[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign
[00:00:03] Speaker B: the following program is brought to
[00:00:05] Speaker C: you in living color on elliot gazette.com or wherever you get your podcast.
The Gazette News Group presents the Parting Shots Podcast. Now here's your host and shot. Thank you Scott Gezy, and welcome to the Parting Shots Podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe today. Thanks for joining me from the Parting Shots Podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. We have another great show for you in the first time in a few weeks. It's not college hockey centric. We are going to talk college hockey, but we have a little more important stuff to talk about. The state high school boys and girls basketball tournaments, the Final Four taking place this week and actually starting on Thursday afternoon.
The boys are down in Binghamton and the girls are at Hudson Valley Community College. Our high school writer Drew Wemple will join us to break down the matchups in the tournaments and Drew does a great job covering high school sports for us.
[00:01:01] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:01:01] Speaker C: Then we get back to college hockey. Of course, the Union was eliminated from the ECAC hockey tournament last weekend in the quarterfinals by Princeton.
We are going to see Quinnipiac out of the tournament. They got eliminated by Clarkson. They'll take on second seed at Dartmouth. Clarkson's the eighth seed and Bob Offeld, the play by play voice of the Golden Knights, is going to join me to talk about that big upset that took place last weekend in Hampden, Connecticut. The 3 nothing win in game one for Clarkson, then an unbelievable 43 victory where they scored two shorthanded goals on the same power play in the third period and then got the game winner shortly after that. So we'll probably all fell talk about that. And then Dan Rubin of USCHO.com joins me. We'll look back at the weekend in the quarterfinals, including just talking about why Quinnipiac cannot win an ECAC hockey tournament. 16 or 11 ECAC hockey tournaments according six in a row and they've won just one ECAC hockey tour and that came in 10 years ago, 2016.
Now, including the loss last Saturday, they haven't reached the finals the last three years. So we'll talk about that and we'll preview the matchups. As we said, Clarkson and Dartmouth in the 4 o' clock game and Cornell and Princeton in the 7 o' clock game. And the winners play Saturday at 5pm for the championship and the automatic bid to to the NCAA tournament. Of course next we'll have the regionals here next weekend. We'll probably dive into that a little more next week. So coming up we're going to Talk high school basketball with Drew Wemple. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
What's your favorite high school sports memory?
[00:02:46] Speaker B: A late inning rally?
[00:02:47] Speaker A: A game winning shot?
[00:02:49] Speaker C: A photo finish? Maybe it's a pep rally or a,
[00:02:54] Speaker B: maybe it's the euphoria of a late night bus ride home after a hard fought win. Maybe it's having pizza with teammates after the game.
[00:03:02] Speaker A: Now imagine if it never happened at all.
[00:03:07] Speaker B: School sports need your help. With budgets getting tighter, it's more than the games that are on the line.
[00:03:13] Speaker C: It's all the traditions, the community pride, the culture of your hometown high school,
[00:03:18] Speaker B: plus all those memories that are on the line too.
[00:03:22] Speaker A: What can you do?
It's simple.
[00:03:25] Speaker C: Buy a ticket when you can go to a game. Take the whole family.
[00:03:29] Speaker B: Let's do everything we can to keep
[00:03:32] Speaker C: those cherished school sports memories alive.
[00:03:35] Speaker A: This message presented by the New York
[00:03:37] Speaker B: State Public High School Athletic association and the New York State Athletic Administrators Association.
[00:03:52] Speaker C: Welcome back to the podcast. And for the first time in a couple weeks, we're going to have something other than college hockey here on the podcast. And it's a big weekend in high school basketball as the state tournament wraps up with semifinals and championship games. Boys are down in Binghamton and the girls are at Hudson Valley. And Drew Wemple has been doing an outstanding job covering these games for us is here now as we help me break down these games. And Drew, let's start with the Thursday games. We're taping this. Let our listeners know we are taping this on Wednesday afternoon. We'll hopefully I'll get this podcast up before the games get underway on Thursday. But let's start in Class A, the semifinal.
Hudson going against Tappan Zee Bridge. I mean Tappan Zee, what are your thoughts about that?
[00:04:38] Speaker A: Yeah, so Hudson and I think our Southern Bureau reporter Christian Hintz might be able to speak a little more to this and shout out to all the guys that have kind of been covering this high school playoffs. Will Springstead, Christian Hintz, Pete Barber's been doing our shooting.
[00:04:50] Speaker C: I mean, and we have Bob Wyner doing some games as well.
[00:04:52] Speaker A: So it's been a fun time of year just to wrap up and you know, this Hudson team, I think everybody knows about Keith Robinson and the scoring he can do and Gannon Loeb contributes to that. And they have some guards that shoot it to. But it's defensively where I think they've really stepped up, especially in the postseason.
They've held their opponents to under 40 all four postseason games. I mean their defense has Just stepped up and it's kind of creating offense for for them.
They're not score hitting that 70 point benchmark they were doing during the regular season, but the defense is creating offense for them. They were in a little bit of a close game with Peru and regionals last week and then they just flipped it on and shut down Peru for a big stretch of the second quarter and that was that. So we'll see what happens with them going for a first state title.
[00:05:40] Speaker C: How does Tappan Z stop the great Keith Robinson?
[00:05:43] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean Tappan Z is another team that they play good defense. They're have holding teams to under 40 points per game on the season overall.
Last season they were in the state semis lost to Binghamton who if you remember beat Niskiuna to win the Class AA or loss versus Binghamton in the New York state semis last year who went on to then beat Niski Una for that year's state title. So Tappan Z has been here before and they've played the defense this year to you know, meet rise to the occasion in this game.
[00:06:14] Speaker C: That's a 745 game down in Binghamton. That other semifinal has Maine and well against West Hill, the top ranked team and West Hill 25 and oh, that's
[00:06:24] Speaker A: a pretty impressive 25 and oh, yup. And they're making their fourth trade appearance in the state tournament. They've won this thing six times in their past. So even if Hudson is to get past happen Z I would expect them to have to run into West Hill and hand them their first loss if they want to win a state title.
[00:06:40] Speaker C: Well, Maine. You, you.
Yeah, you'll. I'm sorry, I can't pronounce today for some reason they're that's in that Binghamton. So they could have a little bit of home court advantage.
[00:06:49] Speaker A: They could, yeah. And they've, they've never won or made the New York state championship. So I mean this is probably a magical run for them at 17 and 6. I'm sure the home crowd would love to see them step up and bring home some history and knock off the undefeated West Hill. So yeah, home quarter advantage.
[00:07:07] Speaker C: Oh. Class B boys semifinal. A new team in Section 2 Kip Capital Region taking on what seems more like a street name than a school. Carl place from section 8. That game's at 4:15 on Thursday. 1. What can you tell me about KIPP Capital Region?
[00:07:21] Speaker A: Well, this is their first year as a program. Obviously they've got you know, two guys though that it can't be Understated have done this before and won at this level in DJ Jones, former head coach of Green Tech and Endavier Barnes, his star, his star pupil. You know who won that 2024 sectional class or state class AAA title with Green Tech. This is probably my favorite mascot matchup. Out of all 10 of the games. We've got the trailblazers of Kip Capital against the Frogs of.
So that's pretty fun for those keeping track. But in terms of player matchups, this is going to be a really good one throughout the whole weekend. Maybe the best with Endavier Barnes against Karl Place's Ryan Leary. He scored over 2000 points for his career last week he had the game winning four point play, hit the three on the wing and was fouled to beat top ranked Woodlands in regionals. I mean he has this Carl Place team at winners of 12 straight. So Kip Capital is going to have their hands full with a team that's playing really spirited basketball right now behind Leary.
[00:08:23] Speaker C: The semifinal in class B will be Olmsted against Marcellus.
That's the third and second ranked teams Olmsted third rank in the state. Second for Marcellus. So championship game will be Friday at 6pm let's go over to the girls side of things.
AAA, the class double triple A semifinal. Shaker going up against Albertus Magnus. That'll be Thursday at 4:15 at Hudson Valley.
