Hey Chuck - I'm not a Potluck follower. I'm a fan of NH college hockey. I want to see both Dartmouth and UNH at the top of their respective leagues. Ivies will never be all in for Athletics. My post was a reaction to the "Dartmouth phantom fan base" and "casual/curious" comments. Six years ago during Cashman's first year of rebuild I likely would agreed w/ Bakchk20. Thompson Arena was a morgue. The Big Green are experiencing a revival w/ AD, Cashman and coaching/support staff. And recent attendance from Upper Valley shows it. When teams win games, climb into national rankings, fan attendance follows. It activates alumni to donate for facility improvements. I'd also say I believe UNH has taken advantage of CHL rule changes, it's taking a minute for them to gel, but overall I'm bullish on UNH's future. I'm looking forward to the 12/14 matchup between the Granite State rivals at the Whitt. And in my ideal world, their annual matchup would take place at a sold out SNHU arena in Manchester.
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UNH- How Far West Do We Go?
- Thread starter norbert
- Start date
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
My comment after your initial post(s) wasn't directed at you, I thought it was kinda funny that Cashman's recent success and uptick of Dartmouth Hockey had (1) seemingly triggered a respected and rational UNH fan, and (2) resulted in the human barnacle that is potty to try to co-opt your post in favor of his very lonesome narrative, which seems to be "Build it and they will
Being the leading proponent of the "NH Beanpot" concept on these threads, folks like you and others who want to build college hockey in our great state are folks I automatically gravitate towards. If Connecticut can pull off "CT Ice" then New Hampshire should be able to do something close to the same.
It is precisely this time of the season where a "NH Beanpot" should be able to get some traction, once NH's D-1 schools decide it's in their best interests, and the best interests of their state, to get behind such a game-changing concept. All we need is some visionary thinking, and ideally two more D-1 hockey programs!
Sparkee
Blackbear
If you invited Maine it would definitely help attendance. Plus give it a rivalry aspect with UNH. And then invite Vermont. You could have it at Manchester every holiday season just prior to Christmas and call it The Maple Kettle Classic since all three states make syrup and it is a holiday type produce. It wouldn’t ever be as prestigious as the bean pot. But it could turn into a well attended tournament located in a town that lost its hockey identity. Manchester was a good hockey town when they had the Monarchs back when they were AHL affiliate of LA Kings.My comment after your initial post(s) wasn't directed at you, I thought it was kinda funny that Cashman's recent success and uptick of Dartmouth Hockey had (1) seemingly triggered a respected and rational UNH fan, and (2) resulted in the human barnacle that is potty to try to co-opt your post in favor of his very lonesome narrative, which seems to be "Build it and they willcomewin". Your point has been that Cashman is starting to produce results, spurring a revival or renaissance of Big Green hockey, more interest in the stands, and (as usual, last to the party) investment in the program by a school with a no-doubt prodigious endowment that Bob Gaudet sadly never really got the keys to drive.
Being the leading proponent of the "NH Beanpot" concept on these threads, folks like you and others who want to build college hockey in our great state are folks I automatically gravitate towards. If Connecticut can pull off "CT Ice" then New Hampshire should be able to do something close to the same.
It is precisely this time of the season where a "NH Beanpot" should be able to get some traction, once NH's D-1 schools decide it's in their best interests, and the best interests of their state, to get behind such a game-changing concept. All we need is some visionary thinking, and ideally two more D-1 hockey programs!
JB
Desk Chair Coach
Wait a minute this doesn't align with Potluck's thinking.... (1BC welcome, this post has nothing to do with you, we seem to agree)
So Dartmouth is another case of getting the right coach in the door, then showing results on the ice, then getting facility improvements.
P.S. I know the response just like Ben Barr at Maine, who won and then got Alfond money. All of this was clearly known and promised behind the scenes and I am just naive to believe that the quality coach and winning comes first.
Elwood: you simply don’t understand leadership in business. It comes from the top down. Middle management doesn’t lead the way.
UNH has no commitment to excellence in athletics. Full stop. Expecting Mike Souza or any other hockey coach at UNH to energize and inspire the institution to commit to athletics, invest in NIL spending and build new facilities is silly. Nuts actually.
If you, Buford and Meathead ever led anything or carefully studied successful businesses and athletic departments you’d know that.
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JB
Desk Chair Coach
The only place UNH has a tradition of commitment to excellence in athletics is hockey. Part of that is because hockey had 2 strong leaders that were excellent coaches. As I noted a couple pages back (which you seemed to ignore) think of coaches as a business unit GMs they create a winning strategy, lead and succeed or get fired.
Let's test your if you throw money at it theory. UNH Basketball. It got up graded from high school gym to the Whitt with a parquet floor. Well they still sucked and got sent back to the high school gym. This is the hockey teams fate, Souza will get his locker room upgrade and they will still not return to prominence. Souza seems a nice enough guy, I don't wish him ill, but he has proven he is not the coach for this job.
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ClOuD 9
Well-known member
December 3, 2012 - UNH hockey the #1 team in the country for the final time
www.wmur.com
Immediately following this they would proceed to lose to BU, tie the US u-18s, and lose to Dartmouth before finally getting back in to the win column by beating Bemidji State... in overtime...
