UMass Lowell 2022-2023: Valley Steamroller Edition

[boblav1]

Hockey East @hockey_east
The semifinals at @tdgarden are set! March 17 on @NESN

@TerrierHockey vs. @FriarsHockey at 4pm

@MerrimackMIH vs. @RiverHawkHockey at 7:30pm

[Patman]

Hockey East @hockey_east
The semifinals at @tdgarden are set! March 17 on @NESN

@TerrierHockey vs. @FriarsHockey at 4pm

@MerrimackMIH vs. @RiverHawkHockey at 7:30pm

weren't we told for years something about late games being when the primetime teams play, yada yada.

I'm going to assume a UML/MC semifinal has never happened before.

[hawkeytown]

It’s astounding the level of silence on Lowell making the garden. We lose, many fans come for bazin’s head. We win, crickets. It’s a shame.

And yet, many of those same people will be at the garden. It’s comical.

[boblav1]

It’s astounding the level of silence on Lowell making the garden. We lose, many fans come for bazin’s head. We win, crickets. It’s a shame.

And yet, many of those same people will be at the garden. It’s comical.

Big win for the team and solid play by the defense and Grigal. Back to the Garden. It will be nice to get another shot at Merrimack. I wasn't able to go to the game or watch it. Any thoughts on the game from the folks that made the trip or watched it? Wow, only 5 shots over the final 2 periods. I did see a replay of the UConn goal. I was surprised there was no whistle on that play as Grigal seemed to have it tied up. How's the new arena?

[RENCEB]

weren't we told for years something about late games being when the primetime teams play, yada yada.

I'm going to assume a UML/MC semifinal has never happened before.

I don't believe they have ever matched up in the semifinals. IIRC, this is only the 3rd time Merrimack has reached the semifinals and played at the Garden.

I'm going to guess that the last time UML and MC played at the Garden would have been in the long dead "Teapot Tournament", a DII version of the Beanpot. Would have been in the late 70's/ early 80's (those were wild!):

https://blogs.lowellsun.com/riverhaw...ing-rekindled/

[hawkeytown]

Wow, only 5 shots over the final 2 periods.

They just hung back and collapsed on D. UConn had very minimal space and just was shooting in high areas.

[UMLFan]

I kept waiting for UConn to score the second goal. That wasn't a good showing for the second and third on the offensive side of things. Grigals was outstanding though. Lost to Merrimack twice already this season, so here's hoping they can turn it around.

[UMLFan]

As teams finish up their seasons, starting to see players jump into the transfer portal. UMaine and UMass both have had two players put their names in so far.

[Patman]

I play the national picture game and we aren't in the national picture unless we win two next weekend. Edit: with players coming from everywhere being locally relevant mostly counts for attendance. Being nationally relevant brings in the players.

I'm not calling for Norm's head. I would like to know if he's aware of the way things stand and the type of player he isn't getting. The reality is that this team is far off the mark and still in 5th and going to the garden says far more about hockey east's drop off than it does about anything good we are doing. Hockey east has had a rough 15 years now.

I was talking to a friend of mine. Getting talent vs getting them to win. I think norm can get a pool of players and get the most out of them. I just dont think he can get them to campus. Beating UConn in a single game doesn't change that. Conversely uconn can seem to get talent but can't do anything with it.

Maybe it's us being in lowell plus the NIL (I don't know how that is sorting out in hockey as such but it can't help) plus the team being built on a defensive concept.

If we win this weekend. Man I've seen weirder.

I don't want to be a sour puss. I don't want to be that guy. I just don't see how we go up the mountain. On the other hand without norm we would have never had a chance to aspire to climbing the mountain.

[Patman]

Oh. Counterpoints. To those who made the trip to UVM. Good job on the noise.

99.999% of the time that first uconn goal gets whistled down for being a covered puck. I'd like to know if there was a good reason why it wasn't.

We had the band in two places? If so good on the band for having numbers to split duty between uvm and uconn

I am basing that last one on watching the basketball game and reading the uconn boneyard last night. If the band wasn't in Storrs then nevermind.

Only thing about Storrs is miss Ted's. Redeeming quality of grad school. Simple pizza and beer.

[hawkeytown]

I play the national picture game and we aren't in the national picture unless we win two next weekend. Edit: with players coming from everywhere being locally relevant mostly counts for attendance. Being nationally relevant brings in the players.

I'm not calling for Norm's head. I would like to know if he's aware of the way things stand and the type of player he isn't getting. The reality is that this team is far off the mark and still in 5th and going to the garden says far more about hockey east's drop off than it does about anything good we are doing. Hockey east has had a rough 15 years now.

I was talking to a friend of mine. Getting talent vs getting them to win. I think norm can get a pool of players and get the most out of them. I just dont think he can get them to campus. Beating UConn in a single game doesn't change that. Conversely uconn can seem to get talent but can't do anything with it.

Maybe it's us being in lowell plus the NIL (I don't know how that is sorting out in hockey as such but it can't help) plus the team being built on a defensive concept.

If we win this weekend. Man I've seen weirder.

I don't want to be a sour puss. I don't want to be that guy. I just don't see how we go up the mountain. On the other hand without norm we would have never had a chance to aspire to climbing the mountain.

