Daryl Vineberg wrote to hockey3:
 
>
>Well, the Plattsburgh St. Cardinals visited Starr Rink tonight in Hamilton,
>but they might wish they hadn't.  Though Plattsburgh did outscore Colgate
>2-1 in the third period, it was way too little way too late!!  Colgate
>outshot the Cards 49-23, trouncing them 14-3.  Colgate was leading 11-0
>at one point, but the shutout was soon broken.
>The Red Raider fans had the privilege of seeing three differnt Cardinal
>goalies during the course of the game though!  I didn't think it was going
>to be such a blowout (I actually lost money on the game!).  I had never
>actually seen a Div.III team before, but I never imagined there would be
>such a significant difference in style of play.  Quite frankly, I would
>be a little afraid to see what the other Div.III teams look like.  Colgate
>has the worst record in Div.I, and PLattsburgh is one of the top teams in
>Div.III! Anyways, it was entertatining!!
>
 
Please!!  All you Div. I bigots out there - spare us Div. III hockey followers
another thread of "Why do Div. I teams bother to play Div. III teams?"  Yes,
RIT got pasted by RPI last year.  That issue was discussed to the point of
nausia.  Yes, Plattsburgh State, defending NC$$ Div. III Hockey Champions, just
go blasted by Colgate.  So what!  Div. III teams will almost always lag behind
(might I say WAY behind) most Div. I schools.  It's hard to attract the talent
when you cannot offer scholarships (and for those ECAC/Ivy schools that don't
offer them either...) or don't have the "reputation" of being a Div. I team.
On any given day, the better Div. III teams will generally hold their own
against many Div. I teams, and even win once in a while.  It is usually only
the better Div. III teams that are able to get on the schedule of a Div. I team
anyway.  They look for the challenge of playing "above their level", but it is
a risk for the Div. I team as well.  RIT won about 4 of 7 games against Div. I
teams a few years ago, and I would imagine Plattsburgh has won a few, too.  Ask
some long-time Clarkson followers...  Sometimes these blowouts occur, but I
believe they are the exception.  (Mike M. or someone with access to several
years worth of records care to varify this?)
 
Those of us that follow Div. III teams enjoy college hockey as much as anyone.
Please don't belittle us or our teams.  I don't believe that was Daryl's
intent.  I'm just hoping to avoid what happened last year.
 
Thanks.
 
 
 
                              Larry