October 16, 2024 • 21 mins
Rensselaer head coach Dave Smith joins hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) to talk this season's Engineers, their opening weekend at Canisius, recruiting, possible CHL eligibility, the transfer portal, RPI's coming weekend against Niagara, and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Usccho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to US Echo Spotlight for Wednesday, October sixteenth, twenty
twenty four.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I'm Ed Trevsker with Jim Connolly.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's always good to get your season underway with a
couple of wins, and one team that did that last
weekend was Rensselear and.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Joining us now in US Echo Spotlight.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
A longtime friend of ours in a friend of college hockey,
and that makes him a longtime coach, and that's Dave
Smith from RPI.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Smitty.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Always good to see you, especially early in the season.
That means you your team got off to a good start.
A sweep of Pnesius last weekend, a lot of goals
going into too. I'm sure as a coach that has
to be pretty pleasing this early in the season.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
But what did you see for your team in week one?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, well, first of all, great to be here, and
at any time in the season it is nice, but
good to be on good to talk hockey, good to
talk RPI hockey. So it was a good weekend last weekend,
at the start of the season, coming off a year
when we had a tough year last year, you know,
(01:18):
even the exhibition game that we played against Hugh Mass
which doesn't count in the standings, was important. It was
important that we, you know, stayed in the game, that
we played well, we played consistent and even though it's
measured differently, it was an important step. And then to
follow that up with, you know, two games that do
count on the road against a good Kedesia's team that
(01:40):
was in the tournament a couple of years ago. Yeah,
I think I and we wanted. We talked with our
guys about building momentum, and I think we've we've started that,
so it felt really good.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
I mentioned that your team was able to score a
lot of goals fourteen in total, but I think what
I and when I just looked at the stat sheets
from those games, what impresses me the most is how
many different players are scoring. Eighteen players on your team
picked up at least a point last weekend. That's as
you said, you've had some struggles in some recent years
(02:13):
as a coach. Is that what you're just looking for,
some depths, some contributions up and down your lineup?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, I think you take if you can get fourteen goals,
it doesn't matter how you get them, you take them.
But one of the keys to success in college hockey
is to have depths. And if you have depth of
scoring and depth of defense and depth of goaltending, you
give yourself a chance. You give yourself a chance every
single night because teams can't focus on one line or
(02:41):
one guy and guys. Guys get hungry to score. Guys
get that feeling that hey, I didn't get anything Friday
night and they got to bring it on Saturday because
they don't want to go ninetays without any goals or
any points. So if we can get that depth and
keep that depth of scoring, I really liked what it
can bring for our team.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
From an XS and o's perspective, what did you see
on the ice in terms? I know it's so early
and it's you're trying to execute as best you can,
but what did you see in execution of the exes
and the o's.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, we were significantly more mobile in the back end.
You know, we are. Three of our top four guys
came via the transfer portal Berg Manus from Alashka, the
McDermott from UMass, and Will Gilson from the other Alaska,
and then they joined Max Mallinski in our top four.
So the mobility and the puck skills on the back
(03:36):
end was it was a welcome change. And then our
speed up front was really really noticeable. And not just
the speed, but the ability to transition quickly both ways,
offensively and defensively. So that's things that we've worked on,
things that it's a new concept for us, but the
personnel has allowed us to, at least in the first
(03:57):
weekend showcase those skills.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How about goltending. You played both of your goaltenders last weekend.
What do you what's your situation heading into this season?
How do you feel and maybe even what's your approach?
