Do we continue where we left off at the end of last season ? Once the goalie situation was taken care of we were a different team. Most of the team back, so many one goal losses last year, two promising frosh in Wilson and Lidgett, (our 17 yr old ) I see a real possibility here. Go Raiders ! Start your engines !
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Colgate 2011-12
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Thanks for starting the thread, Shabby. Just 4 more days until the players are back in action!
I'll try to sum up my thoughts about the upcoming season in another post, but for now,
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/p...deos&wpid=9616
It's footage from our upset victory over Union back in March.Colgate '09
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
RPI blog Without a Peer post about Colgate http://www.withoutapeer.com/2011/09/...y-colgate.html.
Besides for being a reader, I have no connection to WaP.
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Originally posted by Ralph Baer View PostRPI blog Without a Peer post about Colgate http://www.withoutapeer.com/2011/09/...y-colgate.html.
Besides for being a reader, I have no connection to WaP.Like a turkey at Thanksgiving, I'm stuffed
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Originally posted by hockeymascot View PostThen why are you promoting this? Where is the credibility?
The reason that I wrote that I have no connection to WaP is because people assumed a year ago that I do. I can assure you that I am not Tom Reale who wrote that article. He does post here by the way, as are his two cobloggers.
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Originally posted by Ralph Baer View PostI think that it may be of interest, just like posters post links to all types of material on the net.
The reason that I wrote that I have no connection to WaP is because people assumed a year ago that I do. I can assure you that I am not Tom Reale who wrote that article. He does post here by the way, as are his two cobloggers.Like a turkey at Thanksgiving, I'm stuffed
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Ughhh ... 10th in both polls? Do they know we return 12 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 3 goalies??? The analysis at Without a Peer (RPI blog) is much more realistic, at least from my point of view. On the other hand, we've not no pressure!
Anyways, as promised, here's my personal outlook on the upcoming season:
FORWARDS
Okay, here's the bad news. We lost Brian Day and Francois Brisebois to graduation. They were two of our top scorers. While we bring in two highly regarded forwards in Joe Wilson and John Lidgett, we won't know how they'll contribute to the team until they get on the ice. But we return 12 forwards (enough to roll out 4 lines in a game) that have seen ample playing time. The key players here are Austin Smith, Nick Prockow, Austin Mayer, Matt Firman, Kurtis Bartliff, Robbie Bourdon, and Chris Wagner. These seven individuals have contributed in some way throughout their time at Colgate. If the right line pairings can be produced we can roll out at least two, maybe three forward lines that can put the puck in the net. Team jell will be a factor here.
DEFENSE
We only lost one player to graduation (Wade Poplawski, who in fact, scored the game-winning goal at Union to send the team to Atlantic City), so we should have an advantage at this position. Returning are Kevin McNamara, Corbin McPherson, Jeremy Price, Thomas Larkin, Nathan Sinz, and Mike Leidl. That's 6 blueliners that are either juniors or seniors, enough to create three defensive pairings for a game. Incoming players include Spiro Goulakos and Brendan Corcoran. Both are 1990-born. Only question is, will Corcoran play forward or defense? Chris Heisenberg listed him as a defenseman, but the Colgate roster lists him as a forward. Time will tell but we should be solid at this end of the rink, provided that we can avoid mental lapses that result in the puck being in the back of our own net.
GOALTENDING
This position is a bit of a question mark for me. We return three goaltenders (Alex Evin, Bryan Bessette, and Eric Mihalik) that have seen ample playing time. Evin and Bessette are both seniors, but Mihalik won the starting job and played very well throughout the playoffs. There's a possibility that a goaltending platoon could occur based on what happens in practices, but in my mind Mihalik will ultimately win the starting position. Who knows -- maybe he'll steal a game (or many) for us.
OUTLOOK
This team has 21 players that went through a difficult regular season, losing many games by a single goal. Then they did a 180 -- going 8-4-1 in a six week span that landed them in Atlantic City. Perhaps this was a result of team jell, and/or a result of making less mistakes. I'm certain these players will learn from last year's difficulties and build on last year's postseason success. The schedule is very rigid from the start -- two games in Nebraska then Miami Ohio comes into Starr Rink for a pair of games. This can provide valuable experience and maybe even a springboard to success in the league schedule. Time will tell. I'll just be very disappointed if we have another stretch that's similar to last year. But it's not how you start, it's how you finish. We won't be world-beaters, but realistically I think we can finish (at minimum) in the middle of the standings.Colgate '09
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Very nice Rainman and Thank you Ralph, love reading any input from objective points of view. As usual I tend to be a just a little biased. Always at this time I'm very optimistic, easy to be at 0-0.
Michalik is our starter, The 8-4-1 record you mentioned was after we got "rid" of the platooning goalie system and Mich became #1. He was phenominal for us and the boys played with a new found confidence at the end. Pre-Michalik our dmen were so afraid to make mistakes as we were losing so many one goal games.(Was it 10) We have a proven tender this year, no excuses there !It all starts with the goaltending.
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Hi guys, best of luck on the season. I am a Merrimack fan and was thinking about making the trip out to see us play at your place. When I looked on the website the seating chart looked like it was half missing. I was wondering how large the arena was and if it is difficult to get tickets to the game.Rinks Visited
DCU Center
Tulley Forum
TD Garden
Tsongas Arena
J. Thom Lawler Arena
Conte Forum
Whittemore Center
Agganis Arena
Verizon Center
Gutterson Fieldhouse
Matthews Arena
Thompson Arena
Mullins Center
Alfond Arena
Schneider Arena
Magness Arena
Ingallas Arena
Hart Center
Prudential Center
TD Bank Sports Center
John A Ryan
Lynah Rink
Appleton Arena
Cheel Arena
Germain Arena
XL Center
Class of 1965 Arena
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Re: Colgate 2011-12
Originally posted by MCgrad07 View PostHi guys, best of luck on the season. I am a Merrimack fan and was thinking about making the trip out to see us play at your place. When I looked on the website the seating chart looked like it was half missing. I was wondering how large the arena was and if it is difficult to get tickets to the game.
Thanks for getting this started Shabby. Hope 10th place is low-balling it.COLGATE HOCKEY:"Is this the year?"
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