Right now Shaker ranked sixth and Albertus Magnus ranked third. What about the Shaker team?
[00:08:55] Speaker A: Yeah, so this is Shakers, you know, they're going for their first ever New York state title. They've never made that, that big game. They won their first sectional title earlier this, you know, month. Since 2011, the ranked number six in the state for a reason. It's only, it's three slots behind Albertus Magnus. But I mean what Shaker has done this season, you know, to go get that sectional title. They have the full cast back with Jayla Geeter who was injured for a little bit during the year and then she came back. She's back now. In that regional game against Baldwinsville she chipped in seven points, five assists, four steals. I mean when they have that, that full cast, their full assortment of weapons, I don't know if there's a team that can beat them. Especially when Malia Jackson does what she does on the inside For Albertus Magnus. They're the reigning New York State champ.
They also won for class AA in 2024. They're going for their sixth New York finals appearance all time. They're a four time champ. They've got Julia Scott who scored 2000 points. I mean Shaker is. This is going to be probably one of the better teams they've run into. But they played some good teams like Christ the King at in that Amsterdam holiday showcase, the number one team in Class aaa. So they have played some of the best of the best already. I don't think Shaker is going to shy away from this.
[00:10:11] Speaker C: What do they have to do to win this game? Get to the championship game?
[00:10:13] Speaker A: I think it's like I mentioned, it's everybody's got to have their moment. I think Malia Jackson needs to have a presence on the inside. Jayla Geeter needs to be doing her thing, setting up the offense and keeping her hands active defensively. I think Peyton Hoblock needs to be big at getting to her spots in the mid range, have an efficient shooting day. And then you have the Lanny twins who I've written about their connection before. They're so much fun to watch on the court. I think they also need to have come up and hit some big shots. It's got to be all five of them and even some of the girls like Aaliyah Powell off the bench who come in and you know, make a big impact. So look for some of the, you know, Shaker to have a well balanced effort to do it.
[00:10:51] Speaker C: So if final is Quantus from Section 5 against William Floyd from Section 11.
The championship game will be Friday at 6pm so let's now go to the other games. Let's go back to the boys. I'll start with the triple A class semifinal. It's CBA against Maverick, be Friday at 315. I can't even read my writing here. 315 CBA ranked fourth in the state 23. And oh, why aren't they ranked number one?
[00:11:23] Speaker A: Well, I mean I think it's just a product of, you know, having a lot of really good private school teams, you know, up at the top in Class AAA for CBA. They're the best team out of these four. Mamak sits at number nine. Corning Pain and Post sits at number 11 and number six, Fairport. Those are the two teams on the other side of the bracket. So CBA is definitely the best of this bunch. But they're hoping for their first finals appearance since 2010 and they have looked as good as necessary to do it. They've got their second year head coach, Galal Cancer, who was on that team in 2010 that won it all in this year's CBA team kind of like we just touched on with Shaker so deep in all the right places. I mean, J.J. ozinski, obviously one of the best in section two, but it's the other guys I've seen during the postseason that have really impressed me. Pop Kaufel, during the sectional championship game against Shaker, just did everything they needed to in that second quarter to give them a big. To give them a big lead over the defending state champs, where they knocked him off. And then you look at Austin Ozinski, Jack Hewlett, they have all just really played big individual roles that have supported the greater good, you know, the whole of this operation. So just a deep CVA team here.
[00:12:38] Speaker C: Yeah. CBA looks to keep a Section two streak going of having the Class Triple A champion. Green tech won in 2024 and Shaker won last year.
Pressure on them to do it.
[00:12:50] Speaker A: I mean, they beat both of those teams in their playoff run to do it. They survived a really good Green Tech team in the semifinals, and then they beat, like we just mentioned, Shaker in the finals. I mean, this is as good a team as you're going to find, you know, over the last couple years in Class III.
[00:13:07] Speaker C: Well, the championship game will be Saturday at 7:45. Let's go to Class AA, where it's Amsterdam and Rye from section one. That game will be played Friday at 11:45am Amsterdam ranked third in the straight. Rye fourth.
Anson has been a great story this year.
[00:13:23] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, it's this playoff run that they've been on every single game. I've covered all the games, and every single one has kind of left me sitting there thinking, how the heck did they just pull this out? I mean, they've got a combined margin of victory of 14 points across their four playoff games. They've won all of them by single digits. I mean, they are just surviving and advancing. And that's the name of the game at this time of year.
So against, you know, a section against a ride team from Section one. They're making their first appearance in the state semi since 1984. Amsterdam is here for the first time since 1995. So these are two teams that.
[00:14:00] Speaker C: So we're talking last century.
[00:14:02] Speaker A: Yeah, not. Not during my time.
But I mean, you know that in these moments, sometimes emotions in the atmosphere can play a part in how a team will start.
And I think Amsterdam just. They. Even though they felt struggled at times to get out of the gates, they've always been able to find themselves in a ball game and pull it out in this postseason. So I'm excited to see how the heck they win this one.
[00:14:24] Speaker C: The other semifinal pits the top two teams in the state Penfield at number one against Seton Catholic, number two in that other semifinal. How does that get the top two teams in the semifinal?
[00:14:34] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean that's. That's what you want, right? I mean that's everybody's dream. In March. You get upsets early, but then you get the best teams playing for the state title. I do want to shout out that Seton Catholic team. They're the only team that beat Corning Painted Post, which is in the other side of the Triple A bracket.
But none of these four teams have ever won a New York state title. So they're going to crown a first time champion in Class AA this year.
[00:14:58] Speaker C: James, your game will be Saturday night at 6 o'. Clock. Let's go to Class B. We're defending. I'm sorry, Class C. We're defending champion. Burn Knox Westerlo will take on north salem from section one. That game will be Saturday at 3:15pm Burn Knox Weslow playing an independent schedule and it seems to fit them fine.
[00:15:17] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, but this is what they. This is what they were gearing up for by going and taking that leap of faith to go independent. I mean they wanted their guys to be ready for games like this to go out and try to win another state championship. They knew it wouldn't be perfect like last year where they didn't lose a game. You know, they lost a couple this year. But half of their losses, three of their six losses are have come to teams that were in the New York State tournament. So they played up in competition and they handled themselves pretty well. Shane Kirker, another one of those guys that one of the best in Section two. He's going to go play Division one ball. We don't know where yet because he's reopened his recruitment from Air Force.
But they also have guys that have surprised me at times just with how competent their play is.
Dwayne Coates, he's a really strong shooter. Not just a viral shooter, but a really good shooter. George Wright, he is tall and fast and explosive and they just complement Shane so well to, you know, as they try to accomplish this goal of winning a second straight title.
[00:16:20] Speaker C: The other semifinal is Lions some section five ranked second in the state against undefeated Cooperstown 25 and oh from section three and ranked number one. So whoever, if Burn Ox gets past this game, they're gonna have a tough time in the championship. That will be Saturday, Sunday 11.45am yeah.
[00:16:41] Speaker A: Cooperstown's trying to do what Burn Ox did a year ago. Interestingly, they're averaging 81 over 80 points a game. That's pretty impressive to do at high school basketball. They've got this kid, Miles nealon. He's averaging 27 points per game as a senior. He's taken over 233s this year. So he can, he can fill it up when he can.
[00:16:59] Speaker C: Let's go to the girls in Class Double A. And really the feel good story of the year, bethlehem. Well, just 1211, but they got hot at the right time. They're playing for a state tell they'll take on nyack from section one. Bethlehem, probably the lowest ranked team in this tournament, 27, while Nyack is three.
Can Bethlehem pull off the miracle?
