What's going on with this year's team?

[ajh258]

I read the Sun article and have been watching some of the games. Seems like culture in the locker room is much improved, and that's contributing to the better performance. Is it that simple? Some talented freshmen definitely helped. Is this sustainable or is this the peak?

[hypotenuse]

I don't know, but it has sure been a pleasant surprise. Weren't we ranked below the Sisters of Mercy preseason (in hockey, not goodness).

[Dafatone]

I've spent the last few years listening to a lot more games than I've watched, but from what I can tell, we were REALLY bad at finishing our chances the last two years.  I was a huge Bardreau fan, but he was constantly getting to the doorstep and not scoring.

This year, we're scoring on a lot of our chances.  I wonder if some of it is luck (in that we're scoring on chances at a higher rate than we probably will be for the rest of the year), but mostly I'm willing to buy that last year's seniors were just sort of an unpleasant group or something.

I liked the intensity that Mccarron brought, but he could get very, very chippy.  In one of the threads about expectations for this year, I said that an underperforming team + losing a bunch of players = opportunity for unexpected success.

Still WAY too early to draw any conclusions, but it's nice to see (or hear) some goals.

[steveb]

Our wins so far have come against teams that are currently 40th, 48th, and 55th in the PWR. Ask this question again after we've played Yale, Harvrad, Clarkson, St. Lawrence, RPI, BU.....

[Trotsky]

I like that the goals are coming in all sorts of ways.  Screens from the point, pretty passes, one-timers, messy scrums in front.  And they're coming from all the lines and the blueline.  At the moment we just look like a good team.  Big test at Yale next Friday.

[upprdeck]

wouldnt that be the teams we tended to lose to last year

[cbuckser]

Maybe those of us who guessed last year that The Three Seasons of Darkness were indicative of a problematic cohort of players, rather than a systemic failure of the hockey program, are correct. ;-)

Obviously, it's way too soon to reach any sort of definitive conclusion. But the early returns (as measured by both the process and the results) are encouraging. Through six games, the team has won almost half as many games as it did in 31 games last season. Concededly, this season has not been perfect: The team did not play well for the first periods at Dwyer Arena and Starr Rink and the second period against Quinnipiac. Nevertheless, the team has played its A game a far higher percentage of the time so far this season than it had in the prior three years.

As I wrote nine months ago, if the bad-cohort theory is correct, it doesn't absolve the coaching staff of responsibility. The coaching staff brought in the players. In addition, the head coach did not adjust when the players in the Class of 2015 did not pan out the way we had expected. Leaving a forward in the midst of an 8-point season on the first power-play unit and giving him first-line minutes for 30 of 31 games was an on-ice manifestation of this. Not making the cultural changes sooner was an off-ice failing.

That said, if the bad-cohort theory is correct, then the coaching staff can right the ship. Hopefully, that is what has been happening so far this season.

[RichH]

Our wins so far have come against teams that are currently 40th, 48th, and 55th in the PWR. Ask this question again after we've played Yale, Harvrad, Clarkson, St. Lawrence, RPI, BU.....

PWR in Mid-November is a ridiculous thing to cite.

Last year, we took 2 points vs Yale, 3 points from Harvard, and swept Clarkson. Only managed a tie vs RPI & got swept by SLU. Certainly those teams haven't remained static either, so a point is taken. At the beginning of last season, Colgate was one of the league favorites & they were the ECAC runner-up. I think by Feb, they will have put up good wins. I don't look at the Spink/Finn squad and see them as being anything other than a team who will be a tough matchup at any point.

Cornell is scoring at a 3.83 GPG clip, which far outpaces last year. The GWG last night was #23 on the season. The 23rd goal of last season came on Jan. 9th. The one thing we've all agreed on is that we needed more offensive output. So far, we're getting it.

I'm one of the last people to admit that "clubhouse chemistry" means anything on the ice, but there has been a change. There are a lot of tests to come for this team, yes. But I'm finding myself looking forward to each game more. There have been fun things to watch. And the other teams in the league are taking notice.

[Trotsky]

I'm finding myself looking forward to each game more. There have been fun things to watch.

Very much this.

[KeithK]

I'm finding myself looking forward to each game more. There have been fun things to watch.

Very much this.

And regardless of whether we finish first or last or win trophies isn't this what being a fan is about?

[Trotsky]

I'm finding myself looking forward to each game more. There have been fun things to watch.

Very much this.

And regardless of whether we finish first or last or win trophies isn't this what being a fan is about?

No.

This is what being a fan is about.

[Lauren '06]

I'm finding myself looking forward to each game more. There have been fun things to watch.

Very much this.

And regardless of whether we finish first or last or win trophies isn't this what being a fan is about?

No.

This is what being a fan is about.

Expected polar bear F-16 video. Was disappointed.

[BearLover]

This post is nonsensical, never mind.

[TimV]

Funny - it made perfect sense to ME...::nut::

[Chris '03]

I'm finding myself looking forward to each game more. There have been fun things to watch.

Very much this.

And regardless of whether we finish first or last or win trophies isn't this what being a fan is about?

No.

This is what being a fan is about.

Expected polar bear F-16 video. Was disappointed.

This exactly.