Progress for Boston College?

[HEfanatic]

With such a powerhouse of a men's program it is so disappointing to watch the BC women's team be considered almost a guaranteed win for any opponent in the top ten and a cellar dwellar in even a weaker league like hockey east. BC has a great school to sell academically and should be able to advance their program. I don't necessarily think they are waiting for BU to spark their commitment. The athletics at BC is very focused on men's hockey, football, and men's basketball while they even this out by offering fewer other school sponsored men's programs than women's(example: women's crew is sponsored, men's is not).
Tom Mutch has made some decent recruiting moves, as his top three scorers are all freshmen and average over a point a game. He loses five seniors which should give him room to bring in a strong class. Kerri Sanders and Lisa Davis are the two noteable losses, but Mutch has gone to junior alison quandt in double the amount of games that he has used Davis. Performance wise they are still very inconsistent. They got dominated by UNH 6-1, but have been promising in other hockey east play. They have dropped a one goal game to uconn, and a two goal game to NU, but have beaten and tied Maine, and have dropped 2 two goal games to Providence. Good news for them: they see UNH three more times, NU as many as 4 more with the beanpot, connecticut twice, maine twice, and providence twice so they have plenty of opportunity to wins some league games. If they could post some wins over NU, UConn, and Maine they could definitely make the post season this year. Only UNH and Providence appear to be definite locks for the playoffs. Not to mention, BC has had some other surprising showings like taking princeton to overtime.
BC has A LONG ROAD ahead of them if they want to even be considered a legitimate threat in hockey east and a good step to help recruitment would be a spot in the postseason this year. NU, Maine, and UConn are beatable for BC and none of those teams have run away with a spot at this point in the season.

[ncaafan]

If you look at their roster they seem to completely ignore Canadian hockey players. Is that on purpose, or are they just having bad luck in recruiting some of these talented girls? I can undestand wanting to focus on the highly rated American girls but they shouldn't be ignoring talent north of the border. I think Canadians know that Boston College is a good school and would be receptive in helping build their program.

[dave1381]

Tom Mutch's only recruiting class so far has 1 Canadian, 3 from Minnesota, 3 from Massachusetts, 1 from NY, 1 from Maine. That's probably more Massachusetts kids then any other school, but two of those Massachusetts kids are the leading scorers on the team and probably two of the best kids from Massachusetts that year. Either way, that's a huge improvement over the previous coach Tom Babson. One Canadian is one more than Babson ever recruited, and Babson never had a class of three Minnesotans (he only had one from 1999-2003), and that's great progress for Mutch. You can't blame the current coach for the entire roster since he's only recruited one class of it. Bottom line, I wouldn't criticize Mutch at all for his recruiting. He did far better than I ever expected in his first recruiting year.

[brookyone]

Dave, I know of Ellison from Minnesota going to BC, she's a goalie I think BC fans will be happy with. All through her high school career she could win games on her own or keep her team in games giving them a chance to win...she's a good stopper. Who are the other two ? Possibly from the Thoroughbreds ?

[dave1381]

brookyone - Mutch's first recruits are the current BC freshmen... so I was referring to three Thoroughbreds on the roster now. I don't know much of anything about the BC recruiting class in progress.

[ARM]

I know of Ellison from Minnesota going to BC, she's a goalie I think BC fans will be happy with.
I've only seen her play a couple of times, but most discussions concede that she is the best goalie in the state. I've even seen quotes where opposing coaches say that they think their own netminder is the second-best tender behind her.

[SKATNMIASOV]

I think that BC is closer to emerging as a H.E. power than people think. They have players near the top of the leagues points catagory and have stayed close in some games against tough league teams. a couple of thiose losses I think you can talk up to just being such a young core. The signing of Zavisa is huge, and from what I hear they really got the one goalie they wanted. The experience they have in their coaching staff and the players they have signed in the last year lead me to believe that soon B.C. will rebound from where they are now. The lack of recruiting and landing top players for next year will take a heavy toll on teams like NU and Maine and Uconn. You could easily see BC walk away from those teams next year and even jump ahead of Providence. I really like the way BC has positioned themselves early in the recruiting process and it is still early with the April signing coming up. I look for BC to leapfrog to near the top of HE next year. I think those other three teams at the bottom of HE right now, will go into next year with virtually the same talent level which will keep them in the cellar of HE for the next couple of years. For the last 3 teams in HE this years recruiting process will make or break then for next year. I REALLY like where BC is right now, I REALLY like where they could wind up next year.

[fan for life]

I have been told by a number of Div I coaches that this year there is a great group of female hockey players graduating, lots of Americans and many that are excellent students as well.

[goalie8pucks]

I think Boston College will make good progress in the next year or two. Once Mutch was able to get two local "big" recruits I think people figured BC must be serious about their women's program. Hopefully those two recruits will attract a couple of good players such as a Zavisa and zavisa will attract some players she knows, and on and on. It won't be long for Boston College, IMO.

