Cornell lacrosse in 2011

Towerroad

Jeff Hopkins '82

billhoward
My neighbor is deeply involved in Princeton athletics. He talks about the unfair advantage of Cornell state schools. I talk about the unfair advantage of Princeton having the nation's second-largest endowment per student (after Stanford) and Class of '52 Field for lacrosse (4,000 seats, surrounded by woods, modern facilities).

It's just a rationalization for their failures.

I think it is more like jealousy. Our Ice Cream is vastly superior to theirs.

In fairness, Thomas Sweet is actually pretty good. However, our hockey team is vastly superior to theirs, and that's far more important.

Josh '99

Towerroad

Jeff Hopkins '82

billhoward
My neighbor is deeply involved in Princeton athletics. He talks about the unfair advantage of Cornell state schools. I talk about the unfair advantage of Princeton having the nation's second-largest endowment per student (after Stanford) and Class of '52 Field for lacrosse (4,000 seats, surrounded by woods, modern facilities).

It's just a rationalization for their failures.

I think it is more like jealousy. Our Ice Cream is vastly superior to theirs.

In fairness, Thomas Sweet is actually pretty good. However, our hockey team is vastly superior to theirs, and that's far more important.

Boy, I don't know, that might be the question for the ages Ice Cream or Hockey? A strong case can be made for either. Of course both is the best.

As for Thomas Sweet. I am willing to concede that it might be a fine product but is it made on campus by students as part of an academic program? I think not, and as a result a clear glaring chasm in the academic offerings at Princeton. Hence the jealousy.

Now if I want to make a Tiger weep one only need mention that we have a course on Wines that is specifically exempt from the NYS drinking age.

"I would found and institution where any person can find instruction in any study." Our founder knew what he was doing!

The new cheer is something like "Princeton's Everywhere in New Jersey." Fifteen miles outside of Princeton proper, you start seeing Princeton Heights, Princeton Highlands, Princeton Corporate Park, Princeton Forrestal Village. Everyboyd wants a pice of the magic. See how your property values over the past decade have stood up compared to those in Princeton.

Go ahead, knock New Jersey. We could use a little less crowding. We're 45 minutes from Princeton, have almost an acre of land, are five minutes from train service into Manhattan (45 mins), have seen deer and fox in our back yard (cute the first time only), and most of the children in our town grow up with straight, pearl-white teeth. Life is pretty good ... until you get the property tax bills.

[www.facebook.com]

Big Red men's lacrosse continues their quest for the ninth consecutive Ivy League title when they host long-time rival Princeton at Schoellkopf Field on Saturday, April 30th.

FREE "BEAT PRINCETON" rally towel for the first 2,000 fans!

CORNELL STUDENTS ADMITTED FREE!!!! Don't miss out on the Cornell tailgate carnival before the game: 10:30am-12:15pm in the Crescent Lot. Prizes, games, giveaways, music and fun. Bring your own tailgating necessities if you so desire. Located at the top of the grassy slope behind the Crescent.

***The first 500 Cornell students will also receive a FREE Cornell lacrosse pinney!*** They will be distributed at the student carnival in the parking lot and the student entrance of Schoellkopf.

Come out strong for the final game of the regular season and GO BIG RED!

First the small matter of getting past Brown Saturday. Cornell's senior class came up short the last trip to Providence and is 2-2 (including a playoff game) vs. Brown. A win gives Cornell the Ivy League regular season title and puts the Ivy playoffs in Ithaca.

This from the pre-game notes [www.cornellbigred.com]: >>> CLOSE CALLS — Since the beginning of the 2003 season, Cornell is 27-7 in games that have been decided by a single goal, a mark that was raised as the Big Red defeated Harvard, 13-12, on April 9, 2011, at Harvard Stadium ...

... but the importance of those one-goal losses ...

billhoward

... but the importance of those one-goal losses ...