I don’t think you are “that guy” but you are one of “those guys”. And a rough 15 years for hockey East is a joke. How many national champions came from hockey East in those 15 years? The answer is 6. 40% of the national champions over a 15 year came from Hockey East. That’s pretty darn good.

Since 2011, when Norm started, which team has made the hockey East championship game the most. I will give you a hint… it’s not UMass, BC, BU, Maine, UNH, Merrimack, PC, Vermont, UConn or Northeastern (or Notre Dame). If Lowell wins Friday, that puts them at 7 hockey East championship games since 2011 (not to mention one year was cancelled due to covid). One other team in Hockey East has shown that same number of dominance… BC in the early 2000’s. That’s pretty darn good company. If you don’t believe me, go on Wikipedia and look it up.

You, and others, think this team plays the incorrect style of hockey. Gets the incorrect type of player, but, somehow, someway, miraculously Lowell finds themselves in the hunt for a national tourney bid at a high rate.

Most, not all, Lowell fans in here are insufferable. And yet, the insufferable will still go to the game, still cheer, and should they win Friday or even Saturday, you will find something, anything to bash the team. And should we lose, well, that’s a given.

[umlhockey22490]

Any news on tix being available to season ticket holders or a bar being reserved? My father hasnt received anything yet from the school.

[hawkeytown]

Any news on tix being available to season ticket holders or a bar being reserved? My father hasnt received anything yet from the school.

Season ticket holders just got access to tickets. Looks like they are finalizing details with hurricanes at the garden

[Patman]

I don’t think you are “that guy” but you are one of “those guys”. And a rough 15 years for hockey East is a joke. How many national champions came from hockey East in those 15 years? The answer is 6. 40% of the national champions over a 15 year came from Hockey East. That’s pretty darn good.

Since 2011, when Norm started, which team has made the hockey East championship game the most. I will give you a hint… it’s not UMass, BC, BU, Maine, UNH, Merrimack, PC, Vermont, UConn or Northeastern (or Notre Dame). If Lowell wins Friday, that puts them at 7 hockey East championship games since 2011 (not to mention one year was cancelled due to covid). One other team in Hockey East has shown that same number of dominance… BC in the early 2000’s. That’s pretty darn good company. If you don’t believe me, go on Wikipedia and look it up.

You, and others, think this team plays the incorrect style of hockey. Gets the incorrect type of player, but, somehow, someway, miraculously Lowell finds themselves in the hunt for a national tourney bid at a high rate.

Most, not all, Lowell fans in here are insufferable. And yet, the insufferable will still go to the game, still cheer, and should they win Friday or even Saturday, you will find something, anything to bash the team. And should we lose, well, that’s a given.

I would appreciate you not lying on my behalf. I think you are probably a better person than that.

---

Winning national championships has nothing to do with depth and quality of the league and is often a game of chance. This league has no depth and I would dispute this high rate thing if you haven't noticed recent matters. Yes, we got screwed by covid in 2020.

Personally I have no problem with the style of that Bazin employs. Its a highly counter attacking and opportunistic system. I don't like the tendency to play behind the net, I will admit that much, but that's the only part of the style I have a problem with. As for the incorrect type of player... I will say adamantly that getting slow players that cannot handle the puck is the wrong type of player on all hockey teams at this level. Guilty. Watch the power play and how they can't move the puck whatsoever. Reality is if you're going to have this counter-attack style you have to have the means to counter attack. OK, maybe we don't get snipers but we need to be able to get up the ice and move the puck.

Six shots in the last two periods of UConn is not only because of the choice to go into the defensive shell. It also occurs because we do not have the speed to generate more opportunities. This team is not "stronger defensively" to make up for that difference.

You've been around this at least as long as I have, you have noticed the change over the last 5-6 years.

[hawkeytown]

I would appreciate you not lying on my behalf. I think you are probably a better person than that.

---

Winning national championships has nothing to do with depth and quality of the league and is often a game of chance. This league has no depth and I would dispute this high rate thing if you haven't noticed recent matters. Yes, we got screwed by covid in 2020.

Personally I have no problem with the style of that Bazin employs. Its a highly counter attacking and opportunistic system. I don't like the tendency to play behind the net, I will admit that much, but that's the only part of the style I have a problem with. As for the incorrect type of player... I will say adamantly that getting slow players that cannot handle the puck is the wrong type of player on all hockey teams at this level. Guilty. Watch the power play and how they can't move the puck whatsoever. Reality is if you're going to have this counter-attack style you have to have the means to counter attack. OK, maybe we don't get snipers but we need to be able to get up the ice and move the puck.

Six shots in the last two periods of UConn is not only because of the choice to go into the defensive shell. It also occurs because we do not have the speed to generate more opportunities. This team is not "stronger defensively" to make up for that difference.

You've been around this at least as long as I have, you have noticed the change over the last 5-6 years.

Lie? Go back and look at your posts. 100% disagree.

As for players, 100% disagree with that as well.

You can’t be at the hockey East championship with all this bad, slow lack of sniper talent at the rate they have… and as bad as YOU, and others say.

we can agree to disagree. But I cannot stand the “stuff” being said by so many on here. It’s literally nonsensical and purely opinionated ridiculousness.