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

[RENCEB]

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

Well, winner take all tomorrow night. Not really unexpected. Props to Tirrone on the shutout.

[HockeyRef]

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

Decent first chippy as he//. Even SOG's. 'Cats look more organized out there. Should be an interesting 2nd!

[HockeyRef]

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

Mike Babcock sighting....

[Greg Ambrose]

He didn't say "not competitive." He said "not as good." And I agree. But this is a pointless argument because we're from different generations and don't look at the game the same way. In those days, the old garden was rocking...banged out with thousands of UNH and Maine fans, and with the Boston schools there it was wild. Not the same for us now, but that doesn't mean you don't have your own memories.

It is a pointless argument because people are always captives of their own generation. When I used the term "hyper competitive" I was mostly referring to the coaches - Umile, Walsh, Parker, York - particularly. I'm not suggesting that the coaches are not fierce competitors today both in terms of recruiting and on ice coaching. But there really is no one in the league now who compares to Parker or Walsh in their heydays. It was just different back then. I saw Parker throw a bunch of sticks on the ice one night after he disagreed with a ref's call. Walsh we all know about, playing things on the edge all the time. The players fed off this stuff and, I think, ramped up their games because of it. The other thing is that all but the greatest players stayed around for four years. Now you get the feeling that many like those at BU will stick around for one, maybe two years, and be gone. The kids today are skilled, have been taught well, and are in tremendous shape. But emotion? Except for a few instances (Harvard's Beanpot win) just don't see much of it anymore.

[riverchief1]

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

Not as competitive, not as good, or not as high quality?

It's definitely competitive, the standing were really tight.
I think the quality is as good as it's ever been - look at the talent that's come through BU alone in the last few years, and BC, PC, UML. Top 10 NHL draft picks, WJC stars, the quality is awesome.
Not as good? - meaning the fun of being a fan, the atmosphere in the rinks, the overall experience of being a college hockey fan? I might agree with that. Just not the passion, to the point of craziness, of years ago. Seems to be another case of the general distracted disengagement of society today. Yeah, phones.

A lot probably does also tie into the product on the ice. I remember droves of Maine and UNH fans travelling in their respective heydays. Now with both programs being less than stellar in some eyes for awhile, you see that translate into a lack of enthusiasm and less strong fan bases. I remember the atmosphere in Durham being off the charts, same at Tsongas when we called it "Whittimore South" and UNH would take over the place. Now with Lowell's turnaround the past several seasons, the atmosphere in Lowell is similar to what I remember at UNH and Maine in the past. And I saw relatively few UNH and Maine fans at Tsongas this year compared to years ago. So individual team's quality does play into it definitely.

[Yuppie Scum]

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

Bingo

Well that's another reason for you to love the Lawler. Reception is terrible.

[Chuck Murray]

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

Not as good? - meaning the fun of being a fan, the atmosphere in the rinks, the overall experience of being a college hockey fan? I might agree with that. Just not the passion, to the point of craziness, of years ago. Seems to be another case of the general distracted disengagement of society today. Yeah, phones.

Bingo

[chickod]

.
Not as good? - meaning the fun of being a fan, the atmosphere in the rinks, the overall experience of being a college hockey fan? I might agree with that. Just not the passion, to the point of craziness, of years ago. Seems to be another case of the general distracted disengagement of society today. Yeah, phones.

Exactly. Just lamenting, I guess.

[E.J. Smith]

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

He didn't say "not competitive." He said "not as good." And I agree. But this is a pointless argument because we're from different generations and don't look at the game the same way. In those days, the old garden was rocking...banged out with thousands of UNH and Maine fans, and with the Boston schools there it was wild. Not the same for us now, but that doesn't mean you don't have your own memories.

Not as competitive, not as good, or not as high quality?

It's definitely competitive, the standing were really tight.
I think the quality is as good as it's ever been - look at the talent that's come through BU alone in the last few years, and BC, PC, UML. Top 10 NHL draft picks, WJC stars, the quality is awesome.
Not as good? - meaning the fun of being a fan, the atmosphere in the rinks, the overall experience of being a college hockey fan? I might agree with that. Just not the passion, to the point of craziness, of years ago. Seems to be another case of the general distracted disengagement of society today. Yeah, phones.

[sterlippo1]

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

For the size of the school and the size of the fan base I think Lawler arena is perfect size. My only complaint is that I wish the seats in the corner sections wrapped around the rink instead of remaining straight to the end wall, that would fix the gym feel people have IMO.

that's a great idea

[chickod]

Three way tie for first place and it's not competitive?

He didn't say "not competitive." He said "not as good." And I agree. But this is a pointless argument because we're from different generations and don't look at the game the same way. In those days, the old garden was rocking...banged out with thousands of UNH and Maine fans, and with the Boston schools there it was wild. Not the same for us now, but that doesn't mean you don't have your own memories.

[sterlippo1]

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

Haven't been to Watertown in a few years but when I did, for a high school tournament game, I notice two big banners at the far end celebrating Watertown HS back-to-back Middlesex League championships in the mid-80's. Big deal, what with Melrose, Reading, and Wakefield ruling the roost back then. The coach of those teams? None other than Dick Umile.

He was a great hockey player at Melrose High, a big part of our school's last state championship team in the mid 60's

[Yuppie Scum]

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

Well, he won two Hockey East titles, his teams went to the Frozen Four four times, the finals twice. I think he holds the record for most consecutive NCAA appearances as well. The only thing missing is the NCAA championship, one that was in his grasp if not for a save off the knob of a goalie stick. The thing that people forget these days is how hyper competitive Hockey East was back in the day with the big four (UNH, Maine, BU, BC). An awful lot of Hobey winners, all-americans, and future pros on those teams. College hockey just is not as good as it used to be, and I'm not saying that just because UNH is in the toilet.

Three way tie for first place and it's not competitive?

[Greg Ambrose]

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

Say what you will about his postseason history ...

Well, he won two Hockey East titles, his teams went to the Frozen Four four times, the finals twice. I think he holds the record for most consecutive NCAA appearances as well. The only thing missing is the NCAA championship, one that was in his grasp if not for a save off the knob of a goalie stick. The thing that people forget these days is how hyper competitive Hockey East was back in the day with the big four (UNH, Maine, BU, BC). An awful lot of Hobey winners, all-americans, and future pros on those teams. College hockey just is not as good as it used to be, and I'm not saying that just because UNH is in the toilet.

[Greg Ambrose]

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

Tonight I hit Bentley's rink in Watertown to see Sacred Heart play and all I have to say is "yikes!" Makes Merrimack's facility look like the TD Garden. Thank god they're building a new rink on campus as I have no idea how you survive as a DI program in that place. There was even a gentleman in the row in front of me who unsolicited said to me "How can a DI program play here? Is it even regulation?" so it wasn't just me taken aback by it. After seeing that place tonight, I will never diss Merrimack's facility again as at least they've done upgrades you can't see and ones you can like the second ice sheet, expanded lobby, etc.

Haven't been to Watertown in a few years but when I did, for a high school tournament game, I notice two big banners at the far end celebrating Watertown HS back-to-back Middlesex League championships in the mid-80's. Big deal, what with Melrose, Reading, and Wakefield ruling the roost back then. The coach of those teams? None other than Dick Umile.