Do you like having a one or do you like
having a one to one a that you can go
back and forth to.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
How do you usually like to go at goaltending?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Do you teed that up to me? You called the
goaltending a situation, and it's like, oh, what's a the
goltending situation? You know what? We Sometimes you just go
with what you have. Right now, we have two guys
that have both played a lot of hockey, They've been
starters for their teams. Jack watching with us, Noah Geese Breakfast,
(04:39):
Fair State, and I've told them this, I'm going to
put you as long as I can, and you guys
will decide by your play, and you know when somebody
grabs the net for good and I have no timeline,
no agenda on it. I really like it. And I
think of the goaltending situation as it team of three guys,
(05:01):
right Carsondorfman has come in then he's pushed those guys
his work, ethic, his character. He's been important in that
goaltending trio to make sure guys are arrested. But right
now this is a rotation between Watson and Geesebruckt. They're
both excellent goaltenders, both have size, both have been tot
(05:21):
NHL development camps, and both are competing very well and
very hard for that spot. I love them both right now.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Dave, you mentioned the grand students and some transfers. What
is your approach to the portal each year when you're
looking for players alongside recruiting.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
This is where a situation, the word situations could have
come in that the transfer portal is really interesting. Our
primary philosophy is that we want to build through the
draft and supplement it with free agents. And part of
that philosophy is that we need to commute, dicate very
(06:00):
well with our courage players because they're all eligible to
be free agents in the trades for Portal as well.
So you know, we added our Villsburg manus very late
in the summer. We had started the process with him
when the Portal first Shulpen when he went in, but
he wanted to play pro hockey and he didn't get
(06:20):
exactly what he wanted, and he made a call back
to you know, our coach is Carla's journys and there's
there's also a fellow lot being. You know, we said
that's that's to supplement our roster through our free agency,
and he stepped in and he's the number one D.
Him and McDermott are her number one D. And so
the portal, I'm not going to change it. I think
(06:43):
it's a really important perspective. You know, it's two of
my former players recently at the showcase, Matt Hoover and
Brady Ferner. We're both in the coaching world and they're
they're both in their first year, their first months, and
they're coming into this saying this is the landscape, these
(07:03):
are the rules, and they're operating that way. So it
would be crazy for guys that have been around for
any length of time to say and to focus on
what it was. We just have to adapt and do
the best we can with it. Fortunately that you know
we have a destination in URBI hockey and our academics
(07:25):
that we can attract some some real, real good players
and to be people. With this being the last year
for fifth years, D see the transfer portal kind of
settling down a little bit, maybe getting a little bit
more competitive. I think with the ending of one you
we'll call this situation because now I want to use
(07:45):
to work with the ending of this grad fifth year situation,
potentially moms the CHL situation, and I don't know how
that will affect the portal. You know, it's it's a
it's just an ever changing landscape at every college sport.
(08:06):
But we'll just keep keep adapting, keep moving, and if
the fifty years go away and more HL players are available,
then and we'll take it. And we're doing our We've
got a great staff that works really hard and we're
prepared for those those the timing of those, and we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
You mentioned CHL, which is where I wanted to go next.
Then we're catching up with you while you're between flights
after doing some recruiting. How might that change what you
have to do. Is that going to mean looking at
different places, traveling more places, maybe not going to places
you might have before.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
One hundred percent I think it's it's still a hockey business.
It's still evaluating talent and recruiting them too. Our campus,
our school, So it's got to be the right fit
both ways. But different converse stations with different coaches, different
general managers, different agents and advisors, different you know, alumni
(09:09):
going to different games in different areas. So it's to me,
is very exciting because it's a new challenge and it's
it's ground zero where everybody's starting with the same access
to every player. There's still none of those guys, you know,
at the start of last year or this year, I
don't want to say right now, but the start of
the year we're committed anywhere. There may be some commitments
(09:31):
now that nobody's talking about, but it's a pretty level
playing field right now.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Well, with RPI head coach Dave Smith. In a moment,
we're back with RPI head coach Dave Smith. I want
to talk a little bit about scheduling in ECAC Hockey
(09:58):
you have twenty two league games, you have to schedule
a dozen games. One of them is always on your
schedule of the Mayor's Cup with Union.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
But you have to find eleven games each year.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
And it looks like you've done a good job of
spreading around the different leagues and different calibers you might
save teams. How do you go about putting together that
non league schedule and how far out do you have
to look?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
You know, we try not to get too too far ahead,
but we enter into these agreements and it sort of
goes in cycles where we want to go east, we
want to go west, we want to play hockey East
ACAC NC, make ten schools of them, you know, Ccha schools,
just so we get into different areas. We've got some
(10:42):
guys like Cuter Mazzadi and Max Malenski, we're from Brad McNeill,
who are from the state of Michigan, as well as
Mulige's Breck. Now, so a couple of years we go
said let's try and get out that way, and couldn't
get to place is real close to their house. Then
all right, well let's schedule something with Miami. We haven't
been to Minnesota state we hadn't played them in our building,
(11:05):
the High Newark, so to do it, let's get out
and play them there their tournament team. You want to
challenge yourself and play a variety of again the levels.