[00:17:20] Speaker A: Coach Trish Puccini, in only his second year, has been adamant with me that there's no magic when it comes to this. It's only hard work. Well, I think it's going to have to take some magic this weekend for them to just, you know, keep pulling this off. Remember, they won the sectional tournament as a number four seed. They beat each of the top two seeds. They came out against Oswego in a game where people were probably thinking, all right, is, is the luck going to run out? Are they going to finally meet their match? They started that game up 20 to nothing in the first quarter. I mean, they didn't. They almost pitched a shutout until an and one with 12 seconds left, I think so. They have just raised their level of play so much in the postseason. I think rankings go out the window again with them. I mean, especially with the way they're playing. Lily Griesbach is, you know, even though the shot isn't falling consistently, she's doing everything right. Elizabeth Kearney playing really good basketball on both ends. Bryn Elfelt, an eighth grader, is leading this team in scoring in some of these postseason games. And even with four seniors, they're all stepping up like Micaiah McCann, who won MVP of the sectional tournament. So just everybody's kind of chipping in for this, you know, underdog run.
[00:18:26] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, that would be the big story. I mean, if they're able to pull this off. And that's a wonderful story for Section 2. That game will be Saturday at 3:15pm the other semifinal, North Tonawanda from Section 6, ranked number one in the state against Horseheads from Section 4. Another 12 matchup in the state tournament semifinals. I mean, that if Bethlehem gets past the niac, I mean, they're Going to have a tougher game in the title game.
[00:18:56] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, upset has been what they're all about, just shocking the world game after game. So I mean, I just think if they can keep up this attitude as they go through this weekend, I mean, sky's the limit for them.
[00:19:08] Speaker C: Let's go to the Class A semifinal. We're to be played Saturday, 11:45am It's Albany Academy against Tappan Z.
Yeah.
[00:19:15] Speaker A: Albany Academy, number two team in the state, Tappan Z, ranked number three, Albany Academy. Their only losses this season were against Shaker, who as we just talked about is in their own semifinal this weekend and their other one against Troy, who I thought honestly could have gotten out of Double A if Bethlehem didn't shock him at the buzzer. So, I mean, Albany Academy again, as, as they've done these last couple years, just continues to put together productive seasons. They made the state semis in 2024, but they lost that game 58, 51. They've never won a state title despite all of this, you know, recent success they've had.
They lost in the 2025 B finals a couple years ago against Utica Notre Dame, who we'll touch on is on the other side of this bracket. So I mean, out of all that success, this is the one they want. And you know, they've done the right things to be able to do it. They're allowing over only 32 points per game right now over this nine game win streak. So the defense has stepped up. They're not just outscoring teams, they're doing it convincingly. So this is the big one. This is the one they got to get.
[00:20:22] Speaker C: Yeah. You mentioned utiga, Notre Dame 24 and oh in the season. Yeah, ranked first in the state, section three.
It's one, one of the things, if Albany county gets by, they're gonna have a tough one.
[00:20:35] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean I surprisingly, I actually covered Utic Notre Dame earlier this season at that Amsterdam holiday showcase when they played Bethlehem. I talked to their head coach, John Snyder after that one. Just, you know, about their goal. They wanted to be here. They wanted to be making another bus trip up to upstate New York to go play in Troy. That's what he told me. And they're getting it. So good for them.
[00:20:56] Speaker C: Okay, the championship game will be Sunday at 10am so set your alarms for that one. Class B semifinals. It's Mechanicville 22 and three against Yonkers.
Montessori at section one at 22 and three. Mechanical ranked third in the state and the Yonkers team ranked second. What do we have in this game at Friday at 3:15?
[00:21:15] Speaker A: Defense, defense, defense. That's what Mechanicville has done all year. That's what their head coach, Mike Cavada just. He's so, you know, that's. He puts it simply, he wants to rebound, he wants to force turnovers, he wants to just kind of control the pace of the game from the defensive end. Well, they're going to get that tested in these. If they can play two games, definitely this first game. I mean, Montessori, Yonkers, Montessori averaging over 60 points per game on the season. On the other side, you've got Marcellus averaging 67 points per game on the season. Season. And Shenango forks with 57 per game on the season.
[00:21:51] Speaker C: Yeah, you mentioned Marcellus, the top ranked team in state in class B and Shenango ranked fourth.
What are Mechanicville's chances?
[00:21:58] Speaker A: I mean, again, it's going to have to start on the defensive end. They play so connective on connected on that end of the floor. Molly Desanta up top, she's always forcing turnovers.
And then Tanner Eisman, she's kind of the offensive engine a little bit at times, just scoring in the post and opening up the three point shots on the wing. So I mean, they're going for their first ever New York State title. They played in three straight sectional finals. They finally got over the hump this year and won it all.
So I mean, they want to keep this momentum going. They've got the right group to do it this year.
[00:22:31] Speaker C: Championship game will be Saturday at 7:45. And let's wrap it up with Class C, the semifinal Friday at 11:45am at Greenwich against Tuckahoe. Greenwich, 25 and 1 on the season, ranked fourth in the state and Tuckahoe 193 ranked second. How does that happen? Greenwich with the better records ranked below him.
[00:22:51] Speaker A: I don't do the state rankings. I don't get paid enough to do that.
But no, I mean, for Greenwich, all there really is to be said is, you know, the team they're playing is not wearing a Stillwater jersey. And over the last two years, that's the important. That kind of has determined whether they win or lose. I mean, they've won 49 games since the start of last season. They've lost only two. Both of them have been to Stillwater. I mean, they're 251 this year. They've won 11 since an overtime loss to Stillwater back in late January.
Notably, though, they've never made a state finals for Greenwich first year head coach Eric Whitehouse hopes to get them to that point. They lost in the 23 semis vs. Millbrook when Whitehouse was still an assistant on that team.
Offensively, obviously they have Brooklyn Kuzmich, 2000 point scorer for her career. She's going to do a lot for them. She's going to have to do a lot if they want to win that state title. But defensively they're holding teams to under 35 a game.
So I mean it's, they're a complete team this year. That's why they're in this position. So.
[00:23:53] Speaker C: And they're averaging 72.6 points per game, so that's not too shabby.
[00:23:56] Speaker A: No. And I mean it hasn't just been Brooke Kuzmich for them either. I mean, you look at them, they have Jordan Wolf who's contributing. You have some girls that are shooting the basketball at the right time. They're scoring on the interior. So it's not just Brook and the teams that want to win state titles. It can't be just one player normally. But interestingly, on the other side of this bracket is a Fruitsburg team that won the state title over, they beat Stillwater last year in the final four. So I mean there, if Greenwich is going to get, you know, get over that hump, I would probably imagine it's going to have to go through Fruitsburg.
[00:24:31] Speaker C: The defending state champions right there, ranked first out of the, they're out of section six. They'll take on Delaware Academy, Delhi from section four and the other semifinal on Friday.
They're 22 and two. They're ranked third in the state and the championship game will be Saturday at 6 o'. Clock. It's going to be a busy weekend for you and Christian and all our guys here. And you guys, like I said, did a great job all season long and let's wrap it up and have some fun this weekend.
[00:24:57] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:24:57] Speaker C: Then it's on to spring if the weather cooperates.
So thanks, we appreciate it. That's Drew Wemple. Coming up, we're going back on the college hockey trailer. Talk to Bob Offeld, the voice of Clarkson men's hockey on radio and ESPN plus. We're going to talk about that big upset by the 8th seeded Golden Knights against the top seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats in the ECAC Hockey Best of 3 quarterfinals. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:25:36] Speaker D: If you really want to know what's
[00:25:37] Speaker C: going on in your community, you have to read the Daily Gazette.
[00:25:40] Speaker A: We don't take a side. We're right down the middle, and we're
[00:25:43] Speaker D: gonna get to the truth. Our reporters and photographers are out in the field bringing you updates every minute
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[00:25:54] Speaker C: first page to the last page.
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[00:25:58] Speaker C: We're finding out what's going on in
[00:26:00] Speaker D: the community where nobody else is covering.
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Pass across the goalmouth.
[00:26:07] Speaker D: Nobody home. Gilson fakes the shot blocked down as
[00:26:09] Speaker C: a power play expires.
[00:26:10] Speaker D: Teams at 5 on 5, 5:47 to
[00:26:14] Speaker C: go in the third. Barkholtz up and out.
