Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

[schiegs]

Obviously a structure like this can only go on the South Campus; what would be taken away to make room for it? My guess: baseball fields. I would imagine that it makes the most sense to build a 'Merrimack-like' facility, right? It certainly doesn't need to be any bigger than that.

A spot has already been graded for the specific purpose of a new facility/building. That was done 3 or 4 years ago in order to get it finished before the environmental/zoning permits expired. Once the permit expired, they would not have been allowed to do anymore grading/filling against the wetlands. I haven't been to campus in almost a year, but I believe there was a track and field shot-put cage or something on the spot at that time, down near the "new" entrance on the extreme south end of the athletics campus.

[schiegs]

Personally, I think it would have been cool to put it in the Linden dorm where the racquetball courts were.

[Humanoid]

I'm not sure where they woudl put, where the funds would come from, or anything like that. I think the discussions are now starting at the very very very least. No idea where the process is, how many years it woudl take to get to fruition, or anything like that, but if there's a rumor then I'm guessing someone mentioned the idea.

It's obvious Bentley will need to make a commitment one way or the other. RIT is planning a new rink, and Merrimack is upgrading their facilities for an anticipated jump to D1 in all sports. Holy Cross and UConn are examining ways to become more competitive, even if it means leaving the AHA. Even Sacred Heart plays at Harbor Yards, which isn't much for their program since they draw 100 people in a multi-thousand seat arena, but still, things cannot continue the way they are.

Coach Soderquist talked about the administration in an interview before the playoffs last year and mentioned how there was major support. I'm going to say now that the team has, indeed, put in many dues, and with a following starting to pick up steam, they can point to marked success. If you were doing a market research, the JAR state of the program is picking up traction and will hit the saturation point very quickly because of its high level of drawbacks. So if nothing else, if the discussion is taking place, then that's a start.

I don't foresee the university making any type of major investment in the next couple of years, still. I think the endowment took a beating in the economic downturn?

[Humanoid]

A spot has already been graded for the specific purpose of a new facility/building. That was done 3 or 4 years ago in order to get it finished before the environmental/zoning permits expired. Once the permit expired, they would not have been allowed to do anymore grading/filling against the wetlands. I haven't been to campus in almost a year, but I believe there was a track and field shot-put cage or something on the spot at that time, down near the "new" entrance on the extreme south end of the athletics campus.

The area where the shot put cage is would be ideal in terms of size and space, but its location is nowhere near the dorms. That could be a potential issue. Also, the tree-line where the football stadium is puts it a few meters further back from the Dana Center. So unless there's going to be some form of reconfiguration of the land, then the rink might as well be in Guam. I'm guessing they'd tear down the trees and maybe develop the land beyond the old track that's across the street. Maybe as another parking lot and visitor center of some sort.

[Snively65]

My understanding is that the funds are there to build the rink ("campus events center") from a donor, but the admin is unwilling to make a commitment to the maintenance, which of course would be a substantial line item in the budget. I think that Bentley was closer to building a rink on campus four to five years ago when space was approved by the Waltham zoning board (I believe between the Dana Center and Lyman Pond, and yes, there were/are wetlands issues; see Google map at link), and before the economy tanked and a new president was brought on board.

As much as I would love to see a rink on campus, I am certain that the vast majority of faculty would favor the funds be put into academic programs instead of a rink. But, perhaps a few more nasty storms during convocation and graduatation events could sway things in favor of the construction of an events center on campus, which would just happen to be in the right dimensions for a hockey rink.

I really like the new "welcome center" (hockey rink) at Plymouth State, just off I-93 on the way to campus in Plymouth, N.H.; it seats about 1200, I think, but it seems to me it would make more sense to expand the footprint to seat 2000-2500 for other events besides hockey.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...2&z=14&iwloc=A

[schiegs]

Don't forget North Campus, but I think that has other purposes...

[schiegs]

I think the endowment took a beating in the economic downturn?

The endowment did indeed take a beating, in fact moreso than most. But, I believe it has recntly recovered most of those losses.

[schiegs]

So unless there's going to be some form of reconfiguration of the land, then the rink might as well be in Guam.

....or Watertown.

[Humanoid]

It looks like Bentley will be going back to U. Lowell to open up the season next year. Also might be playing a home game against another OOC opponent, but not sure who.

[Snively65]

It looks like Bentley will be going back to U. Lowell to open up the season next year. Also might be playing a home game against another OOC opponent, but not sure who.

What could be better than another bird battle between the Falcons and the River Hawks. I really like attending games at Tsongas, and Lowell Beer Works before and/or after games.

[Humanoid]

What could be better than another bird battle between the Falcons and the River Hawks. I really like attending games at Tsongas, and Lowell Beer Works before and/or after games.

Especially given what Lowell accomplished last year, it'll be a great game. Bentley is vastly underrated, and Lowell will be a great test since they have a lot to prove this year. UML had such a great year with Norm Bazin being coach of the year and coming within one win of the Frozen Four against Union, but in Year 2, as merrimack can tell you, it becomes that much harder since you don't sneak up on anyone. Bentley proves a good test since they're clearly a better team than a lot of people give them credit for.

[Snively65]

Especially given what Lowell accomplished last year, it'll be a great game. Bentley is vastly underrated, and Lowell will be a great test since they have a lot to prove this year. UML had such a great year with Norm Bazin being coach of the year and coming within one win of the Frozen Four against Union, but in Year 2, as merrimack can tell you, it becomes that much harder since you don't sneak up on anyone. Bentley proves a good test since they're clearly a better team than a lot of people give them credit for.

Unless I missed something, seems like the last game we played at Tsongas was on 8 December 2007, when we lost 4-1 (included ENG). Only Soderquist and Carkin remain from that game/season.

