Besides UConn being allowed to dress everyone on the team, there were no "rule modifications". It was not a "controlled scrimmage", it was an actually game.
St. Francis Xavier is a really good team. They are not pushovers.
Attendance yesterday was 1200+.
David Drake and Spencer Naas were elected the alternate captains.
These question's are to the people who have been around the program for while.
Today's game was basically a scrimmage. Does that sound right ?
Would anyone say overall the team looked better ? Or not ?
Because IMO if they want to take the next step up.
They will need more then just 1 line. How did lines 2 thru 4 look ?
Did the other lines at least look competitive ? See any hope ?
Or did they get pushed around, out worked, out skilled, etc ?
Could they grow over the season, and be ready for the playoffs ?
Thanks for any input
F-T
It is tough to say if they looked improved or not because of the NCAA practice restrictions up to this point in the season.
The problem the team has is lines 2-4 are indistinguishable. The biggest problem that needs to be worked out is establishing a consistent game in, game out 2nd and 3rd line.
I think the problem with that is lines 2-4 have too many of the same type of player. Richardson, Naas, Ojantakanen, Howell, Ronan, El-Mir, Kalter, Morgan. Their game and physical stature are virtually a carbon copy.
The biggest takeaway I had was how good Payusov is. He has a chance to be a mainstay on the top line for the next 4 years. He was really noticeable. Keep an eye out for him next weekend.
I was also surprised all the ice time Newpower had.
I would be stunned and throughly disappointed if the team is not improved from last year.
I was not at the game but my takeaway is that the Huska Hype was a bit premature. Nichols is the man, at least in the early going.
Huska will be starting a bunch of games. He had an off day yesterday but it would not surprise me to see him starting the game Saturday afternoon versus Alabama-Huntsville.
The biggest thing you notice about him is his size. He is 6'4", 200+ and takes up a lot of room.