ECAC 2014-15

[RichH]

I'll also take a Thanksgiving stab at another commonly seen trope: that teams like Yale have evolved and moved past the stodgy, old, defense-first style of play. Cornell's current style is a relic, doomed to failure and vulnerable to change. Keith Allain has figured this out and the game has passed Schafer by.

From http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2014/11/25_lyons_den.php

Yale is a different team now than it was just two seasons ago. It is a team that is built from net out. It is a far cry from the run and gun teams it once had. Most of the high-end offensive talent is gone, both Kenny Agostino and Jesse Root graduated last season. This year's Yale is built upon balanced scoring, strong defensive positioning and of course goaltending.

"Goaltending in hockey, I think is the most important individual position in all of team sports," said Allain, who was a goalie himself for Yale. "When a goalie gives the team confidence, it allows the team to settle down and its (sic) allows the team to make a mistake or two."

[Jim Hyla]

I'll also take a Thanksgiving stab at another commonly seen trope: that teams like Yale have evolved and moved past the stodgy, old, defense-first style of play. Cornell's current style is a relic, doomed to failure and vulnerable to change. Keith Allain has figured this out and the game has passed Schafer by.

From http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2014/11/25_lyons_den.php

Yale is a different team now than it was just two seasons ago. It is a team that is built from net out. It is a far cry from the run and gun teams it once had. Most of the high-end offensive talent is gone, both Kenny Agostino and Jesse Root graduated last season. This year's Yale is built upon balanced scoring, strong defensive positioning and of course goaltending.

"Goaltending in hockey, I think is the most important individual position in all of team sports," said Allain, who was a goalie himself for Yale. "When a goalie gives the team confidence, it allows the team to settle down and its (sic) allows the team to make a mistake or two."

Indeed, if you saw this years game, you would have noticed that they no longer had that aggressive 2 man forecheck, that so often bothered our breakout. Their style was similar to ours. They started offensive first, we started defensive first, and we both ended up in between.

[Dutchman]

I believe the ECAC has about 72 Out of Conference (non-exhibition) games coming up starting today and extending into January. The non-ivy's have gotten the league off to a good start for the most part and the Ivy's are continuing and building on that (Thank you Harvard !!!). IMO the ECAC has never been more competitive in the past 5 years as it is this year. However, that is just an opinion and the pairwise does not show this yet. To land as many teams as possible in the national tournament its very important that the league do well, starting tonight. Cornell has 5 out of conference games coming up. It is 3rd in the nation in defense. How about sweeping these five games, and especially taking both DU games. Well within Cornell's reach. Harvard has been running roughshod over all its OC Competition. How about Cornell doing the same, starting with Penn State, starting saturday.

[ugarte]

To land as many teams as possible in the national tournament its very importnat that the league do well, starting tonight. Cornell has 5 out of conference games coming up. It is 3rd in the nation in defense.  How about sweeping these five games, and especially taking both DU games. Well within Cornell's reach. Harvard has been running roughshod over all its OC Competition. How about Cornell doing the same, starting with Penn State, starting saturday.

Good idea. I'm on it.

[Trotsky]

Sullivan's ECAC column in USCHO led with Cornell (2 days old but I haven't seen it posted here).

[Trotsky]

Hayden Stewart named ECAC ROTW.

[Trotsky]

First night of holiday NC play not kind to the ECAC excepting a suprise by Princeton:

UMass 3 Quinnipiac 2
Princeton 3 Michigan State 1
Michigan 3 RPI 2
Merrimack 3 Clarkson 0
Union 3 Notre Dame 2 (ot)

[Scersk '97]

First night of holiday NC play not kind to the ECAC excepting a suprise by Princeton:

UMass 3 Quinnipiac 2
Princeton 3 Michigan State 1
Michigan 3 RPI 2
Merrimack 3 Clarkson 0
Union 3 Notre Dame 2 (ot)

Too bad RPI choked late in the third.

[Jim Hyla]

First night of holiday NC play not kind to the ECAC excepting a suprise by Princeton:

UMass 3 Quinnipiac 2
Princeton 3 Michigan State 1
Michigan 3 RPI 2
Merrimack 3 Clarkson 0
Union 3 Notre Dame 2 (ot)

Now Michigan State knows how we feel. Shots 45-26.

[marty]

First night of holiday NC play not kind to the ECAC excepting a suprise by Princeton:

UMass 3 Quinnipiac 2
Princeton 3 Michigan State 1
Michigan 3 RPI 2
Merrimack 3 Clarkson 0
Union 3 Notre Dame 2 (ot)

RPI snatched defeat from the jaws of victory while Union did just the opposite.