Don't go there. Just don't go there.

billhoward
First the small matter of getting past Brown Saturday. Cornell's senior class came up short the last trip to Providence and is 2-2 (including a playoff game) vs. Brown. A win gives Cornell the Ivy League regular season title and puts the Ivy playoffs in Ithaca.

Fixed, as was already discussed upthread.

Jeff Hopkins '82

billhoward

... but the importance of those one-goal losses ...

Don't go there. Just don't go there.

Amen

I didn't see this posted anywhere, and not sure if it deserves its own thread, but Michigan is adding D1 programs (men in 2012, women in 2013). I think we're still 3 programs shy of the Big Ten Lacrosse Conference.

EDIT: forgot to attach link: [insidelacrosse.com]

Ronald '09
I think we're still 3 programs shy of the Big Ten Lacrosse Conference.

Two on the womens side for whatever it's worth. Amazing that there at 91 W D-1 teams now.

Josh '99

billhoward
First the small matter of getting past Brown Saturday. Cornell's senior class came up short the last trip to Providence and is 2-2 (including a playoff game) vs. Brown. A win gives Cornell the Ivy League regular season title and puts the Ivy playoffs in Ithaca.

Fixed, as was already discussed upthread.

We just clinched home field in the Ivy League automatic bid tournament, or whatever you want to call it with Princeton's 9-8 defeat at home against Harvard. Amazingly, I think Princeton is still alive for that 4th seed even if we beat them next week with a 2-4 record. They wouldn't have the tiebreaker against Harvard, and I think Harvard would come out of a 3-way tie with Brown being the third team, but if Dartmouth beats Brown next week (this scenario involves us beating Brown today), the head-to-head would be 1-1 for Princeton, Harvard, and Dartmouth. I'm not sure how that tie would be broken, so maybe I'm wrong and Princeton needs to beat us to get in?

Brown audio covering the game for free. Now 1-0 Red with 8:30 left in the first qtr.

End of 1. Now 5-1 Red. Pannell with 3 assists.

5-1 Red after 1. 3 assists for Pannell so far. Field conditions look terrible on b2 broadcast, but not slowing us down much so far.

One thing I don't understand is why DeLuca insists on using McMichael so much on the faceoffs, when he's clearly not the best option on the team.

Brown announcers say that Brown has won 7 of 9 faceoffs. Ugh.

5-2 Red, but we've missed about 3 gimmes that defy explanation.

Now 6-2. We finally score on the EMO.

Three big saves by Fiore!

watching the Brown feed. Announcers are reasonably knowledgeable (but no Barry and Howie), but their banter is inane

scoop85
watching the Brown feed. Announcers are reasonably knowledgeable (but no Barry and Howie), but their banter is inane

Were they just talking about their childrens' bedtimes? If so, then it's the same as the audio.

Halftime. 8-2 Red.

Jeff Hopkins '82

scoop85
watching the Brown feed. Announcers are reasonably knowledgeable (but no Barry and Howie), but their banter is inane

Were they just talking about their childrens' bedtimes? If so, then it's the same as the audio.

Um, yeah -- really pathetic stuff.

Jeff Hopkins '82

scoop85
watching the Brown feed. Announcers are reasonably knowledgeable (but no Barry and Howie), but their banter is inane

Were they just talking about their childrens' bedtimes? If so, then it's the same as the audio.

Yeah, same guys. A bit of homerism, but decent.

Four assists for Pannell, by the way.

Pretty far fall for Princeton to not even make a four-team Ivy tournament if they mess up next week. I'm having trouble following the possibilities but it seems no matter how bad Princeton's record, they still have a shot at making the Ivy tournament.

So, 8-2 at half. Pannell with 4 assists, Lang with two goals, balanced scoring overall. Brown hasn't had many chances, but Fiore came up big in one sequence in the 2nd period when it was 5-2. Field conditions are abysmal. Brown has committed a slew of unforced turnovers.

While we missed some golden opportunities, can't really complain about a six goal lead at a place that hasn't always been especially hospitable to Cornell.

Lang with the hat trick! Now 9-2 just into the 3rd qtr.

