2008-2009 was a season that included much success for the Huskies. Although it ended on a tough loss in the NCAA tournament to the Cornell Big Red, the Huskies need to keep their heads up and focus on improving themselves for next season.
With new recruits coming in, things have the opportunity to stay the same around here for awhile.
However, there will also be some very key losses that the Huskies are going to have to get over.
Joe Vitale
Joe served as the captain of the team for the last two seasons, only the eighth player in NU history to serve for multiple seasons. Upon the completion of the season, Joe signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team that had originally drafted him before he even played a game with NU. Although his career is certainly not over as he will hopefully get his shot at the NHL, the Huskies are now without one of the greatest leaders to ever wear the NU sweater. Vitale was here through everything and always stood by what it means to be a Husky. The next step for Joe is going to be proving himself in the AHL. He has been playing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the last couple weeks and the team is in the AHL playoffs. In 5 regular season games, Vitale had 2 goals and 2 assists but he has not registered a point in 7 playoff games thus far.
Brad Thiessen
How do you replace a guy that played every minute of every game?? The answer is simple: you don't. There is no possible way to replace a guy that was THE BEST goalie in the nation. When he was named an All-American and a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist, he solidified himself as the best out there. Now Thiessen also belongs to the Penguins and is currently helping the team prepare for a bigtime series with the Washington Captials.
So what do the Huskies do? Work on things that weren't as good as your goaltender. Those things are 1) the power play and 2) the defense in front of the backstop. If the team can score more on the power play opportunities that they are sure to generate through their hard work when they are at even strengh, it will make things easier on the new guy (whoever that may be). Same thing goes for the d-men. If you give opponents less opportunities to score, things will be easier on the goalie.
Thiessen will go down as one of the best ever at NU but instead of being remembered for leadership like Vitale will be, Thiessen's legacy will largly be surrounding the NCAA tournament bid that the Huskies earned last season, their first in over a decade.
Ryan Ginand
Another guy who made a big impact in his years as a Husky, Ginand led the team scoring 20 goals last season. The scoring is easier to replace than the goaltending of Thiessen but still a pretty big loss. Ginand's wide open, end-to-end style of play is something that might be missed by fans but probably not by coach Cronin.
I think soon to be sophomores Steve Qualier and Alex Tuckerman should be able to replace Ginand's scoring. But Ginand was a Massachusetts native who really enjoyed everything about Boston and understood the greatness of the Beanpot. It's a shame that the Huskies couldn't win one for him.
Louis Liotti
A solid stay at home defenseman who was a true leader among the group of blue liners on the team. Liotti seemed to never miss a game and really was an iron man of sorts back there who was dependable.
Rob Rassey
NU is going to miss Rassey next year but for different reasons than they might miss a guy like Ginand. He had a great work ethic and bought into the system to the point where he was going to do whatever was asked of him, no matter what that entailed. Although he didn't score that much and didn't have the most skill on the ice, Rassey was willing to work as hard as anyone else for the good of the team. Just a classy guy all around who always made the most with what was in front of him.
When the recruits coming in next season are officially established, I will post whatever info I have on them at that time (sometime later in the offseason).
Monday, May 4, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Cornell Wins
On a goal with 17 seconds remaining in the game, Cornell ends the Huskies season.
More to come soon.
Final Score: Cornell 3, Northeastern 2
More to come soon.
Final Score: Cornell 3, Northeastern 2
And There It Is...The Equalizer
On every play now, Cornell is crashing the net, looking for any way to get the puck in the net.
"A garbage goal is still a goal"
5:41 left to play and there is still plenty of time for the Big Red if they keep playing like this.
Now with 5:11 left in the game, Alex Tuckerman commits a bad penalty. He will go to the box for 2 minutes. The infraction was hitting from behind.
This undoubtedly spells trouble for the Dogs.
Sure enough, a blast from the point gets through Thiessen and we have a tie game with 3:56 to play.
Goal was scored by Colin Greening for the Big Red.
Assisted by Evan Barlow and Brandon Nash
"A garbage goal is still a goal"
5:41 left to play and there is still plenty of time for the Big Red if they keep playing like this.