[00:26:15] Speaker D: Join here by the Knight. They have a three on two developing here.
[00:26:18] Speaker C: Bartholz, where is St. Denis? Barkholtz shoots. He scores.
[00:26:21] Speaker D: Eric Bartholz, five hole with 5:39 to go has given Clarkson an improbable 4:3 advantage.
[00:26:31] Speaker C: That was a call for my next guest on B 99.3 FM up in the north country as Clarkson stunned Quinnipiac, the top seed in the East Asia Hockey Tour. Three third period goals to rally from a 31 deficit to beat the Bobcats 4 to 3, eliminate the Bobcats from the East AC Hockey Tournament and go back to Lake Placid as the eighth seed. And my good friend Bob Offell, who was on the call, is joining me now. And, Bobby, how stunned were you when you saw that third period Saturday?
[00:27:04] Speaker D: As stunned as everybody else. I mean, it was, you know, I mean, you figure they gotta. They get the two goals early and they've, you know, pretty much. They. Clarkson got a power play. Couldn't make it. Three, two, take a penalty. Yeah. All right. You're ready for Sunday, right?
[00:27:22] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:27:22] Speaker D: And even when the o' Donnell goal goes in the first one, it's just, you know, poor Mason Marcellus just forgot the puck and. All right, it's 3 2, but they can still score in this power play, Right. You know what I mean? Like, you got a long way to go, and then when the second one goes into the tie, it's like, geesh.
I guess what was stunning to me, you didn't quite realize it all happened so fast, was how quickly the bar hold school went in after the power play expired. It wasn't very long, like maybe 25, 30 seconds. So, I mean, it wasn't three shorthanded goals, but. But they never really set back up. Quinnipiac did. To get even after timeout, you know, just. It was a. It was a. Just. I'm trying to get you. My son and I are trying to think about other sports, how it could happen like that. It's, you know, it's like, like, like a, you know, a 80 yard bomb for a, for a football touchdown and then, and then the, you know, return that the, the kicker muffs the kickoff and you get another touchdown. You know, like, you know, to go from down 5 to up, you know, it was, it was, it was stunning. And you know, Quinnipiac will be better for it. Hopefully it doesn't happen to them in the ncaa.
[00:28:40] Speaker C: Well, let's, let's talk about that for a second, Bob.
Quinnipiac has won six straight EC hockey regular season titles. You know how many tournament titles they won at that time?
[00:28:52] Speaker D: Well, they haven't, but, but no, zero.
Yeah. And I, I, I, I, I'm, I'm a big, big, big baseball fan and I, I, I still appreciate if you're the best over 22, you got something going for you somehow the consistency. I mean that, that's the only league, they're the only team outside of Minnesota State Mankato to do it. And the, the Mavericks did it over two different league. I mean it's stunning his, their consistency in a great way. I mean, what Mr. Pecknell's been able to do, you know, unfortunately they haven't, you know, had the success. They won the DCACs. I mean there's, you know, when I was in the middle of it in the 90s with Clarkson, they won it in 93 and had really good teams up until 99 and couldn't win it. And that was the moniker on Mark for a while.
But, but then again, you know, Clarkson hasn't been able to win a national title. The Rams won one in business and Frozen Force too.
[00:29:58] Speaker C: So, yeah, and yeah, they've, Quinnipack has won 11 regular season titles since joining the. Joining the league, I think was in 2005. I think it was or so. But they've only won one conference title that came in 2016.
[00:30:10] Speaker D: Yep, yep. And it's, it's, you know, it's, I guess if you're a Quinnipiac fan and you're the coaching staff, according to you, Trader Frozen four for a league title. I mean, it'd be nice to have both.
[00:30:22] Speaker B: Right.
[00:30:22] Speaker D: But you know, what's the, what's the ultimate goal?
[00:30:26] Speaker C: But I mean, they have to run into luck once in a while during this run to win one. I mean, yeah, you usually get to Lake Placid. I mean they haven't been championship around the last couple of years either.
Yeah, I should say the final championship game, not the championship round because obviously championship rounds going on with the four teams remaining. But it just stuns me that they haven't lucked into at least one tournament title in this stretch.
[00:30:52] Speaker D: Oh, I agree. You know, they could have beat Harvard when Coronado scored. And you go back to last year, I mean, they had a power play with under three minutes to go up by a goal and allowed the shorthanded marker when Cornell tied it. And then, of course, Cornell got the overtime game winner in the semis.
You know, that kept Mike Schaefer's season alive.
[00:31:17] Speaker C: And he ends up winning another one goes against double A's. But I mean, the amazing thing to me, even during the COVID season, 2020, 20, 2021 season, they had the tournament championship game on their home ice and lost to St. Lawrence in overtime. Yeah, I mean, that's. You got the whole night. I mean, there probably weren't many fans there, but still, you're on your home ice. It should have been easy to win that damn thing.
[00:31:43] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:44] Speaker D: And I, you know, it.
It's. It's a. It's an anomaly. You know, how do you.
Does it get in players heads after a while? I don't know. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, it's. It's been a, you know, a church of players, and they've all not been able to win that one in Lake Placid, you know, but even the, the first year they're in the league, they, you know, had Clarkson down two nothing in the third, and Clarkson came back to score four in Albany.
The Chris. The Chris Delves game. Yes, I was there for that too. And just showing our age, buddy. That's all we're doing, showing our age.
[00:32:22] Speaker C: We've been to all the venues that the ECA Championships have been there. Albany, Lake Plaza, Atlantic City. Like, forget Atlantic City. That was a waste of time.
[00:32:32] Speaker D: But that was, that was a bit of a different. That was a horse of a different color.
[00:32:36] Speaker C: Yes, yes. But somewhere.
[00:32:39] Speaker D: I'm on an FBI surveillance video. I think somewhere too.
Boardwalk, who knows?
[00:32:46] Speaker C: It's amazing, man. I mean, I grew up in Philadelphia and we go down with my grandparents, Atlantic City. And just, I mean, it's. It's strikingly how different things are from the boardwalk to in town. Just not a good way. But I digress. But enough about Quinnipiac, enough about Atlantic City. Let's talk about the team you call your games Clarkson. What are we missing about this team? I picked against the team against RPI because I thought RPI was playing well. And RPI beat him twice in the regular season. I Picked Clarkson to get swept by Quinnipiac. What am I missing about this team?
[00:33:21] Speaker D: It's just they reflect their coach, you know, I mean he was a guy as a player that, you know, yet people remember him as being a hard working player. He had 153 career points too. And a guy that, you know, he doesn't get up and doesn't get down and you knew this team, I mean I've seen every. Longer every game. I mean they, they stood toe to toe both games with Penn State, at Penn State stood toe to toe with North Dakota. That was in Potsdam, you know, but then they had, then they had some clunkers. You know, I said the, the first game at RPI didn't play well.
You know, maybe game two at St. Lawrence. They had a bad end of the period and had some, they finally kind of bought in defensively to a little bit. I mean they have some, some skill, but it's also very young skill. You know, they only got three seniors that play a lot, you know, in, in Sarsland and Bottrill and Eric Bargholz, you know, they're, they're heavily loaded with freshmen and sophomores. So that's, and just getting, it's, it's not, you know, it's funny. Clarkson's returning with very little of the nucleus that got them there last year and Dartmouth is coming in with almost all the nucleus. They got them there last year, you know what I mean? So it's a different animal. And, and you know, I mean Soto Wall is played good.
You know, there's a story really hasn't been talked about much. You're talking about a guy that, you know, he was playing Division 3 last year, playing at a very high level obviously, but still it's, you know, it's, it's a big jump from Division 3, Division 1. He's, he's had a job all year. He's been great.
You know, he had 39 against Union.
He.
And I point to the fact that he, they lost in North Dakota. They lost one nothing. You know, like geez, score a goal for the guy.
[00:35:23] Speaker C: You know.
[00:35:26] Speaker D: But they, in Friday's game Saturday, I'm not gonna get in the miracle category, but Saturday, you know, they, they caught lightning at the right time over two minutes. But Friday's game was way more than three nothing. I think anybody who watched that game, Clarkson was all over him. You know, even, even Rand Petnold admitted that like they hadn't been handled like that in a long time.
