lles is not the answer

[css228]

I'll admit that he could be a lot better with his stick handling but we don't need him to be Hextall. Hopefully Schafer will talk to him and he'll make better decisions going forward. That said he does have legitimate weaknesses as a goalie, and absolutely could be a flop. Still I'm not willing to judge him solely based on his performance last night or in a goalie platoon last year where he couldn't string together a few starts in a row. I don't think its a coincidence that his best weekend last year was the one he got to start both games. That said let's not blame him for the ECAC final last year. We were just outclassed on every level that game. Most importantly though, if Schafer comes to the decision that Iles isn't the answer we'll know because he'll recruit another goalie.

[Jim Hyla]

I think goalie may be our most questionable position, but I'm not ready to put Iles away quite yet. Just look at Scrivens vs. McKee. McKee was head and shoulders above Scrivens in their early years, but Scrivens turned out to be a better goalie. He was willing, or able, to learn and improve; but I think McKee always seemed to be willing to ride his natural talent, and didn't improve much.

[Trotsky]

We have seven* freshman forwards.  Our three most questionable positions are probably: C, LW and RW.

* Granted, at least four of them (Hudon, Dias, Ferlin, Lowry) are supposed to be super.

[Jim Hyla]

By questionable I meant most worrisome. I agree coach needs to pick out the forwards to dress, but that's  between top prospects. The goalie position may be our weakest.

[ajh258]

By questionable I meant most worrisome. I agree coach needs to pick out the forwards to dress, but that's  between top prospects. The goalie position may be our weakest.

Agreed. The freshmen looked very good for their experience level. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of them make the top 5 scorers for the year (if not more).

[Trotsky]

By questionable I meant most worrisome. I agree coach needs to pick out the forwards to dress, but that's  between top prospects. The goalie position may be our weakest.

I agree, but I'm really trying not to count chickens.  There's also always that transition to D-1, and having so many of them go through it simultaneously is scary.

Cole is skating tonight, so we'll have seen everybody but Hudon.

[Tom Lento]

Since Parris Duffus twenty years ago, when has a Cornell goalie established himself as The Answer by October of his sophomore year?  I come up with one:  David LeNeveu.  Besides LeNeveu, David McKee comes the closest; he became an elite goaltender in the first semester of his sophomore season.  Jason Elliott did so in the second semester of his sophomore year.  Matt Underhill and Ben Scrivens had their breakout seasons when they were juniors.

Remember, Andy Iles is only 19 years old.  It is far too soon to give up on him.

As another reference point, Matt Underhill appeared to take a step back in his development during his sophomore year, when he posted an .894 save percentage and didn't look good doing it. If you accept save percentage as a measure of a goaltender's performance (which I don't, really, but it's what I've got) Underhill was about the 10th best goalie in the ECAC and the second best on his own team (by a fair amount, at that - Ian Burt posted a .913). The following year he emerged as the clear #1 at Cornell and went on to become an All-American and the first in a string of goaltenders who helped return Cornell to national prominence, and he was technically far superior to the goaltender who flailed around to that .894 as a sophomore.

So, is Isles going to be a good, but not great, collegiate goaltender, or will he be the next Matt Underhill? I sure as hell don't know, but neither does anybody else.

As for Garman, remember, he *graduated* - he didn't just quit school to go pro. Maybe he would have stuck around if he were the undisputed starter, but that's not a given. He's 24, so I'm guessing the clock was ticking a little louder than it would have been for a 21 year old.

[ajh258]

Iles improved as the game went on tonight against Carleton, although he didn't face that many shots on goal (I think Carleton had 2 for the 1st period? The box scores are not out yet).

[ithacat]

So, is Isles going to be a good, but not great, collegiate goaltender, or will he be the next Matt Underhill? I sure as hell don't know, but neither does anybody else.

None of us will until he plays regularly. Iles hasn't been the man in 2 years. The NTDP always rotates goalies and then there was last season. Iles is 19 and has played 2650 minutes over 47 games in the past 2 seasons -- not counting World Junior tournament/camps. By comparison, Cornell's new freshman goalie is 21 and has played 5601 minutes over 94 games in that same period. Iles needs to play. The staff will determine whether he deserves to or not.

[Give My Regards]

As for Garman, remember, he *graduated* - he didn't just quit school to go pro. Maybe he would have stuck around if he were the undisputed starter, but that's not a given.

Once Garman graduated, he could not have returned to the team, even if he had come back to Cornell for an advanced degree.  For whatever reason, Ivy League rules prohibit graduate students from varsity sports, according to Brandon Thomas in the Ithaca Journal.  See the earlier forum thread on Garman leaving:  http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?1,168460

[marty]

But he had to ask for permission to graduate after three years. He could have elected to complete his degree with a senior year.

[Towerroad]

But he had to ask for permission to graduate after three years. He could have elected to complete his degree with a senior year.

Put yourself in Garman's shoes. He has the talent to make money playing professional hockey at some level. If he stays it is likely to be under the same platoon system. Regardless of the merits of this system how was that going to help him advance his professional career. The short answer is that it was not. So, he apparently met the requirements to graduate and made a perfectly rational decision to get started with the rest of his life. Good for him, I wish him nothing but the best.

[marty]

But he had to ask for permission to graduate after three years. He could have elected to complete his degree with a senior year.

Put yourself in Garman's shoes. He has the talent to make money playing professional hockey at some level. If he stays it is likely to be under the same platoon system. Regardless of the merits of this system how was that going to help him advance his professional career. The short answer is that it was not. So, he apparently met the requirements to graduate and made a perfectly rational decision to get started with the rest of his life. Good for him, I wish him nothing but the best.

Me too.

[pfibiger]

From:

http://cornellsun.com/section/sports/content/2011/10/24/m-hockey-freshmen%E2%80%88captains-prove-key-preseason-win-over-carleton

Head coach Mike Schafer '86 was pleased to get all three goalies playing experience this weekend, but noted, "Andy is our No. 1. We know that as a coaching staff."

[billhoward]

From:
http://cornellsun.com/section/sports/content/2011/10/24/m-hockey-freshmen%E2%80%88captains-prove-key-preseason-win-over-carleton

Head coach Mike Schafer '86 was pleased to get all three goalies playing experience this weekend, but noted, "Andy is our No. 1. We know that as a coaching staff."

Maybe someone should forward the thread to the coaching staff so they have the benefit of our collective insights. They may have been blinded by seeing Iles too often. As Malcolm Gladwell notes in Blink, sometimes first impressions are better and more accurate. As a Harvard alum, perhaps Gladwell formed the kernel of that insight when he wandered into Bright Center, saw the Crimson play, and immediately came away with a two-word judgment that is eternally correct.