UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Just to make a clarification about cupcakes, RMU was ranked 12th in the PWR after their win over Dartmouth last night, but the Big Green returned the favor by beating the Colonials 5-2 this afternoon. If UNH beats Dartmouth, which they must do for The Quest to have any chance of success, it should be considered an upset, I think.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Just checking out the past few years of the fabled UNH v Maine games...last year we bested them (year before, never mind...) 3 wins/1 tie (Alfond arena...we aren't so fortunate up there) What interested me was the attendance. Up to last year each 'White out the Whitt' game was sold out, last year's attendance at just over the 6K mark. I'd be really curious what we will pull this at this years game on Friday...will we hit the 6k mark? I'm guessing we will be at the 4K mark. I realize what's reported isn't always what's in the arena, but I'm really wondering how many will attend this game!

I know the teams aren't the teams of the past, but hope the rivalry will bring people to the games and the 'Cats will rise to the occasion.

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

But the creamiest of the HE cupcakes have either been eaten already (UMass, Merrimack) or are on the table soon enough (UMaine). And UNH is already behind schedule, unless they can run the next four games in a row (I'll set the over/under at 2.5). After that, the 'Cats will be mostly cupcake-free until season's end and UConn's arrival. Maybe Northeastern stays down ... maybe they can nick a win against Providence ... but after that, I'm not sure I see much more low-hanging fruit than what's been mentioned already here? The fact that the league may be down this season is probably the only thing keeping my forecast above 50% at this point.

Well for starters I see six games with Uconn, NU and PC left. And only one of those contests (against a team that lost to Sacred Heart yesterday) will be a true road game given that UNH hosts the Friars (a team they have matched up very well against in recent history) for two, and plays the Huskies in the Ode to P.T. Barnum at Fenway.

And since we are talking about a thin line here that might be enough. Assuming the Cats grab "home ice" (God, I remember when that term actually meant something) in the phony round of the playoffs they likely grab a couple wins there, giving them a bit more cushion in The Quest.

Which might be moot of course, if DU plays the deferral card with a coach instead of a player this time, and decides that MS needs another year of seasoning so he pushes him back until 2019-2020.

P.S. 2-0-2 in the next four puts UNH at 8-6-4 come New Years Eve, in case that scenario sounds familiar.

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Five times I think? 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015.

Yes...you are correct. Brain cramp.

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

There was a lot of red in the place that's for sure...wish we could pull even half of that for our Verizon game...��

It's a great experience, though, isn't it? "The World's Most Famous Arena" (are they still proclaiming that before each game?) When my Dad took me to my first Red Sox game (shortly after the telephone was invented), I remember the usher wiping off the seat with a cloth and then my Dad tipping him. I thought those days were long gone...until Red Hot Hockey at MSG. We went to our seats, and after the usher just sort of stood there for at least 30 seconds and it was obvious he wasn't going away, I quickly (or not so quickly, as it were) realized what he was waiting for! Good thing I remembered the experience with my Dad, because I hadn't seen ANY usher get tipped in at least forty years!

And this also begs the question. We had "good" seats (I can't tell you the "level" since there are about 10,000 different categories there), maybe only a couple of rows behind what you would call the "concourse" at the old Garden, for example. That arena (and I realize it has been "renovated") was built in, what, 1968? Why are the sight lines BETTER there than at arenas built in the last ten years? Just food for thought...

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

It's a great experience, though, isn't it? "The World's Most Famous Arena" (are they still proclaiming that before each game?) When my Dad took me to my first Red Sox game (shortly after the telephone was invented), I remember the usher wiping off the seat with a cloth and then my Dad tipping him. I thought those days were long gone...until Red Hot Hockey at MSG. We went to our seats, and after the usher just sort of stood there for at least 30 seconds and it was obvious he wasn't going away, I quickly (or not so quickly, as it were) realized what he was waiting for! Good thing I remembered the experience with my Dad, because I hadn't seen ANY usher get tipped in at least forty years!

And this also begs the question. We had "good" seats (I can't tell you the "level" since there are about 10,000 different categories there), maybe only a couple of rows behind what you would call the "concourse" at the old Garden, for example. That arena (and I realize it has been "renovated") was built in, what, 1968? Why are the sight lines BETTER there than at arenas built in the last ten years? Just food for thought...

