UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

[HockeyRef]

unh just landed ntdp dman max gildon.

Was once a wisconsin commit

YESSSS!! Any idea when he will be arriving? (Not soon enough &#128521

[Dan]

YESSSS!! Any idea when he will be arriving? (Not soon enough &#128521

He was originally expected to sign with Wisconsin for next fall - then his signing was not announced and he was quoted as hoping to play at UW the following year. He decommited soon after...

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/college/hockey/badgers-men-s-hockey-recruit-max-gildon-decommits-from-uw/article_6dc047e5-d7d1-5146-bb61-d9acd809891b.html

So as early as (hopefully) next fall and no later than 2018...

[HockeyRef]

He was originally expected to sign with Wisconsin for next fall - then his signing was not announced and he was quoted as hoping to play at UW the following year. He decommited soon after...

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/college/hockey/badgers-men-s-hockey-recruit-max-gildon-decommits-from-uw/article_6dc047e5-d7d1-5146-bb61-d9acd809891b.html

So as early as (hopefully) next fall and no later than 2018...

This is very exciting news!!! He brings almost immediate relief to our defensive issues. Of course there is adjusting to NCAA D 1 hockey but that's ok!! When will we learn his enrollment date?

[Lemonade]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

As for UConn - in just four years Cavanaugh has taken them from Atlantic Hockey also ran to a very tough out in HE. A team that can beat anyone, has landed elite recruits and is already much closer to the top of HE than they are to UMass and ME. UMass was consistently getting clubbed 8-1 by the HE elite at the end of the Mallen era...

UConn as an athletic dept has MUCH more money and has shown a better commitment to many secondary sports (likely more so because they can, than that they care more). UConn is in a much better position today than UMass has ever been in...

If you want to argue that UConn's modest improvement, recruiting success and many optimistic indicators should be taken with a grain of salt until it truly translates, that's fine. But then, you simply cannot write them off with such a sense of assurance either. You do so because you dislike Cavanaugh. Which is fine, but you can't have it both ways.

As for Cavanaugh - all evidence, hear-say, print media and recruit quotes indicates he has been the primary recruiter at UConn. He was an assistant for 21 seasons (18 with York), being titled with lead recruiter responsibilities for most of those seasons while being a part of staffs that have landed an incredible amount of elite talent over those 21 seasons, perhaps more than any other. He lands at UConn and immediately they land Tage Thompson, Gendron and Spencer Nass. Letunov, Huska and Masonious committed after Souza left.

There is zero merit to the idea that Souza's tree non-descript years at Brown and three seasons at UConn - where all evidence points towards most recruiting success tracking back to Cavanaugh in particular and said success has continued after Souza's departure - can yet be compared in the least to Cavanaughs 21 seasons of asst experience and early UConn success...

Souza has been better of late - but approaching two full years at UNH (and 100% in charge) he has landed ONE player with a ceiling that clearly indicates an all-HE type player. Commesso. Wazny and Crookshank have high floors but legitimate questions remain about whether they will reach ceilings of difference making forwards UNH is used too. Even if they do, that's not enough. The surest bets on D are third to second pair guys in Miller/Wyse. I hope Green becomes Agosta. Which means more of the same on defense. The rest of the recruits are question marks. Some with more potential than others...

Very valid points. I think what really needs to happen is for Souza to take over and then hire another assistant to help aid in recruiting. I look at BU and how Parker (despite being a great coach) has past his prime and bringing in Quinn was a shot in the arm to the program. This is what UNH really needs. I have nothing but great things to say about Umile but its time for a younger and fresh look and Souza brings that. In regards to recruiting - its obvious that UNH needs to up its game if they want to compete and move up the Hockey East ranks. I think the key is to land a few big name recruits and others follow. Easier said that done but as you mentioned getting Commesso is a start in the that direction and is the caliber player that raises eyebrows and could attract recruits in that age bracket. Landing Gildon is huge as well. Hopefully its the start of more. Better days ahead!!!

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The MBPBEGAM Home Ice Watch

@ UVM 1 Merrimack 1

Midway through the first period

If Merrimack earns a point tonight, they clinch 8th seed and final MBPBEGAM home ice slot

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The MBPBEGAM Home Ice Watch

@ UVM 1 Merrimack 2

6 minutes left in the first period

If Merrimack earns a point tonight, they clinch 8th seed and final MBPBEGAM home ice slot

@ UConn 1 UNH 0

3 minutes into the first period of "The Pillow Fight Cup"

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The MBPBEGAM Home Ice Watch

@ UVM 2 *Merrimack 2

2 minutes left in the first period

* - if Merrimack earns a point tonight, they clinch 8th seed and final MBPBEGAM home ice slot

@ UConn 1 UNH 0

6 minutes into the first period of the "Tickle Me Elmo Cup"

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Attaboy Blackburn!! We are sitting right behind their goal a beauty!!

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The MBPBEGAM Home Ice Watch

@ UVM 2 *Merrimack 2

End of the first period

* - if Merrimack earns a point tonight, they clinch 8th seed and final MBPBEGAM home ice slot

@ UConn 1 UNH 1

Just after the midway mark in the first period of the "Praying for Merrimack to Lose Cup"

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

PP goal UConn 2-1 Huskies

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Wildcat PP coming up! And a goal for TyK!!

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The MBPBEGAM Home Ice Watch

@ UVM 2 *Merrimack 2

End of the first period

* - if Merrimack earns a point tonight, they clinch 8th seed and final MBPBEGAM home ice slot

@ UConn 2 UNH 1

6 minutes left in the "Blackburn Giveth - Blackburn Taketh Away Cup"

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The MBPBEGAM Home Ice Watch

@ UVM 2 *Merrimack 2

End of the first period

* - if Merrimack earns a point tonight, they clinch 8th seed and final MBPBEGAM home ice slot

@ UConn 2 UNH 2

4 minutes left in the "Defense Optional Cup" consolation game

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

If UNH can grab that 8 seed and Notre Dame can hold on in Boston, there might be one more trip to South Bend before the Irish leave the league.

[Dan]

If I'm reading it right, UNH will host MC if they land home ice and will either be at MC or NU if they do not. While NU is a possibility, it's really starting to feel like MC will be the opponent either way. With the way those two teams differ so greatly in style of play and arena dimensions you have to imagine home ice is the difference...