The 2012-2013 season would also mark the last time UNH would qualify for the NCAA tournament
UNH hockey takes over top ranking
The UNH men's hockey team is now the top ranked team in the country
www.wmur.com
The 2012-2013 season would also mark the last time UNH would qualify for the NCAA tournament
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
The only - ONLY - downfall to that would be the minor downfall the Beanpot experiences, which is that for three HEA participants, it requires at least one (and possibly two) additional games against in-conference foes. Mind you, I'd still go ahead and do that, especially with the Manchester host assignment ... one of our posters has already brought up The Riverstone event, which was a big annual January (?) event at the then-brand new arena, where Dartmouth and UNH would have one winner-take-all game for The Riverstone. I can see The Riverstone itself being resurrected for a new event, both from a trophy history AND a sponsorship angle as well.
I believe the business is still in the Millyards, and owned by a Canadian global enterprise (Fairfax). In interests of full disclosure, I had an opportunity to throw in with Riverstone/Fairfax when they first came to ManchVegas, but opted instead for my still-current employer, which 26 years later on has worked out great.
Those with slightly longer memories to the mid-to-late '90's may recall another short-lived "alternate Beanpot" format known as Governors' Cup, which had the same format as the one you've suggested here, except (1) UMass Lowell was the fourth participant in place of Dartmouth, which (2) created the same situation with three (3) HEA participants - this was when UVM was still in the ECAC. IIRC the event took place twice, once in Lowell and the other in Durham, and it lost its steam before the event got anywhere close to Orono or Burlington - another fatal flaw, I suppose. So a fixed location (Manchester) seems to be a must. And if UVM and UMaine are up for it - at least until one or two NH D-2/D-3 programs move up - personally, I think it would be a good place to start.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Just digging this quick quiz out of the Thanksgiving Weekend obscurity. Snives, this time I'll only ask that you give the rest of the folks 'til noon Thursday ...QUICK QUIZ: Three miles almost due east from the Bentley campus, just past the eastern terminus of Trapelo Road where it merges with Belmont St. in Watertown MA, there was another musical landmark, formerly known as Foxglove Studios on School St. What musical artist is most closely associated with this location?
(Snives, since my time at BC - now BU - overlapped the late '70's/early '80's, this used to be common knowledge back in the day, so I'll only ask that you leave this one for others for at least 24 hours, since I have no doubt you will know this answer)
Sparkee
Blackbear
Yes, I remember the Govenor’s Cup. I think that might have been the game Guite hit Mowers from behind and it injured Mowers causing him to miss a portion of the season. I was at that game and UNH fans were not happy.
A difference would be that it taps a new market in Manchester. Govenor’s cup was essentially nothing that special to the folks already going to games in Durham, Lowell, Orono, and Burlington. But it would be special for hockey fans in Manchester, maybe for some an annual chance to see their favorite team in their own backyard instead of trekking to Durham, Hannover, Orono, and Burlington. There are a lot of alumni in Manchester for at least the first three of those schools(UNH, Dartmouth, Maine). There are new hotels right next to the SNHU arena. Lots of nearby restaurants. Tax free Christmas shopping opportunities at Merrimack Outlets and Mall of NH for off time for Maine and Vermont folks traveling in. I think it would grow in popularity if it just kept going and gained traditional. Maine sells out Portland every year for one game because it’s a chance for people in Portland to see Maine play. I could see a similar thing happen in Manchester. Make it a tournament with a Kettle for the trophy, one made of Silver so it would be nice and shiny. Have a nice Maple leaf engraved on it. Maybe tournament MVP(must be from winning team) gets name and team engraved on it encapsulating best player and the winning team each year. I would have a rule too that Maine and UNH can’t meet in the first round. It would likely maximize attendance on first day. And lead to a lot of rivalry matches for the trophy.
Actually the first Governor's Cup took place in Orono, and the second was held in Burlington.
In one word, Boston. Not to be confused with George Costanza’s ATM code Bosco.
Jellsville USA
Registered User
Heading to Orono on Saturday and staying at the Black Bear Inn to watch the Cats stymie Maine (please save the didn't age well comments later). Happy Friday's game is on NESN (I hate ESPN streaming). Can't wait to see the Renovations at Alfond. Looking for good food suggestions between Bangor and Orono (first trip to Orono in 10 years). Go Cats!!
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Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Did not know this. Interesting.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Everyone like Pats pizza in Orono.
If you like large portion comfort food can’t beat Governor’s in Old Town. Awesome deserts too. You need to see the desert case when you walk in. It is pure heaven.
Sea Dog Brewing is good if you want some microbrews.
Dysarts in Hermon is outstanding for breakfast, you have to try once.
The Coffee Pot makes great sandwiches.
Sparkee
Blackbear
There are all sorts of chain restaurants in Bangor. Chilis, five guys, Texas Roadhouse, longhorn, Olive Garden, etc…
But the ones I listed above have been around forever(since I was a kid late 70s).
Some of the ones that are new I can’t say as I haven’t been to them. But the ones I mentioned are part of the culture.
But the ones I listed above have been around forever(since I was a kid late 70s).
Some of the ones that are new I can’t say as I haven’t been to them. But the ones I mentioned are part of the culture.
These names bring back great memories from my two years in Orono during the early 1970s and good to know that they all have survived. We (and lots of others) would hit Dysart’s for an early breakfast after we left the bars. Lived just up the road from Governor’s my second year. A lot of friends dissed Pat’s Pizza but I think that they were ahead of the curve on low carb, thin crust pies. It has been since Danny Tirone was UNH backstop that I have been to Alfond.
e.cat
Seasoned Veteran
Tough draw this weekend for UNH with two at Maine. Will be entertaing no matter what the outcome me tinks.