkson. However, they aren't the worst team in the ECAC as they finally beat SLU. And, 6-3 with 1 for 3 on the powerplay nonetheless!!!

I think this is pretty much how the rest of the season will play out. Most likely it means going on the road for the playoffs. This obviously was not the expectation going into the season or certainly after the first month of the season. However, I am confident in the future. A few more wins (including beating freaking Union) will alleviate my spirits.

Well........

OK, here we are a few weeks into the ECAC sched. Sorry I haven't updated recently but I have been out and about in Utah and thankfully missed that back to back drubbing by Union. Seriously, 9 straight, 9 straight losses??????

Isn't this typical of Appert's tenure so far? Fast starts and then the team drops of the face of the earth? I still have faith in SA but man, 2 seasons showing a trend makes me less than secure.

This weekend is the typical North Country swing which should result in two losses. However, since Clarkson is one of those teams, and the fact that they still suck, I will give that game to RPI and the loss to SLU.

I am not optimistic anymore but I still love those Cherry and White lads! Go RPI!

Of course, USCHO's previews follow bellow:

Rensselaer @ Clarkson
Nine goals in eight games for RPI. Clarkson's 9-1-0 at Cheel. Things aren't looking good for the Engineers. 5-2 Knights.

Rensselaer @ St. Lawrence
SLU people seem to think I have it in for them, predictions-wise. No reason to mollify them now RPI for the upset, because — let's face it — they're going to win sometime. 3-2, by the same score the 'Tute last beat the Saints, in '04-05.

Bring On The ECAC

Well, the less that is said about the Maine game, the better. This weekend kicks off the true meat of the ECAC schedule for RPI. I hope, if anything, Appert has the lads whipped up in a frenzy after the last month. I think with Cornell and Gate, RPI has as good a measuring stick as they will get to see how the rest of the season plays out. I am predicting a split and a .500 record the rest of the way. of course, I want the lads to prove me wrong.

Go RPI!

Of course, here are USCHO's picks.


Cornell @ Rensselaer
The Engineers have scored six goals in their last four games. Granted, these were games against high-class competition. That said, Cornell's no slouch. So something's bound to go wrong here: either the Big Red Revival will hit a bump in the road, or RPI will be left groping for the emergency brake on this slide. I'm picking the 'Tute, on sheer desperation, 4-3.

Colgate @ Rensselaer
The Engineers are home for the weekend, and need to make up some ground in the wake of their non-conference losing streak. Colgate will certainly put up a fight, but when it comes right down to it, I think RPI has the better odds. 3-2 'Tute.

RPI vs Da Bears

Normally this would be a blowout in favor of those dreaded Hockey East Bears but I think RPI actually has a shot against them. Most people who have been following Maine this year seem to be writing this off as a down season and if Appert can't light a fire under this after the whole Florida fiasco, I don't know when he will.

Here is USCHO's take- let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Rensselaer at Maine (Cumberland County Civic Center; Portland, Maine)
I’ll pick RPI here, because I’ll give Seth Appert the benefit of the doubt ... that despite the results, the Engineers really are playing great hockey. 4-2 ‘Tute over the stumbling BlueBears.

I Mean Seriously

Here is a question for you. Would you rather have a team that is bad for the entire game against elite teams but know you have young talent in the pipeline (thus excited for the future) OR would you have a team that has a lot of potential but gets blown out in the third period by the elite teams in the country in frustrating fashion?

I think what really gets me about games like what happened this past weekend in Fla is that this team clearly has talent. They have tremendous speed, good hands, a decent goaltending tandem (although Lange was a better goalie when it was just he carrying the load). All elements into making this team a really good one to watch and to root for after many many disappointing years of the Fridgen era.

YET- it is clear something is going on between the second and third period in which RPI decides to rip out the hearts and crush the expectations of its fans. In some ways, to revisit my question above, I would rather be completely blown out by the top tier teams then to keep losing in this fashion.

Even if RPI does well in its ECAC matchups and ends up going to Albany this year, does anyone expect them to compete on that level or even in the NCAA's at this moment? We (meaning RPI hockey) do not have the horses right now to be considered an elite program.

I have faith in Appert. I think he is a hell of a recruiter and I am excited by the future. However, I am not longer excited by the present.