And they, they manhandled Quinnipiac and frankly, even the weekend before, I think manhandled rpi, especially.
[00:36:02] Speaker C: Especially at third period, because I thought that most of that third period is played in RPI zone.
[00:36:07] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah, the shot. The shots were double. The shot attempt for double, you know, so, yeah, I, I see manhood. It might not be the. The correct. I don't want to get too over the top with it, but they were all over them, you know, in a good way. So they've, you know, finally figured out the way they can maybe not be too skilled to have giveaways in the neutral zone. And. And they hit, you know, like, that's the one thing when people watch this team. They hit everything and they hit everything that moves, and that's a reflection of their coach.
[00:36:39] Speaker C: Well, let me ask you, you called that 8, 7 overtime game against Union there in late January.
How crazy was that game? I remember Soto all didn't play that game.
[00:36:51] Speaker D: No, well, he. He got pulled against rpi and they just played the ranch. Keenan Rancier. And you know, I would say if sort of wall went in that night, I think he would have struggled. You know, again, being the baseball fan that I am, there's you got nights where no matter what the pitcher throws up, guys are gonna get a hit. And in that game, if it was on net for some reason it was going in, you know, it was a. It was a lot. You know, Clarkson got the six four to lead them. They're gonna finally got some breathing room. You know, maybe they'll pull away and clamp it down and then two go in right away. Next two shots, basically.
[00:37:29] Speaker C: Yeah. And I should correct my. Correct myself. Was it early February? Not late January, but
[00:37:35] Speaker D: yeah, but yeah, that was a. That was a. A wild affair. And you know, like, I just wouldn't say any goalie had a particularly strong evening that night.
Both the ones for RPI or for a union that were in the game. And of course Keenan had a struggle, but to Keenan's credit, you know, he
[00:37:56] Speaker C: had a key say when he needed it.
[00:37:58] Speaker D: Yes, he did get them. You know, the Union had some chances in the overtime too. So, you know, he. That's. That's a mentally tough position.
It seems like I can't stop anything. We'll stop this. Yeah, you know, that's kind of what happened to Silverstein. You know, I mean, he almost stole game one for Quipiac and was playing great in game two until the breakaway by o'. Donnell. And then maybe the match goal was a tough one, but the barcode score. I think is one he really wants back in that contest.
[00:38:32] Speaker C: Yeah.
What's it going to take for Clarkson to upset Dartmouth?
[00:38:39] Speaker D: There were two very good games.
A tie at Dartmouth, which was a fabulous hockey game. And, and Dartmouth, what, 13 to 1? Could have been a little more in. Potsdam was 11 after 2. But I think Dartmouth was a little more experienced, a little headier, deeper.
You know, like Clarkson for the most part was able to hold Wittenbach and that crew off the score sheet on, on the weekend. I'll have to the same with Stavrov, but you know, they're a deep, a deep squad too. You know, Nikita Nakora is dangerous and they sort of remind me in a weird way of as I got thinking about it, Clarkson last year. I mean, Martino got a lot of the stats. Stavrov has a little more help around him offensively.
But CJ Foley is like what Trey Taylor was for Clarkson last year. Krado is playing like Langenegger.
They got some seniors that are, that are good seniors that are experienced like Ryan Richardson was last year for Clarkson.
So, you know, same kind of effort that they got against Quinnipiac.
You know, obviously the favorite would be Dartmouth and they should be, you know, they're going to the tournament and, and they're. And they're going to be.
I say, you know, for the. The program hasn't really won anything.
You know, they've had success under Reed, has success at times under Coach Gaudette, but.
And had a. But they still haven't won anything. I think this is a one they're chasing. So Clarkson will need another effort like Friday against Quinnipiac to beat Dartmouth.
[00:40:28] Speaker C: Well, it'll be a lot of fun up there. Unfortunately, I will not be up there again.
So. But you. I guess you'll. You're gonna still be helping out the broadcast on ESPN plus on the other games.
[00:40:40] Speaker D: I'll be. I'm on ice this year. Me and Phil Jubileo flipped.
We traded each other. So he's on the desk and I'll be down doing the. I said interviews and even during the Clarkson game.
Oh yeah, yeah. Yep. Yep. And Phil Murphy and Pierre McGuire will do the. The play by play. So same, same crew. It should be a lot of fun. I think.
I think Chad Cassidy and the folks at Orda were breathing a pretty good sigh of relief Saturday night and also Sunday.
[00:41:12] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:41:12] Speaker D: About 6:30.
[00:41:14] Speaker C: Yep. Crowd wise, Clarkson fans will come down from pots and other Cornell fans will come from Ithaca and the alums and everybody. It's going to be a blast up there.
[00:41:24] Speaker D: Yeah, it should be. And, and you know, we haven't really talked about Senator Cornell, but that's an interesting sidelight given that Ben was there for so many years.
[00:41:34] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:41:35] Speaker D: At Cornell and you know, they went with Casey and, and Ben's done very well at Princeton.
[00:41:42] Speaker C: Yeah, that should be a lot of fun. That's a good second game there. So at least I'll be watching from my desk.
[00:41:49] Speaker D: Well, if we go to overtime, I know who to thank.
[00:41:52] Speaker C: That's right. My aura will be there. Mr. Overtime tomorrow will be in Lake Placid somewhere. Bobby, as always, appreciate a few minutes and have some fun and we'll talk soon.
[00:42:03] Speaker D: Thanks, Kenny.
[00:42:04] Speaker C: That's Bobby Offell. Coming up, Dan Rubin from USCHO.com we'll look back at the quarterfinal round matchups and look ahead to these this weekend's championship round. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:42:25] Speaker B: It's the most historic conference in college hockey.
It's a battle night in and night out.
ECAC Hockey, an iconic conference, home to 12 of the most prestigious universities and programs in the world and showcasing the best student athletes in the sport.
Top notch facilities and arenas, incomparable traditions,
[00:42:45] Speaker D: passionate fans, alumni who go on to
[00:42:48] Speaker B: become elite professionals, leaders and champions.
ECAC hockey, there's no experience like it.
[00:43:07] Speaker C: Welcome back to the podcast. The Icasiaki Final Four takes place this weekend in Lake Placid. And three of the favorites got there, Cornell, Princeton and Dartmouth. But one team did not. The top seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats, taken out in the quarterfinals by Clarkson at Hampden, Connecticut. And dan Rubin of USCHO.com Mr. Overtime in Atlantic Hockey joins me now to talk about that. But before that you had another Friday overtime game with Bentley.
[00:43:38] Speaker B: Can, can I just get one normal bedtime this week like I like? It's a one game playoff for the championship in Atlanta. Gawke, like we all know that this game's going three overtimes and like this this postseason. I woke up on Sunday morning and after I and I was just kind of like can I get one normal weekend of sleep in a post season is, or is that just. The hockey gods just never want me to have that?
[00:44:00] Speaker C: Yeah, I just realized it's 20 years ago that the union, you know, had that five overtime game in the first round of the playoffs. That's hard to believe. Means you're due. What's that?
[00:44:11] Speaker B: You're due.
[00:44:12] Speaker C: Yeah, well, I have to wait till next year for, for that.
But let's, let's talk about. I had Bobby Allfeld on earlier, as I told you off the before he got on here, the Clarkson radio play by play guy and TV as well with ESPN Plus. But I mean, Quinnipiac has won 11 regular season titles, including six in a row. A great streak.
But they've won one tournament, ECAC Hockey Tour in title that came in 2016.
During this stretch, they've not won the last couple years. And now, including this year, they haven't gotten to the championship game. Of course, they won the NCAA tournament title in 2023. So I think being maybe not getting an ECA hockey tournament title that year doesn't matter. But what happens to this team when you get to the ECAC hockey tour? It says, does Rampec. I mean, I don't want to use the C word, but does Rand Packnald just get a little tight with his team?
