tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59168254830727036662024-02-20T03:02:39.049-05:00Pressbox ViewEd Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-39224869365664263652013-12-13T18:04:00.001-05:002013-12-13T18:04:43.169-05:00Engineers face tougher test this weekend TROY -- Beating Princeton last week was no big accomplishment for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The 5-2 decision over the Tigers was a big victory for the Engineers, nonetheless.<br />
It was one of those games where, if you lose, it could have been devastating.<br />
The previous night, the Engineers let a two-goal lead slip away and had to settle for a 3-3 tie for the third time this season -- all at home. This one was against Quinnipiac, the No. 6 team (No. 5 then) in the country. It would have been a great feather in the Engineers' collective cap.<br />
Didn't happen, though, and if the Engineers had fallen victim to a huge upset, as mentioned, it would have been a big-blot type of loss.<br />
Princeton, a medicore team at full strength, was without its two top scorers, Andrew Calof and Tyler Maugeri and five other injured players. The Tigers were struggling and put just 10 forwards on the ice.<br />
It's a game the Engineers had to win, and they did.<br />
Against 20th-ranked Denver tonight and Saturday night, the test will be much more demanding. <br />
The Pioneers are an outstanding defensive team, have one of the top goaltenders in the nation in Sam Brittain and their special times are upper echelon.<br />
If the Engineers can get at least one victory this weekend, it will serve them well in power rankings and in the confidence area as well.<br />
<b>Monty steps into big shoes: </b>Jim Montgomery was asked what it was like to take over for a legend.<br />
He did so, last June, accepting the head hockey coaching job at the University of Denver, replacing the legendary George Gwozdecky.<br />
In 19 years at Denver, Gwozdecky won 443 games and two national championships.<br />
Much is expected of Montgomery; it would have been no matter who was hired.<br />
"It's been good so far," said Montgomery, who'll lead his Denver Pioneers against RPI tonight and Saturday night.<br />
He gave Gwozdecky much of the credit for an easy transition.<br />
"The transition was smooth, thankfully, because of the great work Gwoz had done. It's a great culture there and the infrastructure was already set up.<br />
"It wasn't like when Seth (Appert) came here, the amazing job he's done with the rink (seeing to it that) new locker room and the (coaches) offices (were added).That was already in place at Denver (the palatial Magness Arena is one of college hockey's top venues). That's been great.<br />
"Just the change in (style of ) how we want to play has been the difference," Montgomery said.<br />
The Pioneers come in with an 8-6-2 overall record which could have been better had several star players left school early for pro hockey -- center Nick Shore (14 goals-20 assists-34 points), defenseman Scott Mayfield (4-13-17) and standout goaltender <span id="redesign_default"><span id="MNGiSection">Juho
Olkinuora (13-6-5, 2.35 goals- against average). </span></span><br />
Montgomery, an RPI assistant under Appert for four seasons, will have many RPI fans wishing him well this weekend. The team -- not so much.<br />
"Well, that's great," he said. "I enjoyed my four years here. Seth is a great friend, he's a wonderful person, he's a mentor, and he's done a terrific job here building an elite program. I'm looking forward to this weekend."<br />
You can put the words "beating him" between "to" and "this."<br />
The competitive Montgomery came here to win two games; reminiscing -- no matter how pleasant -- is a sidelight.<br />
<b>A steal?:</b> Rensselaer picking up a commitment from Louie Nanne (Lou Nanne III) may not be a steal but it certainly is a nice pickup.<br />
The grandson of former Minnesota North Starts standout Lou Nanne had planned to follow his grandfather and father Marty and become a Golden Gopher -- the University of Minnesota.<br />
He de-commited to Minnesota and called RPI.<br />
Nanne, an Edina, Minn. native, had played for Appert on the USA Under 18 team two years ago when Appert coached the team. Perhaps the fact that his former Edina High teammates, defenseman Parker Reno, is an RPI freshman, also influenced Nanne.<br />
Nanne's not big -- 5-foot-10, 177 pounds and isn't considered a big goal scorer -- but he is a solid, all-around player. A left-handed stick, the 19-year old Nanne is speedy and goes have good stick skills but won't shy away from joining a crowd headed toward a loose puck in the corner.<br />
He plays left wing and center equally well and since RPI graduates two centers -- Brock Higgs and Johnny Rogic -- Nanne can get some minutes next season. <span id="redesign_default"><span id="MNGiSection"> </span></span><br />
<span id="redesign_default"><span id="MNGiSection">Committed recruit Carlos Fornaris is also a center.</span></span><br />
<span id="redesign_default"><span id="MNGiSection">With 12 returning forwards and four coming in next season -- Nanne, Fornaris, and left wingers Evan Tironese and Drew Melanson, and with seniors Higgs, Rogic and Matt Tinordi leaving, the Engineers will have 16 forwards next season.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-63464392824600716452013-12-11T14:10:00.001-05:002013-12-11T14:34:28.892-05:002016 NCAA Regional in Albany<div id="yiv7196000296yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1386787800872_11">
ALBANY -- NCAA Tournament hockey is returning to the Times Union Center. So is NCAA women's basketball.</div>
<div id="yiv7196000296yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1386787800872_13">
The NCAA announced today that the 2016 Hockey Tournament's East Regional will be played at the downtown arena.</div>
<div id="yiv7196000296yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1386788124434_7">
March 28-31, 2015, the NCAA Women's Basketball East Regional championship will be held at the TU Center, with the winner advancing to the Final Four in Tampa.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1386788361576_8">
It will mark the first time Albany has hosted an NCAA women's event.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1386788361576_10">
"We're excited," said TU Center General Manager Bob Belber. "We're going to put on two excellent events for local fans in men's hockey and women's basketball and for the teams, players and coaches and their fans."<br />
The other regional sites for the 2016 are Providence, Cincinnati and Fargo, with the Frozen Four at TD Bank Boston Garden.</div>
<div>
The TU Center has hosted NCAA hockey events seven times in the past, the latest being 2010, and housed the 2001 Frozen Four, in which Boston College beat North Dakota, 3-2, to win the national championship.</div>
Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-58174681325457354112013-12-07T15:22:00.002-05:002013-12-07T15:22:35.379-05:00After another lost two-goal lead and tie, Engineers need to be "ornery"<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386436798859_2494">
TROY -- Seth
Appert was pleased with the play of his Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
hockey team during Friday night's game. Afterwards,
though, he said he hopes his team comes out "ornery and angry" for
today's (4 p.m.) ECAC Hockey contest against Princeton.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386436798859_2496">
Friday
night's 3-3 tie with Quinnipiac gave RPI a 0-3-4 record in the past
seven meetings with the Bobcats and it
marked the third time this season -- all at home -- that the Engineers
built a 2-0 lead only to finish with a tie. Against Harvard, that lead
was 3-0.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386442887362_3471">
Ryan
Haggerty scored his 16th and 17th goals for RPI within the first 6:31
of the game but the Engineers could manage just one more over the final
58 and one-half minutes.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386436798859_2558">
It's suggested -- by many -- a disturbing trend has been set by the Engineers.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386436798859_2565">
They've
outscored the opposition 24-4 in the first period but have been
outscored 18-14 in the second. The Engineers controlled much of the play
in the second but put only six shots on the Quinnipiac net and were
sloppy in their own end and mistakes led to both Bobcats goals. A number
of times this season, RPI has lost control of the game in the second 20
minutes. It was
suggested the second stanza was problematic again.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386436798859_2566">
"Completely
