RIT weekend at the Hart

I believe the playoff format has changed this year. Only 8 teams make the playoffs with 9 and 10 going home. Higher seeds play at home all the way through, no final four at a neutral site. First time that all teams not in the playoffs. Major mistake by the ADs to vote in this format with an unbalanced schedule. 6th place would be great, but let's be at least top 8. No idea who led this charge. It certainly was NOT the Commissioner!

If the playoff change was made during Covid it might have been in the interest of reduced overnight travel (reduction to eight teams) and reduced intermingling (No final four gathering with all teams and personnel under one roof). If so maybe it will go back. The two teams who stay home might protest loudly.

I don't like exclusionary league tournaments because all players play the same long regular season schedule and all schools pay the same dues. It's kind of like the reason for the Boston Tea Party, "Taxation without representation" at the Tournament.

I do not disagree with the 8 team format if the schedule was balanced. Do not think it is fair when a team makes the playoffs playing the top 2 or 3 teams only twice when other teams possible 9 and 10 play those teams 4 times. With Robert Morris coming back next year, add a 12 team and create a balanced schedule. 8 team playoff, while I would rather have all make the playoffs, would be fair then. Several team out there to pick a 12th team

Whoa....Berard had been coaching hockey for 21 out of the last 22 seasons when he took that Holy Cross job. Now sure how he wasn't a HOCKEY COACH. 

Back about 12 years ago we went to 2 divisions briefly. I believe it was East vs. West. At that time the West was stacked with RIT, AFA, RMU, and Mercyhurst. The East was weaker with a beleaguered AIC program about 6 years away from a turn around, Bentley, and Sacred Heart. We won the division easily and made it to the semifinals before losing to AFA (OT I think). We were the beneficiaries that year.

With the unbalanced schedule I think about the OVC debacle in football this year resulting in the coin flip as well as the CAA. In the instance of an unbalanced schedule I do prefer all teams making the playoffs with play-in games for seeds 7-10.

RIT has a terrific record including OOC, standing at 17-6-1 overall. AIC is just 4 points back in the conference standings. SHU is 3rd. Worth noting RIT is #20 in the country and AIC and SHU are RV. RIT swept AWP, AIC, and SHU earlier in the season. They split with Princeton and AFA. Swept by Penn State. I can see us earning a split with them if we can catch them a little off-guard in game 1. I think with solid goaltending and team play we can hang with anyone in our conference, but our wins seem to be from coming out super strong and perhaps catching the opponent underestimating us a bit. If RIT comes out firing on all cylinders it could be a long weekend. Going to go HC 3-2 on Friday and 5-2 RIT on Saturday.

I am pleased with Riga's recruitment of talented players who can compete in Atlantic Hockey and fit in with HC academically, athletically, and character-wise. I think he is a better in-game coach than FHCDB.

2-2 now

A very good match and we look better each time out. I think they have a promising future and enjoyable to watch - let’s see how it goes in 24 hours

As for those crickets, unless the game is on NESN, I don't get to see the games and I'm not going to just watch the live stats. I count on you guys to keep me informed 

Good win. We’re not that far away from being a consistently good team. One more strong recruiting class and we could be in business.

Despite picking up only three points out of a possible 12 points the last two weekends, pretty encouraging showings against the top two teams in the league.

10 goals scored to 13 goals allowed.

We are in good position for a top six finish, which means we'd avoid the first round in the AH tournament. A top four finish is slightly within reach (trail Mercyhurst by four points).