BGFan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 9:57 pm
My thoughts on the current turnaround of this team:
We have 4 transfers into the program this season playing their last year of college hockey. This is more than we've had transfer in at one time than I've seen before. (We've had one in each of the prior 2 seasons.) All of them came from different programs with different playing styles and different expectations. A quick glance at the roster shows the following:
Zach Vinnell - Sr. from Merrimack
Hunter Lellig - Sr. from Minnesota-Duluth
Nathan Burke - Sr. from Minnesota
Chase Gresock - Sr. from Miami
All 4 are playing key roles this year for the Falcons and have been great additions BUT they have no prior history with the program. How much of an effect did they have early on with the chemistry of the team? How long did it take them to be accepted by the other players since they came in as upper classmen? How long did it take them to adapt their game to the expectations of the coaching staff? My answer to all of the questions - about half of the season.
There is very little practice time prior to the start of the season due to the length of the season. The most that they can have are a few captain's practices until about a week before the first game. That's not a lot of time to develop much camaraderie for these new "short timer" players prior to the start of the season let alone on-ice chemistry. I think that we're there, now, and the remainder of the season could be a helluva ride.
Nathan Burke played with BG last season as well. Your point still stands. Add to that the injuries at the start of the season.