11-2 after Lau scores a man-up

End of the 3rd. 15-4 Good Guys.

Time to empty the benches.

This is a really nice job just taking care of business against an inferior opponent on the road. Our inadequacy at the X has been alleviated all game by Brown throwing the ball out of bounds uncontested after winning the faceoff.

Jeff Hopkins '82
End of the 3rd. 15-4 Good Guys.

Time to empty the benches.

FO's only weakness today, but Brown has committed so many turnovers after winning the faceoff that it hasn't mattered.

Ronald '09
This is a really nice job just taking care of business against an inferior opponent on the road. Our inadequacy at the X has been alleviated all game by Brown throwing the ball out of bounds uncontested after winning the faceoff.

I swear, I didn't see your post before I said essentially the same thing

scoop85

Jeff Hopkins '82
End of the 3rd. 15-4 Good Guys.

Time to empty the benches.

FO's only weakness today, but Brown has committed so many turnovers after winning the faceoff that it hasn't mattered.

A friend of mine who's a lax coach told me that faceoffs on grass are very different than on turf. I wonder if that, plus the state of the field, has a lot to do with it.

Now 18-5.

Brown announcers give a shout-out to Schafer.

Brown with 27 turnovers! Wow.

Ivy Leauge Champs!

(Yeah I know we clinched it earlier. This feels better.)

Jeff Hopkins '82
Brown with 27 turnovers! Wow.

They've been awful. I wonder if Tiffany wishes he took the Penn State job now

Ronald '09

Josh '99

billhoward
First the small matter of getting past Brown Saturday. Cornell's senior class came up short the last trip to Providence and is 2-2 (including a playoff game) vs. Brown. A win gives Cornell the Ivy League regular season title and puts the Ivy playoffs in Ithaca.

Fixed, as was already discussed upthread.

We just clinched home field in the Ivy League automatic bid tournament, or whatever you want to call it with Princeton's 9-8 defeat at home against Harvard. Amazingly, I think Princeton is still alive for that 4th seed even if we beat them next week with a 2-4 record. They wouldn't have the tiebreaker against Harvard, and I think Harvard would come out of a 3-way tie with Brown being the third team, but if Dartmouth beats Brown next week (this scenario involves us beating Brown today), the head-to-head would be 1-1 for Princeton, Harvard, and Dartmouth. I'm not sure how that tie would be broken, so maybe I'm wrong and Princeton needs to beat us to get in?

Based on today's results, I make out the following possible scenarios depending on next week's results (tournament seeds listed in order):

If Harvard wins: Cornell, Penn, Harvard, Yale

If Yale and Princeton win: Cornell, Penn, Yale, Princeton

If Yale, Cornell, and Brown win: Cornell, Penn, Yale, Harvard

If Yale, Cornell and Dartmouth win: Cornell, Penn, Yale, (random draw among Harvard, Princeton, and Dartmouth)

Jeff Hopkins '82
Ivy Leauge Champs!

(Yeah I know we clinched it earlier. This feels better.)

We did clinch the outright Ivy League title with our win today. We clinched home field earlier. If we lost today and to Princeton, we theoretically could have ended up tied with Penn and/or Yale for the regular season title. So we clinched two different things at two different times today.

The final was 18-5 for anyone who is trying to follow through this thread.

Nice way to lay out the scenarios while avoiding being hammered if you should describe adequately the team that finishes with the best Ivy record but use the phrase that is not officially approved.

Courtesy of cornellbigred.com:

Ben DeLuca becomes the first Cornell coach to win an Ivy title in his first season since Richie Moran (1969) and the first to win the outright conference crown in his rookie season since Ned Harkness (1966)

That bodes very well.

Ben
Courtesy of cornellbigred.com:

Ben DeLuca becomes the first Cornell coach to win an Ivy title in his first season since Richie Moran (1969) and the first to win the outright conference crown in his rookie season since Ned Harkness (1966)

That bodes very well.