[00:45:12] Speaker B: I don't know. I wish I knew. I always hesitate to blame it on a coach or the players or a combination of the two and just think like it's a freak occurrence. But at this point, the only thing that I've, the only thing that I can draw a conclusion on, and it's a basic answer, is to sit back and say maybe this team just doesn't play for the ECAC tournament at this point. They, they're always at the top of the league. It rarely impacts their seeding in terms of, of whether a 1 seed most most years or 2 seed most years 2 or 3 seed. The only thing that changes in the national tournament is whether or not you get last change. And I'm not sure how many people overwrite that or underrate that or, or play matchups or, or believe in that sort of thing. But I, at this point, the only thing that I can think of is that this team just this culturally cannot functionally get into the ECAC tournament the way that it does for the national tournament after it's clinched everything in the regular season. And, and I hate saying that because I don't think that's the case.
I'm sure, you know, Coach Nold would get defensive on that and, and rightfully so, and say, no, we're trying to win every game that we have. But proofs in the pudding, right? Like there's no, there's no conference championships, there's no victories, there's no, there's no hardware to back it up. That you got to find a way to get through this because otherwise. Or just tell us you don't care at that point. Like, yep, we don't care what you're saying about It. Because otherwise, every single year, it's turning into a rite of passage. You're just not winning the ECAC championship, no matter how good you are.
[00:46:52] Speaker C: It's a tradition like no other. Just like the Masters.
[00:46:57] Speaker B: We could have a one on, unfortunately, we could have a one shining moment montage of losses in the, in the postseason at Quinnipiac. And I don't mean that as a joke. It's just kind of like, you know, do you legitimately ask the question, do you guys just not get up for this tournament because you know you're going to the NCAA tournament?
[00:47:12] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, the one shiny moment was actually three shiny moments in game two on Saturday. You know, Quinnipiac has a three one leader getting a power play with a chance to seal the deal and then take the series to Sunday after losing three nothing on Friday. And then Clarkson scores not one, but two shorthanded goals on the same penalty to tie it up. And then Eric Bergholtz wins it with 539 left in the third period.
That would, that meant to me, that was stunning moment.
I, I watched that game on my desk here in the Gazette offices, and I was like shocked to see that developers that you're, you're on your home ice and that shouldn't happen.
[00:47:53] Speaker B: No. No, it shouldn't. You got up one shorthanded goal. I even under. Understand maybe calling a, calling a timeout or if you don't have the time out, like using some type of methodology to settle things or use the right kind of idea to work on your breathing. And you're not, you're not sitting around a whiteboard. You're sitting around your team and saying, okay, guys, like, take your deep breath. Use your breath. Use it. Figure out, center yourself. Use the, you know, the, the, the Zen or yoga, whatever it is that that teams do, because every team has something that's not physically that works on itself, you know, emotionally, spiritually, and. And metaphysically, I guess is the right term. But you give up the second shorthanded goal at that point, I knew game was over.
It's just a question of whether or not it's going and it's going to end in regulation or not, because at that point, you give up the second shorthanded goal and you're. It's obvious that the team down the stretch was just missing all of its magic. And like I said, it comes back to, did they look at this and say, well, let's say forget about it and, you know, we don't want to be here right now and Then it's like, well, now we get an extra week of rest.
I don't know. But it sure looked like they weren't interested in winning that game after the second shorthanded goal came in.
[00:49:10] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, that's. That's why I really question what's going on down there in the postseason with. With. With that team. Just as I said, just one tournament title since they entered the league and back in the mid 2000s. Just astonishing. What. What's going on with that program in the postseason.
Yeah. But for. You know, you got to give Clarkson credit. I think we both. You and I think both underestimated Clarkson. I picked them to beat rpi. I picked Quinnipac to sweep the series and really not be a competitive series. But sure enough, the Golden Knights are back playing in Lake Placid for the
[00:49:43] Speaker B: title and could mess up the selection on every facet right now.
Because no matter what happens, normally we look at the. We look at the. The NPI and the pair wise and everything, and we say, okay, Atlantic Hockey is the number 16 seed. This is ironic because the team that I work with in Atlantic Hockey, Bentley's hosting the conference championship this weekend. And if Clarkson wins the ECAC tournament, the Atlantic hockey champion is the number 15. See, because Clarkson cannot pass either Bentley or Sacred Heart with wins. So that's going to mess everything up when you look at. All right, and Bentley or Sacred Heart make it to Albany. Can Bentley or Sacred Heart wind up somehow in Worcester, which would be awesome for me. It's only 25 minutes from my house. But now you're looking at Wolf. Clarkson makes it, and Clarkson goes to Albany. Does that mean your Atlantic Hockey champion is going to Sioux Falls to play North Dakota instead of playing more local? Like, those are the things that now you're looking at and going, oh, dear, Like, Clarkson's a factor.
[00:50:42] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, they're going up against the Dartmouth team that, you know, I think you and I thought that series against Colgate would go. Three, Dartmouth took care of business. And two, I mean, this team has gotten there the last couple years, but just not. Not able to get over hump. But this is this their moment.
[00:50:59] Speaker B: I think it needs to be. The question is how healthy they're going to be. I know. I don't know particularly what happened because I wasn't able to watch the game, but I know Hayden Stavroff got a little dinged up in the. In the playoff series. I believe he came back. I don't know the specifics of it, but at this point, it's got to be kind of what you have out of the top of your score sheet. And for Dartmouth sake, The X factor 100% is Reed Cashman. At this point, I think that there are no better coaches in ECAC currently at the current moment. When you look at this season, who's been able to build a program and get the believability and get everything behind it, Mike Reed's been able to do because he took over a program that was struggling like Dartmouth at the end of Bob Goddess era, like they were. They were probably visible problems at Dartmouth as a college, not even just with athletics, even just the hockey program. So to see him build it up to where it is right now, that believability, it's got to get through that next hump though. And Dartmouth though has never really won an ECAC championship in the modern era.
So getting over that hump is something that he's going to have to discover magic that the other teams have. The key has nothing to build on. No resource at Dartmouth can, can explain to Reed, hey, your team needs to focus on this, this and this when you get to Lake Placid to win it all.
[00:52:26] Speaker C: Now they're the favorite now with Quinnipack out of the way. So that does that put extra pressure on them?
[00:52:31] Speaker B: I would like to think it does. And I'm interested to see how they respond in back.
They have good goaltending, but at the same time it's looking at the rest of the league and saying, all right, these are some three pretty good teams that are playing pretty hot right now. Two of which I would argue right now might be better than Dartmouth even though Dartmouth is the favorite.
[00:52:51] Speaker C: And you were talking about Cornell and Princeton. Princeton dispatching union.
Very disappointing effort by union. And I mean they did not really play well in the Friday night game. Game two had a lead, but penalties and turnovers turn things around. Prince had a four goal third period. The two of those goals were empty netters. And then Cornell, I think that the surprise series going the distance after Harvard won game one and Cornell had a battle back to win the next two. And of course you have Ben Sire, former Cornell assistant coach, now the Princeton head coach going up against his former team. So a lot of, lot of storylines in this one.
[00:53:30] Speaker B: Oh, without question. And I think this is the aspects of what makes Princeton. A great story in the come up of a Princeton team in this particular game is the fact that they really are a hungry team similar to Dartmouth in a sense that they don't know this Roster doesn't know, hasn't yet proven that it can win the big one. Right. When the like placid where Cornell has all that experience and has trophies going back two years I am a little.
That to me is not a bigger factor in this particular game with Princeton because Princeton just seems to be playing they're peaking at the right time. The teams that they've beaten down the stretch and the wins that they've gotten down the stretch are starting to resemble a team that is just peaking at the right time and looks very good. This weekend against Union it looked completely different from what I saw them up here in Massachusetts. I thought Princeton was not a great. I thought they had problems in the back. I thought they had bad defensive efforts and now all of a sudden here they are and that's probably going to be their strength and be a reason why they can beat Cornell especially because they have, you know the, they can, they can go toe to toe and
[00:54:45] Speaker C: then they have a goalie and Arthur Smith who can steal a game. He me outplayed Cameron Corpy in that Union series.