But you know, we also want to be cost conscious
that you can't just jump in a plane every weekend
and fly wherever. So with so much hockey being in
(11:26):
the Northeast, we have the ability. At the location of
our PI as well, we're a pretty quick trip to
most of the places in the Northeast, so being able
to go out to you know, Minnesota State next year, Miami,
most things are are always a nice streat for the players.
A couple of years ago we were able to go
(11:47):
up to Alaska for eleven days. We've played four games
up there, I think four or five in between, and
those are lifetime experiences. So to try to get into
different buildings, different area is just to be very as
much as we can.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
We often talk to easy easy coaches about this, the
travel partner schedule in the league. You have to prepare
for two different teams on a weekend. Does that present
different challenges or is it just something everybody's used to
at this point. I think it's a little bit. You
just we don't make all the rules.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
I mean, there's a lot of people that have saying
in the scheduling and the travel partners, and so as coaches,
if that's the rule, that's what we do. But we've
got great staff both at RPI and around the league
that that share the responsibilities of doing the pre scouts
and the postgame analysis. And you know this time of
(12:46):
the year, when you may be playing teams on back
to back nights, you really feel the difference as you
wake up on Saturday morning and it's like, Okay, the
pre scout's done, just got to do the game resume.
You recognize it. And I know on the road you
run into some of the assistants and I think they
feel the pain of the travel partners a little bit more.
(13:09):
But we're not. You know, it's really nice to play
every team in your building and playing in every building,
so there's going to be a trade off of work
and things that go with it.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Dave, I want to get to this weekend's opponent in Niagara,
but before I do, I want to ask you. I
know last year when I talked to you, I think
I saw you somewhere around December when you came up
to New Hampshire and we were talking a little bit
about how a COVID year and not playing RPI one
of the teams that took that entire twenty twenty twenty
one season off, that hurt so much. And you said
(13:43):
last year you were still feeling the effects. Do you
feel like that is starting to write itself. It looks
like you've had a good transfer portal summer, and sometimes
that can self correct. But I know it's been so
difficult for so many teams out there.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It has been, and I sure hope it's behind us.
And I think, you know, if it last year would
have been ultra successful, I don't think we would have
given the credit to COVID and said, hey, you know,
Colvid helped us. You know, I think there's some simple
recipes to building a program, and one is to gain momentum.
The second would be to maintain consistency. And you know,
(14:21):
we built momentum in my first three years and we
were in fourth place going into the playoffs when the
season got shut down. That's our perspective, that's our story,
and everybody has a story. The next year, which was canceled,
you know it was the Ivys and Union and US,
and so a lot of people felt that and that
(14:43):
the public perception was, you know, not positively. What really
hurt us was the following year when we were playing,
but we were the only school in the country that
did not allow any fans of the games, and that
hurt in recruit being. It hurt the feeling. I mean,
some cool tune the players were this RPI. The fans
(15:04):
are so good and the environment is such a fun
place to play, and players would say to me, Dave,
but this is not what I signed up for to
play in that empty building, and that I think. I
don't want to say snuck up on us, because we
knew it was there. But there's just too many key players,
too many leaders that left. I would love to be
(15:25):
able to be the first one to say that COVID
has no effect on this, and the farther do we
get from it. It's really just an excuse, but it
was real. We lost our core leaders, We lost guys
that would have been captains and seniors and juniors, and
we probably rushed a little bit of recruiting and had
(15:47):
a negative effect overall. Shanks, I'm going to try to
jump to the front of the list to make it
that COVID is not party a part of the get
or the bad force any order.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
It's sometimes a difficult story for a lot of people
to go through and tell I do want to hit
this weekend. You'll finally get to play home two games
against Niagara. It's your family weekend on campus. That's a
big weekend. I know, and the fans will be out
in full force. But just what are your thoughts heading
into this weekend against another Atlantic Hockey America team.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Yes, similar someone what I just said. You know, we
wanted to build momentum, so we've we've started that. Maintain consistency.