Elite company indeed! What's impressive is how this young team has both improved and gained confidence as the season has progressed. At a minimum, between now and Memorial Day 2012 we have a lot to look forward to.

Swampy

Ben
Courtesy of cornellbigred.com:

Ben DeLuca becomes the first Cornell coach to win an Ivy title in his first season since Richie Moran (1969) and the first to win the outright conference crown in his rookie season since Ned Harkness (1966)

That bodes very well.

Elite company indeed! What's impressive is how this young team has both improved and gained confidence as the season has progressed. At a minimum, between now and Memorial Day 2012 we have a lot to look forward to.

Here's hoping for a national championship and rain-free Slope Day. Not sure which will be tougher this year. In the meantime, let's dismantle Princeton and roar into the Ivy playoffs / playdown / whatever and root for Syracuse to take down #1 Notre Dame Saturday at the Carrier Dome (7 pm start). Cornell is still #3 [edit: not #2, that's media poll] in the coaches' poll.

From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

jeff '84
From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

It's tough to argue with him here; Pannell's 5.67 points per game are more than a point better than the next guys (Jeremy Boltus of Army and Scott Perri of Drexel at 4.62), and none of the other top teams have anybody even close.

Josh '99

jeff '84
From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

It's tough to argue with him here; Pannell's 5.67 points per game are more than a point better than the next guys (Jeremy Boltus of Army and Scott Perri of Drexel at 4.62), and none of the other top teams have anybody even close.

Well, I might want to nit pick with him. He says, the award "has typically gone to the best player on the best team. ,,, But this year is different." He goes on to talk about Pannell, but he never justifies his claim that this year is different. I don't see how it's any different.

Swampy

Josh '99

jeff '84
From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

It's tough to argue with him here; Pannell's 5.67 points per game are more than a point better than the next guys (Jeremy Boltus of Army and Scott Perri of Drexel at 4.62), and none of the other top teams have anybody even close.

Well, I might want to nit pick with him. He says, the award "has typically gone to the best player on the best team. ,,, But this year is different." He goes on to talk about Pannell, but he never justifies his claim that this year is different. I don't see how it's any different.

Does he really need to mention that there's a nearly consensus #1 team which is not named "Cornell?" If this year were no different, then the favorite would be Notre Dame's best player.

Swampy

Josh '99

jeff '84
From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

It's tough to argue with him here; Pannell's 5.67 points per game are more than a point better than the next guys (Jeremy Boltus of Army and Scott Perri of Drexel at 4.62), and none of the other top teams have anybody even close.

Well, I might want to nit pick with him. He says, the award "has typically gone to the best player on the best team. ,,, But this year is different." He goes on to talk about Pannell, but he never justifies his claim that this year is different. I don't see how it's any different.

I thought he was fairly clear about the point that this year is (perhaps he meant "should be" but that's nitpicking) different because Pannell is scoring at such a ridiculous pace.

Robb

Swampy

Josh '99

jeff '84
From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

It's tough to argue with him here; Pannell's 5.67 points per game are more than a point better than the next guys (Jeremy Boltus of Army and Scott Perri of Drexel at 4.62), and none of the other top teams have anybody even close.

Well, I might want to nit pick with him. He says, the award "has typically gone to the best player on the best team. ,,, But this year is different." He goes on to talk about Pannell, but he never justifies his claim that this year is different. I don't see how it's any different.

Does he really need to mention that there's a nearly consensus #1 team which is not named "Cornell?" If this year were no different, then the favorite would be Notre Dame's best player.

I think we'll know more about Notre Dame's claim to be the best team after this Saturday (and the following Friday). To appease the woofing gods: we'll also know more about where Cornell stands after this Saturday and the month of May.

As was proven on April 12, a consensus #1 team in April is not necessarily the #1 team on Memorial Day.

Swampy

Robb

Swampy

Josh '99

jeff '84
From Inside Lacrosse:

[insidelacrosse.com]

Quint Kessenich answers: Who Should Win the 2011 Tewaaraton?


