College Hockey News: "Red Alert"

[RichH]

I'm also taking the Colgate upset over SLU.  The Saints have been quite consistent this year, but nothing about them has really impressed me.  I think Dex can steal one, and give Colgate a fair shot at winning a 2nd.

I also like Clarkson to hold serve in what I hope will be the most interesting series this weekend.  Clarkson has too much firepower and being home for the QF will pump them up.

Dartmouth-Princeton.  While I like the confidence Princeton has shown late in the season, I just don't see Dartmouth losing after Princeton had to come up huge in the 9th period vs. Brown.

Q-C...yikes.  Although Cornell is as inconsistent as they've ever been, I don't trust Q's defense at all, and I think Cornell is feeling comfortable at home.  That said, it just feels like a heartbreaker coming up.  I'm planning on staying in town Sunday.

[Josh '99]

[quote calgARI '07]Ted Donato has taken his team to ECACHL Championships in each of his years of as coach with a lot of Mazzoleni players.  His teams have not had the talent of the top echelon of the conference yet he has been in the title game each year despite poor starts.  I'd say he is doing a pretty good job - superior to that of Roll at this point.  I think very highly of Roll too but Donato has clearly proven himself despite having less coaching experience.  Donato killed Cornell with matchups in the Championship game last year despite having the last change.  He is a damn good coach regardless of how long he has done it for.[/quote]In case I wasn't clear on this point, I certainly agree that Donato deserves credit for what he's done in his first couple of years.  I don't think you're being realistic in your assessment of the talent he inherited though.  Harvard's team in Donato's first year had 9 draft picks, including some pretty good (by ECAC standards, anyway) talent like Tom Cavanagh, Jon Pelle, Dylan Reese, Peter Hafner, and (much as I personally think these last two guys suck) Noah Welch and Dov Grumet-Morris.  He took over a good team that had won 2 of the last 3 ECAC tournaments (NCAA tournament choking aside).

[Trotsky]

I think Dartmouth and St. Lawrence are safe (or at any rate, as safe as anybody not playing Union can be in the playoffs).  The other two series look like 50/50 toss-ups for the same reason -- Clarkson and Quinnipiac are the better teams, top-to-bottom, but Harvard and Cornell have enormous experience and playoff confidence.

One of those two home teams is probably going down.  I just hope it isn't us.

[calgARI '07]

[quote Josh '99]In case I wasn't clear on this point, I certainly agree that Donato deserves credit for what he's done in his first couple of years.  I don't think you're being realistic in your assessment of the talent he inherited though.  Harvard's team in Donato's first year had 9 draft picks, including some pretty good (by ECAC standards, anyway) talent like Tom Cavanagh, Jon Pelle, Dylan Reese, Peter Hafner, and (much as I personally think these last two guys suck) Noah Welch and Dov Grumet-Morris.  He took over a good team that had won 2 of the last 3 ECAC tournaments (NCAA tournament choking aside).[/quote]

I never said those weren't quality players he inherited.  My point was that like any coach he came into a situation where it was all players someone else targeted and recruited.  Not an easy situation though it worked out for both Schafer and Donato.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Trotsky]I think Dartmouth and St. Lawrence are safe (or at any rate, as safe as anybody not playing Union can be in the playoffs).  The other two series look like 50/50 toss-ups for the same reason -- Clarkson and Quinnipiac are the better teams, top-to-bottom, but Harvard and Cornell have enormous experience and playoff confidence.
[/quote]
Agree.  The problem for us will be: even if we get past Q, we're gonna be stuck with either SLU (C beats H) or D (H beats C) in the semis.  Those two are our worst possible match-ups, although Dartmouth's record in ECAC semifinals this century rivals Harvard's in the NCAAs.

One can hope, I suppose:  P is 1-0-1 this year against D.

[Chris '03]

[quote Al DeFlorio]

One can hope, I suppose:  P is 1-0-1 this year against D.[/quote]

And Yale was 2-0 against Harvard. I think you're overlooking Colgate, though. It's not out of the question that they could provide some matchup help by knocking off SLU.

[Trotsky]

[quote Al DeFlorio]The problem for us will be: even if we get past Q, we're gonna be stuck with either SLU (C beats H) or D (H beats C) in the semis.[/quote]"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Chris '03][quote Al DeFlorio]

One can hope, I suppose:  P is 1-0-1 this year against D.[/quote]

And Yale was 2-0 against Harvard. I think you're overlooking Colgate, though. It's not out of the question that they could provide some matchup help by knocking off SLU.[/quote]
Nothing's ever "out of the question" (see HC vs. Minny), but in my opinion that's even less likely than P over D.  But I'm hoping for either or both.

As I said above, though, I agree with Greg that SLU and D are relatively "safe."  Certainly as compared with the other two series.  Q and C are very even and Harvard has a recent record of over-achievement in the ECACs much like Cornell once did.

[LaJollaRed]

Speaking of "Rebuilding Year"

The team's practice jerseys have "N.E.X.T." stenciled on the bottom. Any guesses as to what this means to them?

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote LaJollaRed]Speaking of "Rebuilding Year"

The team's practice jerseys have "N.E.X.T." stenciled on the bottom. Any guesses as to what this means to them?[/quote]
Dunno, but I hope the lacrosse team has "T.H.I.S." stenciled on theirs.

[jtwcornell91]

[quote Al DeFlorio]Nothing's ever "out of the question" (see HC vs. Minny)[/quote]

I had to go listen to "Holy Cross homer call" again. :-D