disagree," Appert said. "I thought the we came out great in the second
period. We had about five
scoring chances before they even really touched the puck. We had great
looks at the front of the net. We were hard, we were aggressive, we
created a 2-on-1, their kid (goalie Mike Garteig) made a good save (on
Milos Bubela), he made a couple rebound saves. We created a 2-on-0 and
the kid made an unbelievable back-door save (on Curtis Leonard). I
thought we came out great in the second."</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386436383216_4704">
True.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441006605_2520">
Yet, the aforementioned mistakes were a key to the game's outcome.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441006605_2529">
Twice
the Engineers had a chance but failed to clear the puck before
defenseman Zach Tolkinen put the Bobcats on the board with a shot from
near the blue line at 2:12 of the period.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441006605_2532">
Late in the period, a poor pass led to Sam Anas' breakaway goal
that tied the game.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441006605_3257">
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386388542531_4730">
"The
only thing I'm disappointed in was that we had a few (poor) puck
decisions in the second period," Appert said, adding that the Engineers
"gave them their first two goals with poor puck decisions that gave them
easy opportunities. They (earned) some other ones that Scotty made some
good saves on already. But I thought we had two poor puck decisions in
the second period that led to their two goals."</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441409395_2589">
So, the second period was problematic in that regard.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386442887362_3308">
"We
saw two mistakes that we made cost us," Haggerty said. "That's how easy
it is (to lose leads). One mistake, two mistakes and it's in the back
of the net. They're (Quinnipiac) a great team and they put pucks in the
net."</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441409395_2817">
"I
thought the guys were more committed to play physical (Friday night),"
said assistant captain Johnny Rogic. "There was definitely more urgency
in our game than in the past few weeks but it still wasn't enough. It's
going to a real special effort to get us out of the hole we're in. It's
not going to be easy, it's not going to be one game, it's going to have
to be a couple weeks in a row and we've just got to be totally committed
every day."</div>
</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441409395_2782">
Thus,
the Engineers, at 2-3-3, have won just two of their eight ECACH games
-- they won 11 of their final 12 last season -- and that creates a
must-win situation today.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441409395_2676">
Princeton
(2-7-0, 3-11-0) has struggled all year and will likely play without two
of their top players (they did Friday night at Union) -- center Andrew
Calof and right winger Tyler Maugeri, as well as several other injured
players.</div>
<div id="yiv3605889611yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1386441409395_2776">
What does Appert expect of the Engineers today?</div>
"To be ornery," he said. "Ornery and angry. Mean." Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-45964269835997862192013-11-24T01:27:00.002-05:002013-11-24T01:27:49.320-05:00Engineers rebound with big victoryERIE, Pa. -- Sometimes in college hockey, a victory isn't as big as a loss would have been had the team not won.<br />
Well, being as shorthanded as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was on Saturday night, its 5-2 non-conference victory Mercyhurst was a big one. Oh, if they Engineers would have been swept by the Lakers, it could have been a devastating defeat to be sure. Yet, with the offense struggling, with consistency waning, with several regulars benched and with Matt Neal, who had been on a hot streak, severely weakened by foot poisoning, it was a dig-down-deep triumph for the 14th-ranked Engineers. Having top scorer Ryan Haggerty back in the lineup certainly helped, as he assisted on RPI's first goal and scored the second and third.<br />
Veteran defensemen Guy Leboeuf and Curtis Leonard chipped in with goals and Jacob Laliberte assisted twice, then put the game away with a steal-and-breakaway goal 6:10 remaining.<br />
After Friday night's dismal 5-2 lead in which the Engineers lacked passion and tenacity and were dominated in the third period, Saturday's performance was a nice bounce-back win, RPI's superior talent notwithstanding.<br />
"Yeah, and I thought they did a good a good job in that (locker)room," Rensselaer coach Seth Appert said. "As I said all week, it (better, more consistent play) has to come from that room. I can be hard, and I can be demanding and I can take ice time away if necessary. I don't prefer to do that but if necessary ...<br />
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1385271528053_24">
"But at the end of the day, those older guys in that room know what I want and know what we need to be about and I thought our three captains (Matt Tinordi, Brock Higgs and Johnny Rogic), and all of our seniors (defensemen Guy Leboeuf and Bo Dolan) did a good job of taking charge in that room today and on the bench tonight."</div>
Leboeuf and Haggerty scored in the first period -- freshman Jake Wood with a nifty pass to set up Haggerty in front -- for a 2-0 lead and after the Engineers gave up the tying goal -- on a horrible giveaway -- with 17 seconds remaining in the second period, they came out and totally controlled the final stanza.<br />
Leonard scored amidst a goalmouth scrum eight minutes into the third period and Laliberte made his big play less than six minutes later.<br />
Scott Diebold was solid in net with 23 saves and the Engineers showed more hunger and passion than in recent games.<br />
"It still not an acceptable weekend," Appert said, "because it's not acceptable to not play as hard as we needed to (and didn't) last night (Friday.)"<br />
At least the Engineers won't have to go into their next game (Dec. 6) against ECAC Hockey-leading Quinnipiac on a four-game losing streak.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-13596630759654088592013-11-23T18:38:00.002-05:002013-11-23T18:38:42.702-05:00Engineers must find a way ERIE, Pa. -- Back-to-back non-league games rarely have an adverse affect on a college hockey team's season.<br />
When a team is in a fragile straits when it comes to belief and confidence as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is, bouncing back from a defeat such as the Engineers' 5-2 setback to Mercyhurst can be critical.<br />
Flatly, the Engineers NEED to win tonight's second meeting with Mercyhurst. A loss would be RPI's fourth straight, the offense is struggling mightily to create chances, and finish on those rare occasions when they do. <br />
Even though Mercyhurst's final two goals came with the RPI net empty on Friday night, the Lakers dominated the Engineers for the final 35 minutes, forechecking them effectively, outhitting them, consistently beating the quicker Engineers to loose and swinning the majority of puck battles.<br />
Further, the Engineers gave up a total breakaway on Chris Bodo's game-tying goal midway through the second play.<br />
Every player in RPI's lineup has to step up tonight for the shorthanded Engineers.<br />
Ryan Haggerty is back but Matt Tinordi is so banged up he's sidelined. Don't know why Zach Schroeder and Mark McGowan are out -- whether they're too banged up or are healthy scratches. tBoth played okay Friday night but like the entire team, lacked tenacity for the second half of the game.<br />
In addition, Matt Neal has been practicing, and played Friday night, through food poisoning suffered last Sunday night. He hasn't eaten a full meal since and was quite weakened by the time tonight's warmups came about.<br />
Coach Appert dressed only 11 forwards -- Tinordi, McGowan, Schroeder, DeVito (injured) and Wood (?) out and an extra defenseman -- Craig Bokenfohr.<br />
It'll be a tall task, but the Engineers must find a way -- score some goals and play well in front of goaltender Scott Diebold. It's almost a must.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-53477407010691183332013-11-15T18:23:00.002-05:002013-11-15T18:23:45.300-05:00A must split (at very least) for RPI.SCHENECTADY -- Short lead-in to tonight's big, RPI at Union hockey game.<br />
The Engineers MUST get a victory this weekend -- tonight or tomorrow night. Rensselaer players, to a man, say these two games are just like any other ECACH games, that Union is just another opponent.<br />
