UNH Wildcats 2021/2022 - Return of the Champions of October?

[wildcatdc]

Timeline for upcoming "fixes" to UNH Hockey and the aging 26 yr. old Whittemore Center Arena:

* March '22 - UNH finishes RS in 7th place, loses 2-1 to UMass-Lowell in HEA QF round
* Summer '22 - replace refrigeration & re-size the arena, with 10 feet of empty space lengthwise
* Winter '23 - last 50 season ticket holders protest, needing binoculars to see ice from front row
* March '23 - UNH finishes RS in 9th place, loses to Merrimack in reinstated MBPBEGAM playoffs
* May '23 - sixth year goalie Mike Robinson finally runs out of eligibility, signs lifetime ECHL deal
* Summer '23 - UNH replaces short glass with adjustable zoom lens glass to assist sight lines
* Winter '24 - last 25 season ticket holders protest, allergic to weeds in the 10 feet of empty space
* March '24 - UNH finishes RS in 8th place, makes trip to Boston for HEA Tourney (guest passes)
* May '24 - UNH Head Coach Mike Souza gets 10 year extension, promises steady improvement
* Summer '24 - underbelly of The Whitt upgraded, with extra bathrooms for non-binary skaters
* Winter '25 - last 12 season ticket holders protest, want non-binary bathrooms for main concourse
* March '25 - season ends in 10 game losing streak, Coach Souza restores "Black Betty" to playlist
* May '25 - UNH Head Coach Mike Souza vows to conduct national search for new athletic trainer(s)
* Summer '25 - Press Row upgraded to include fiber optics, eliminating dial-up, no press to notice
* Winter '26 - last half-dozen season ticket holders protest, just out of sheer habit, just because ...

You’re nothing if not creative - gave me a Chuck-le! ;-)

[wildcatdc]

By the way Chuck, do you think that our arena’s underbelly condition will be a “liability in 2022”?

asking for an SOB friend of mine.

[wildcatdc]

But they wont first w/o first-class facilities - it will help, but Carvel didn't need them and never argued he needed them in order to recruit at SLU or UMass...

EDIT - We're on the same page DC, just different reactions to the messaging I suppose. I'm happy to see any and all upgrades come UNH's way, just want to see them reach their potential in the meantime...

You had me at “it will help”! :-)

[Chuck Murray]

Here's another fun fact… we have less than 500sf of dedicated workout/cardio in the Whitt, D1 average is about 4000sf. Our players have to tromp over to the field house to share space with other teams. This definitely comes up in the recruiting process.

Oh, the horror. You mean, all the way across the street?!?

Gosh, some of the kids could contract character by being forced to exert all that extra effort ...

Seriously, if there is a perceived need to increase workout capacity near The Whitt, can't something be done in conjunction with the abutting Hamel Rec Center f/k/a Snively Arena?

I'm not an engineer, but I have to think there is an easy "fix" in there somewhere ...

[wildcatdc]

Oh, the horror. You mean, all the way across the street?!?

Gosh, some of the kids could contract character by being forced to exert all that extra effort ...

Seriously, if there is a perceived need to increase workout capacity near The Whitt, can't something be done in conjunction with the abutting Hamel Rec Center f/k/a Snively Arena?

I'm not an engineer, but I have to think there is an easy "fix" in there somewhere ...

It’s a really good point, and I can’t recall why there is an issue there, but I believe there is. In fact, as I’m sure you know, they actually walled it off. There is Something to that story (maybe student use vs. athlete use?), but I’ve honestly forgotten.

[Chuck Murray]

by the way chuck, do you think that our arena’s underbelly condition will be a “liability in 2022”?

Asking for an sob friend of mine.

lol :-)

[wildcatdc]

Okay, I’m off my soapbox. Watcher, I’ll get back to you on your on-ice question…

[Chuck Murray]

It's a really good point, and I can't recall why there is an issue there, but I believe there is. In fact, as I'm sure you know, they actually walled it off. There is Something to that story (maybe student use vs. athlete use?), but I've honestly forgotten.

One of those things that seemed curious at the time, but I never thought to ask why ...

[HockeyRef]

Watched the MC v UConn game last night (UConn won 3-2) Should be an interesting matchup when we play MC and UConn again in the same weekend. Just some meaningless hockey talk. Thought MC looked pretty good. They are always competitive when we play them. Hope the lay off isn't a killer...

[Whalers]

asking for an SOB friend of mine.

You know Peter Doocy? :-)

[wildcatdc]

This popped today. Note the reference to the “200x85 NHL-sized rink”.

https://twitter.com/sacredheartuniv/...24777679020033

Arms race, for sure.

EDIT: Not trying to stir things up - just a timely tweet with a pretty good video of what is to come there.

[After the Whistle]

Wow now that is a really fine facility. Everything under one roof, a recruits paradise. While I usually get the jag on the entitlement piece on a new weight room but every sport wants one. It isn’t going to happen at this state school in NH. Lounge, film room and locker room upgrade would be a big plus.

[HockeyRef]

This popped today. Note the reference to the “200x85 NHL-sized rink”.

https://twitter.com/sacredheartuniv/...24777679020033

Arms race, for sure.

EDIT: Not trying to stir things up - just a timely tweet with a pretty good video of what is to come there.

Whoa that sure is nice! Didn't watch the whole thing what is the price tag for that? Bobby V still the AD there? So when the Whitt made its debut was it considered "state of the art"?

Like ATW agree it would be nice to upgrade at least the basics given the $$$. Need some big donors with lots of $$$ to build that type of facility.

But then you look at the sh*t hole facility Sean MacDinald had for years.....

Surely there is a lurker out there ready to pony up a few mil....

[Whalers]

Surely there is a lurker out there ready to pony up a few mil....

Just go to the Diamond library. Lots of hidden millionaire's there just waiting to become fans of top notch arena amenities late in life. :-)

[Chuck Murray]

Whoa that sure is nice! Didn't watch the whole thing what is the price tag for that? Bobby V still the AD there? So when the Whitt made its debut was it considered "state of the art"?

Only surprised Bobby V didn't include a "Wrap City" vendor space in SHU's arena rendering. ;-)

I think The Whitt was considered a utilitarian version of "state of the art" when it opened.

There certainly was no mistaking it for the old Snively next door. It was pretty amazing in the early days, though, bringing the Lively Snively vibe into a facility with almost twice as many people, and VERY vocal. But folks got pretty content quickly, and the "edge" that came over from the noisy old building gradually disappeared within 5 years in the new one, I'd say.

But then you look at the sh*t hole facility Sean MacDinald had for years.....

Ironically, as Football's facilities improved drastically, the on-field results began to lag. Make of that what you will, but a lesson that should not be lost on the decision-makers.

Surely there is a lurker out there ready to pony up a few mil....

What Whalers said. :-)