UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Given how much scoreboard watching UNH had to do in the conference tournaments after the quarterfinals loss to UVM, is it unreasonable to think that an extra loss or two that might have resulted from Digi playing more in the regular season might have knocked UNH out of the NCAA's, even though they would have finished 2nd or 3rd?

A very good point.

(and isn't that the current mantra: "just make the tourney"?).

The longer term point is valid, though. If UNH missing the NCAA's last year meant a more experienced goaltender for this year and/or next year, then it might have been worth it.

Make the tourney and anything can happen. Absolutely.

I don't think saying straight up sacrifice one year for the future is a good policy in college sports even looking back on UNH in hindsight now ... although hockey is less of a risk now than say football where every game is deadly (see BC's 2nd quarter QB experiment under O'Brien where they got guys experience while they were blowing potentially program-changing games like Virginia Tech because of it... BC sat mired in mediocrity because of it). Ideally, you can kill it in the end and make the beginning parts of the season a throw away like BC seems to do every year and get guys experience that normally wouldn't play but ... obviously a rare program for their success in the end and lack of success earlier in the season (usually).

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

A very good point.

I don't think saying straight up sacrifice one year for the future is a good policy in college sports even looking back on UNH in hindsight now...

I will add that this year was something of an aberration. How many times does the RS champ have to scoreboard watch, even if they lose in the Quarters?

The OOC record killed UNH's PWR this year; had they done better against those teams, I think one could make a case for giving Digi some playing time in the later stages of the season, after home ice had been clinched (especially given the parity (mediocrity?) in HEA this year). They would have been able to give Foster some rest, as he would be the go to guy in the postseason, and get Digi some valuable time.

The past two seasons haven't really worked out that way. In '09, UNH was fighting for home ice for most of the second half (iirc), though Digi did get some starts when Foster was hurt.

[billb]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Hi, everybody, did you miss me? Thanks to all for the kind words and flattery, especially Mr. Ambrose. But on to important things. Good news, my daughter has chosen UNH, against my better judgement: I wanted her to go to BC.
Anyway, let's not dump on Mr. Foster, or any UNH goalkeeper for that matter. Mr. Umile has shown his inability to teach defensemen to play the body, to avoid backing in on the goalkeeper, to play the man with the puck.
It'll be another exciting year and I'll be disappointed again, but one year closer to being in the box, where in Heaven I'll see a UNH team with a power play, a sixty minute effort every night, and a national championship trophy in the case.

[acs64]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Hi, everybody, did you miss me? Thanks to all for the kind words and flattery, especially Mr. Ambrose. But on to important things. Good news, my daughter has chosen UNH, against my better judgement: I wanted her to go to BC.
Anyway, let's not dump on Mr. Foster, or any UNH goalkeeper for that matter. Mr. Umile has shown his inability to teach defensemen to play the body, to avoid backing in on the goalkeeper, to play the man with the puck.
It'll be another exciting year and I'll be disappointed again, but one year closer to being in the box, where in Heaven I'll see a UNH team with a power play, a sixty minute effort every night, and a national championship trophy in the case.

billb's been drinking heavily this summer I see.

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

UNH Wildcat Pride
http://www.hulu.com/watch/155015/mov...-clip---wasted

[wildcatdc]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

UNH Wildcat Pride
http://www.hulu.com/watch/155015/mov...-clip---wasted

Manchester Central class of 1987, I believe.

[Gibber]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Manchester Central class of 1987, I believe.

Class of '85.
He spoke at Central's graduation earlier this month, and was pretty cool to meet beforehand..
*****http://www.joshgibney.com/sandcent.jpg******

[CarlS]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Gib - he has three nieces and nephews and two have now graduated from Central. He spoke at both of those graduations. The last one graduates next year in my son's class so he is hoping that Sandler shows for that one as well. I expect he will. He does a good job of coming back this way and attending things for his family and he does it in a quiet, unassuming manner. I may not be a big fan of his movies, but he does spend time back here and contributes.

And Nick - not to get into any BC - UNH "discussions" but I love the UNH banner you have. Someday maybe us UNH fans will get to see that X removed and replaced with an actual year (while I am still living).

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

And Nick - not to get into any BC - UNH "discussions" but I love the UNH banner you have. Someday maybe us UNH fans will get to see that X removed and replaced with an actual year (while I am still living).

So would I Carl. So would I.

Someday. Took the Red Sox a long time. Will take UNH a long time. But it will happen.

[bostonewe]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

And Nick - not to get into any BC - UNH "discussions" but I love the UNH banner you have. Someday maybe us UNH fans will get to see that X removed and replaced with an actual year (while I am still living).

I imagine there only a few people in Hockey East who don't want to see UNH get a title. Despite the rivalries, it's never good when one team is consistently good during the regular season and flames out (or chinks a crossbar) in the post-season.

[sterlippo1]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I imagine there only a few people in Hockey East who don't want to see UNH get a title. Despite the rivalries, it's never good when one team is consistently good during the regular season and flames out (or chinks a crossbar) in the post-season.

i agree and the few mostly i would think would be Maine fans understandably ...........

[Mosrite]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

The 2010-2011 roster is now up on the unhwildcats.com site:

http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/mice/2010-11/roster

Edit: Can't recall the last time the team members from California outnumbered the team members from Canada.

[Onion Man]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

So would I Carl. So would I.

Someday. Took the Red Sox a long time. Will take UNH a long time. But it will happen.

Brown will win it before UNH does

[Gibber]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Brown will win it before UNH does

No, no they won't.

Brown gave up more goals to UNH in a game less than a decade ago than they had wins in 4 of the last 5 seasons. UNH has a better chance at winning the ECAC championship than Brown does.

[Slasher7]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

No, no they won't.

Brown gave up more goals to UNH in a game less than a decade ago than they had wins in 4 of the last 5 seasons. UNH has a better chance at winning the ECAC championship than Brown does.

I think its safe to assume neither UNH nor Brown will win one ever.

Seriously, though, I think UNH gets a banner one of these years. It was there's to lose in 1999 and if not for an epic Minnesota team in 2002/2003, they may have grabbed one of those, too. I'm surprised to see they haven't been in the Frozen Four since 2003. For some reason it doesn't seem like 7 years since they were in it.