So we did a lot of good things last weekend.
So let's build a little bit more momentum. Let's play
very consistently and then all of a sudden, this weekend
will be over. And if we've done those things and
we feel good about our game, now, we feel prepared
(16:42):
for league play. Now. I was very well coached. They
had some close games against Clark SU Saint Louris last weekend.
They're we're going to come in and they're going to say, hey,
let's let's knock RPI down a Peg after a big
weekend of scoring. Maybe we'd catch them on a negative rebound.
But I know that our guys are going to be prepared.
I know the Niagar is going to be prepared, and
(17:04):
I look forward to having all these games on family weekend.
In the past they've been they've been sellout, so they've
been great, great games, great experience for our guys.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I just looked at the schedule and realized that one
week later you start not only start league play, but
you do it against your rival union.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Yeah, we do, and you know it opens that home.
We do an annual blackout where we do special, one
time only jerseys and we don't unveil them until that
Friday night. But as you guys probably hear from every
coach that comes on, we're going to focus on this
Friday against Niagara. We'll deal a Saturday when it comes
and you'll be there in the end.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Well that's very true, and Dave Smith, we appreciate you
taking the time. We can let people know you're on
a layover in Calgary Airport right now heading back from Vancouver,
so safe travels the rest of the way.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah, thanks you guys. I enjoyed listening to the many
people that you talk with and all you guys are
great for college hockey, and I appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
That's RPI head coach Dave Smith. Jim the transfer portal,
no doubt has helped. But it looks like this might
finally be the season where RPI can put COVID in
the effects of a year off in the rearview mirror.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Yeah, I thought they actually took some really good on
I stepped forward last year, but you're still talking about
it was a large defection of players when they first
canceled the season and then after the following season when
they got.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Back on the ice.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
So they've had a tough goal of it, and Dave
Smith has done everything he possibly can to navigate the waters.
I think this team and he's a great coach. We've
known him, we've both known him for a long time.
I just realized that it's going back for me almost
thirty years probably, and to see any program get decimated
the way his did during COVIDS difficult. And then to
(18:49):
watch I hate to use the word he was using
the word situation a lot, but the situation that maybe
comes in with a rebuild.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
It was a really rebuild. Maybe not, but it probably
felt like it was.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
And I also appreciate how he even phrases things now.
He talks about it building his team through the draft
and using free agency. He sounds like an NHLGM right there,
but it's what he has to do right now.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
He's embracing the portal really well.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
And some veteran coaches have not enjoyed embracing the the
both ends losing players.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
And having to go out and recruit them it he hasn't.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Obviously, some of the transfers he brought in are really
strong players in this year's roster, So it does feel
like this is things are going to start taking a
turn for the better for RPI in general.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
It does change how coaches have to relate with players.
You're looking to make sure players are happy, not just
with the playing time, but the school academics, how they're
being talked to by other coaches, what wine they're skating on.
There's an awful lot of the grass is greener on
the other side outlook happening that never was part of
(20:01):
the game, correct.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And I've talked to a number of coaches out there,
and I'm sure that anybody even like day Smith would say.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
You've got to be more hands on, and this is
actually a generation.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
The current generation of players actually want more one on
one coaching than they do just going out excuse me,
going out for practices and trying to scrap your way
into the line if they want the feedback. And I
think that's what another area that coaches have had had
to really change their approach. They have to find ways
(20:31):
to make sure that these players, every one of them,
because you get more players are your roster than you
have uniforms to give out on a game night, so
there's always going to be somebody that's a little unhappy
that they're not in the lineup. You've got to find
a way to temper that so that you don't see
that those players leaving at the end of a season
or mid season for that matter, and jumping into the portal.
(20:54):
So that is what I think the portal has done.