"The Tewaaraton has typically gone to the best player on the best team. Playoff wins and exposure during the NCAA tournament have meant a ton. But this year is different. The best player resides in Ithaca, N.Y., and it isn't debateable. Start engraving the trophy with the name Rob Pannell."

It's tough to argue with him here; Pannell's 5.67 points per game are more than a point better than the next guys (Jeremy Boltus of Army and Scott Perri of Drexel at 4.62), and none of the other top teams have anybody even close.

Well, I might want to nit pick with him. He says, the award "has typically gone to the best player on the best team. ,,, But this year is different." He goes on to talk about Pannell, but he never justifies his claim that this year is different. I don't see how it's any different.

Does he really need to mention that there's a nearly consensus #1 team which is not named "Cornell?" If this year were no different, then the favorite would be Notre Dame's best player.

I think we'll know more about Notre Dame's claim to be the best team after this Saturday (and the following Friday). To appease the woofing gods: we'll also know more about where Cornell stands after this Saturday and the month of May.

As was proven on April 12, a consensus #1 team in April is not necessarily the #1 team on Memorial Day.

As was proven a few years ago, a consensus #1 team in mid-May is not necessarily even the #1 seed three weeks before Memorial Day...

Ben
Courtesy of cornellbigred.com:

Ben DeLuca becomes the first Cornell coach to win an Ivy title in his first season since Richie Moran (1969) and the first to win the outright conference crown in his rookie season since Ned Harkness (1966)

That bodes very well.

Awwwwwwww... That Harkness guy just did it with Bob Cullen's recruits...

Let me take another crack at what I was trying to get at with my observation about Quint Kessenich's statement about Pannell and the Tewaaraton. I tried humor and irony, but I should have known my limitations better.

1. Pannell is by far the consensus leader for the Tewaaraton.
2. It's not at all clear that Notre Dame is the best team in the country
3. It's not at all clear that Cornell is not the best team
4. There's still a whole lot of lacrosse to be played between now and the NC game on May 30.

Today, ND is ranked #1 in the USILA Coaches Poll and the Nike Media Poll, #2 in the first "official" RPI, and #3 in Laxpower's Tournament Selection Index (TSI), Quality Wins, and overall Computer Rating. Perhaps most important for my point: Notre Dame is #12 in Strength of Schedule (SOS).

Cornell, in contrast, is #1 in the Computer Rating, #2 in the media poll and TSI, #3 in the coaches poll and RPI, #4 in Quality Wins, and #9 in SOS.

To date, Notre Dame's best wins have been Duke (first game of season), Denver, and Villanova. But it has two signature games coming up: Syracuse this Saturday and UNC the following Friday.

Cornell's last loss was to UVa on 3/12. Its best wins are Syracuse, Penn, Stony Brook, and Yale. More importantly, Cornell had 3 players coming back from injuries on 3/12, and since then it has moved people around (especially Lau), apparently fixed some defensive problems at midfield, and given its young middies confidence playing "within the system." In short, Cornell is greatly improved over eight weeks ago.

In two weeks we'll have a much better idea of just how good Notre Dame is. But to my mind the main difference between past years is that in past years 1-2 teams really stood out, but this year perhaps half a dozen teams could go all the way to the NC without it being a major upset. Cornell has to be counted as one of these.

So I just don't think there's that much separating the #1 team (ND) from #2-#6 (CU, JHU, SU, Denver, and MD) to make such a big deal of the fact that Pannell doesn't play for the current #1. No doubt he benefits from the parity this year, but as a lacrosse power Cornell's not exactly chopped liver either.

I think Quint's point is that as a rule, no one speaks up to predict the Tewaaraton winner until at least mid-May. There may be front runners throughout the season but generally the team has to advance pretty far for a player to win the award so nothing is sewed up this early. That is how Pannell is different: he is so far and away the best player in the country that his team could bow out early and he would still win. Not that his team will bow out early or that his team is not final-four caliber but rather that it doesn't matter.