[Humanoid]

Snives - It was Jan. 2011 (so 2 seasons ago) when they last played. 8-5 at Tsongas in the middle of the year. Gensler had 2 goals as a freshman......big shocker there.

http://collegehockeystats.net/1011/boxes/mbenuml1.j25

[Snively65]

Snives - It was Jan. 2011 (so 2 seasons ago) when they last played. 8-5 at Tsongas in the middle of the year. Gensler had 2 goals as a freshman......big shocker there.

http://collegehockeystats.net/1011/boxes/mbenuml1.j25

Thanks, as I thought that I had been to a Bentley game at Tsongas more recently than 2007. But, I also go to UNH games at Tsongas, so I am up there a lot. They added the new luxury seating and bar area at one end before my last visit, probably the Bentley game in January 2011. So, our upcoming seniors and juniors will have a lot of motivation to even that score, which was a tough outing for Joe Calvi. We were in that game with a 5-5 tie until late in the second, but gave up four PPGs, so cannot blame Calvi for those. As always, must stay out of the penalty box, especially in these OOC games.

Wonder who another OOC opponent at the JAR might be. I was hoping for Michigan, after Clarkson's visit this past season, but I know that the Wolverines coming to Watertown is unlikely.

[Humanoid]

Thanks, as I thought that I had been to a Bentley game at Tsongas more recently than 2007. But, I also go to UNH games at Tsongas, so I am up there a lot. They added the new luxury seating and bar area at one end before my last visit, probably the Bentley game in January 2011. So, our upcoming seniors and juniors will have a lot of motivation to even that score, which was a tough outing for Joe Calvi. We were in that game with a 5-5 tie until late in the second, but gave up four PPGs, so cannot blame Calvi for those. As always, must stay out of the penalty box, especially in these OOC games.

Wonder who another OOC opponent at the JAR might be. I was hoping for Michigan, after Clarkson's visit this past season, but I know that the Wolverines coming to Watertown is unlikely.

I'm guessing it will be another ECAC team or possibly a team like PC that won't lose much by losing a home game. My guess is it'll be a semester break game against a team that historically doesn't draw well during that same time period. PC barely drew 1000 people for their intersession games against teams like UMass, so I'm guessing they could afford to lose that home noncon game. They also only drew 1800 to a New Year's Day game against Brown in the Mayor's Cup. So if I had to guess, I'd say either them or an ECAC team.

PC also historically hasn't had trouble scheduling because of that game with Brown, so I'm also quick to doubt my own analysis.

[Snively65]

I'm guessing it will be another ECAC team or possibly a team like PC that won't lose much by losing a home game. My guess is it'll be a semester break game against a team that historically doesn't draw well during that same time period. PC barely drew 1000 people for their intersession games against teams like UMass, so I'm guessing they could afford to lose that home noncon game. They also only drew 1800 to a New Year's Day game against Brown in the Mayor's Cup. So if I had to guess, I'd say either them or an ECAC team.

PC also historically hasn't had trouble scheduling because of that game with Brown, so I'm also quick to doubt my own analysis.

Ha, ha, ha; good points on minimizing revenue loss. Yes, I remember the game at Brown's Meehan Rink the Tuesday before Thanksgiving 2009; there were about a dozen of us Bentley fans and perhaps two dozen Brown fans for our 3-2 win in that one.

[brookie]

Bentley hockey never has an offseason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Chris Heisenberg, it looks like bentley has signed another goalie to make up for the departure of Rank from last year. They ran into a situation where Dougherty tore his knee in the Holy Cross game at the end of the year when they yanked Komm on the alst night of the regular season. He was able to dress, and medically he was cleared to play, but he would've been terribly ineffective had Komm been injured in the playoffs. It's obvious Bentley needed the third goalie down the stretch.

The goalie is Gabe Antoni from the St. Louis Jr. Blues of the NAHL Tier-A league. He'll be the third Bentley Falcon from St. Louis's organization that I can think off of the top of my head. The other two that come to mind are Brett Gensler and Dain Prewitt. That's a pretty solid track record. Looking at his stats, he's coming in with some talent - 91% save pct and 14 wins last year in the NAHL. Big potential coup for Bentley.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...RUE&pid=145426

What about mike reardon, he is listed as 2012 on Heisenberg?

[Snively65]

What about mike reardon, he is listed as 2012 on Heisenberg?

Reardon also now appears at the link I used at the top of this thread. It seems like a huge incoming class; wonder how they will all play?

http://eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=75040

[Yuppie Scum]

Especially given what Lowell accomplished last year, it'll be a great game. Bentley is vastly underrated, and Lowell will be a great test since they have a lot to prove this year. UML had such a great year with Norm Bazin being coach of the year and coming within one win of the Frozen Four against Union, but in Year 2, as merrimack can tell you, it becomes that much harder since you don't sneak up on anyone. Bentley proves a good test since they're clearly a better team than a lot of people give them credit for.

You're still in the AHA, don't get ahead of yourselves comparing to the 978s.

[Humanoid]

You're still in the AHA, don't get ahead of yourselves comparing to the 978s.

Everyone forgets that Bentley hung with michigan for essentially 52 minutes in both games before giving up third period goals to put the games well out of reach. They also forget that Bentley scored wins over Hockey East teams in each season over a couple years stretch, including wins over Maine and Northeastern. These OOCs have a funny way of playing out, and the best AHA teams are able to compete with the middle-road Hockey east programs.

I don't feel UML is a top-tier Hockey East program yet, even though they were one win from the Frozen Four. They benefitted from an extremely weak regional. But they're still behind, in my eyes at least, BC (for obvious reasons), BU, Maine, and Merrimack. There's also a chance PC is vastly improved, which makes it that much harder for Norm Bazin to create a follow up performance.