[SKATNMIASOV]

I guess I should have seperated the two things, as the recruiting of a player and ability to sign a player are two different things. Unless the schools are keeping things a secret, so far I don't see any immediate impact players that either of the three schools have signed. Please don't mistake this as a knock against any of the schools, but from what I have seen so far this year, all three teams need to land some huge players to improve in HE next year. When you look at the HE stats, there are only TWO teams that have winning records in the league so far this year. There are only three with winning records at all. I don't think you can take virtually the same teams into conference next year and expect to make a big move. It is just my opinion that BC has positioned itself in the past year to make a serious move in the conference. In regards to both the coaching moves and players recruited and where those players rank already as just freshmen in the league this year. I'm talking about Raw talent players. Players that can step in right now and contribute and produce. Like goalie8pucks wrote, I believe better players want to play with better players, eventually you automatically have a better program. It only takes a couple of players to get the ball rolling, but you have to get those couple players. players. I don't think you can get it done with walk on players. The talent in D-1 is too deep. My money (Fake money of course) is on BC for being the most improved program from this year to the end of next year. JMHO

[HABCOACH]

Just to weigh in here with my two cents, the term "impact player" can be tricky. With players coming from all areas, and all levels, there are no gaurantees. It must be very difficult to assess talent levels, and therefore make committments. Yes, "impact players" are critical, however at this level, depth is important too. Those players put on a second tier level are so important to the teams success. Great individual play is exciting, but solid team play gets the W`s
HC

[Travelingman]

Yes, "impact players" are critical, however at this level, depth is important too. Those players put on a second tier level are so important to the teams success. Great individual play is exciting, but solid team play gets the W`s




Habcoach, I agree with this part of your reply. There has to be great depth on any good team and good team chemistry. That is why you have to be very selective in who you bring on your team. I think every good coach out there knows who the talented recruits are and what their abilities are. The big question is..........what kind of team player are they, what kind of kid are they, and are they ready to do the work required to play at the college level. Just because they are one of the top recruits doesn't mean that they can fit into your team. As mentioned on previous posts within this thread..........if a team gets a top recruit that will attract more top recruits and so on. I believe this is only true if the top recruit is a great kid and a team player. The players know for sure, especially if the recruits are from the same general area and age group. There are some top recruits (especially from the same class or nexts years class,ect.) that wait to see were the other top recruits commit so that they can choose to go to another top school because they don't want to play with that particular player.

[SKATNMIASOV]

I'm glad you agree that attracting impact players is critical. If a team has let's say 5 impact players and the rest are second tier players, and the other teams have only 2 impact players and the rest are second and third tier players, how do those other teams catch up? If you look at HE and see just how weak the conference is (Except for NH of course) I think you would see that these teams need players who can produce now, sometimes on thier own, as opposed to a player that needs 4 other players to complete the play. My example would New Hampshire. I believe 2 more impact players would put that team in a position to contend for a National Championship, I don't think they need any more second tier depth. Could you imagine if Vallaincourt had gone to New Hampshire instead of Harvard, where do you think they would be then?, I think a Vallaincourt is worth 4 second tier players. I'm talking Freshman that can score now and develop and score alot more. Not Freshman that will develop and eventually score and contribute.
Wether a player fits in to a program or not is a whole seperate issue, usually a good investigation by the recruiting coach will answer those questions before any thing is signed or the student steps foot on the campus. However that being said things still happen.
I still have a steak dinner on BC finishing no worse than third next year, I'll even be so bold as to predict second. Yes second in HE next year. Any takers?

[brookyone]

I still have a steak dinner on BC finishing no worse than third next year, I'll even be so bold as to predict second. Yes second in HE next year. Any takers?
Not me, as I tend to agree with you. Next season they'll have on their roster a goaltender considered the best goalie in Minnesota high school hockey for the last two / three seasons...at least. If she gets playing time, which I think her abilities will warrant, I think overall you'll see fewer goals allowed & BC closer / in more games with greater chances of winning, and of course winning more games with the (predicted) solid goaltending and what I've gathered are additions of a couple nice offensive players. I guess I see BC's circumstances as similar to UND in the WCHA, except perhaps in regard to the facilities advantage for UND. An institution with a very strong hockey tradition that quality players will want to be a part of and in fact be drawn to. Not to imply the coaches won't still have to get out there and do the job per recruiting...we'll see if we're correct, or not.

[dave1381]

I still have a steak dinner on BC finishing no worse than third next year, I'll even be so bold as to predict second. Yes second in HE next year. Any takers?
I'd take that, but only for the regular season. I think BC could finish third next year and maybe win the conference semifinal. That's as high as I'd be willing predict for them.

I give BC credit, I think the league coaches are two quick to give them credit. They picked BC 4th last year, 3rd this year. They finished a distant 6th last year, and will probably be 4th or 5th this year. I think 3rd next year is within reach, but I think Mutch needs more than two recruiting classes of their own to top UNH and Providence. Give him three, and maybe so.

I think UNH needs more than just a couple impact players to contend for a national title this season. They need a couple national team players. No one has won a national title without them.

[Gibber]

The experience they have in their coaching staff and the players they have signed in the last year lead me to believe that soon B.C. will rebound from where they are now.
Just out of curiosity how would you define 'rebound'?

[ARM]

I think UNH needs more than just a couple impact players to contend for a national title this season.
I think they will contend this year with what they have (I see qualifying for the field with a shot at winning that first game and getting to the FF as contending). But I'd agree that they don't appear to have enough horses to emerge as the champ, though that's why they play the games.

Is the site a little flakey right now? Gibber's post from yesterday (?) shows up as new. For a couple of minutes, I couldn't view posts because of some cookie issue which cleared itself up.

[brookyone]

I had the same problem for a short time.

[Gibber]

I think they will contend this year with what they have (I see qualifying for the field with a shot at winning that first game and getting to the FF as contending). But I'd agree that they don't appear to have enough horses to emerge as the champ, though that's why they play the games.

Is the site a little flakey right now? Gibber's post from yesterday (?) shows up as new. For a couple of minutes, I couldn't view posts because of some cookie issue which cleared itself up.
Nope, I moved it up because I'm still curious :D
but yeah the board was screwy for 10 min (maybe longer, I'd just gotten back and it didn't work)