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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Looking back on the past year, I don't think these assessments of the Wolves is correct.

U19 Wolves @ Disney last year:
Beat SanJose Fly 4-0
Tied Texas Pride 0-0
Beat Phoenix Elite 3-0
Beat FHL 3-1
Lost to Spirit of USA 0-1
Lost to AGH 0-1

So their on-paper record is 3-2-1 which might not look great, but their actual results are very strong. The ties and 1 goal losses against Texas Pride Red, Spirit of USA, and AGH are against some of the strongest teams in the country. They finished 4th in the 2nd highest bracket and were seeded 14th overall.

To compare other area clubs, finishes were Freedom (1st in top bracket, seeded 2nd), Warhawks (4th in 3rd bracket, seeded 21st), Next Level Blue (1st in 4th bracket, seeded 27th), HUSEL (1st in 5th bracket, seeded 35th), Hammers (8th bracket, seeded 62nd), Jackals (9th bracket, seeded 65th), Koa (9th bracket, seeded 67th), Next Level White (9th bracket, seeded 68th)

Shooting Star Easter, they were 3-1-1 in Pool A with wins against Rob Short, Freedom Yellow and Centercourt, a tie against Wizards, and a 1-2 loss against pool winner NJ Grit.  Again, a very good showing against good teams.

At Shooting Star Thanksgiving, their on paper record was 0-4-1 but this was in pool A.
Lost to Mayhem 0-2
Lost to WC Eagles 1-3
Tied Texas Pride 0-0
Lost to NJ Grit 0-1
Lost to Panthers United 0-3

Again, the win/loss/tie record doesn't look great, but it is actually quite a good showing.  In U16, they beat Mayhem, tied FHC of CT, and tied Centercourt.  All very good teams.

As for Winter Escape, they took a team comprised of uncommitted (but interested U19s and U16s).  They took everyone that was interested and had a few guest players (and a guest goalie) to have enough players. Win/loss doesn't look great, but they played very tight games against all but one team and I'm sure we will find out what the results were from a recruiting standpoint.  First year that Wolves took a team and it was to provide another recruiting opportunity for those that were interested.

Perhaps more importantly, the goal of a showcase or recruiting tournament is to showcase athletes in the best possible light in front of college coaches. I know that the coaches actively try to play the toughest teams they can which brings college coaches to come watch.  The fundamental play of the teams is good. They play good hockey, and that is apparent to the coaches they play in front of. You can diminish their recruitment results as just strong individual players, but that doesn't jive based on what is actually happening.  College coaches don't really care about a club team's win/loss - they are looking at how individuals play the game and how that player might fit into what they are looking for.

Sources:
Disney 2023: https://tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Division.aspx?IDTournament=h20221208192627595dcc1dacc0d154e&IDDivision=h202212081926277771c1eae74021649
Shooting Star Easter 2023: https://tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Division.aspx?IDTournament=h20230309164814107e683a83198dd40&IDDivision=h20230309174649657dac2f15266ff42
Shooting Star Thanksgiving 2023: https://tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Division.aspx?IDTournament=h20231024165310123afecc2ae248c43&IDDivision=h20231024172644537272436bae6db4f

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U19 Shooting Star Easter and Thanksgiving Wolves brought their committed players while the other teams listed brought their B string non committed players and the results aren’t so great based on the results.  Easter is known for last ditch effort for junior non commitments and top universities don’t even show up, it’s D3s and not even the top ones except JHU bc they are close by.  This years Thanksgiving, look at the other teams roster for u19.  WC eagles did not bring their Diamond team nor did Pride bring their A team.

Disney I agree Wolves did well but it’s grass field, slow, doesn’t remotely represent turf for colleges or even RCC.  Wolves is not a speedy aggressive team so grass works for them.

Wolves scores don’t look terrible because they have great goalies that keep that score down (heard goalie for u16 left for a higher tiered club).  However if you looked at shots taken offensively and shots taken against the Wolves it’s very lopsided.  Wolves has very limited offensive pressure.  Wolves defenders and goalies make the score not look atrocious.

Wolves is a good club but their reputation is no longer a stellar club.  Strong athletes no longer pick going with Wolves.  The athletes that are there in the older age group have significant potential but that potential isn’t being harnessed. Where they use to shine the completion has caught up skill snd team dynamic wise and now surpassed them so they don’t look as great as they did in the past.

Again the club has potential but I don’t know if they can harness it to turn things around.  No way either the u16 or u19 will qualify for NCCs as the top 2 teams in R7.  They just don’t have the team or coaching to pull it off.

How long can Wolves ride on the coattails of their prior reputation?  I don’t think much longer.  This will in turn impact who decides to join and stay in the club and will impact recruiting.  It a vicious cycle that I hope Wolves do not have to go through but I am not seeing how it won’t go that way if the club doesn’t make some changes.

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