Reflections on the weekend; thinking about the future

[RedAR]

Yes, some things are beyond our control.  But some things are under the ref's control.

[Mike Nevin]

Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention, but can't recall seeing an RPI team play like that before.  They did a better job getting the puck deep and keeping it there.  They played a tough physical game.  

I am used to RPI trying to use their speed in transition, and relying on a single dominant line for great scoring, while giving up plenty of great chances.  This team beat Cornell in the physical possession & forecheck game.  Almost nobody could have beat them at that game a year ago.

This is a better RPI team than most recent versions.  With Colgate and Clarkson and RPI all improving year over year, its going to be tough second half of the season devoid of any easy points.

[marty]

This is the best RIP team since the Fridge began coaching.  He seems to have a good assistant coach-or two.  ( Perhaps it's former Union player Andrew Will.)

I have also heard there is an unofficial assistant who has helped them with their power play - which at times looked very good on Saturday.  Also, to give the Big Red some credit, I think it is worth noting that they scored 5 on 3 and 4 on 3.

Finally, there were three deaths in the RIP community within the last year.  This has bonded the team.  One of their devoted fans told me that the team last year didn't have a team mentality and many players disliked others on the team.

The bottom line is that they play like a team and it is paying off.

[Jeff Hopkins \'82]

Actually, I've been a little more nervous about Colgate.  They've beaten some decent competition, including RIP.

JH

[Josh '99]

Marty'74 wrote:
This is the best RIP team since the Fridge began coaching.  He seems to have a good assistant coach-or two.  ( Perhaps it's former Union player Andrew Will.)

I disagree...  This year's RPI team may be turning heads, but their team of '97-98 (Healey, St. Hilaire, Garver, Tapper, Laing) was scary.  Of course, I may just be saying that because f!@#$king Tapper always killed us.  :-(

[marty]

They had talent back then but they weren't a TEAM[/i].  Their style has been absolutely abominable for all of Fridgen's tenure...until this year.  The last time they were in the regionals that I can remember was 1995 (from memory-I could be off by a year or so).  

I am not sure what has gotten into them this year but it makes me think that the new Bioengineering push at RIP has shown some early rewards and real promise.  They did a great job with the brain transplant accomplished on the Fridge.

::bugeye::

[Will]

Marty'74 wrote:

I am not sure what has gotten into them this year

Some RPI fans believe that it's because it's a year ending in '4'.  Apparently, RPI has made the NCAA tournament every year ending in '4' for as long as there's been the tournament, with the exception of I believe 1974 when they made the NIT instead.  Given their record to date, a conference tournament upset might not be out of the question.

[ursusminor]

[q]I have also heard there is an unofficial assistant who has helped them with their power play - which at times looked very good on Saturday.[/q] That would be George Morrison, formerly of Denver. IIRC, Morrison was one of the stars of the Denver team that beat Cornell in 1969. See http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10848480&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=32464&rfi=6

[q]Some RPI fans believe that it's because it's a year ending in '4'. Apparently, RPI has made the NCAA tournament every year ending in '4' for as long as there's been the tournament, with the exception of I believe 1974 when they made the NIT instead. [/q] That is correct, although RPI refused the invitation to the Hockey NIT. That was the only year it was played.

[marty]

Thanks, um.  My source gave me George with no last name.

[Al DeFlorio]

Marty'74 wrote:

Thanks, um.  My source gave me George with no last name.

Played a couple of years with the Blues after Denver, IIRC.  A number of Denver players from that 68-69 team had success in the NHL (Koroll and Magnuson probably the best known), which was unusual at the time.