It's certainly made coaching a lot more hands on.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
These are topics we'll certainly hit on throughout the season
on this podcast. For Jim Connolly, I'm Ed Trushker and
this has been usc CHO spotlight
Usccho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to US Echo Spotlight for Wednesday, October sixteenth, twenty
twenty four.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
I'm Ed Trevsker with Jim Connolly.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's always good to get your season underway with a
couple of wins, and one team that did that last
weekend was Rensselear and.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Joining us now in US Echo Spotlight.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
A longtime friend of ours in a friend of college hockey,
and that makes him a longtime coach, and that's Dave
Smith from RPI.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Smitty.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Always good to see you, especially early in the season.
That means you your team got off to a good start.
A sweep of Pnesius last weekend, a lot of goals
going into too. I'm sure as a coach that has
to be pretty pleasing this early in the season.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
But what did you see for your team in week one?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, well, first of all, great to be here, and
at any time in the season it is nice, but
good to be on good to talk hockey, good to
talk RPI hockey. So it was a good weekend last weekend,
at the start of the season, coming off a year
when we had a tough year last year, you know,
(01:18):
even the exhibition game that we played against Hugh Mass
which doesn't count in the standings, was important. It was
important that we, you know, stayed in the game, that
we played well, we played consistent and even though it's
measured differently, it was an important step. And then to
follow that up with, you know, two games that do
count on the road against a good Kedesia's team that
(01:40):
was in the tournament a couple of years ago. Yeah,
I think I and we wanted. We talked with our
guys about building momentum, and I think we've we've started that,
so it felt really good.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
I mentioned that your team was able to score a
lot of goals fourteen in total, but I think what
I and when I just looked at the stat sheets
from those games, what impresses me the most is how
many different players are scoring. Eighteen players on your team
picked up at least a point last weekend. That's as
you said, you've had some struggles in some recent years
(02:13):
as a coach. Is that what you're just looking for,
some depths, some contributions up and down your lineup?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, I think you take if you can get fourteen goals,
it doesn't matter how you get them, you take them.
But one of the keys to success in college hockey
is to have depths. And if you have depth of
scoring and depth of defense and depth of goaltending, you
give yourself a chance. You give yourself a chance every
single night because teams can't focus on one line or
(02:41):
one guy and guys. Guys get hungry to score. Guys
get that feeling that hey, I didn't get anything Friday
night and they got to bring it on Saturday because
they don't want to go ninetays without any goals or
any points. So if we can get that depth and
keep that depth of scoring, I really liked what it
can bring for our team.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
From an XS and o's perspective, what did you see
on the ice in terms? I know it's so early
and it's you're trying to execute as best you can,
but what did you see in execution of the exes
and the o's.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, we were significantly more mobile in the back end.
You know, we are. Three of our top four guys
came via the transfer portal Berg Manus from Alashka, the
McDermott from UMass, and Will Gilson from the other Alaska,
and then they joined Max Mallinski in our top four.
So the mobility and the puck skills on the back
(03:36):
end was it was a welcome change. And then our
speed up front was really really noticeable. And not just
the speed, but the ability to transition quickly both ways,
offensively and defensively. So that's things that we've worked on,
things that it's a new concept for us, but the
personnel has allowed us to, at least in the first
(03:57):
weekend showcase those skills.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How about goltending. You played both of your goaltenders last weekend.
What do you what's your situation heading into this season?
How do you feel and maybe even what's your approach?
Do you like having a one or do you like
having a one to one a that you can go
back and forth to.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
How do you usually like to go at goaltending?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Do you teed that up to me? You called the
goaltending a situation, and it's like, oh, what's a the
goltending situation? You know what? We Sometimes you just go
with what you have. Right now, we have two guys
that have both played a lot of hockey, They've been
starters for their teams. Jack watching with us, Noah Geese Breakfast,
(04:39):
Fair State, and I've told them this, I'm going to
put you as long as I can, and you guys
will decide by your play, and you know when somebody
grabs the net for good and I have no timeline,
no agenda on it. I really like it. And I
think of the goaltending situation as it team of three guys,
(05:01):
right Carsondorfman has come in then he's pushed those guys
his work, ethic, his character. He's been important in that
goaltending trio to make sure guys are arrested. But right
now this is a rotation between Watson and Geesebruckt. They're
both excellent goaltenders, both have size, both have been tot
(05:21):
NHL development camps, and both are competing very well and
very hard for that spot. I love them both right now.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Dave, you mentioned the grand students and some transfers. What
is your approach to the portal each year when you're
looking for players alongside recruiting.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
This is where a situation, the word situations could have
come in that the transfer portal is really interesting. Our
primary philosophy is that we want to build through the
draft and supplement it with free agents. And part of
that philosophy is that we need to commute, dicate very
(06:00):
well with our courage players because they're all eligible to
be free agents in the trades for Portal as well.
