Among a number of streaking teams in ECAC Hockey, the case of the Colgate Raiders is particularly interesting heading into this weekend’s play. At first glance, Colgate’s recent run of one win and five losses over its last six games isn’t very impressive. However, there is reason for optimism as Colgate returns to conference play with games at St. Lawrence and Clarkson this weekend. Colgate is currently fifth in the league with a 5-3-1 conference mark, despite being just 7-8-4 overall.
Colgate is scoring more goals per game and allowing fewer goals per game in conference play relative to its overall record, led by David McIntyre and Austin Smith who each have 13 points in nine ECAC Hockey contests.
Brian Day, a New York Islanders draft pick, leads Colgate with 12 goals this year.
This week’s opposition and Friday-Saturday schedule provides some familiarity for the Raiders (even moreso for coach Don Vaughan, a St. Lawrence alum). They played a disjointed slate from late-November through the early part of January. It started with a Tuesday night game at Cornell (4-2 loss) prior to Thanksgiving and a week and a half layoff before splitting at Union (loss) and Rensselaer (win). Another two week break ended with a Sunday afternoon contest at Canisius, a 7-6 overtime loss. The Raiders then headed to suburban Chicago for the Shillelagh Tournament where they dropped games to Notre Dame and Niagara Jan. 2-3.
A sense of normalcy sets in beginning with this week’s North Country trip as the Raiders will play Friday and Saturday for the next seven weeks, with a Tuesday night visit from Cornell on Feb. 16 sprinkled in. All of the remaining games are conference matchups with the exception of next weekend’s visit by Robert Morris to Starr Rink.
For Colgate to continue its conference success, improved special teams and better goaltending are required. The improving health of sophomore goalie Alex Evin is a boost to complement senior Charles Long and if that duo can play consistently and reduce the occurrence of the occasional sloppy goal Colgate will be in good stead. The Raiders score plenty of goals, as they rank in the top five in the league in overall and conference scoring. Eight of the team’s nine top scorers could return next year, but the lone senior among that group, David McIntyre, will be tough to replace.
THREE MORE THINGS WORTH KNOWING
• Clarkson hired former Golden Knight goaltender Chris Rogles as an assistant coach. He fills the spot on the Clarkson staff vacated by Jean-Francois Houle, who became head coach of the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the QMJHL. Rogles, a former walk-on goalie at Clarkson, went on to compile a 44-13-4 record in his collegiate career and was part of four consecutive NCAA Tournament teams, two ECAC Hockey tournament titles and the regular-season championship in 1991. He played 15 years of professional hockey in North America and Europe. Rogles is expected to join the staff later this month.
• RPI had an outdoor skate and some ball hockey Wednesday afternoon. We’re not calling it a practice because head coach Seth Appert said it wasn’t. Ed Weaver from the Troy Record was on hand. Outdoor hockey is certainly in vogue and a similar event boosted Yale last season. We’ll see how it works for the Engineers ahead of Saturday’s game at Union. | Outdoor Skate Video from RPI Athletics
• The Good: Count me among the ones scratching my head when reading the Boston Herald on Monday to find out that Harvard’s losses to Minnesota were characterized by Ted Donato as a turning point. The Crimson turned around Tuesday night and upset nationally-ranked Yale, 3-2. The Bad: Brown has followed up its five-game winning streak with three straight losses and has allowed 19 goals in the last three defeats, including Dartmouth’s nine-spot Friday night. The Ugly: Eight of Princeton’s 10 losses this season have been by at least three goals.