Oh yeah it was a great experience to be there! I thought it was a great place to watch a hockey game while other fans thought the TD was better. Looking forward to going back at some point. I was a big Lakers fan back in the Jerry West days and would stay up and watch the NBA Finals against the Knicks in '71-72. Got a kick out of seeing the hoop jerseys hung from the rafters from that time period (Monroe, Fraiser, DeBusschere)

I was just pointing out how many Cornell fans turned out (as one would expect) and wish that we could do the same at our Verizon game (which I know is totally a dff animal so there's that). When they scored the roar was almost deafening; we don't don't get that same effect. We'll see how it goes this year. I will say it was gratifying to sit next to a couple of UNH grads (96) who were so excited UNH was in town for that game and they were thrilled to be there watching! If we can get 4,000 in for this Friday's Maine game that would be nice...

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Well for starters I see six games with Uconn, NU and PC left. And only one of those contests (against a team that lost to Sacred Heart yesterday) will be a true road game given that UNH hosts the Friars (a team they have matched up very well against in recent history) for two, and plays the Huskies in the Ode to P.T. Barnum at Fenway.

And since we are talking about a thin line here that might be enough. Assuming the Cats grab "home ice" (God, I remember when that term actually meant something) in the phony round of the playoffs they likely grab a couple wins there, giving them a bit more cushion in The Quest.

After last season's ending, I'm not sure I'm comfortable assuming UNH gets anything out of the season-ending series with UConn OR in the MBPBEGAM round of the so-called playoffs. IIRC UNH went 1-4-0 down the stretch in '16, including losing 2 out of 3 to Merrimack to end it all. I also refuse to believe Providence stays down. I think our best hope is NU was a flash in the pan down the stretch last season, and normal service has resumed down on Huntington Ave. And to assume a sweep over them after what we've seen so far this season would be nuts.

Which might be moot of course, if DU plays the deferral card with a coach instead of a player this time, and decides that MS needs another year of seasoning so he pushes him back until 2019-2020.

Can someone check on 'Watcher this morning, please? I'm worried he may have seen this, and handled it poorly ...

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Besides Dartmouth and the third Maine game in Manchvegas, there is one other OOC cupcake game that should not be overlooked: a visit to the Providence den of the Brown Bears on Saturday January 7th. The Brown Bears will be looking for revenge after their 4-2 loss to the Cats at Lake Whitt on 12 November 2013.

Here is the Dennis Green clip about da Bears:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKIcnj1MJY

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Besides Dartmouth and the third Maine game in Manchvegas, there is one other OOC cupcake game that should not be overlooked: a visit to the Providence den of the Brown Bears on Saturday January 7th. The Brown Bears will be looking for revenge after their 4-2 loss to the Cats at Lake Whitt on 12 November 2013.

I'm 600% sure Coach has all the cupcakes committed to memory at this point.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Besides Dartmouth and the third Maine game in Manchvegas, there is one other OOC cupcake game that should not be overlooked: a visit to the Providence den of the Brown Bears on Saturday January 7th. The Brown Bears will be looking for revenge after their 4-2 loss to the Cats at Lake Whitt on 12 November 2013.

Here is the Dennis Green clip about da Bears:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKIcnj1MJY

Since I'm not doing UVM this year prob going to go to this one...looking at rooms in downtown Prov as we speak. Have you ever been to a game there? Looking at their schedule/results I'm thinking this should be a shoo in win for the 'Cats but then...well, I'll prob go anyway!!!! Maine coming off a 5-1 romp of them this weekend. Are you going to be at the 'Whitt Friday?

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Since I'm not doing UVM this year prob going to go to this one...looking at rooms in downtown Prov as we speak. Have you ever been to a game there?

Meehan Auditorium is on the Brown campus, and IIRC it's pretty much an uphill walk east across the river from Downtown Providence. One of the key scenes from the turn of the century WIS epic "Da Godfaddah (USCHO version)" was based there, so I remember doing the location work.

So bring your sneakers and an oxygen mask. 15 minute walk, give or take. Enjoy!

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Since I'm not doing UVM this year prob going to go to this one...looking at rooms in downtown Prov as we speak. Have you ever been to a game there? Looking at their schedule/results I'm thinking this should be a shoo in win for the 'Cats but then...well, I'll prob go anyway!!!! Maine coming off a 5-1 romp of them this weekend. Are you going to be at the 'Whitt Friday?