So you know, we added our Villsburg manus very late
in the summer. We had started the process with him
when the Portal first Shulpen when he went in, but
he wanted to play pro hockey and he didn't get
(06:20):
exactly what he wanted, and he made a call back
to you know, our coach is Carla's journys and there's
there's also a fellow lot being. You know, we said
that's that's to supplement our roster through our free agency,
and he stepped in and he's the number one D.
Him and McDermott are her number one D. And so
the portal, I'm not going to change it. I think
(06:43):
it's a really important perspective. You know, it's two of
my former players recently at the showcase, Matt Hoover and
Brady Ferner. We're both in the coaching world and they're
they're both in their first year, their first months, and
they're coming into this saying this is the landscape, these
(07:03):
are the rules, and they're operating that way. So it
would be crazy for guys that have been around for
any length of time to say and to focus on
what it was. We just have to adapt and do
the best we can with it. Fortunately that you know
we have a destination in URBI hockey and our academics
(07:25):
that we can attract some some real, real good players
and to be people. With this being the last year
for fifth years, D see the transfer portal kind of
settling down a little bit, maybe getting a little bit
more competitive. I think with the ending of one you
we'll call this situation because now I want to use
(07:45):
to work with the ending of this grad fifth year situation,
potentially moms the CHL situation, and I don't know how
that will affect the portal. You know, it's it's a
it's just an ever changing landscape at every college sport.
(08:06):
But we'll just keep keep adapting, keep moving, and if
the fifty years go away and more HL players are available,
then and we'll take it. And we're doing our We've
got a great staff that works really hard and we're
prepared for those those the timing of those, and we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
You mentioned CHL, which is where I wanted to go next.
Then we're catching up with you while you're between flights
after doing some recruiting. How might that change what you
have to do. Is that going to mean looking at
different places, traveling more places, maybe not going to places
you might have before.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
One hundred percent I think it's it's still a hockey business.
It's still evaluating talent and recruiting them too. Our campus,
our school, So it's got to be the right fit
both ways. But different converse stations with different coaches, different
general managers, different agents and advisors, different you know, alumni
(09:09):
going to different games in different areas. So it's to me,
is very exciting because it's a new challenge and it's
it's ground zero where everybody's starting with the same access
to every player. There's still none of those guys, you know,
at the start of last year or this year, I
don't want to say right now, but the start of
the year we're committed anywhere. There may be some commitments
(09:31):
now that nobody's talking about, but it's a pretty level
playing field right now.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Well, with RPI head coach Dave Smith. In a moment,
we're back with RPI head coach Dave Smith. I want
to talk a little bit about scheduling in ECAC Hockey
(09:58):
you have twenty two league games, you have to schedule
a dozen games. One of them is always on your
schedule of the Mayor's Cup with Union.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
But you have to find eleven games each year.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
And it looks like you've done a good job of
spreading around the different leagues and different calibers you might
save teams. How do you go about putting together that
non league schedule and how far out do you have
to look?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
You know, we try not to get too too far ahead,
but we enter into these agreements and it sort of
goes in cycles where we want to go east, we
want to go west, we want to play hockey East
ACAC NC, make ten schools of them, you know, Ccha schools,
just so we get into different areas. We've got some
(10:42):
guys like Cuter Mazzadi and Max Malenski, we're from Brad McNeill,
who are from the state of Michigan, as well as
Mulige's Breck. Now, so a couple of years we go
said let's try and get out that way, and couldn't
get to place is real close to their house. Then
all right, well let's schedule something with Miami. We haven't
been to Minnesota state we hadn't played them in our building,
(11:05):
the High Newark, so to do it, let's get out
and play them there their tournament team. You want to
challenge yourself and play a variety of again the levels.