We've all played sports and we know that line is simply not true.<br />
This streak, eight straight entering tonight's game -- 3-14-1 in the past 18 league games -- will stay in the Engineers head, and affect them, until they end it. Tonight or tomorrow night; one or the other, at least.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-55180484633420010032013-11-13T18:36:00.001-05:002013-11-13T18:36:31.989-05:00Laliberte fine after taking shot in head; Kasie surgery went well TROY -- Injuries in practice continue to mount up for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The one that occurred on Wednesday, though, was more of a wound than an injury and isn't considered serious.<br />
Junior left winger/center Jacob Laliberte took a slap shot to the face (the puck got inside his face mask) from Ryan Haggerty and was cut in two places.<br />
Laliberte was helped to his feet by teammates, bleeding profusely, but left the ice on his own ability.<br />
Asked if he'll be on the lineup at Union on Friday night, Laliberte said, "definitely. I'll be fine."<br />
Rensselaer coach Seth Appert affirmed Laliberte's words.<br />
"Hockey players bleed," Appert said. "He'll be fine."<br />
Concussion symptoms will again keep high-energy sophomore Travis Fulton out of the lineup this weekend, though sophomore Milos Bubela, who has 23 points (9-14-23) in 44 games in his career, will likely return from an undisclosed injury that kept him out last weekend.<br />
All-ECAC Hockey goaltender Jason Kasdorf, who had surgery on Wednesday to repair a recurring problem with shoulder dislocations, was injured in practice on Oct. 15. Several players over the past two years were also banged up in practice.<br />
Appert said he spoke to Kasdorf on Wednesday and that the surgery went
well and that, "all things considered" Kasdorf was feeling OK.<br />
Fulton was injured in practice on Oct. 16.<br />
Bubela was injured in the 2-0 loss at Harvard on Nov. 1. Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-34853090362764907372013-11-09T18:31:00.000-05:002013-11-09T18:31:42.160-05:00Surgery for Kasie on Wednesday; RPI needs a win TROY -- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute sophomore all-league goaltender Jason Kasdorf will have shoulder surgery in Troy on Wednesday. The Winnipeg native said that many factors were involved in the decision and why it took weeks to ascertain.<br />
One of those is the fact that the shoulder separation problem may continue to recur.<br />
"At least I'll get it over with," Kasdorf said.<br />
He also said he plans to return to RPI for his junior season next year, delaying his professional career. He's a sixth-round draft pick of his hometown Winnipeg Jets.<br />
Engineers need to win tonight: When the ECAC Hockey schedule came out -- and the Harvard at RPI game was re-scheduled to Oct. 29 -- many RPI backers pointed to the two Harvard games at the outset of the league season and proclaimed it to be an advantage for the Engineers.<br />
They were right.<br />
The Crimson are a young, freshman-laden, rebuilding team. They figure to be better in January than they are now. We all know what happened, of course; RPI didn't win either game -- going over 100 minutes without scoring against two Harvard goalies in a 3-3 tie (blowing a 3-0 lead) and a 2-0 defeat.<br />
When they blew a 3-1 lead in the final two minutes against Cornell on Friday night -- another 3-3 tie -- it was seen by many as an ominous sign. Losing a standings point in a game they had control of for the second time in 11 days almost dictates the Engineers beat Colgate tonight. Losing on the heels of the Cornell collapse could cause long-range problems.<br />
Rensselaer is a veteran team but is still maturing.<br />
They need to assert themselves tonight as they did one week ago when they routed Dartmouth, 7-1, one night after the loss at Harvard.<br />
It should be added, however, that right now, Colgate is a much better team than Dartmouth.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-91802553547355662972013-11-07T17:42:00.002-05:002013-11-07T17:42:16.064-05:00Classy Higgs up for award TROY -- Class is a word that naturally goes with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior center Brock Higgs. The fact that Higgs has been named a candidate for the 2013-14 Men's Hockey Senior CLASS award is only proper and appropriate.<br />
The Kingston, Ont. native is one of 20 players nationwide to be nominated for the award, which is voted upon by hockey coaches, media and fans.<br />
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2924" style="font-size: 11pt;">CLASS
is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. The
Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students
to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in
their communities. </span><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2926" style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Men’s Frozen
Final Four in Philadelphia in April. </span><br />
Higgs <span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2902" style="font-size: 11pt;">is a business and management major who is
also working on a master’s degree in management, with a concentration in
finance. He has a 3.72 cumulative grade point average and expects to graduate
with both degrees in August 2014. He has been on the Dean’s List every semester
and has earned ECAC Hockey All-Academic all three years eligible to date.</span>
<br />
<div class="yiv7593796013MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2911" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2912" style="font-size: 11pt;">Higgs
has been a stalwart in the community since arriving on campus. He has assisted
local youth hockey teams of the Troy Albany Youth Hockey Association (TAYHA)
with practices and he has been a counselor at the RPI Hockey Camp every fall.
He has also participated in Habitat for Humanity, helping build houses in Troy
for the less fortunate. Brock and his teammates also assist the RPI Newman
Center with their fundraising activities each fall and they spend time supporting
various other causes and participating in charitable events, including the City
of Troy’s Turkey Trot, the United Way and the American Cancer Society’s Relay
for Life.</span>
</div>
<div class="yiv7593796013MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2914" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span>On
the ice, Higgs has played in all eight games for the Engineers this season,
scoring six goals and adding five assists for 11 points and serving as one of two assistant captains. He tallied a hat trick in the Engineers' 7-1 victory at Dartmouth on Saturday night. Three of his goals
have come on the power play.</div>
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2915" style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><div class="yiv7593796013MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2916" style="text-align: justify;">
He <span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2918" style="font-size: 11pt;">played in 33 games as a junior tallying a goal and 16 assists for 17 points.
His totals included a short-handed and game-winning goal. In 2011-12, he led
the Engineers with 23 points on three goals and 20 assists in 34 contests. His
freshman campaign saw him net nine goals, to go along with 12 assists for 21
points in 33 games. During that season, Higgs was seriously wounded in a game in Huntsville, Ala., suffering a life-threatening gash in his throat when an airborne teammate's skate cut his throat on New Year's Eve, 2010. He was an inspiration to his teammates by -- instead of remaining in the hospital -- showing up to watch the Engineers' 2-1 victory the next day, and more so by returning to action just three weeks later.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7593796013MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2916" style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2918" style="font-size: 11pt;">Such an award could be no more deserving to anyone.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7593796013MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2916" style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2918" style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Kasdorf appears headed for surgery: </b>As reported herein earlier, it's become almost certain that all-ECACH goaltender Jason Kasdorf will not return this season, that he'll instead have season-ending surgery soon.</span></div>
<div class="yiv7593796013MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1383862253677_2916" style="text-align: justify;">
Rensselaer coach Seth Appert didn't say so in words earlier today but his voice was nearly confirming.