It feels very weird to be defending anything Quint says....

Swampy
So I just don't think there's that much separating the #1 team (ND) from #2-#6 (CU, JHU, SU, Denver, and MD) to make such a big deal of the fact that Pannell doesn't play for the current #1. No doubt he benefits from the parity this year, but as a lacrosse power Cornell's not exactly chopped liver either.

He's not making a big deal out of the fact that Pannell plays for a team that isn't currently #1 in the rankings, he's making a big deal out of the fact that Pannell practically (in Quint's mind, anyway) has the thing sewn up long before the NCAA tournament, and despite what might eventually happen in the NCAA tournament, in view of the fact that the Tewaaraton typically (seven times out of the ten that it has been awarded, more specifically) goes to the best player on the national champion. That's what he's referring to by "best team", not the team that's currently #1 in the rankings.

dag14
I think Quint's point is that as a rule, no one speaks up to predict the Tewaaraton winner until at least mid-May. There may be front runners throughout the season but generally the team has to advance pretty far for a player to win the award so nothing is sewed up this early. That is how Pannell is different: he is so far and away the best player in the country that his team could bow out early and he would still win. Not that his team will bow out early or that his team is not final-four caliber but rather that it doesn't matter.

It feels very weird to be defending anything Quint says....

In annointing Pannell so early, Kessinich has staked out a winning position. Either he's the guy who cemented the idea in voters' minds and he's a king-maker, or he's a powerful third-party woofiing agent: the the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx Lite (single sport only). It's like being short and long the same stock but with no financial downside.

Delaware upset Hofstra in the CAA semifinals. That's their second loss to Delaware this season. The Fighting Blue Hens will meet Massachusetts at Amherst in the CAA finals Saturday, meaning either Delaware or Massachusetts will get the CAA's automatic bid. If Hofstra still gets an at large bid, this could significant hurt Penn's chances at an at large bid.

Ronald '09
Delaware upset Hofstra in the CAA semifinals. That's their second loss to Delaware this season. The Fighting Blue Hens will meet Massachusetts at Amherst in the CAA finals Saturday, meaning either Delaware or Massachusetts will get the CAA's automatic bid. If Hofstra still gets an at large bid, this could significant hurt Penn's chances at an at large bid.

I doubt Hofstra makes it. The committee has made it clear they value SOS and QW's. Hofstra's "best" wins are over Colgate, Princeton, Penn State and UMass. Penn has 2 wins (over Duke and Bucknell) more impressive than anything Hofstra's done. They're going to be sweating it Sunday, and I don't think they've done enough to deserve a bid

Jeff Tambroni did a really good job at Penn State. The coaches at UHa and Siena did well, ditto Bucknell and Colgate. Nobody at Duke's been arrested the last couple years under Danowski. Wojcik really pulled up Harvard. And Bill Tierney at Denver is worth mentioning either for this or the all-round humanitarian award. Are we missing anyone?

billhoward
... Wojcik really pulled up Harvard ...

I think John Tillman should probably get some if not the majority of the credit for putting together a Harvard squad that can compete with most of DI.

billhoward
Jeff Tambroni did a really good job at Penn State. The coaches at UHa and Siena did well, ditto Bucknell and Colgate. Nobody at Duke's been arrested the last couple years under Danowski. Wojcik really pulled up Harvard. And Bill Tierney at Denver is worth mentioning either for this or the all-round humanitarian award. Are we missing anyone?

The season's not over yet. Let's see how these teams play between now and Memorial Day.

Oh, I forgot. Some are already playing golf.

Well, this seemed like the over-arching lacrosse thread, so I figured it would be a good place to link this.

No offense to the organizers, but I kinda hope their forum (when available) doesn't really catch on... Out of personal convenience to me, let's just keep all the hockey and lacrosse chatter in one place, shall we?

seems like you have to be a parent to logon, although maybe the forum wont be that way?

I am surprised they didnt come over here to plug the new site