But you know, we also want to be cost conscious
that you can't just jump in a plane every weekend
and fly wherever. So with so much hockey being in
(11:26):
the Northeast, we have the ability. At the location of
our PI as well, we're a pretty quick trip to
most of the places in the Northeast, so being able
to go out to you know, Minnesota State next year, Miami,
most things are are always a nice streat for the players.
A couple of years ago we were able to go
(11:47):
up to Alaska for eleven days. We've played four games
up there, I think four or five in between, and
those are lifetime experiences. So to try to get into
different buildings, different area is just to be very as
much as we can.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
We often talk to easy easy coaches about this, the
travel partner schedule in the league. You have to prepare
for two different teams on a weekend. Does that present
different challenges or is it just something everybody's used to
at this point. I think it's a little bit. You
just we don't make all the rules.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
I mean, there's a lot of people that have saying
in the scheduling and the travel partners, and so as coaches,
if that's the rule, that's what we do. But we've
got great staff both at RPI and around the league
that that share the responsibilities of doing the pre scouts
and the postgame analysis. And you know this time of
(12:46):
the year, when you may be playing teams on back
to back nights, you really feel the difference as you
wake up on Saturday morning and it's like, Okay, the
pre scout's done, just got to do the game resume.
You recognize it. And I know on the road you
run into some of the assistants and I think they
feel the pain of the travel partners a little bit more.
(13:09):
But we're not. You know, it's really nice to play
every team in your building and playing in every building,
so there's going to be a trade off of work
and things that go with it.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Dave, I want to get to this weekend's opponent in Niagara,
but before I do, I want to ask you. I
know last year when I talked to you, I think
I saw you somewhere around December when you came up
to New Hampshire and we were talking a little bit
about how a COVID year and not playing RPI one
of the teams that took that entire twenty twenty twenty
one season off, that hurt so much. And you said
(13:43):
last year you were still feeling the effects. Do you
feel like that is starting to write itself. It looks
like you've had a good transfer portal summer, and sometimes
that can self correct. But I know it's been so
difficult for so many teams out there.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It has been, and I sure hope it's behind us.
And I think, you know, if it last year would
have been ultra successful, I don't think we would have
given the credit to COVID and said, hey, you know,
Colvid helped us. You know, I think there's some simple
recipes to building a program, and one is to gain momentum.
The second would be to maintain consistency. And you know,
(14:21):
we built momentum in my first three years and we
were in fourth place going into the playoffs when the
season got shut down. That's our perspective, that's our story,
and everybody has a story. The next year, which was canceled,
you know it was the Ivys and Union and US,
and so a lot of people felt that and that
(14:43):
the public perception was, you know, not positively. What really
hurt us was the following year when we were playing,
but we were the only school in the country that
did not allow any fans of the games, and that
hurt in recruit being. It hurt the feeling. I mean,
some cool tune the players were this RPI. The fans
(15:04):
are so good and the environment is such a fun
place to play, and players would say to me, Dave,
but this is not what I signed up for to
play in that empty building, and that I think. I
don't want to say snuck up on us, because we
knew it was there. But there's just too many key players,
too many leaders that left. I would love to be
(15:25):
able to be the first one to say that COVID
has no effect on this, and the farther do we
get from it. It's really just an excuse, but it
was real. We lost our core leaders, We lost guys
that would have been captains and seniors and juniors, and
we probably rushed a little bit of recruiting and had
(15:47):
a negative effect overall. Shanks, I'm going to try to
jump to the front of the list to make it
that COVID is not party a part of the get
or the bad force any order.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
It's sometimes a difficult story for a lot of people
to go through and tell I do want to hit
this weekend. You'll finally get to play home two games
against Niagara. It's your family weekend on campus. That's a
big weekend. I know, and the fans will be out
in full force. But just what are your thoughts heading
into this weekend against another Atlantic Hockey America team.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Yes, similar someone what I just said. You know, we
wanted to build momentum, so we've we've started that. Maintain consistency.
