UNH Men's Hockey 2022 Off Season Thread- Goodbye Lake Whitt!

[SNHUPenman]

I really do hope the day comes when SNHU commits to upgrading its hockey program (probably along with hoops). There is an opportunity for someone out there to become the "Kings of NH Hockey" again by capturing the Queen City, and if UNH isn't gonna take it, it's right there on a platter for SNHU, which seems to be a pretty ambitious institution that already has long-term naming rights on the facility. What better way to optimize an asset than use it for growth of your own program?

As a SNHU '07 Alum I and others like me have pondered this very question for years. Especially in the current state of NH hockey. They would need to make the move for all their sports which they do have a good number of. At least in all their other sports they can compete for a natty. However, when I raise the question to the AD this last October I was told it wasn't in their best interest and that they "liked" their facilities (PUKE). I feel hockey is the one D1 sport you can make a name for yourself quickly if you go about it right.

Reality, their best sport would be baseball - then soccer. Both of which they could compete in I think fairly quickly with a move up. Facilities for both are already where they'd need to be.

Ultimately, they need a new President before any of that would happen. Fingers crossed on that front. But it is nice to hear others wondering why SNHU hasn't ceased this opportunity.

[Chuck Murray]

As a SNHU '07 Alum I and others like me have pondered this very question for years. Especially in the current state of NH hockey. They would need to make the move for all their sports which they do have a good number of. At least in all their other sports they can compete for a natty. However, when I raise the question to the AD this last October I was told it wasn't in their best interest and that they "liked" their facilities (PUKE). I feel hockey is the one D1 sport you can make a name for yourself quickly if you go about it right.

Reality, their best sport would be baseball - then soccer. Both of which they could compete in I think fairly quickly with a move up. Facilities for both are already where they'd need to be.

Ultimately, they need a new President before any of that would happen. Fingers crossed on that front. But it is nice to hear others wondering why SNHU hasn't ceased this opportunity.

Thanks for chiming in on this, Penman. TBF I hadn't paid all that much attention to NHC/SNHU over the years until recently, as one of our kids now lives in Hooksett, so we're in the area a lot more than we ever used to be. It seems SNHU has done a nice job engaging in a non-pretentious (Dartmouth) and less aloof (UNH) way with their local community, and (of course) the ubiquitous media advertising of the on-line school no doubt has helped its national profile. There are also more than a few similarities between SNHU and my alma mater (Bentley), as both started as small colleges in city settings before relocating to the 'burbs and becoming universties, and are both still relatively "new" schools (I'm older than NEC/SNHU, and Bentley moved out to Waltham a few years later) that have enjoyed their best athletic successes at the D-2 level.

Just took a few moments to scan your AD's history at the SNHU website, and it seems like he's spent virtually his entire AD career at D-2 schools (first Post, now SNHU) and he's probably in his early 50's, so he's clearly in a comfort zone that he's in no hurry to push out of. I know nothing of your school's president, other than him featuring in those ubiquitous media ads yammering on about "changing the trajectory of your life" (PUKE). But for a big move to D-1 athletics, the top guy and the rest of the trustees will need to be on board, and I get the sense from your post that LeBlanc isn't the guy to push the move, which would be a shame. I might not live long enough to see it happen, but given the school's "trajectory" (PUKE) over the last couple decades, it seems most likely a matter of "when" not "if". I'll be rooting for you guys.

[SNHUPenman]

Thanks for chiming in on this, Penman. TBF I hadn't paid all that much attention to NHC/SNHU over the years until recently, as one of our kids now lives in Hooksett, so we're in the area a lot more than we ever used to be. It seems SNHU has done a nice job engaging in a non-pretentious (Dartmouth) and less aloof (UNH) way with their local community, and (of course) the ubiquitous media advertising of the on-line school no doubt has helped its national profile. There are also more than a few similarities between SNHU and my alma mater (Bentley), as both started as small colleges in city settings before relocating to the 'burbs and becoming universties, and are both still relatively "new" schools (I'm older than NEC/SNHU, and Bentley moved out to Waltham a few years later) that have enjoyed their best athletic successes at the D-2 level.

Just took a few moments to scan your AD's history at the SNHU website, and it seems like he's spent virtually his entire AD career at D-2 schools (first Post, now SNHU) and he's probably in his early 50's, so he's clearly in a comfort zone that he's in no hurry to push out of. I know nothing of your school's president, other than him featuring in those ubiquitous media ads yammering on about "changing the trajectory of your life" (PUKE). But for a big move to D-1 athletics, the top guy and the rest of the trustees will need to be on board, and I get the sense from your post that LeBlanc isn't the guy to push the move, which would be a shame. I might not live long enough to see it happen, but given the school's "trajectory" (PUKE) over the last couple decades, it seems most likely a matter of "when" not "if". I'll be rooting for you guys.

Ah Bentley. I have nightmare's in my undergrad days of going down to Bentley for a SNHU/Bentley NCAA second round game. Drove in snowstorm to see a lopsided defeat - but great pride in the same year when out star SG hit a 3 at the buzzer to beat the then undefeated #1 team in the country.