The eight-year Rensselaer coach stopped short of saying the decision on
surgery has been finalized, but it certainly sounded like a short stop.<br />
"Everything looks like he's going to have surgery," Appert said of
Kasdorf, who separated his shoulder in practice on Oct. 15. "He's almost
certain to have surgery."<br />
Almost.<br />
"Hasn't officially been decided," Appert said.<br />
Kasdorf posted a 14-5-2 record last season, keying the Engineers' rise
up the ECAC Hockey standings. He had a 1.62 goals against average and
93.5 saves percentage.<br />
Thrust into the starting goaltending position, junior Scott Diebold has
been brilliant since Kasdorf's injury, with a 4-1-1 record, having
allowed just one goal in that defeat and posting a 1.58 goals against
average and 94.6 percent saves percentage.<br />
Kasdorf is a draft pick of the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team, who have tweeted that the surgery will take place within the next few weeks.<br />
Should the surgery take place, Appert said he expected Kasdorf to return to RPI next season.</div>
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<b>Live chat on Friday: </b>Engineers fans, join me for a live chat on this weekend's games and the team in general at 5 p.m. Friday. Click on edjweaver at twitter with your comments and/or questions. </div>
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Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-25646539264955879572013-11-07T14:42:00.000-05:002013-11-07T14:42:15.142-05:00Surgery for Kasdorf appears forthcoming -- AppertTROY -- It wasn't in Seth Appert's words but it was in his voice: standout sophomore goaltender Jason Kasdorf will soon undergo surgery on his right shoulder and will be lost to RPI hockey for the remainder of the season.<br />
The eight-year Rensselaer coach stopped short of saying the decision on surgery has been finalized, but it certainly sounded like a short stop.<br />
"Everything looks like he's going to have surgery," Appert said of Kasdorf, who separated his shoulder in practice on Oct. 15. "He's almost certain to have surgery."<br />
Almost.<br />
"Hasn't officially been decided," Appert said.<br />
Kasdorf posted a 14-5-2 record last season, keying the Engineers' rise up the ECAC Hockey standings. He had a 1.62 goals against average and 93.5 saves percentage.<br />
Thrust into the starting goaltending position, junior Scott Diebold has been brilliant since Kasdorf's injury, with a 4-1-1 record, having allowed just one goal in that defeat and posting a 1.58 goals against average and 94.6 percent saves percentage.<br />
Kasdorf is a draft pick of the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team.<br />
Should the surgery take place, Appert said he expected Kasdorf to return to RPI next season.<br />
.<br />
Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-89032559332260786142013-11-06T20:01:00.000-05:002013-11-06T20:01:03.890-05:00Kasdorf's return seeming more unlikely TROY -- Chances are, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute sophomore goaltender Jason Kasdorf will have season-ending surgery some time next week. Chances are. The decision has not yet been made.<br />
Blog posts elsewhere indicated the decision had already been made but the final word will come late this week.<br />
Kasdorf, who led the Engineers' charge up the ECAC Hockey standings last season, separated his shoulder in practice several weeks ago.<br />
He went 14-5-2 last season with 1.62 goals against average and 93.4 saves percentage. <br />
The Winnipeg native, a draft choice of the Winnipeg Jets, had hoped to return this season but indications are he will not do so, though, as mentioned, the final decision has yet to be made.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-17775464703490632362013-10-16T21:16:00.001-04:002013-10-16T21:16:09.691-04:00Kasdorf injury could be long termTROY -- That didn't take long. With all the expectations -- and potential -- for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hockey (Sunday's blowout loss at Boston College notwithstanding), what could be a major injury to star goaltender Jason Kasdorf has caused some angst. A Winnipeg blogger, stating that Kasdorf is "out for the year with a shoulder separation/fracture," has caused outright despair among some RPI followers.<br />
Renssealer coach Seth Appert stated flatly that the info in the Winnipeg blog "is not accurate" but did confirm that the injury was to Kasdorf's left shoulder.<br />
"(We) don't have all the informtion in one day," Appert said. "We have to see that he gets the necessary MRI. You can't make that (out for the year) determination after one day." <br />
Losing Kasdorf for any length of time will certainly hamper the Engineers and I say that with no disrespect aimed at backup goaltender Scott Diebold.<br />
Kasdorf, however, is certainly one of RPI's biggest assets.<br />
Missing him for even two months would definitely make the Engineers' goal to finish at or near the top of the ECAC Hockey standings much more difficult to achieve. Rensselaer will have to be much more consistent in its defensive zone play and increase its goals output to well over three per game. To deny that is to shrug off reality.<br />
"We recruited Scott Diebold to be a No. 1 goalie," Appert has often said.<br />
Diebold has proved he can win at the college level; now he may have to prove he can do so over a long period of time. But again, the rest of the team will all have to step up -- big time.<br />
Next weekend, the Engineers have just one game, another non-league game against another Hockey East power, New Hampshire, but they open ECACH play on Tuesday, Oct. 29 against Harvard, then travel to Harvard and Dartmouth three days later.<br />
Then Cornell and Colgate come to Houston Field House -- followed by the two league games against rival Union, games which RPI has rarely won over the past nine seasons.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-19728748771870468942013-10-03T09:57:00.001-04:002013-10-03T09:57:37.334-04:00Tinordi earns RPI's captain's role; Higgs, Rogic are alternates TROY -- Matt Tinordi isn't a big goal-scorer. Oh, but he's a great teammate. And he'll likely be an excellent captain.<br />
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers voted the Washington-area native as their captain for the 2013-14 season. <br />
Brock Higgs and Johnny Rogic, also senior forwards, were named alternates.<br />
Tunordi typifies the hard, puck-digging, in-your-face style that coach Seth Appert has employed for the Engineers, who open the season one week from Saturday against Sacred Heart at the Harboryards Arena in Bridgeport.<br />
More later.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-22527557280584771672013-09-24T22:37:00.001-04:002013-09-24T22:37:34.579-04:00Appert not worried about lines Just before he took a bite of his (quite tasty) pork sandwich at lunch at Lake Placid's Olympic Center on Monday, it was suggested to Seth Appert that he has some decisions to make.<br />
"No, I don't. What decisions do I have to make," he said, with a twinge of 'I have a veteran team' type confidence in his voice.<br />
"Well, with 12 returning forwards, with whom to play whom," he was told.<br />
Perhaps you'll put the NHL forward line back together. That NHL line is Matt Neal at left wing, Ryan Haggerty on right wing, centered by Jacob Laliberte. That's NHL.<br />
The trio played together briefly as freshmen two seasons ago but Neal was sidelined much of the season.<br />
Last year, the group was together again and enjoyed some fine success. Neal wound up second on the team in scoring with 30 points (8 goals-22 assists-30), Laliberte was third at 11-17-28 and Haggerty (12-14-26) led the team in goals.<br />
By midseason, the trio had been playing together rarely, mainly on power plays but many RPI fans would love to see them reunited.<br />
How about the all-freshmen (now sophomores) line of (left-to-right) Mike Zalewski-Mark Miller-Milos Bubela. They were dynamic at times when together last season. Zalewski finished with a scoring line of 12-9-21, Bubela had 19 points (8-11-19) and Miller was at 7-8-15 at is the best all around player among the three.<br />
By late in the season, though, when the Engineers were making their charge to second place, Brock Higgs was centering for Zalewski and Bubela and Miller was playing center with Johnny Rogic on the left and Greg Burgdoerfer or Travis Fulton at right wing.<br />