We know Alexis Cornway, but he's a freshman, Smith's upperclassman. So maybe a little more pressure on Cornway because of all the stats he's put on this up this year maybe.
[00:55:03] Speaker B: And, and I think the.
I think the other aspect is just that Smith seems to. I, I never suspected he would be the goal type of goalie that would go out and goalie a game and as the second half has progressed, and this showed my ignorance a bit was that he's just gotten better and better and better and better. And every time he's faced a goalie who's just as hot as he is or playing just as well as he is, he can find another gear and you need him to keep a team under three goals. He does he whatever he needs to make that save. He has been getting it in the second half of the year, the last month of the season, especially in. That's kind of where I'm looking at it. You ask yourself can Cornoy do that same thing?
You know, he's got God numbers but the question is, can he? Can he do what Arthur Smith is going to do over the weekend?
[00:55:57] Speaker C: Well, another thing with Princeton, they held union just one power play and 10 power play attempts. I remember back when Princeton was up here at M and T Bank center, they had one of the worst penalty kills in the country and they were able to stymie Union's power play. After they got on their first attempt they you know, Union didn't shoot pucks and they got. Princeton was able to kill those bounties and, and they were able to do it successfully 90% of the time last weekend. So it seems like their PK has gotten a lot better since the earlier in the season.
[00:56:32] Speaker B: Yeah, that's kind of the funny thing about the numbers down the stretches. You'll see a team that's ranked in the second half, if not lower, and you'll look at it and say, well, it's the movable force and against the stoppable object and. Or the immovable force against the unstoppable object. But it doesn't take into account over the last month. So at this point, one of the things, and I don't have the number in front of me naturally, is I look back over the last month and I look back over the last month and a half to see where the stretches are coming from. Again, without the numbers in front of me, I can objectively say that it has killed penalties in key moments. Even again, if it gives up a goal in the first period on a power play, there's always that kill in the second or third period.
Princeton really needs to kill this one. And the second half of the year they've gotten much better.
[00:57:26] Speaker C: Oh, I think I lost you.
[00:57:29] Speaker B: I mean.
[00:57:30] Speaker C: Yeah, here you go, you're back.
As you were saying about the second half of the year at the pk.
[00:57:37] Speaker B: Yeah, second half of the pk.
Even if they give up a goal in the first period, I really think if you look at Princeton in the second period or the third period, you'll see that the goals that it might be giving up that might impact the numbers are not clutch. Key goals that will torpedo a game or torpedo a season. When they need to get the kill, they can get the kill. When they need to get the save, they can get the save. And that's what's going to make them so dangerous against the Cornell team that like Princeton is peaking at the exact right point the season.
[00:58:10] Speaker C: Do you think that extra game Cornell play might come back to haunt them this weekend?
[00:58:15] Speaker B: Hey, it might.
Harvard played out of its mind in that first game and played well. That was what I was saying about Harvard going into the weekend, that you're looking for the next step in the team's development. I think they found it. Even if they didn't win, I felt like Harvard played exceptionally well. They won at liner in the postseason.
That is, that's a fear of mine. Any team that has to play the extra game, the extra 60 minutes unless you're skating it at the municipal rank. Second and third periods because you scored six goals in the first period and your fourth line is double shifting every other shift because the game's over in the second period. There's a tax on your body that pushes the recovery, pushes the whole process. And even if it's not, look, you're going into the weekend, you're going to be fine, right? You're going to be healthy, you're going to be rested, you're going to do the right things during the week.
But you lost a day and so that's a day of rest. I mean I also. You could also say the same thing. If you wind up in an overtime game, does the overtime game hurt you? Does the overtime game take more out of your legs than even playing a third game? Those are all things that come into consideration. But you have to trust your strength staff and you have to trust the getting the right sleep, getting the right food. Did you eat enough? Did you? All of the things that come up on Monday and Tuesday have to accelerate because you don't have the option to sit, sit out Sunday and you know, maybe, maybe kick back on Saturday night and enjoy yourself because you don't have to play on Sunday.
[00:59:45] Speaker C: Let me ask you about union.
I know you probably get a chance to see the gains. Cameron Corporate got pulled after giving up four goals.
He got pulled early in the third period and a lot of the union hockey fans wanted Braden Gillespie to start Saturday. Josh Algae went with Korpi because he said he looked at the video and said the goals weren't his fault. And of course with him losing the fans, a lot of the fans I had on the Union college Facebook fan page, a lot of fans would come out of the work. I had not ever seen post stuff during the season. We're just going to berserk about the goaltending situation.
Just in a thought, do you think Josh made the right move on that one?
[01:00:28] Speaker B: I do and I'm going to use a comparison that happened with what I saw at Bentley as the comparison.
Regular season at Bentley Bentley was swept by Air Force in both goalies played the number. The two better goalies on Bentley's roster played Lucas Sweden played on Friday and Nick Bevel Aqua played on Saturday.
As it turns out, even though they lost the second game, Bentley Bevill Aqua arguably outplayed Sweden over the weekend and over the course of when he made his appearances in the second half of the year.
Now what that meant was going into the playoffs, specifically into the first game you're starting to question, should be Balacqua be playing? Especially when he just won the Atlantic Hockey goaltending championship with the lowest goals against average? Or, or should he. Or should the coaching staff stick with the guy who's played more frequently? What wound up happening was you. And then when Sweden gave up two goals in the first period to a 10th seed team, you're like, all right, this is a bad move. Like, in the back of your mind you're saying, why aren't you playing the other guy? Like the magic has run out on your first goalie. What you then find out is that the goalie that you put in, who's playing with the defenders, it's not always the goaltender that you want to highlight for the numbers.
Some of the goals that were, that were hitting were the defense's fault. A defensive misplay, a misplay in the neutral zone, somebody didn't get back, someone lost an assignment. It looks like it's the goalie's fault based on the shot. But when they look at the film, there's something else that comes up.
The only people who know the team at that level of minutiae are the coaching staff.
So when you look at what Korpi did in the first period, and even if he gave up a couple of goals that were perceived as soft, when the coaching staff goes back and looks at the film, what's going to show to them is this shot was taken because this, this and this happened. And when that happens, that is the analysis. And I'm sure when you look at the line chart, there's the way guys get deployed becomes a bit different into different situations if it's not an anomaly. So I think playing the goaltender with the defenders is the right call if that's what the coaching staff sees, because they know their team better.
Also, Gillespie coming in, if he comes in and he's lights out, like it's, it's the, the. Everybody's favorite player is always the backup goaltender. Everyone's favorite player is always the backup quarterback.
It. You just don't know what's coming from that. It's not like he, you know, got antiqued overnight by a team corpy and had to play the second goaltender. So I, I like the call. I support the call. I think that's the right call based on what the coaching staff sees. And moving forward, if there is a change next year, that needs to happen.
Obviously the off season is the off season and everything, everything and everything is always on the possibility list, but you're always looking to Take tweak and see what you can do with your team. So one game, one playoff series. Sure. It was, it was, if they thought it was the right call, that it was the right call.
[01:03:50] Speaker C: And the thing is, the union fans seem to forget that this team has improved in wins over the four years. Josh Allergies, he's been head coach. I mean, they won a 22 games. That's a season high under Howjee. And it's been a while since they won 20 games. So I mean, I think, you know, the one problem with the, the team this year was their inability to be consistent on conference weekends where they were losing Friday games, winning Saturday games. And then when they went a Friday game, lose a Saturday game, they got it.
[01:04:15] Speaker B: Exactly.
[01:04:15] Speaker C: I mean, that's what cost them the first round by. And probably cost them a chance to Lake Placid.
[01:04:21] Speaker D: Yep.
[01:04:21] Speaker B: And all of that is if you go over the first, the last couple of years. I'll layer it to the last couple of years. If you in specific trust what Josh Howji is doing, one move in one playoff series in one season does not unravel. A coach shouldn't unravel a coach.
