RPI Women's Hockey

[Hatrick]

Kash, you're right about there being more indoor shinny now but there's a lot less pond/outdoor shinny. But if you introduce the kids to full contact into the snow banks around the outdoor rink they have a blast playing outdoors. (then a warm cup of cocoa & frost-bitten toes)
Like I said it's a way of life on a cold winter's day.

[funnybone]

I have a dumb question. What is a Ringette? Also, IMO, the best female hockey players play with the boys as long as they want. There are plenty around, most unknown because they don't join the girls until college. I think those girls can compete with any Canadian female hockey player because they have to be great players to be able to compete with the boys until they are 18-19.

[polarbear2]

Ringette...link below

www.ringette.org

[polarbear2]

ooops..much better link with rules etc.

www.ringette.ca

[hook&hold]

First off, Ringette is similar to hockey but they use a blue rubber ring instead of a puck, sticks have no blades, positions are structured in that a limited number of players can play in each zone, and it generally produces good skaters but is more a game of possession (ie basketball) than pursuit (ie. hockey). Many Canadian hockey players currently aged 16-22 would have played at least a year or two prior to moving to hockey. Once they made the move they tend to forget they ever played the game.

Next, in Canada girls that play boys hockey until the college level will unlikely be DI calibre hockey players. Reason being, girls can't play at a high enough boys level to be develop into quality hockey players and if they ever did manage to make a high level boys team they tend to have a limited role. If someone suggests that good female players come from boys programs I would suggest the boys programs in that area are not very good. Many that make the move from boys over to girls are not impact players and I think are pleasantly surprised at the quality of the higher end players.

Last, there's no question that there's a cultural difference between Canada & the U.S. when it comes to hockey. Hockey is part of the social fabric in Canada while in the U.S. last year the televsion ratings still fell behind bowling & monster truck derbies. That's not to dismiss that there are regions in the U.S. that are very passionate about hockey and that female hockey has been miles ahead of Canada in certain states. Only in the last 10 years has female hockey in Canada taken off and still has a long ways to go. In mens hockey there is no question that Canada produces far more quality players from a depth perspective. The top 20 American players are likley every bit as good as the Canucks but when you look at the next 20, next 20, and so on there's far more depth in Canada.

I would suggest the top 20 females from each country would be very similar which likely explains why they're so close at the National level. As female hockey grows in Canada you will likley see more depth north of the border than in the U.S. but you'll also likely see very few of these players ever play at the DIII level because of financial considerations.

[hab]

Let's see if we can move this thread back on to a discussion of RPI women's hockey. The Engineers play 5 Div. 1 teams this year. What is the probability of a win against each? Here's my wild guess:
Union: 55%
Sacred Heart: 60%
Vermont: 10%
Clarkson: 25%
Quinnipiac: 15%
End result: 2 close wins, 3 not-so-close losses
Take your shots!

[Ralph Baer]

Has Clarkson done so well in recruiting in one year that they already have passed RPI? This would seem to indicate that they have used a large fraction of the 18 scholarships instead of trying to balance them over four years.

[hab]

Yeah, I may be overestimating Clarkson, but here's my rationale. First, I think that they were planning to use about five of their athletic scholarships in the first year and probably got five real impact players. Second, Rick Seely did an incredible job in building a powerhouse at Manhattanville overnight, without any real athletic scholarships. Third, Clarkson is a hockey crazy campus, and I expect that they will use other forms of financial aid as liberally as possible to put a competitive team on the ice in their first year. Fourth, I undestand that they have recruited an outstanding goalie from Ontario, and if that's true you might even see them upset one or two established Div I teams along the way. However, I haven't seen any of these players on the ice, so my prediction really is a "wild guess". Bill Cahill is also one of the hardest working recruiters in women's hockey. I expect this to be the most interesting game on the Engineers schedule. Go RPI!

[Ralph Baer]

hab,

Five would make a lot of sense. Even six I could believe. More that seems unlikely to me. One quarter of 18 is 4.5, but I would expect them to top load a bit, just not 10 or more or they would be in a situation like Niagara's men's team appeared to be when they started.