Perhaps Appert might want to put Zalewski, Miller and Bubela back together.<br />
The three freshman forwards contain one left winger (Jake Wood), one center (Riley Bourbonnais) and one right winger Jimmy DeVito and they all played for the same junior team last season, Lincoln of the United States Hockey League. <br />
Perhaps they might play as a unit for the Engineers?<br />
Will Mark McGowan and Zach Schroeder play together and if so, who'll be at LW with them?<br />
"I'm not worried about it; I don't worry about the lines," Appert said. "If we have the right mindset, we'll be fine. It won't matter what the lines are. And if we aren't of the right mindset, we won't succeed; it won't matter what the lines are.<br />
"They'll determine (what the lines are) by their play (in practice)," Appert said of the forwards.<br />
The Engineers averaged 2.86 goals per game last season and allowed 2.38. With their fine depth at forward and ECACH Rookie of the Year Jason Kasdorf back in goal, they have an excellent chance to improve both figures -- as well as better their overall record of 18-14-5.<br />
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Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-80366144075112803862013-06-18T18:48:00.000-04:002013-06-18T18:48:46.456-04:00Astros' No. 2 pick arrives with V-Cats TROY -- Do the Tri-City ValleyCats need pitching help? Hard to say after just nine innings and a 3.00 earned run average but nevertheless, the 'Cats got some big help prior to tonight's game with the Vermont Lake Monsters.<br /> The Houston Astros signed their No. 2 pick in the June 6 draft, Andrew Thurman, and assigned the big right-hander to the ValleyCats.<br />
Thurman, 21, worked out at with the Astros at Houston's Minute Maid Park on Monday. <br />
He posted a 3.23 earned run average with 91 strikeouts in 100 innings during his senior year at UCalifornia-Irvine.<br />
"Andrew us a big addition to our growing stable of pitching prospects in our system," said Astros Director of Amateur Scouting. "He features a very effective four-pitch mix, reach the mid-90 (mph) with his fastball, has a durable build and repeatable delivery. The ingredients are present for him to develop into a high-quality major league starter, and with his long track record of success and advanced feel for pitching, we expect he will hit the ground running this summer."<br />
Thurman had an 18-10 career record and 3.19 ERA in the Pacific 12 Conference, a top hitter's conference.<br />
The Astros have also signed their 33rd-round pick, first baseman Tyler White from Western Carolina University, who's expected to join the ValleyCats as well.<br />
He hit .363 this past season, with 27 doubles, 16 homers and 63 runs batted in.<br />
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Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-48927285018987859272013-04-13T13:42:00.000-04:002013-04-13T18:19:58.388-04:00Appert stays at RPI TROY -- Seth Appert is staying on as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's head hockey coach.<br />
He informed the University of Denver Saturday to withdraw his name from consideration to replace 19-year Denver coach George Gwozdecky, who was fired on April 1 and whom Appert terms "my mentor."<br />
Appert has signed (or will sign) an eight-year contract extension with RPI through the 2020-21 season at an undisclosed pay raise.<br />
He chose not to into details of the financial aspects of the pact, or on the particulars of his discussions at Denver, where he was an assistant under Gwozdecky for nine years.<br />
Appert did express happiness to be staying in Troy and gave praise to RPI and president Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Athletic Director Col. Jim Knowlton and Dr. Dr. Timothy Sams, Vice President for Student Life.<br />
"I'm thrilled about it," Appert said. "The level of trust and commitment Dr. Jackson and Jim Knowlton and Dr. Sams ... I'm humbled by the trust and belief they've shown in me and these things matter to me at the highest level.<br />
"We still have a lot of work left to do at RPI," Appert added, "and I'm proud to be the guy leading the charge."<br />
More later.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-91369193935431480442013-04-12T18:54:00.002-04:002013-04-12T18:54:35.419-04:00Bailen gets All-American wish PITTSBURGH -- Having recently become a professional hockey player, there was one more thing Nick Bailen wanted from his Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute career.<br />
The star defenseman received that on Friday when he was named All-American for the second time in his career at the NCAA Frozen Four.<br />
A Second Team East selection in 2011, Bailen gained a First Team East berth this year.<br />
Bailen was not available for comment, playing with his Rochester Americans against Oklahoma City on Friday night (Rochester visits the TU Center on Sunday to play the Albany Devils) but said recently of the All-American award, "I hope it comes. Not many guys can say they'r two-time All-Americans."<br />
Bailen, a First Team All-ECAC Hockey selection, led the Engineers in scoring with 12 goals and 19 assists in 35 games. Bailen, who was named to the first team All-ECAC Hockey, finished his career with 33 goals and 72 assists in 149 games and is No. 2 among defensemen on RPI's all-time career scoring list.<br />
Union sophomore defensman Shayne Gostisbehere was named to the East Second Team.<br />
He tallied eight goals and 18 assists in 36 games and was a catalyst on Union's power play.<br />
Gostisbehere also played a big part in Team USA's gold-medal performance at the World Junior Championships. He was as Second Team All-ECACH pick.<br />
Gostisbehere was selected in the third round of last June's NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.<br />
Quinnipiac senior goalie Eric Hartzell, who'll lead the Bobcats in the NCAA championship game on Saturday night, and St. Lawrence center Kyle Flanagan were the other ECACH player who were First Team East selections.<br />
Flanagan's linemate, left winger Greg Carey, St. Lawrence defenseman George Hughes and Yale senior center Andrew Miller all made the Second Team.<br />
Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-71312931898968634222013-04-11T23:29:00.000-04:002013-04-11T23:29:11.997-04:00Circumstances not ideal for Appert TROY -- Seth Appert has long considered the head hockey coaching position at the University of Denver a “dream job.” Same could be said about the same position at Ferris State, Appert’s alma mater, it should be added.<br />Appert, though, interviewed for the open job at Denver earlier this week. <br />Being named head coach at Denver to replace his mentor, George Gwozdecky, after Gwozdecky retired is one thing. Replacing Gwozdecky after he was summarily fired by Denver’s athletic director (Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation) Peg Bradley-Doppes could be quite another matter. <br />Appert was an assistant under Gwozdecky at Denver for nine years and recruited many of the players who helped the Pioneers win back-to-back NCAA championships in 2004 and 2005.<br />Knowing Appert as I have over the past seven years, I’d suspect he wouldn’t take the job under theses circumstances unless Gwozdecky personally gave him his blessing.<br />The 59-year old Gwozdecky certainly had plenty of chances to do so earlier this week when Appert was in town for his interview with Bradley-Doppes and other UD officials. <br />Some sources list Appert and former Denver assistant Derek Lalonde -- who actually replaced Appert when Appert took the RPI job -- as co-favorites to fill the vacancy. Others suggest Lalonde is the leading candidate. <br />Lalonde currently coaches Green Bay of the United States Hockey League, one of the top junior leagues on the continent, where he led the Gamblers to the league championship in his first season (2012) and the team lost only nine of its 60 regular-season games.<br />Lalonde is a Denver alumnus, while Appert, as mentioned, is not. The 38-year old Appert has been unavailable all week.<br />Speculation on the reasons for Gwozdecky’s firing abound (Bradley-Doppes has declined to discuss the matter): Recent postseason failures, numerous early departures to pro hockey by top UD players, which of course, plays to the first reason.