The Barr Has Been Raised at UMaine

[amkirby10]

Barr isn't going anywhere.

[NorthMike]

UConn is looking for a coach? Cavanaugh just signed a deal last year carrying him through the 2026 season worth $1.9 million.

Going to BC is rumored.
Breaking that contract with uconn will cost BC some bucks.

He should have been behind maines bench eight years ago.

By the way good luck to York, what a great coach.

[Drew S.]

No, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Money is obviously a factor but as a first time head coach he is being paid pretty well. Also, his contract has some incentives in it. He clearly has a great relationship with Ralph so as long as he is the AD, I think he will do what it takes to keep him in Orono.

You also have to think about his life situation. He has twins that are a year old and I can’t imagine his wife is interested in uprooting again.

The pieces are in place for him to be successful at Maine. I remember when he got hired, he mentioned a conversation he had with Leaman. Leaman said Maine is an attractive job because if you win 80% of your home games and go .500 on the road, you’re a tournament team and doing that is very possible when you have a home ice like Alfond. Now all he has to do is recruit players capable of doing that which from my perspective, he has done since taking the job.

The family stuff makes me nervous. I know nothing about his wife but I wouldn’t be shocked if she would be happier with him making significanly more money someplace else. He definitely could get some serious pressure from her.

Assuming he does stay there could be some really good transfers available. It will be interesting to see how things play out.

[BlackBearFan19]

Should we be nervous about Barr at all with UConn, BU, Union, and Michigan State all looking for coaches? UConn is the one I worry about most but wonder if one of the other schools might make Barr an offer he can’t refuse if enough candidates don’t work out.

No, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Money is obviously a factor but as a first time head coach he is being paid pretty well. Also, his contract has some incentives in it. He clearly has a great relationship with Ralph so as long as he is the AD, I think he will do what it takes to keep him in Orono.

You also have to think about his life situation. He has twins that are a year old and I can’t imagine his wife is interested in uprooting again.

The pieces are in place for him to be successful at Maine. I remember when he got hired, he mentioned a conversation he had with Leaman. Leaman said Maine is an attractive job because if you win 80% of your home games and go .500 on the road, you’re a tournament team and doing that is very possible when you have a home ice like Alfond. Now all he has to do is recruit players capable of doing that which from my perspective, he has done since taking the job.

[acs64]

Should we be nervous about Barr at all with UConn, BU, Union, and Michigan State all looking for coaches? UConn is the one I worry about most but wonder if one of the other schools might make Barr an offer he can’t refuse if enough candidates don’t work out.

Coaches who make commitments to improve your program and don't honor them would be coaches you dont want in the first. I'm sure Ben is well grounded in Orono until he finishes his job.

[Drew S.]

UConn is looking for a coach? Cavanaugh just signed a deal last year carrying him through the 2026 season worth $1.9 million.

It sounds like he’ll be York’s replacement which I think makes a lot of sense for both parties.

[Runsub5]

Should we be nervous about Barr at all with UConn, BU, Union, and Michigan State all looking for coaches? UConn is the one I worry about most but wonder if one of the other schools might make Barr an offer he can’t refuse if enough candidates don’t work out.

UConn is looking for a coach? Cavanaugh just signed a deal last year carrying him through the 2026 season worth $1.9 million.

[Drew S.]

Should we be nervous about Barr at all with UConn, BU, Union, and Michigan State all looking for coaches? UConn is the one I worry about most but wonder if one of the other schools might make Barr an offer he can’t refuse if enough candidates don’t work out.

[walrus]

Thanks for posting this. I remember the incident and knew Nate the electrician listed in the article. He was on campus for many years. I didn't know or had forgotten that Scott Hamilton was there or that the Grateful Dead had been there in 1983. I wasn't a "Dead Head" at the time. :-)

Alfond electrical service was woefully undersized which is why temp electrical had to be brought it in for any type of show. Its also one of the reasons the lights used to go out several times a season and we all had to wait for the Metal Halide bulbs to cool off and then restrike and warm back up.

[Runsub5]

Just got back from the Frozen Four. I saw quite a few Maine fans there and I found it encouraging that many fans of other schools came up to me and said they hoped Maine would be back in the tournament soon. I sat in a section with a huge number of Denver fans that were really obnoxious when DU started scoring in the 3rd period. One fan threw his beer in the air when DU scored the disallowed goal for goal tender interference. Many of us were cheering for the Mavericks, so it wasn't the outcome we wanted. It would be great if Maine could steal a game from DU at the Ice Breaker. I still haven't gotten over the loss to DU at the TD Garden in 2004. :-(

[Runsub5]

This is cool article:

One foggy October night in Orono....

Thanks for posting this. I remember the incident and knew Nate the electrician listed in the article. He was on campus for many years. I didn't know or had forgotten that Scott Hamilton was there or that the Grateful Dead had been there in 1983. I wasn't a "Dead Head" at the time. :-)

[Chuck Murray]

This is cool article:
One foggy October night in Orono....

The ironies of how Gilligan is said to have handled the '86 UVM show, the circumstances of the hazing incident that contributed to his downfall at UVM a decade-and-a-half later, and finally the resurrection of his coaching career on the Women's side of the ledger, are collectively just downright astounding.

[Scarlet]

This is cool article:

One foggy October night in Orono....

[ticapnews]

Can't remember if anyone mentioned this yet but Maine opens at the Icebreaker Oct 7 & 8 out in Colorado w/ Denver, Air Force & Notre Dame.

https://collegehockeyinc.com/ice-breaker.php

This will be Maine's fifth Icebreaker, behind only Boston College and Minnesota with six each. Maine has hosted the tournament twice but never won it. Still can't believe they never lost in the 2015 tournament but did not win the trophy (actually finished third).

[Drew S.]

Wow, tough field for Maine, the national champs on their home ice and Notre Dame no slouches either. But, good to see them invited to the tournament at all, and could be a good early test for next year's squad. Who knows, maybe they'll pick one off somehow. We can hope!

The way I understand it Maine will play at Denver and at Air Force. I don’t think they will play Notre Dame.