So we did a lot of good things last weekend.
So let's build a little bit more momentum. Let's play
very consistently and then all of a sudden, this weekend
will be over. And if we've done those things and
we feel good about our game, now, we feel prepared
(16:42):
for league play. Now. I was very well coached. They
had some close games against Clark SU Saint Louris last weekend.
They're we're going to come in and they're going to say, hey,
let's let's knock RPI down a Peg after a big
weekend of scoring. Maybe we'd catch them on a negative rebound.
But I know that our guys are going to be prepared.
I know the Niagar is going to be prepared, and
(17:04):
I look forward to having all these games on family weekend.
In the past they've been they've been sellout, so they've
been great, great games, great experience for our guys.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I just looked at the schedule and realized that one
week later you start not only start league play, but
you do it against your rival union.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Yeah, we do, and you know it opens that home.
We do an annual blackout where we do special, one
time only jerseys and we don't unveil them until that
Friday night. But as you guys probably hear from every
coach that comes on, we're going to focus on this
Friday against Niagara. We'll deal a Saturday when it comes
and you'll be there in the end.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Well that's very true, and Dave Smith, we appreciate you
taking the time. We can let people know you're on
a layover in Calgary Airport right now heading back from Vancouver,
so safe travels the rest of the way.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah, thanks you guys. I enjoyed listening to the many
people that you talk with and all you guys are
great for college hockey, and I appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
That's RPI head coach Dave Smith. Jim the transfer portal,
no doubt has helped. But it looks like this might
finally be the season where RPI can put COVID in
the effects of a year off in the rearview mirror.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Yeah, I thought they actually took some really good on
I stepped forward last year, but you're still talking about
it was a large defection of players when they first
canceled the season and then after the following season when
they got.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Back on the ice.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
So they've had a tough goal of it, and Dave
Smith has done everything he possibly can to navigate the waters.
I think this team and he's a great coach. We've
known him, we've both known him for a long time.
I just realized that it's going back for me almost
thirty years probably, and to see any program get decimated
the way his did during COVIDS difficult. And then to
(18:49):
watch I hate to use the word he was using
the word situation a lot, but the situation that maybe
comes in with a rebuild.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
It was a really rebuild. Maybe not, but it probably
felt like it was.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
And I also appreciate how he even phrases things now.
He talks about it building his team through the draft
and using free agency. He sounds like an NHLGM right there,
but it's what he has to do right now.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
He's embracing the portal really well.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
And some veteran coaches have not enjoyed embracing the the
both ends losing players.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
And having to go out and recruit them it he hasn't.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Obviously, some of the transfers he brought in are really
strong players in this year's roster, So it does feel
like this is things are going to start taking a
turn for the better for RPI in general.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
It does change how coaches have to relate with players.
You're looking to make sure players are happy, not just
with the playing time, but the school academics, how they're
being talked to by other coaches, what wine they're skating on.
There's an awful lot of the grass is greener on
the other side outlook happening that never was part of
(20:01):
the game, correct.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And I've talked to a number of coaches out there,
and I'm sure that anybody even like day Smith would say.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
You've got to be more hands on, and this is
actually a generation.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
The current generation of players actually want more one on
one coaching than they do just going out excuse me,
going out for practices and trying to scrap your way
into the line if they want the feedback. And I
think that's what another area that coaches have had had
to really change their approach. They have to find ways
(20:31):
to make sure that these players, every one of them,
because you get more players are your roster than you
have uniforms to give out on a game night, so
there's always going to be somebody that's a little unhappy
that they're not in the lineup. You've got to find
a way to temper that so that you don't see
that those players leaving at the end of a season
or mid season for that matter, and jumping into the portal.
(20:54):
So that is what I think the portal has done.
It's certainly made coaching a lot more hands on.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
These are topics we'll certainly hit on throughout the season
on this podcast. For Jim Connolly, I'm Ed Trushker and
this has been usc CHO spotlight
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