Now with 5:11 left in the game, Alex Tuckerman commits a bad penalty. He will go to the box for 2 minutes. The infraction was hitting from behind.
This undoubtedly spells trouble for the Dogs.
Sure enough, a blast from the point gets through Thiessen and we have a tie game with 3:56 to play.
Goal was scored by Colin Greening for the Big Red.
Assisted by Evan Barlow and Brandon Nash
7:13 Left Now
Cornell is definitely out skating NU and getting a ton of chances and momentum.
But the luck turns against them before they can make their chances count as they get called for a penalty. Hitting from behind is given to Sean Collins.
NU is on the power play and looking for insurance.
A minute in, they only have 1 shot on net.
The penalty gets killed off without any more chances for the Huskies.
This is going to give even more momentum to Cornell.
Right away, they race right to the net and create havoc.
Thiessen is absolutely standing on his head now to keep the Huskies in the lead.
7:13 to go.
But the luck turns against them before they can make their chances count as they get called for a penalty. Hitting from behind is given to Sean Collins.
NU is on the power play and looking for insurance.
A minute in, they only have 1 shot on net.
The penalty gets killed off without any more chances for the Huskies.
This is going to give even more momentum to Cornell.
Right away, they race right to the net and create havoc.
Thiessen is absolutely standing on his head now to keep the Huskies in the lead.
7:13 to go.
With 13:23 left on the clock, Thiessen makes another outstanding save to keep NU in the lead.
However, before the Huskies can clear the zone, Louis Liotti gets called for cross checking.
Cornell with a big PP here. Still plenty of time to play.
Huskies are having trouble clearing the zone and just got bailed out by a hand pass which was called on Cornell.
The penalty is killed off but Cornell is dominating the play right now.
Huskies still lead 2-1. 11:06 to play.
However, before the Huskies can clear the zone, Louis Liotti gets called for cross checking.
Cornell with a big PP here. Still plenty of time to play.
Huskies are having trouble clearing the zone and just got bailed out by a hand pass which was called on Cornell.
The penalty is killed off but Cornell is dominating the play right now.
Huskies still lead 2-1. 11:06 to play.
Anyone's Game
To start the third period, Cornell is on the PP for 1:50 as Tyler McNeely sits in the box.
Penalty to Cornell's Brendan Nash for tripping. That will finish off the Big Red PP and put the teams 4 on 4 for 1:20.
Great chance in front for David Strathman and Scrivens makes the saves.
NU now gets a PP for roughly :30 seconds as McNeely comes out of the box.
Cornell kills it off and everyone is at even strength with 17:20 to play.
Penalty to Cornell's Brendan Nash for tripping. That will finish off the Big Red PP and put the teams 4 on 4 for 1:20.
Great chance in front for David Strathman and Scrivens makes the saves.
NU now gets a PP for roughly :30 seconds as McNeely comes out of the box.
Cornell kills it off and everyone is at even strength with 17:20 to play.
Cornell Gets On The Board
Well this reminds me of the last game that the Huskies played.
NU had a 2-0 lead and at the end of the second period, they let up a goal to get UMass Lowell back into it.
Now, Cornell does the same thing and scores a goal with 2:02 left in the second period to cut the game to 2-1. The puck was shot and deflected off a chest in front before going past Thiessen.
Before the period ends, penalty to Tyler McNeely of the Huskies. 2 minutes for slashing. The call was made with just 9.4 seconds left in the period.
At the end of the second period, the Huskies are clinging to a 2-1 lead.
NU had a 2-0 lead and at the end of the second period, they let up a goal to get UMass Lowell back into it.
Now, Cornell does the same thing and scores a goal with 2:02 left in the second period to cut the game to 2-1. The puck was shot and deflected off a chest in front before going past Thiessen.
Before the period ends, penalty to Tyler McNeely of the Huskies. 2 minutes for slashing. The call was made with just 9.4 seconds left in the period.
At the end of the second period, the Huskies are clinging to a 2-1 lead.
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