[LoneStar]

You are correct about the Clarkson situation. I caution you, however, to be careful when talking about how Rick built Manhattanville without any scholarships. Make no mistake that I agree that Rick is an excellent coach but while he didn't have athletic scholarships (as we know them to be) to offer at Manhattanville...those kids pay next to nothing to attend school.

Combine nearly no admissions standards with a financial aid process that is corrupt and its easy to get to the top quickly. Hockey players financial aid packages from other competing schools don't come close with the aid grants that Manhattanville offers. And they do use the same forms to apply for aid......hmmm makes you wonder, huh?

And now that the new coach, riding Rick's coattails is "with" the men's coach/athletic director....then there is no stopping this train year after year....that is until the NCAA investigates!!!

[Hockey516]

Clarkson, In much the same fashion as UConn looks to be very competive in its first year. The test will be down the road to see if the team continues to improve.

[rpi_fan03]

This may be a random question....but does anyone know where all the upper-classmen from Union went??

I was looking at last seasons roster compared to this seasons, and there seem to be 3 or more players who still have at least a year of eligibility and are not on the roster anymore...biggest notice would be the Flanagans and Heather Olney...anyone have any idea what happened there??

[HockeyMom72]

Originally posted by RPI_fan03
This may be a random question....but does anyone know where all the upper-classmen from Union went??

I was looking at last seasons roster compared to this seasons, and there seem to be 3 or more players who still have at least a year of eligibility and are not on the roster anymore...biggest notice would be the Flanagans and Heather Olney...anyone have any idea what happened there??

Can't speak to the two players you mentioned, but I do know one player, a Junior who also played Field Hockey, who just decided to quit playing ice hockey when they moved to D1. Perhaps others decided to stop playing too?

[hab]

Regarding Union: I suspect that Hockey Mom is right...that some of last year's Union players who were playing more than one sport had to make a choice. I notice that Molly Flanagan is listed on the roster of the soccer team, for example. Its interesting 'though, because the Flanagans were two of their top scorers and you would have thought they would have been players that the coach was counting on making the transition to Div1.

[rpi_fan03]

hab and hockeymom- you both answered the same as my suspiscions...that players had just stopped playing. I thought I remembered hearing that Olney had quit....but I also find it very "sketchy" that neither Flanagan stayed on the team when they went D1....first reason being that Union had plans in the works when they were recruited so they would have known about the jump(or at least suspected it)...this comes from a former prep teammate of theirs...and second reason being that they WERE the best offensive players on that team and could have had decent impact in higher level games.

Oh well....guess we will just have to wait and see:D

[Acronym]

Rest in peace, Coach.

[jericho]

The death of Coach Cahill is a very shocking and tragic one indeed. He was a very compassionate person, and a great guy all around. When I would go into the back to dress as Puckman for the women's game, I think he was more excited than the ladies were, in that someone would take the time out to do that for his team. The last time I saw him was this summer at Saratoga Race Track with Marc Cavosie and an assistant coach of his. I told him about my uncle's death, and he told me about the death of Tom Cavosie. He was very anxious about getting this season started, and he loved talking about hockey with anyone who would listen. This is a very shocking death, and it seems more and more people age 50-53 are dying of sudden heart attacks these days. My dad is 51, so he better watch out. First Tom Cavosie, then my Uncle Mickey, John Ritter, now this. This is a terrible blow to the RPI community. Coach Cahill will be missed. :( :( :( :(.

[Ralph Baer]

Very sorry to hear about Coach Cahill's passing.

Does anyone know who will likely take over on an interim basis. I would have thought Bridget Lanoir because she is the assistant coach, but she is currently coaching the field hockey team and won't be available until that season ends.

[Red Cloud]

I don't even know what to say. I got to know Coach Cahill very well and consider him a dear friend. I'm just at a complete loss for words.

Edit: my tribute - http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29496

[insidethepark]

Hockey has lost one of it's greatest ambassadors. In his own way, Bill Cahill did as much for the game as Herbie Brooks or Bob Johnson did, he just did it in his own quiet unassuming way. But the impact that he had on those around him was profound. Bill had the uncanny ability to make everyone feel better about themselves. Just the way he greeted people, his warmth and his humanity. He was a class act; a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He loved his kids and it showed. We are all better off having known Bill Cahill and his loss at this time is just too painful to comprehend.