RPI seemed to be headed to a win but with 3:02 left Michigan scored and then hit the GWG 29 seconds later.  Union on the other hand seemed to pick up the Shillelagh and hit Notre Dame over the head.  ND was leading 2-0 after two. Union tied it with 1:45 left and then won it with only 22 seconds left in OT. Ken Schott said this was their first OT win in almost three years.

The Notre Dame game video was broadcast free on the web. It looks like today's Union video won't be on the web but the losers will showcase themselves vs. TOSU here tonight.

I remain unimpressed by home teams playing consolation games in prime time with the championship played in the afternoon.  Let's hope TOSU beats the crap out of the Irish so that they wonder with which end of the Shillelagh they were hit.

[Jim Hyla]

First night of holiday NC play not kind to the ECAC excepting a suprise by Princeton:

UMass 3 Quinnipiac 2
Princeton 3 Michigan State 1
Michigan 3 RPI 2
Merrimack 3 Clarkson 0
Union 3 Notre Dame 2 (ot)

RPI snatched defeat from the jaws of victory while Union did just the opposite.

RPI seemed to be headed to a win but with 3:02 left Michigan scored and then hit the GWG 29 seconds later.  Union on the other hand seemed to pick up the Shillelagh and hit Notre Dame over the head.  ND was leading 2-0 after two. Union tied it with 1:45 left and then won it with only 22 seconds left in OT. Ken Schott said this was their first OT win in almost three years.

The Notre Dame game video was broadcast free on the web. It looks like today's Union video won't be on the web but the losers will showcase themselves vs. TOSU here tonight.

I remain unimpressed by home teams playing consolation games in prime time with the championship played in the afternoon.  Let's hope TOSU beats the crap out of the Irish so that they wonder with which end of the Shillelagh they were hit.

Having watched both of these games, I have to say that Union was definately the better team, and Michigan only slightly better. If you want to see a wonderful example of being for the team and not just yourself, watch the winning OT goal by Union. Beautiful passing, with 1 and maybe 2 players giving up good chances for a SOG, only to have them both pass to another player, eventually leaving the goalie completely out of position. Having said that, the quality of ND was demonstrated by allowing Union to get that winning goal on a 4 on 2 with 22 seconds left in OT. ND did not look good.

I'm still hopeful the Union game will be shown. It's listed on the ECAC site, but not on NBC. Which one do you think is more accurate?:-D

[Jim Hyla]

First night of holiday NC play not kind to the ECAC excepting a suprise by Princeton:

UMass 3 Quinnipiac 2
Princeton 3 Michigan State 1
Michigan 3 RPI 2
Merrimack 3 Clarkson 0
Union 3 Notre Dame 2 (ot)

RPI snatched defeat from the jaws of victory while Union did just the opposite.

RPI seemed to be headed to a win but with 3:02 left Michigan scored and then hit the GWG 29 seconds later.  Union on the other hand seemed to pick up the Shillelagh and hit Notre Dame over the head.  ND was leading 2-0 after two. Union tied it with 1:45 left and then won it with only 22 seconds left in OT. Ken Schott said this was their first OT win in almost three years.

The Notre Dame game video was broadcast free on the web. It looks like today's Union video won't be on the web but the losers will showcase themselves vs. TOSU here tonight.

I remain unimpressed by home teams playing consolation games in prime time with the championship played in the afternoon.  Let's hope TOSU beats the crap out of the Irish so that they wonder with which end of the Shillelagh they were hit.

Having watched both of these games, I have to say that Union was definately the better team, and Michigan only slightly better. If you want to see a wonderful example of being for the team and not just yourself, watch the winning OT goal by Union. Beautiful passing, with 1 and maybe 2 players giving up good chances for a SOG, only to have them both pass to another player, eventually leaving the goalie completely out of position. Having said that, the quality of ND was demonstrated by allowing Union to get that winning goal on a 4 on 2 with 22 seconds left in OT. ND did not look good.

I'm still hopeful the Union game will be shown. It's listed on the ECAC site, but not on NBC. Which one do you think is more accurate?:-D

Well they're both correct, sort of. NBC is not carrying the game but video is free on Watch ND. No audio, well you get the rink sounds.

[Jim Hyla]

Wow, Union's down 4-0 in first period.

[Iceberg]

I'm curious to see whether Colgate can hold off BU.

[Bahnstorm]

I'm curious to see whether Colgate can hold off BU.

As of 18 seconds into the third, survey says... no.

There is video of this game available linked off here YMMV.