Cornell 6 Colgate 2 (final)

[ACM]

I watched the game on TV, and I did not see Esposito for most of the last two periods. Anybody who was there have any idea what happened?

[Larry72]

Riley is a Junior! The fact that he's a first round draft choice, makes is possible that he might go to the pro's after this year.  However, given that he's supposed to be a high scoring forward and really hasn't been till lately, it might be better for him (and for Cornell) to play his senior year at Cornell.  I certainly hope he takes the recent experiences of Moulson and Bitz as examples of what staying in school for four years does for a career.

[Trotsky]

Riley is a Junior! The fact that he's a first round draft choice, makes is possible that he might go to the pro's after this year.  However, given that he's supposed to be a high scoring forward and really hasn't been till lately, it might be better for him (and for Cornell) to play his senior year at Cornell.  I certainly hope he takes the recent experiences of Moulson and Bitz as examples of what staying in school for four years does for a career.

Here's hoping.  If he's going to have a future as a third/fourth line forward (e.g., Manderville), this is the best place for him to learn that game.

[David Harding]

Some interesting comments from Dan Sweeney in the Ithaca Journal

-          Nash said that the reason he missed four straight games was because of a quadriceps injury he sustained against North Dakota. Cornell coach Mike Schafer had been tight-lipped about the injury. It was kind of funny because when Nash was asked what the injury was Tuesday, he looked over his shoulder, which I presume was to see if Schafer was listening. Schafer was about 15 feet away engaged in another converation. At first, Nash said it was a leg injury, then, without prodding, revealed it was a quad.

"Tonight was the first time I actually felt 100 percent," Nash said.


-          Schafer said the reason he went with the seven defensemen Tuesday was because the TV timeouts allowed him to shorten the forward shifts. Blake Gallagher took a couple of double shifts and defensemen Keir Ross ended up centering a few others. I believe Cornell is 3-0 when it starts seven blueliners (Tuesday, win at Clarkson during flu bug and Clarkson at home with Nash out).

"We knew the TV timeouts were the key," Schafer said. "The TV timeouts really help you. A 90-second rest three times a period it allows your better players to get a rest and get out on the ice more."

[marty]

The TV guys were ok, and Fridgen played it pretty straight even though he's a Colgate alum.

I didn't realize that.  TW's Clarkson-Union broadcast a few weeks ago, which also involved the Fridge, was blatantly pro-Union.  On the chat, I labelled him a "freelance homer".

He's from around my era (mid-80's).  Very good player at Colgate.  IIRC, he left Colgate immediately at the end of his Senior season and joined the Bruins.  I think he was considered a pretty hot prospect, but didn't nave much of an NHL career.

Fridge was an assistant at Union, I think.  The ticket office loves him.  I think the feeling is mutual.  The gossip during the RPI era was always positive concerning his relations with student athletes and their parents.  People liked him but not his coaching.

[Trotsky]

Fridge was a long time coach at RPI.  Not sure about Union.

[marty]

Fridge was a long time coach at RPI.  Not sure about Union.

Yes, I missed the longest game in history (Yale over Union) to watch (and heckle) Fridge in what we all, as season ticket holders, assumed  would mark his exit from RPI during the 2006 ECAC playoffs.

[Al DeFlorio]

I watched the game on TV, and I did not see Esposito for most of the last two periods. Anybody who was there have any idea what happened?

Hurt early in the first period: http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=8c0d4383c9a844a1a434ada330af5d8d&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a8c0d4383c9a844a1a434ada330af5d8dPost%3a1afdb20a-9b9e-4c02-8a1a-217310224a80&sid=sitelife.theithacajournal.com

Will miss the Harvard/Dartmouth weekend.

[ithacat]

I know we shouldn't look past this season, but if Riley doesn't come back next year, it's hard to see where the scoring will come from.  Gallagher's goal on the 4 on 3 after Schafer took the time out was beautifully designed and executed.

What's the emoticon for buzzkiller?::twak::

Here's hoping that Riley realizes that being so close to graduation is too great an opportunity to pass up and returns. Gallagher and Riley have a realistic chance of joining Greening in the century club by the end of the season (hopefully another 12 games). Replacing that kind of scoring in one season would be tough for any program. One would expect Kennedy, Devin, Jillson, and Collins to step up, as well as Esposito and Miller. Collins and Miller, particularly, were big scorers in juniors. Mowrey should have an opportunity to get top line minutes next year as well.

Sorry to rain on the parade :-P.  I agree with your assessment about the players most likely to step up.  While I believe Miller and Collins will show improvement, nothing I have seen indicates that either of them has the scoring ability of Nash, Greening or Gallagher.  I think Jillson will have a breakout season next year, and we'll get more production from Esposito as well.  Mowrey is intriguing, as he's putting up huge numbers in a top junior league.

Again, those three would not be easily replaced in most programs. Bear in mind, however, that players have roles to fill and some aren't expected to score as much as others (or get the same opportunities to score) during different phases of their careers. Gallagher's a good example -- he scored 3 goals as a freshman and 6 as a sophomore. Collins scored 3 as a frosh and sits at 4; Miller's at 2; and Esposito's at 3. Each of those players has the potential to produce in the 20-25 pts per season range. Greening and Riley were a different story from day one. They're three great players and I love watching them play. Hopefully, Riley returns because it'll be tough enough replacing two of them.

We shouldn't forget how productive Riley and Gallagher have been at FOs. Yikes...