<br />Most who are close to the Denver situation, though, believe that when Gwozdecky, who had one year remaining on his contract at $221,000 per year, sought a contract extension two years ago with three years remaining at the time, and Bradley-Doppes tabled the matter, the relationship between coach and AD went beyond strained.<br />That, of course, is hardly a reason to fire a coach who turned around a struggling Denver program 19 years ago, made the Pioneers a national power again, won two national championships reached the NCAA Tournament eight times in the past 12 seasons, had 12 straight 20-win seasons and a trio of 25-win campaigns among the past five. Apparently, however, that’s what Bradley-Doppes did.<br />And that, it would seem, is something that Appert would consider at great length if he’s offered the position; as a boss, Bradley-Doppes’ is said to be tough to work for/with.<br />Appert’s relationship with Rensselaer AD Col. Jim Knowlton is ideal. <br />(Knowlton’s son Chris is a graduating senior on the Denver team and was second on the squad in goals (13) and points (29) this past season Also, ironically, Denver will play two games at RPI early next season).<br />It’s assumed that Denver would not offer Appert the same salary Gwozdecky was being paid.<br />Rensselaer does not divulge what its coaches’ salaries but it’s widely believed Appert’s does not approach Gwozdecky’s. He has five years remaining on his contract.<br />Again, as mentioned, I highly expect Appert will question himself long and hard if he wants to replace his mentor under these circumstances. <br />Back to the early postseason exits. The Pioneers lost their NCAA Tournament opener in five of the past six years. This year, after being upset by rival Colorado College in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, the Pioneers lost to New Hampshire, 5-2.<br />In 2010, at Albany's Times Union Center -- with Appert looking on -- the Pioneers lost their NCAA tourney opener to heavy underdog Rochester Institute of Technology, 2-1.<br />Still, the Pioneers were 443-267-64 under Gwozdecky and won four WCHA playoffs championships and three regular-season titles. He’s still young. Denver players and fans love him.<br />Appert knows quite well about postseason exits, more so in the ECAC Hockey playoffs than the NCAA tourney. Three times in the past four years, higher-seeded RPI teams have lost to lower seeds at home; to a No. 11 seed as a 6 seed, to a 12 seed as a 5 and last month, the 2nd-seeded Engineers lost in the quarterfinals to 7th-seeded Brown.<br />Appert’s record at RPI is 99-136-31 but the Engineers have enjoyed three winning seasons among the past four after losing a total of 50 games in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Their NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011 was the school's first since 1994.<br />Another factor for Appert is Denver assistant coach Steve Miller, who’s one of Appert’s “best friends.”<br />Gwozdecky says he “will coach again” and would Miller wait to remain on Gwozdecky’s staff elsewhere, or would he remain at Denver under head coach Appert?<br />What will former Denver assistant Bryan Vines, who joined Appert’s RPI staff in 2009 do, stay at Rensselaer, or -- more likely -- return to Denver with Appert?<br />The speculation -- and the angst of RPI fans -- will end soon. The University of Denver has said it will fill the position quickly, by early next week at the latest.<br />Will Appert accept the position if it’s offered? That depends on quite a lot -- and his decision will be long thought-out. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-20404530293815615672013-03-17T18:46:00.002-04:002013-03-17T18:46:34.859-04:00Bailen will not play tonight TROY -- It's official. Rensselaer will have to advance to the ECACH semifinals without Nick Bailen. The star senior defenseman tried to go but was not able to skate hard in warmups. He's replaced by freshman Phil Hampton, who hasn't played in two months.<br />
Bailen, RPI's leading scorer, was injured Saturday night while taking a kneeing penalty from Brown defenseman Dennis Robertson.<br />
If the Engineers don't win the game, Bailen's college career will be over.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-17958361341831639562013-03-17T18:31:00.000-04:002013-03-17T18:31:49.003-04:00Bailen highly questionable tonight TROY -- Rensselaer star senior defenseman Nick Bailen, injured when taking a kneeing injury from Brown's Dennis Robertson on Saturday night, is skating gingerly in warmups for Game 3 tonight in the ECACH quarterfinals.<br />
He skated for a while, then spent the past 10 minutes leaning against the sideboards of the RPI bench. The Engineers have dressed a seventh defenseman, Phil Hampton, in case Bailen can't go. <br />
More in a while.Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-378235774551610232013-03-17T16:07:00.003-04:002013-03-17T16:07:55.045-04:00From start to finish, Engineers were in control TROY -- Brown University hockey coach Brendan Whittet was asked after Saturday night's 6-2 loss to RPI in Game 2 of their ECAC Hockey quarterfinal-round series, at what point he felt the game was slipping away from the Bears.<br />
He wasn't totally joking when he said, "the first shift.<br />
"I don't think we were very good from the get-go," Whittet said. "I just thought we were a little off. When Matt Lorito, who's a very skilled kid, misses a lot of passes, that's not a good thing.<br />
"And they played great," Whittet said of the Engineers, "but it's still a 3-2 game going into the third (period), so it's a one-goal game on the road but I thought they took it us in the third and they got a big win, which is what they deserved."<br />
The Bears (14-13-6) lost star defenseman Dennis Robertson to a game misconduct, added to his major kneeing penalty late in the second period with the score tied, 2-2. Not only did Jacob Laliberte score the go-ahead goal late in that penalty, but his presence was missed in the third period when the Engineers scored three times to break open the game.<br />
"He's our best defenseman, one of the best in the league," Whittet said of Robertson. "So to lose him was a hard thing, but other guys have to step up and I don't believe they did. I thought we played soft hockey. <br />
"When they (RPI) have control of the puck for long stretches and are able to pin us or spin us on the offensive side and the defensive side ... we didn't compete hard enough."<br />
Brown forechecked well in Game 2 as the Bears did in Game 1 but their intensity wasn't Friday night. They puck movement and stick-handling wasn't nearly as sharp. They didn't win as many puck battles.<br />
Meanwhile, the Engineers, desperate, clearly outplayed the Bears over the final 35 minutes.<br />
Rensselaer players and fans can expect more for tonight's deciding Game 3.<br />
Engineers coach Seth Appert calls the Bears a "good defensive and hard, physical team.<br />
"Brown makes it tough on you," he said. "There's a reason that they've won so many games in the second half of the year and (goaltender Anthony) Borelli's numbers are what they are; because they they defend hard and they defend the front of the net well."<br />
Whittet said despite being soundly beaten in the third period, the Bears won't be "nervous or scared" for tonight's decisive Game 3.<br />
"We'll bring it (tonight)," he said.<br />
<strong>Bubela's major elbowing penalty a clean</strong> <strong>hit?:</strong> The Engineers lost freshman right winger Milos Bubela to a major elbowing penalty and game misconduct penalty at 17:11 of the first period.<br />
The Engineers' killing of that penalty was a major factor in the outcome, even a turning point in the game. Appert agreed.<br />
"Well, yeah, especially since it was a clean hit," he said. "It was a heavy hit ... I don't have issues with the officiating at all. I was a heavy hit but his shoulder was down, his elbow was down when he hit him."<br />
Appert said, "generally speaking, it's weird how that works. Your team usually kills off the good penalties (or poor calls?), for whatever reason, but when you take dumb, selfish penalties, you (often) get scored on. So, even though we took a few penalties tonight of the hard-hitting variety, they weren't bad penalties and I thought we did a pretty good job of killing them."<br />
Lorito did have a power-play goal for the second straight night but the Engineers killed the other seven minutes of Brown's power-play time.<br />
<strong>Juggled lines:</strong> With Bubela out for more than two periods, Appert had to juggle his forward lines.<br />