The Brown Bears have a nice little arena in Meehan Auditorium in downtown Providence; during a Falcons - Bears joust there over thanksgiving break a few years ago, a former chair of Bentley's BOT and I joked about digging it up and moving it to Waltham.

But, of more immediate importance, here are some comparative early season stats on UNH and Maine ("do not call us UMO") for the upcoming weekend. I made my visit to Orono last fall, but will miss this year. Durham will be a game time / traffic decision (wish that the two nights were reversed).

Stat: Maine; UNH
PWR: 31st; 41st
SOS: 17th; 47th (explains PWR (?), which is amazing considering the rest of the stats below)
Record: 5-7-3; 6-6-2
HEA Record: 1-4-1; 3-1-1
Off: 36th, 2.73 gpg; tied, 11th, 3.43
Def: 41st, 3.20 ggug; tied, 29th, 2.93
PP: 55th, 8/84, 9.52 %; 13th, 18/89, 20.22
Pmin: 10th, 116/262, 17.47 mpg; tied 53rd, 77/154, 11.00
PK: 25th, 83/98, 84.7%; tied 22nd, 57/67, 85.1
Rob McGovern: 5-5-3, 2.7279 gaa, 0.920 sv%
Ty Rone: 6-4-2, 21st, 2.3211 gga, 0.917 sv%

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

I was just pointing out how many Cornell fans turned out (as one would expect) and wish that we could do the same at our Verizon game (which I know is totally a dff animal so there's that). When they scored the roar was almost deafening; we don't don't get that same effect. We'll see how it goes this year.

And, of course, I realize it's apples to oranges...but regarding the attendance at MSG at least, it's not surprising that it was a sea of red (of course, when we played them it was a sea of red, too ) - that's just a little humor, because both teams are red (although technically we are scarlet). But (and some may not like this - but what else is new?) the typical Cornell fan it could be safely assumed has more "disposable income" than the UNH fan. I was lucky because we stayed with my wife's aunt (or as they say down there, "ant") in New Jersey. But when you consider the tickets, transportation, meals and accommodations, you're looking at $500 easy. I'm guessing that's not even going to register on the average Cornell fan's radar if he/she is truly interested in attending. And I'm also guessing that the average UNH fan would have to at least "think" about it...

[Snively65]

And, of course, I realize it's apples to oranges...but regarding the attendance at MSG at least, it's not surprising that it was a sea of red (of course, when we played them it was a sea of red, too ) - that's just a little humor, because both teams are red (although technically we are scarlet). But (and some may not like this - but what else is new?) the typical Cornell fan it could be safely assumed has more "disposable income" than the UNH fan. I was lucky because we stayed with my wife's aunt (or as they say down there, "ant") in New Jersey. But when you consider the tickets, transportation, meals and accommodations, you're looking at $500 easy. I'm guessing that's not even going to register on the average Cornell fan's radar if he/she is truly interested in attending. And I'm also guessing that the average UNH fan would have to at least "think" about it...

How charming of you elistists to point out how you have more disposable income than UNH fans.

Care to tally the amount of hockey national championship hardware between state and private schools? Yeah, I already know, we do not have any; must be correlated with the lack of disposable income by our fanbase?

[scoreboard]

And, of course, I realize it's apples to oranges...but regarding the attendance at MSG at least, it's not surprising that it was a sea of red (of course, when we played them it was a sea of red, too ) - that's just a little humor, because both teams are red (although technically we are scarlet). But (and some may not like this - but what else is new?) the typical Cornell fan it could be safely assumed has more "disposable income" than the UNH fan. I was lucky because we stayed with my wife's aunt (or as they say down there, "ant") in New Jersey. But when you consider the tickets, transportation, meals and accommodations, you're looking at $500 easy. I'm guessing that's not even going to register on the average Cornell fan's radar if he/she is truly interested in attending. And I'm also guessing that the average UNH fan would have to at least "think" about it...

I was at the game. It was almost an entirely Cornell crowd. However, the attendance was 10,500 and the capacity of MSG for hockey is 18,000. I was surprised that there wasn't a larger crowd. UNH had very few fans. The fan base doesn't travel anywhere close to the way they did 10-15 years ago.