In article <[log in to unmask]> "Brian Cavanaugh @ Koessler Athletics" <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>My 2 cents....
>
>I enjoyed watching the ECAC championships in Lake Placid
>and it was great hockey.  Lake Placid (as always) did a
>great job of hosting and is a beautiful place.
 
Absolutely.  I'm even hoping it's back there next year. (Well, sorta')
 
>Some thoughts....
>1. RPI - had two tough games against quality teams. RPI's
>   forwards are quick.  Askew is a great player and so
>   is Majic - I think Majic was a bit off though. RPI's
 
Absolutely right.  Askew is a great defensive player who's had a bit of a
probem finding the handle on his shots, particularly breakaway shots, this
season.  Since he's RPI's fastest skater he's had many breakaway's but only a
few goals.
 
Majic has perhaps been the single standout, along with Brad Layzell on defense,
for the Engineers in the playoffs.  His consistent and persistent forechecking
has been vital to RPI's success and every time he's on the ice he seems to
make something happen.
 
>   defense needs some help - they are slow and are not
>   real adept with the puck.  Little is a "blue chip"
>   goalie.  Buddy Powers is a class act - after both
>   losses (tough  one's too) he shook every player,
>   coach, manager and even the referees hands.  It may
>   sound meaningless, but it is a difficult thing to
>   be of "character" even in defeat.
 
Buddy is a great guy and all the players love to play for him.  His
philosophy has always been that hockey should be fun.  And it's a lot more
fun when you're winning.  Watch out next year, he'll have this team ready.
(Oh, and he is above all a class act, something that might surprise a few
people considering the general rudeness of RPI fans at hockey games :-))
 
>2. Brown - they are a "gritty" team. They play solid defense
>   and Finch had an MVP type of tourney.  They finish a lot
 
I'm glad SOMEONE agrees with me. :-) :-) :-)  I think Finch was the single
STANDOUT of the weekend and I'm curious to see what he does next year for
Brown.
 
>3. Harvard - I mean no disrespect but they really did'nt
>   impress. They played one good period (the 3rd against
 
I agree fully.  I don't understand what the problem is, but RPI doesn't seem
to find ECAC tournaments important.  Their history is pretty poor and this
year was no different.  How can a team with so much talent play such poor
hockey??  I suppose they'll come out in the NC$$'s and go to the phinal phour,
but from where I stand it seems almost as if Harvard feels the ECAC tourney
isn't important to them.
 
>4. Clarkson - has it rolling right now. They played all
>   four lines and have speed, size and depth.  If there's
>   a weakness is that they "fall asleep" at times during
>   games.  They will have to stay focused to beat Minnesota
>   and upset Maine.  Congrats to Mark Morris who received
>   a lot of "heat" early in the year and there were many
>   critics of him early on ....I'm sure his leadership
>   helped turn things around.
 
Absolutely right.  Clarkson impressed the most as a team this weekend.  They
played unselfishly and as a unit in both games.  Had it not been for some good
goaltending by both Little and Finch, they would have blown both games wide
open.  I'm looking for them to do well in the NC$$'s.
 
>5. Honorable Mentions....
>   ....Brown fans for supporting their underdogs and even though
>       they were outnumbered they cheered on and on....
>
>  ......RPI band - they really are a thing to watch - is there
>   some bad blood and rivalry between RPI and Harvard - WOW.
 
RPI's band is great to watch, as long as you don't have to sit behind them.
:-)
 
>Brian Cavanaugh
>Canisius College
>Cavanaugh @ Canisius
 
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Daniel Orchard-Hays        Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute             '95
"Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin."
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