If there were other things in there, then someone would be able to pick it apart and say we, they need to get better consistency. They don't get that consistency and we're talking about the exact same thing next year. It's a valid question.
I just don't think at this point that it's, that looking at his results are gonna, are gonna serve anybody any purpose to sit back and go, oh yeah, it's his fault. He's done so good. He's done so well, a great job, specifically the program that he had to pick up. The way that the program wound up looking for a head coach, it's, it was a, it was a tough job and he's done a magnificent job to this point.
[01:05:23] Speaker C: I posted on the fan page and people complaining about Josh said, me and you guys, if this page was around in the early 2000s, they would have Nate Lehman fired after three years.
[01:05:33] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a great point. Yeah. Nate Lehman would have been gone. People, people forget. People, people forget what things were like when coaches came in.
And Rick Bennett would have, would have never, would have never won anything either, and everything would have gone sideways and we'd be, we'd be doing what college basketball teams do, firing coaches every other year.
[01:05:56] Speaker C: Yeah, it's crazy. So who do you like in the semifinals?
[01:06:00] Speaker B: So I do like Dartmouth.
I'm going to come off the bat And I'll say, I do like Dartmouth. I.
I worry that Clarkson's magic's going to run out. I just don't think. I think Clarkson's a good team, but I think now there's a difference between running through an upstart RPI team that was hot, a Quinnipiac team that clearly does not play well in the postseason, in a Dartmouth team that is both talented and hungry. I think the asterisk is how healthy can Dartmouth stay through the weekend and how. And how healthy are they going into the weekend if everybody's banged up at this point? But I do like Dartmouth to win this game. I do think Dartmouth is going to have a hard time beating Cornell if Cornell advances a Dartmouth Princeton game. I like the Big Green, so I am going to take Dartmouth or Cornell winning out this weekend.
I. 3. I don't remember when the last three peat was, but if Cornell wins, I
[01:06:58] Speaker C: think Union was the last three people,
[01:07:01] Speaker B: then that's gonna be.
This is. This seems to be like it's Cornell's playground right now.
[01:07:07] Speaker C: Yeah, man. I. I'm leaning toward Princeton. I just like the way they played, I think. And then Dartmouth, Dartmouth winning semifinals. I think if they start with Princeton, I think I'm going Dartmouth.
[01:07:18] Speaker B: Yeah. I will say I think Princeton is going to give Cornell everything it can handle. I. And I think if Princeton gets through, I don't think Princeton's going to. To be able to beat Dartmouth the next day. I do think that Dartmouth is. Is also steamrolling right now. Like they're a good team.
I do worry that they would run into a Cornell team that just matches up. Well. Well, say it's great to see three out of four teams be from. Be from the Ivy League in the Nil era. That sure makes me happy.
All we do is talk about the transfer portal and who's coming in and who's doing this and three teams in there that can't bring incoming transfers.
[01:08:01] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, just remember to remember in February, Princeton beat Cornell at home. That was the day after Cornell had crushed the Quinnipiac at Quinnipiac. So, you know, maybe history repeats itself here on. On Friday.
[01:08:17] Speaker B: Yeah. Prince does it on this road trip, too.
I mean, that's a long ride from New Jersey up to Lake Placid. And I mean, they've won it there before. It wasn't under Ben Sire.
I do think that. That it's really funny that. That the Mike Schaefer coaching tree seems to grow some more leaves every year, doesn't it?
[01:08:39] Speaker C: Yep. Indeed. So well, Dan, I appreciate these past three weeks. Have fun with Bentley.
You're calling that game this weekend for the Atlantic Hockey Championship and let's do this again next year.
[01:08:52] Speaker B: Hey, I can't wait. I will say I am thrilled. If not for Bentley game, I might actually have made the ride this year.
If anybody ever chooses just to make that ride, that is a place to go see up in Lake Placid once in your lifetime. So if, if Union makes it one year or RPI makes it, I hope Capital District folks take the ride up there. Otherwise if you're just looking for something to do this weekend, you know, that's, that's worth the trip. Watch some good hockey and see, see where history was made in the Olympic year. This is, that's the place to go.
[01:09:25] Speaker C: Yeah, it's been since 2015 when I was up there and I was actually up there for my son's youth hockey for a tournament up there that in that year. But that's. I like to get up there one more time before I retire.
[01:09:39] Speaker B: I just want to go up there once. My brother's been up there once. Although my brother apparently went up there. He attempted to take a picture of a bobsled and almost got creamed by it.
[01:09:47] Speaker C: Oh geez.
[01:09:48] Speaker B: He was like leaning out looking at the, looking at the. As the bobsled came flying around the corner and he was like, got a great picture of a boar.
[01:09:57] Speaker C: That's funny. So Dan appreciate again. We'll talk soon.
[01:10:01] Speaker B: Talk soon. Thanks Ken.
[01:10:02] Speaker C: That's Dan Rubin. We're coming back. We'll wrap up the podcast and have the latest winners in the Daily Gazettes auto racing contest in just a moment.
The Daily Gazette has some great subscription deals happening. Sign up today at www.dailygazette.com. and as always, when credibility matters, trust the Daily Gazette.
To every referee, un umpire and judge in high school sports, we want to say we see you.
[01:10:55] Speaker A: We see everything you do for us that goes unnoticed.
[01:10:59] Speaker C: We see the positive role models that you are.
[01:11:02] Speaker A: We see the way you get unfairly criticized just for doing your job.
[01:11:06] Speaker C: The truth is we couldn't play without you.
[01:11:09] Speaker B: So thank you for investing your time in us.
[01:11:12] Speaker C: Thank you for protecting the integrity of the game no matter what.
[01:11:17] Speaker B: We hope you always know how much we appreciate you.
[01:11:21] Speaker C: Because without you, this is just recess. It's not really a game.
[01:11:26] Speaker A: Thank you for always making it possible
[01:11:28] Speaker B: for us to play the sports we love.
[01:11:33] Speaker D: Want to serve the students in your community.
[01:11:35] Speaker A: Sign up to become an official in New
[email protected].
[01:11:46] Speaker C: Back to wrap up the podcast. The week five winner in the Daily Gazette's auto racing contest was Francis Sager of Johnstown with 55 points. Francis wins a $50 gift card. Congratulations, Francis. The VIP winner was Scott Lucher of CapitaLand GMC with 25 points.
I'll announce the auto racing contest winner's name and that winner's name will appear in Saturday's Daily Gazette. To play, go to dailygazette.com and click on the Auto Racing Contest banner. Looking at the standings through five weeks, Dwayne Leach and Scott of All State Equipment and Scott Leach are tied for the lead with 90 points. Nick Platel of Grand Premier Tires is next at 85 points. Jerry Peel of Frankenstein's has 45 points and yours truly bringing up the rear with 35 points.
Just because COVID 19 mandates are easing, that does not mean you should relax. Be vigilant. If you have not gotten vaccinated or received a booster shot, please do so. Do it for yourself, do it for your family and do it for your friends.
Don't forget to download the Daily Gazette app and sign up for our E Edition so you never miss a headline. Subscribe today at www.dailygazette.com. we have a lot of great specials going on. When credibility matters, Trust the Daily Gazette on the latest Stan and Shen Show Guest Kristen Hislop, race director for the May 30 delightful run for Women, talks about the race success, challenges Shen to run the race, and has a few tips for Stan as he accepted the challenge to run his first ever 5k virtually before race day. Subscribe to the Stan and Shen show as well as the Stan and Friends Podcast on all your podcast listening platforms.
That wraps up another edition of the Parting Shots Podcast. I want to thank Drew Wemple, Bob Offeldt and Dan Rubin for being on the show.
If you have questions or comments about the podcast, email them to me at shot. That's S C-H O-T
[email protected] Follow me on X Threads and bluesky Slapshots.
The views expressed on the Parting Shots Podcast are not necessarily those of the Gazette News Group. The Parting Shots Podcast is a production of the Gazette News Group. I'm Ken Schatz. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Parting Shots Podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good sports.