Leblanc took a playbook designed by a previous administration and executed it. The online build up was designed before he came on board - well before anyone was thinking that way. They executed it to perfection. However, it holds too much power in the overall structure of the University. It comes BEFORE the campus approach. I am all for alternative methods/ways to get people educated and make it attainable. But I strongly believe in the traditional model that I came up through. I hate when people only know of the school as an online approach. It is so much more than that. From my knowledge there were plans for an on campus ice rink and designs to make a move up to the top level. I can see with the uncertainty of NCAA right now, it would be a bit of a gamble. However, Leblanc will never see the value in it. He rarely shows himself on campus and would prefer to spread the word of his University globally. Many trips overseas to all corners of the globe. He is nearly 20 years on the job now, so I am hoping a retirement or new opportunity arises that allows him to move on. He has done great things, but he has reached his limit. Hard to move on when you get a salary north of $1MM.

I think the AD would be up for whatever approach was placed before him. But they were looking to trim budgets recently on the athletics side, so I am sure he is operating with as much bandwidth as they will allow at the moment. But the facilities are top notch in D2 and we they have won more national titles than UNH (so I guess they have that to show for the lack of a move)...thanks to UNH's current soccer coach.

[Chuck Murray]

I think the AD would be up for whatever approach was placed before him. But they were looking to trim budgets recently on the athletics side, so I am sure he is operating with as much bandwidth as they will allow at the moment. But the facilities are top notch in D2 and we they have won more national titles than UNH...thanks to UNH's current soccer coach.

Huge admirer of Coach Hubbard, wrote at length about him in the previous UNH in-season thread, wouldn't have minded if he ended up as the UNH AD someday. I took a group of players over to your facility in the early Hubbard era, was very favorably impressed with the whole set-up. If the current AD is looking to establish a lasting legacy, the D-1 project would fill his plate for a very long time. People who pull off projects like that tend to get their names onto buildings and the like. :-)

[NCAA watcher]

Version 5. Pierson in portal.
So.Will Margel (18-1-3-4)--------/transfer-----------------------------So.Robert Cronin (30-7-5-12)
So.Liam Devlin-(34-9-7-16)-----Sr.Harrison Blaisdell-(25-2-6-8)-----Fr.Stiven Sardarian-(NA)
Fr.Cy Leclerc-(NA)----------------Sr.Chase Stevenson-(33-4-1-5)-----Jr.Nick Cafarelli (15-3-4-7)
Fr.Jake Dunlap-(NA)--------------Fr.Morgan Winters-(NA)-------------Fr.Kristap Skrastins (NA)
Fr.[Turner??]]/transfer------------Jr.Cam Gendron-(19-1-1-2)--------So.Conor Lovett
So.Connor Sweeney-(22-0-0-0)--Sr.Joe Hankinson (1-0-0-0)-------Fr./Transfer


Sr.Kalle Eriksson-(32-0-12-12)----So.Colton Huard (28-6-10-16)
So.Alex Gagne-(33-1-7-8)---------Jr.Luke Reid (34-3-5-8)
Fr.Damien Carfagna (NA)----------Jr.Nikolai Jenson-(30-1-5-6)
transfer/[[Fr.Brendan Fitzgerald]]-------Fr.Cade Penney (NA)

Fr.Tyler Muszelik----------Sr.David Fessenden------------Jr.Jeremy Forman

[HawksHockey]

SNHU has eliminated one of its women's sports (http://snhu.sidearmsports.com/news/2...f-program.aspx) and recently closed its on-campus pool to the outside community (https://snhupenmen.com/news/2021/11/...manently-close)... They do not appear to be in a position of growth.

[Chuck Murray]

Version 5. Pierson in portal.
So.Will Margel (18-1-3-4)--------/transfer-----------------------------So.Robert Cronin (30-7-5-12)
So.Liam Devlin-(34-9-7-16)-----Sr.Harrison Blaisdell-(25-2-6-8)-----Fr.Stiven Sardarian-(NA)
Fr.Cy Leclerc-(NA)----------------Sr.Chase Stevenson-(33-4-1-5)-----Jr.Nick Cafarelli (15-3-4-7)
Fr.Jake Dunlap-(NA)--------------Fr.Morgan Winters-(NA)-------------Fr.Kristap Skrastins (NA)
Fr.[Turner??]]/transfer------------Jr.Cam Gendron-(19-1-1-2)--------So.Conor Lovett
So.Connor Sweeney-(22-0-0-0)--Sr.Joe Hankinson (1-0-0-0)-------Fr./Transfer


Sr.Kalle Eriksson-(32-0-12-12)----So.Colton Huard (28-6-10-16)
So.Alex Gagne-(33-1-7-8)---------Jr.Luke Reid (34-3-5-8)
Fr.Damien Carfagna (NA)----------Jr.Nikolai Jenson-(30-1-5-6)
transfer/[[Fr.Brendan Fitzgerald]]-------Fr.Cade Penney (NA)

Fr.Tyler Muszelik----------Sr.David Fessenden------------Jr.Jeremy Forman

If not quite "burying the lede", 'Watcher has certainly hidden the lede in plain sight.