All six goals came with different combinations of forwards on the ice from the four sets on the line chart.<br />
"It keeps you on an edge on the bench ... and it certainly tested my wits, which doesn't take much," Appert said. "You know, we've scored a lot of goals this year with juggled lines and that's something we need to keep in mind (tonight) if need be."<br />
Appert said he had "no idea" on what tonight's lines would be.<br />
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Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-11008044726613575142013-03-16T15:44:00.000-04:002013-03-16T15:44:44.881-04:00Backs to wall, will Engineers respond? TROY -- Many Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hockey fans were more than a but surprised that the Engineers lost Game 1 of their ECAC Hockey playoffs quarterfinal-round series to Brown on Friday night, 3-1.<br />
The Engineers had put together one of the best runs in league history to vault all the way to second place, then drop the opener to the seventh-seeded Bears, whom they had routed, 5-1, at Houston Field House just one month earlier.<br />
It was the seventh loss in the past nine homeice playoff games for RPI, dating back to 2006. More on that below.<br />
"It's better than losing the first game on the road (rather than at home)," RPI coach Seth Appert said when asked after the game.<br />
Appert said the Engineers, in addition to being more aggressive in the offensive zone for tonight's Game 2, also said they should "be an angry group."<br />
And he's confident they'll bounce back and force a deciding Game 3 on Sunday night.<br />
"This group has responded to adversity. They've been thrown a lot of tough situations this year and we've come out well. This team's shown a real good ability to learn from mistakes and we need to show that again (tonight)." <br />
Appert said the Engineers need to be tougher around the net front, where Brown is so effective defensively.<br />
"We need to need to have a tougher offensive mentality, a lot of those guys on those top three (forward), especially, because our best line tonight was the Mark Miller (fourth) line. That's good for them but them (Johnny Rogic, Travis Fulton and Miller) but we need to have more balance."<br />
Both Jacob Laliberte, who scored RPI's only goal, and Ryan Haggerty, who assisted, both agreed, each saying in exact words, "we need to be tougher (tonight)." <br />
And, as good as he's been since taking over as Brown's No. 1 goaltender, senior Anthony Borelli can be unnerved a bit, if the Engineers can put a good number of quality shots on him early.<br />
<strong>Can't win postseason games</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>home:</strong> It's puzzling. It's frustrating. It's maddening.<br />
Rensselaer is seeded seventh, can beat a 10 seed (Quinnipiac, 2006), the Engineers, a six seed, get taken out by an 11 (Brown, 2010) and even, worse, being seeded fifth, 12th-seeded (last place) Colgate shocks the fifth-seeded Engineers (2011).<br />
Now -- as the No. 2 seed, the Engineers are beaten, and clearly outplayed, by the seven-seeded Bears. Appert has been RPI's head coach for the latter two of those postseason series upset defeats.<br />
During that time, the Engineers did win preliminary-round series on the road -- at Dartmouth in 2009, at Clarkson last season.<br />
That's of little solece, especially if the Engineers don't come back and win this series.<br />
Is there a trend there? No. And only Lee played in the Brown series -- Game 1 only -- three years ago, so those failures have nothing to do with this season's team.<br />
These players, though, are the only ones who can end the frustration. That's the challenge they face tonight and, hopefully, Sunday night. Will the meet -- and overcome -- that challenge?<br />
Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-45497319814317382362013-03-15T14:25:00.001-04:002013-03-15T14:25:20.561-04:00Was there really no turning point to RPI's season? TROY -- Seth Appert says there wasn't really a discernable turning point to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's hockey season, a turnaround which saw the Engineers win 11 of their final 13 games after winning just six of their of their first 21 (6-10-5). In ECAC Hockey play, they won 11 of 12 after a 1-6-3 start.<br />
Appert says there's never a turning point to any team's season, no matter how dramatic of a turnaround there may be within that season. Fans and the media enjoy looking for such pinpoints.<br />
Rensselaer captain C.J. Lee agrees with Appert.<br />
"I really can't pinpoint a moment that really changed everything," Lee said. "I think we just bought into the way we needed to play, that is wasn't always going to be pretty and maybe it wasn't the most fun way to win but the alternative is losing, so we just bought into it."<br />
Well, perhaps. <br />
I would suggest there was a clear turning point to the season. It came on Nov. 10 at Harvard, a game the Engineers lost, 4-0, one night after they lost at Dartmouth by the same score.<br />
Appert has described in great detail that the Dartmouth game was the low point of the season.<br />
The next night, he benched top line right winger Ryan Haggerty and veteran Matt Tinordi. Jacob Laliberte, one of the team's leading scorers, was out injured and Appert benched Lee and fellow veteran Brock Higgs for the entire first period. Defenseman Curtis Leonard was also a scratch and the Engineers dressed just 16 skaters, rather than the usual 18.<br />
The result of that game wasn't important to Appert, the long-term good of the team was.<br />
The Engineers then posted two victories over Mercyhurst, a team fom the weaker Atlantic Hockey conference. The won just one of their next six league games (1-2-3) but .their play improved and they beat 9th-ranked St. Cloud State.<br />
And during that six-game span, the Engineers lost a game at Princeton, 4-1, that they should have won. They came out unready to play and fell behind, 2-0. After nearly 58 minutes, they had held Princeton to just 11 shots on goal before the Tigers added two empty-net goals. <br />
Princeton rarely could get the puck through the neutral zone for most of the final two periods. And 11 shots on goal? You have to win such a game -- every time -- holding the opposition to 11 shots.<br />
I'd never seen Appert so angry and that was 15 minutes after the game ended. I can only imagine how he was when he walked into the locker room. <br />
That night accentuated the night at Harvard and the only game RPI lost over the next five weeks was a non-leaguer against Union. The Engineers won eight straight ECACH games and 11 of 12 to rise all the way to second place in the league. <br />
To me, the message Appert sent that November night at Harvard is what motivated the players to turn their season around. They needed a 'friendly' reminder at Princeton on Jan.12. After that, a season saved, and then some.<br />
But that was the regular season.<br />
Tonight, the Engineers host an ECAC quarterfinal round series for the first time in more than a decade.<br />
Against a good Brown team, the deeper Engineers should prevail in the best-of-three series and advance to the league semis, if they stick to their physical, tough philosophy.<br />
When the Engineers beat Brown 5-1 at Houston Field House last month, they put four pucks past Brown goaltender Anthony Borelli, jacking up the goals against average of who had been one of the nation's hottest netminder.<br />
That fact could benefit the Engineers tonight. They could get into Borelli's head -- could -- but only if they come out focused and intense and put plenty of rubber on Borelli, who, amazingly, didn't win the starting job until well into his senior year. <br />
<strong> Live chat today:</strong> Log on to <a href="http://www.troyecord.com/">www.troyecord.com</a>, or Twitter, for a live chat to discuss the Engineers and this series at 5 p.m. today.<br />
