[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
>         RPI had an awesome team this year but no one gave them any respect
>         untill we shocked all of the front runners with our awesome play
>         in the ecac tourney.
>
I wouldn't call this year's team awesome.   RPI lost many key players last
year in Ron Pasco, Xavier Majic, Jeff Gabriel, Brad Layzell and Little, to name
a few.  It was felt that this years team would struggle because of the losses.
We had some above average players in Askew and Hamelin and Clarke, and
they all had their problems with consistency.   When they clicked, they could
take on any team in the league.  Obviously, this wasn't the case in every game
possibly due to injuries, a new coach an inexperienced defense and the inability
to change their game when it was necessary.
 
>         The only problem is that we're losing half of our damn team to
>         graduation.  Unfortunately most of the ten guys leaving our the
>         reason for our teams great(unfortunately inconsistent) play.
>
Sure we're losing a great bunch of forwards, and next year will probably
be coined a "rebuilding" year.  But we are returning our leading scorer in
Brian Richardson.  And Timmy Regan and Patrick Rochon who were 3 & 5
on the scoring list are returning.  And of course, Mikey will be back between
the pipes.
 
>         Since we're losing ten people to graduation and there's only about
>         twenty people on the team what the hell is Fridgen going to do next
>         year.  What the hell happened when he was recruiting for the class of
>         '97, he must have been slacking that year.
>
I believe that the class of '97 is when the NCAA cut the number of scholarships
available.  And this caused some problems in recruiting that year.
 
>         Unfortuantely, after next year RPI is going to lose Richardson,
>         Tamburro, O'Connor, etc. etc. and then we're gonna be completely
>         screwed.
>
Not completely.  The Freshman this year showed signs of maturing towards
the end of the season.  They played a big part in RPI's tourney run.  Eric Healy
is number eight on the scoring list and if paired up with an assist man like
the Hammer, could put up big points in future years.  He's a big guy who doesn't
mind getting in the crease, unlike the smaller forwards graduating this year.
Doug Battaglia is also a promising forward who does mind shooting the puck.
Brownlee and Tapper both improved their defensive game and will be anchoring
the D for the next three years.
 
>         Hopefully Fridgen can pull of some kind of recruiting miracle for
>         next season.
>
I do admit, we will need a BIG recruiting season the couple of years.  From what
I've heard, we've got a forward coming on board mid next season as he transfered
from Michigan Tech.  Another forward described a Kelly Askew type skater has
also been recruited.   Other than that, no info.   Anybody heard anything on the
new recruits for next year?
 
Jim Chalfonte
[log in to unmask]