This Weekend's Games And A Good Cause

Before we get to my take on this weekend's games, I want to alert all you readers of RPI Hockey to a charitable event that is taking place on February 5th. There will be a fundraising endeavor in connection with "Hannah's Hope" (which you can read more about here: www.hannahshopefund.org). The organization is working with Coach Appert and selling tickets, the proceeds of which will go to the fund. I highly suggest contacting them and help contribute to a worthy cause!

Now, onto the games!

RPI is making their Ivy swing through Brown and Yale territory this weekend. Brown is a tepid 4-7-1 in ECAC play while Yale is a sparkling 7-3-2. One could look at this and look at RPI "slighty better than" .500 record and think "split". I would be inclined to agree with you.

However, I think this is a NEW RPI team. I think they have turned the corner this year. I think, this is the statement game before going into the North Country teams next weekend. I think RPI sweeps the weekend.

Against Brown, I think its simply keeping the foot on the accelerator. RPI has the horses to run a team like Brown around in their own building (like the game in Princeton). With Yale, it all rests on the shoulders of York. He has had big games for RPI in the past and now is the time for a shut out or 1 goal game to get RPI up the standings and in contention for a top 4 spot at the ECAC championships this Spring.

C'mon RPI, get er done!

1-0-1, I'll Take It

Beat Dartmouth (yea!) basically lose the third period and allow Harvard to tie (boo!) but still come away with a tie (eh?) and that was the weekend.

York is continuing to play well stopping 26 of 29 and 27 of 28 against Dartmouth. Tyler scored a goal and the regular suspects added goals and assists throughout the weekend.

One can't help but be suspicious of this third period meltdown since RPI fans have seen it too many times before. Next weekend should be a good "great healthy" swing against Brown and Yale which I will cover more full later this week.

RPI has to get healthy soon as the North Country comes to Troy the following weekend which should be a tough test for the Cherry and White. Still, after last season, the fact the lads are

13-11-2 (.538)
ECAC: 6-5-1, 13 points

Speaks well of the upswing the program is on at the moment. Go RPI!

Union Kicked Ass But

I remain optimistic!

The lads are going much better and they are playing some of the weaker ECAC opponents this weekend. I predict sweep. You?

Of course, USCHO's picks are below:

Dartmouth @ Rensselaer
My gut tells me that Dartmouth has got to start catching some breaks, but RPI has been on a mini-roll lately ... 4-2-0 in its last six. I believe that the Engineers can avoid the power outages that led to their only recent losses. 5-3 Rensselaer.

Harvard @ Rensselaer (4 p.m.)
This has all the trimmings of a really exciting game, as both teams are itching to make a jump up the charts. RPI has been running pretty smoothly for a little bit longer than the Crimson, and especially if Harvard can pull out a win at Union, RPI will be able to take advantage of a physically and emotionally spent visiting squad. (I hate trying to predict games based on emotion, but skill will only get you into the uniform; perseverance wins games.) 3-2 Rensselaer.

Too Good Not To Repost

Reminds me of my days playing on the pond in Delmar...

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/01/14/sports/doc4b4eb1256600c347536890.txt

National TV Does Wonders

Wow, all I can say is wow. RPI knocks off the ranked ECAC team in Q and then destroys Princeton on national television (and don't let anyone fool you about ESPNU's reach- twas national).

The team looked good and poised. It has been awhile since I have seen the Cherry and Red in person and I can't help but marvel at York's technique. The kid has the squaring of the butterfly down much like an early Carey Price.

Also, how amazing is Polacek's wrist shot? The guy just can unload from the the faceoff dot.

Its not all great, the D looked suspect again. I think against better competition the problems over the last few years (starting with Kennedy) will show themselves but overall this RPI is different. It wins "better" then it has in the last few years and the lads are actually playing in the third period instead of what has happened before.

Go RPI!

Looking Back/ Looking Forward

Well, look at that. I go on vacation in the Adirondacks with no Internet for a week and all hell breaks loose in the RPI universe. First they win over Michigan (some call it Maize, I call it corn) and then get blown out by State. Overall, a good showing against two perennial powers on their home turf. Secondly, the message boards are alive talking about the inspired play of Jerry D'Amigo on the now gold medal winning USA team.

Clearly, what these two items show is that Appert is capable of recruiting top flight talent. He did it at Denver and now he is doing it at RPI. Tip of the cap to him.

Coming up this weekend, RPI faces the Southern Tri-State swing against the Q and Princeton. The Princeton game was rescheduled to Sunday and will be shown on ESPNU. I think the lads are now up and ready for the second half of the season and will sweep both the teams. Either way, I am sure to be watching on Sunday!