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Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-92171439404032944822013-03-12T17:58:00.000-04:002013-03-12T17:58:07.254-04:00Appert deserves Coach of Year honor<br /> TROY – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hockey coach Seth Appert has been named a finalist for ECAC Hockey Tim Taylor Award as the league’s Coach of the Year.<br /> He certainly deserves the award. After a 0-5-1 start to league play, Appert guided the Engineers to a second-place finish with a 12-7-3 record. They were 17-12-5 overall.<br /> Rand Pencknold, who led Quinnipiac to a runaway regular season championship with a 17-2-3 mark and a No. 1 national ranking (and 24-5-5 overall record) is another finalist, as is Yale coach Keith Allain.<br />Parochial or not, the vote here is Appert.<br />A blogger also mentioned as a possible candidate to replace legendary Boston University coach Jack Parker, who recently announced that this season, his 40th at BU, will be his last.<br />Although BU will almost certainly College Hockey News blogger mentioned that Appert “would be an interesting interview” for BU.<br />“I know nothing about it, I didn’t hear about it,” he said after today’s practice.<br />As for the position, Appert said, “not interested.”<br />The blogger also mentioned that former Union head coach Nate Leaman (now at Providence College) and current Dutchmen coach Rick Bennett might be considered, as well as longtime Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold.<br />Both Boston newspapers, the Globe and the Herald – as well as CHN -- reported that the leading quartet of candidates for the heavy task to replace Parker are David Quinn, former BU star and an assistant coach with the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche; Former BU player Mike Bavis, who’s spent the past 15 years on Parker’s staff; Mike Sullivan, another former BU star, currently an assistant with the NHL’s New York Rangers; Shawn McEachern, another former Terriers standout, NHL player and assistant coach at but Northeastern and UMass-Lowell.<br />Boston U. is one of those schools which heavily prefers alumni when filling coaching vacancies.<br />Parker is six victories short of 900 entering this weekend’s Hockey East playoff series against Merrimack.<br />Schroeder gets fifth year: Rensselaer sophomore Zach Schroeder had his application for a red-shirt eligibility addition approved by the NCAA.<br />Schroeder played in only nine games this season – just six healthy – before incurring a serious, recurring wrist injury. He had one goal, one assist.<br />“It came through,” Schroeder said. “I expected it (would), coach (Appert) told me it was probably a sure thing but we weren’t really sure, so it was nice to hear. I was glad to be back (with) a fifth year.”<br />Schroeder has been practicing with the Engineers for the past week wearing a no-contact orange shirt.<br />“It’s great, even though it’s not in games,” he said. “It feels good to shoot around, stick-handle and stuff. It feels like I’m back on the team.”<br />Schroeder says he’s just as excited as the active players for the Engineers to begin the ECAC Hockey playoffs with their quarterfinal-round series against visiting Brown this weekend.<br />“Oh, definitely,” he said. “It’s the first time we’ve gotten a top-four seed (and a first-round bye), so I’m real excited for the guys. Hopefully I can get ‘em going and they’ll have a good run.” <br />Slumping ‘A’ line: The Engineers’ top forward line has been in a slump lately, with just one goal over the past four games – and that was scored by a defenseman.<br /> The unit’s previous four goals all came on the power play.<br /> When a reporter summoned center Jacob Laliberté, left winger C.J. Lee and right winger Ryan Haggerty together, Lee said, only half jokingly, “why because we’re awful?”<br />Despite the fact that the unit has just one equal-strength goal in the past seven games, RPI has been winning.<br />The line was put together for a non-league game against Union at the Times Union center, which the Engineers lost, 3-2, but they’ve won nine of 10 since.<br /> Other lines, centered by freshman Mark Miller, junior Brock Higgs and sophomore Mark McGowan, have all stepped up.<br /> That relieved some pressure from Laliberté’s group. <br /> “We’re not scoring but we’re winning,” Lee said. “It’s good to know other lines are rolling.<br /> “It’s a good thing about our team that any guy can put the puck in the net,” Laliberté said, “and the offense is well-balanced.”<br />Haggerty had a stretch of 18 points (9 goals-9 assists-18) in 18 games but has just one assist in four games since.<br /> “It’s been a little frustrating for C.J., Jacob and me,” Haggerty said. “Obviously we’re not producing but the other guys are and we’re winning. That’s what’s most important.”<br />Now that the playoffs are here – the second-seeded Engineers host seventh-seeded Brown in a best-of-three quarterfinal series this weekend, RPI backers will be expecting Laliberté’s line to return to its scoring duties, equal-strength as well as power play. (Matt Neal replaces Lee at left wing on the first power-play unit, Lee plays on the second unit).<br />“We just have to be on our game,” Laliberté said. “Last game, we had a lot of chances and if we keeping working, (goals) will come for sure.”<br />“We’re not going to put any added pressure on ourselves, but yeah, we would love to score some goals and contribute offensively,” Lee said.<br />“Obviously, we need to start putting some pucks in the net,” Haggerty added. “But we’re winning right now, from all four lines and I’m pretty sure everybody trusts everyone to put the back of the net from defense to offense. We just need to keep going, keep pushing, get pucks deep and play our game.”<br />Senior defenseman Nick Bailen leads the Engineers in scoring with a line of 12-19-31.<br />Neal, who usually plays on McGowan’s third line at equal strength, is second, 8-19-27, followed by Laliberté (9-17-26) and Haggerty (12-13-25).<br /> <br />Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5916825483072703666.post-20879678334033261642013-03-03T15:18:00.003-05:002013-03-03T15:18:57.295-05:00Bailen never lacked belief I was chatting with Nick Bailen a couple months ago about if Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could turn its season around after the holidays, much the same as the Engineers did the previous season.<br />
This was a couple days after RPI has posted a pair of one-goal victories over Colgate and Cornell in mid January. The Engineers had won only one of their previous six games and that came against woefully weak Sacred Heart.<br />
The two ECAC Hockey conference victories over Colgate and Cornell got the Engineers out of last place in the league but left them with a still unimposing 3-6-3 league record.<br />
Anyway, Bailen was mentioning a couple of the team's goals and was said "we're looking at how many points (will be) needed for home ice."<br />
Home-ice in that context usually means finishing among the top eight teams in the league so you'll be guaranteed of being at home for the preliminary round of the playoffs.<br />
"Twenty-four, twenty-five (standings) points, maybe 23," he said.<br />
I was confused. It took me a minute but I realized that with those high numbers, Bailen was talking about "home ice" in the quarterfinals, a bye for the prelim round.<br />
Union, as it happened, earned the fourth-place spot and final opening-round bye with 24 points (10-8-4 record).<br />
"Is he serious," I asked myself about Bailen. The Engineers, again, had just nine points with half the league season gone. Were the Engineers good enough to put together a streak that would bring their points total into the mid-20s, even low-20s?<br />
Obviously, they are that good. Oh, how they are!<br />
Bailen was dead-on right. The Engineers, sparked by the insertion of freshman goaltender Jason Kasdorf into the lineup, balanced scoring with the third and fourth forward lines making big contributions, much more maturity and disciplined and a monster, All-American type season from Bailen, ran that winning skein to 11 of 12 in league games. They finished in second place with a 12-7-3 record and will enjoy that coveted weak off.<br />
A victory over a lower-seeded team in a best-of-3 quarterfinal-round series at Houston Field House (March 15-17) will send the Engineers to Atlantic City for the ECACH Championship Weekend March 22-23).<br />
It's among the best finishes to a regular season in RPI history.<br />
"Yeah, I knew we were (capable of it)," Bailen said after Saturday night's 4-1 victory over St. Lawrence.<br />
<strong>Live-chat today:</strong> Want to talk about the Engineers' fine season, the past weekend, the upcoming playoffs, RPI hockey in general? Log-on to <a href="http://www.troyrecord.com/">www.troyrecord.com</a> at 5 p.m. and put forth your thoughts.<br />
Ed Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04641688346603284606noreply@blogger.com0