This is a temperature check for the fanbase.
Men's team.
If a single "Never" vote is cast we'll know who it's from
Wrong way to check temperature. Even someone pessimistic about our chances next season like me should understand there's a realistic chance of making the NCAAs.
Next year's team should be a lot worse but maybe we won't have to play Quinnipiac in lake placid and the other teams in conference will lose enough talent that we'll still be better than them.
We also don't know who is coming next year or if Casey can pull someone from the portal or major juniors.
So I'm not going to answer the poll, because I don't know how to judge it.
I'm gonna say '27. I think there's going to be enough of a struggle next year, what with so many freshmen expected to play big roles and the 4/6 overhaul of the D and Keopple, that we're going to miss, but we'll be competitive down the stretch and have a good ECAC showing, I think. But if we don't make it in '26 (and we definitely can!), we will in '27.
I think we have more room for error than one might think. Even if keopple/whoever the goalie isn't great, we still probably get better numbers than Shane gave us during the regular season. And, of course, we have tons of experience coming back from injury now including guys who can make a difference like Devlin and Winter Wallace. Also just based on how many posts and bad bounces it seemed like we had I think we're in for some positive regression and back in the tourney.
Because it made me vote to view the posts in this thread, I said 2028. That's based on the fact I think we will be too inexperienced in goal/D next year. Then the following year we probably won't have Castagna/Walsh anymore. I said 2028 instead of later because I still don't know how to answer this poll and am not sure if being 30% next season, 30% the following season, and 40% the season after that means I shouldn't say any of the next three years or if instead I should take the mean of our next appearance, which I'd guess is borderline between 2027 and 2028.
Whoops - the after 2030 vote was me. I answered too quickly and thought it was referring to the frozen four, not just making the tournament. I'd still stick with after 2030 for that but think we will be very competitive moving forward and could make the tournament as soon as next year. Lake Placid is tough on Q and most other teams in the ECAC are dealing with some early departures or significant losses.
I was tempted to say next year (but settled for 2027). I resect Casey Jones' recruiting talents. The whole point of the one-year crossover was to smooth the ride in. We are getting good at this win-the-ECACs-as-underdogs thing.
Keopple played only 210 minutes last year, but
had a .958 save percentage.
We make NCAA tourney plenty of times, we should always be in contention via winning at Placid -
issue is when will we finally get thru a Regional Final to make the Frozen Four again?
Part of the fun is that you never know how a season will play out. Heck, we don't even know the schedule yet. I'm excited to see how Coach Jones works.
Quote from: 617BigRedWe make NCAA tourney plenty of times, we should always be in contention via winning at Placid -
issue is when will we finally get thru a Regional Final to make the Frozen Four again?
We have made it plenty of times, but that is in no way guaranteed. That's the point.
Look at the history (http://www.tbrw.info/ncaa_Tournament/ncaa_Seeds_Matrix.html) of all teams in the NC$$. CC, once a regular, hasn't appeared since 2011. Clarkson had a dominant period, then a drought. Sucks had an 8-year nap. Wisconsin, one of the most storied programs, had one appearance in 10 years.
What we know as Cornell's NC$$ record is Schafer's record. It's not a birthright, it has to be earned again each year. It could go into hibernation, or we might just keep on keepin' on. That's why it's fun.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/dramatic-moves-made-in-ohl-ncaa-this-weekend-really-different-world/
One thing comes to mind is the CHL treats its players like trash, and hey suddenly there is competition and if you abuse a guy he's gone.
That can only be good news for players.
More importantly, a choice you make at 15 doesn't preclude getting a degree.
I don't know what it will do to us, but I like it in principle. Choices are good.