[SNHUPenman]

SNHU has eliminated one of its women's sports (http://snhu.sidearmsports.com/news/2...f-program.aspx) and recently closed its on-campus pool to the outside community (https://snhupenmen.com/news/2021/11/...manently-close)... They do not appear to be in a position of growth.

They said the ending of the women's golf team was due to a lack of interest...yet Saint A's hired the golf coach the very next day. They have been looking to cut costs in athletics. "Pandemic" related...really just mismanagement of the overall University due to focus on online at the detriment of on campus.

Pool wasn't used for a couple years because of the pandemic and needed repairs that were above what they wanted to spend. Or so I was told.

[HawksHockey]

They said the ending of the women's golf team was due to a lack of interest...yet Saint A's hired the golf coach the very next day. They have been looking to cut costs in athletics. "Pandemic" related...really just mismanagement of the overall University due to focus on online at the detriment of on campus.

Pool wasn't used for a couple years because of the pandemic and needed repairs that were above what they wanted to spend. Or so I was told.

Saint Anselm has added two new varsity sports (women's golf, women's bowling) in the last 12 months and recently renovated its gymnasium for the first time in what feels like 200+ years. The AD was also the first Executive Director of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance when the new women's ice hockey conference was formed.

[SNHUPenman]

Saint Anselm has added two new varsity sports (women's golf, women's bowling) in the last 12 months and recently renovated its gymnasium for the first time in what feels like 200+ years. The AD was also the first Executive Director of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance when the new women's ice hockey conference was formed.

Darren is a great guy. While city rivals I have a fondness for the Hawks (where my wife is employed - helps when they pay the mortgage). Smart to grab the SNHU Golf coach, and the bowling team was an idea SNHU brought up 8 years ago and never followed through on. So I am glad to see a program locally. The women's hockey program is top notch, another soar spot for me and my alma mater. Can't wait for them to earn an AQ! Of course the campus is beautiful as well, perfectly New England. Now you guys just need to get competitive in baseball

[Chuck Murray]

I love seeing the SNHU-St. Anselm's rivalry spilling out into the UNH thread.

Do either of you see your respective programs making a run at D-1 via Atlantic Hockey anytime soon?

[HockeyRef]

Welp, Pierson in the Portal this morning...guess that mystery is solved..! Will be interesting where he will end up. Hope he finds a great team that appreciates his abilities. Not that UNH did not, but, disappointed it wasn't us for whatever reason. Wish him well!

[Chuck Murray]

In other news Mike Robinson signed with the Reading Royals with a SPC contract (no idea what SPC means...)

Wanted to follow up on this item ... it does indeed appear San Jose waived its draft rights on Robinson, so he signed directly with Reading, where he is joined by his former UNH captain/teammate Will MacKinnon. So typically UNH these days, 'Coast to the bone. There may be a paywall for the UL link, but if you get through, it also provides a gem of an MS7 coaching nugget ...

Former UNH goalie Robinson launches pro career with ECHL Reading | College Sports | unionleader.com

[SNHUPenman]

I love seeing the SNHU-St. Anselm's rivalry spilling out into the UNH thread.

Do either of you see your respective programs making a run at D-1 via Atlantic Hockey anytime soon?

I don't see either make that move.

The only far fetched scenario where D1 hockey comes into play is if the NE10 as a group decides they want to up their level of play. I don't see the 7 of them agreeing to that. Sadly.

[NCAA watcher]

Mike McMahon
@MikeMcMahonCHN
?
4m
Albie O'Connell is out as Boston University head coach, sources confirm. Believe
@THNRyanKennedy
reported it first.

“We have very high expectations for our men’s ice hockey program and we are determined to have our team compete at the highest level of college hockey,” Marrochello said. “After the conclusion of our regular year-end assessment, we believe that a new direction is needed for our program to achieve our goals.”

If you are wondering about how long a rope someone gets.

After four years as Head Coach (2018) and four more as the top assistant/head recruiter (2014). Career 58-49-16 record

(How coincidental).... Mike Souza has been Head Coach since 2018, and top assistant/head recruiter since 2015. Career 47-63-17

within 2 months we will have someone who finally has expectations in the men's ice hockey program besides pleasing Dick Umile. I believe O'Connell just finished his 4 year contract that he received. If we were to try and guess MS contract situation, I suspect his initial assistant's contract may have been atypical, even including some guarantee about becoming HC. If so, would they have done a 7 year deal, 3 assistant, four HC? That seems long. However, even a 7 year agreement or 8 year agreement would not be an impediment to changing next year. (Of course, I've underestimated Marty making smart calls many times, so perhaps he just threw a 10 year deal at MS in 2015). More likely, his contract already was extended at some point, but even then, any extension beyond two years would be completed by next offseason.