{"id":29407,"date":"2007-10-25T10:06:20","date_gmt":"2007-10-25T15:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2007\/10\/25\/this-week-in-ecac-hockey-oct-25-2007\/"},"modified":"2010-08-17T19:57:05","modified_gmt":"2010-08-18T00:57:05","slug":"this-week-in-ecac-hockey-oct-25-2007","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwproxy.uscho.com\/2007\/10\/25\/this-week-in-ecac-hockey-oct-25-2007\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in ECAC Hockey: Oct. 25, 2007"},"content":{"rendered":"
There’s a shocker; Clarkson is on top of the standings.<\/p>\n
But for a real surprise, Quinnipiac scored twice as many goals — 10 — in its shutout exhibition win than it has in three games of NCAA competition since. The Big Red hope the same affliction doesn’t hit their squad, after an 8-0 win over Ottawa last weekend.<\/p>\n
But that’s enough from me. Let’s hear some news from those who are really<\/i> in the know.<\/p>\nO Canada<\/h4>\n
Many ECAC Hockey players got to ditch their practice jerseys for the first time in customary fashion, by taking on a visiting Canadian varsity side. And, in keeping with tradition, the northern guests took a beating. <\/p>\n
The maple-leafers went 0-6-2 against the league this year, with two more tilts to go (both involving Ontario Institute of Technology, in the upcoming Shootout at Ingalls). Trois-Rivieres (les Patriotes, in case you missed them) may have proven themselves to be more trouble than they’re worth, scoring ties with Cornell (0-0) and Union (2-2), sandwiching a 5-3 loss to Princeton.<\/p>\n
The Tigers and the Big Red are the only teams to play two games with the Canadians this season; the Red took out their residual frustration on Ottawa the evening following the scoreless draw, as previously noted.<\/p>\n
Answer: Mike Schafer and Olivia Newton-John.<\/p>\n
Question: Who really wants to get physical?<\/p>\n
For the sake of the children, please refrain from cueing that abomination up on your iPod.<\/p>\n
The Big Red bench-master is emphasizing a return to strong, aggressive, physical play this season, after what he assessed as a far-too-passive campaign last season. <\/p>\n
“Our kids understand what kind of team we need to be,” Schafer said. “I want our team to make sure that the other team is uncomfortable as the game goes on: taking the body, playing hard at all times.” Last year’s team failed to do that, and seemed to soften as the clock ticked down, he said.<\/p>\n
So far, his charges seem to be getting the message.<\/p>\n
“We were more physical last weekend than in any game last season,” he stated affirmatively.<\/p>\n
While the process of building an aggressive, high-pressure team begins with recruiting, it’s also borne of energy and momentum within each individual game.<\/p>\n
“Hitting is contagious,” the coach said.<\/p>\n
But don’t you fear, Ithaca. Bring all the cowbell you like … it won’t cure the physical fever that doesn’t want healing.<\/p>\n
Cornell, Dartmouth and Quinnipiac each play only one game this weekend — a situation that is common early in the season, but becomes less and less likely as the fall fades into winter. St. Lawrence and Clarkson have each had two of those 60-minute weekends already … both consisting of single games against each other, ironically. Is there a discernable difference in how teams gear up and engage in two-point weekends, from how they play with a pair to look forward to?<\/p>\n
The answer is emphatically yes.<\/p>\n
Coaches pointed out how a one-game week allows for total preparation for a single opponent. While most practices involve working for the upcoming game, two-game sets mean that — as one coach put it — “in the back of your mind, you’re always trying to throw things in anticipation of the second game.”<\/p>\n
Joe Marsh at St. Lawrence believes that he uses all four lines more often than most other coaches, but with a meager two points at stake in a week, such a coach feels more confident in rolling a top-heavy lineup. <\/p>\n
Dartmouth’s Bob Gaudet doesn’t think that players should play any more recklessly or passionately if they’re only playing once that weekend — “coaches always want top-energy every game,” he said — but he also allowed that the reassurance of a full week of rest after the contest might lead some players to play with that extra edge.<\/p>\n
Looking at current schedules, teams that are only playing once over a weekend are more often than not taking on another one-game-weekend opponent. From a purely theoretical point of view, it’s a bit of a shame; the chance to see little American International warm up all week for one game against a heavily-favored North Dakota, for example, might result in more excitement than you’d otherwise expect.<\/p>\n