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UNH- How Far West Do We Go?

TheGrouchyCat said:
I think you're 100% correct to cling to your hockey program. It's one of the few things that Maine has going for it.

A stagnant economy with little investment, a shrinking workforce with rampant rural poverty and substandard health outcomes don't bring the tourists or the dollars into the state. That reality isn't showcased in LL Bean catalogs.

If Maine hockey distracts from the unspoken knowledge the state has a reputation of being the "Mississippi of the North", we shall indulge you.

Remember, you aren't going to the Garden either, but you DID get swept at home this season by your 10th place rivals.
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With how both of our seasons went I consider that a bigger highlight then really anything Maine did (on the sweep)

I think UNH just needs to make a move. Hire a coach that inspires the people with the money, and flow it back into the program for arena upgrades and excitement to the program, and get it out the mundane middle of the road nowhere (See Barr, Ben and how it was before he arrived)
 
It’s fascinating that so many people now aspire to be Merrimack hockey, which isn’t a national program. UNH hockey is equivalent to UVM and Merrimack - a bottom feeder program in a tough conference.

McMahons story was about UNH the program more than Mike Souza the coach. I sincerely doubt he’ll care if Souza doesn’t get a new contract. His point is that no matter who coaches UNH over time UNH will be a lousy program because there’s no institutional support for it to be anything other than lousy.

It’s pretty clear that the posters doubting McMahon have never managed a large group of people. Good management is backed by institutional support. It can’t overcome lousy support for an extended period of time.

Go ahead and get another coach. Maybe a new coach will get UNH a 7th place finish once every three years and a league tourney semifinal appearance once every 5 years! But that doesn’t really move the needle, does it? Thats McMahons point
 
grooverider said:
With how both of our seasons went I consider that a bigger highlight then really anything Maine did (on the sweep)

I think UNH just needs to make a move. Hire a coach that inspires the people with the money, and flow it back into the program for arena upgrades and excitement to the program, and get it out the mundane middle of the road nowhere (See Barr, Ben and how it was before he arrived)
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You're preaching to the choir.
 
[QUOTE="Potluck, post: 2970631, member:

It’s pretty clear that the posters doubting McMahon have never managed a large group of people. Good management is backed by institutional support. It can’t overcome lousy support for an extended period of time.

[/QUOTE]

Spoken like the bureacrat you are, needing the authority and punitive enforcement powers of a centralized body to affect change.

Effort and attitude doesn't cost a penny.

Neither does more conditioning. Or, player development plans (know for a fact they players don't aren't getting them)

Or, in game management or putting together an on ice strategy that isn't utterly predictable.

A real coach doesn't need $$$ to establish a culture or demand accountability from his players or himself. It costs $0 to engage with fans and STHs.

Transparent and consistent communication doesn't break the bank either.

By consistently excusing his failures on infrastructure, MS7 just continues to seed his self fulfilling prophecies of mediocrity and underachievement.
 
TheGrouchyCat said:
Neither does more conditioning. Or, player development plans (know for a fact they players don't aren't getting them)
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more jumping jacks!

Look, TheDumbCat, it’s clear to all you have no sources. You had no idea UNH didn’t face a paid full time third assistant. Thats why pretty well known info for insiders.
 
Potluck said:
The fact you don’t know what’s going on inside the program but profess to have sources is laughable.

You haven’t a clue.
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Who are you referring to? And its kind of tough to know what's going on 'inside the program' when the general public isnt privvy to the Wednesday pressers....🙄
 
HockeyRef said:
Who are you referring to? And its kind of tough to know what's going on 'inside the program' when the general public isnt privvy to the Wednesday pressers....🙄
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Oh, there are so many sources inside and outside the program who willingly share info and intel.

They are just as frustrated as we are. Perhaps, more so since they are parties to the daily dysfunction and mismanagement.
 
HockeyRef said:
Does UNH Athletics have a specific fund set up for NIL? Would like to get info on how all of this works...
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They released this article earlier in 2025 detailing the “On to Victory” funds to support NIL, in collaboration with the Granite State Collective.


unhwildcats.com

UNH Athletics Expands Student-Athlete Support with On To Victory Funds, NIL Collective - University of New Hampshire Athletics

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire Department of Athletics has unveiled an exciting new groundbreaking collaboration with the Granite State Colle...
unhwildcats.com unhwildcats.com

Right now it only has four slots, for Women’s bball, football, mens hockey, and a general athletics fund. They said they will expand over time.

Not sure if there is a way to determine how much $$$ is in each teams fund. Hope this helps!
 
Potluck said:
It’s fascinating that so many people now aspire to be Merrimack hockey, which isn’t a national program. UNH hockey is equivalent to UVM and Merrimack - a bottom feeder program in a tough conference.

McMahons story was about UNH the program more than Mike Souza the coach. I sincerely doubt he’ll care if Souza doesn’t get a new contract. His point is that no matter who coaches UNH over time UNH will be a lousy program because there’s no institutional support for it to be anything other than lousy.

It’s pretty clear that the posters doubting McMahon have never managed a large group of people. Good management is backed by institutional support. It can’t overcome lousy support for an extended period of time.

Go ahead and get another coach. Maybe a new coach will get UNH a 7th place finish once every three years and a league tourney semifinal appearance once every 5 years! But that doesn’t really move the needle, does it? Thats McMahons point
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I’m pretty sure most season tickets holders would be happy with a garden ham next week that MC has while UNH was embarrassing at a game against a team without a home.

A trip to the garden would have done more goodwill to getting people to renew with this BS price increase than finishing 10th and getting blown out.

But doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Why not send of that UHC stock and DC money to the U to make a difference
 
FlagUp17 said:
I can work on this. Appreciate your help too!

For those who were around in the FoH days, I’m not sure if records were kept in terms of financials (how much money raised, operating budget, etc) but if someone has access to those numbers that would help with this process, and I can include it in the document I put together.

I’ll see what I can find online as well.
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At least in the later years it was tied to the USNH, see their 'big book' (detailed financial records) for more

Publications

Publications
www.usnh.edu www.usnh.edu


The records listed unfortunately only go back to 2020.
 
HockeyRef said:
Well sure $$ talks...but you are saying that 8 years of not much is soley based on that? Not sure who you are affiliated with and not sure of how much NIL etc Merrimack can offer...but it cant be alot? How do you explain his track record (Borek) over Mike Souza's?

Last night after they upset PC Mike mcM was quick to point out that no other coach has brought the team to the HE semis more etc..and he did it before the NIL days. (Also has had decent luck in the portal I might add).

Scott Borek deserves all of this success...but I doubt he did it on big $$. If I'm wrong please correct. My point? The guy can COACH.
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Borek CAN Coach...and in no way and I a MS7 apologist...I'm actually a former UConn season ticket holder who saw UNH as a role model program I hoped Uconn to aspire to their first few season in HE. I'm also friends with a former UNH player who transferred to UNH from BC. What I can say is this...if you want a guy like a Joe Dumais who knows what resources it takes to win then he needs to see those resources either in place or promised on paper. You may get lucky and find a guy who pulls a rabbit out of his hat utilizing the same resources MS7 has now...most likely it will not happen. NIL changed the game...good bad or indifferent.
 
TheGrouchyCat said:
Oh please. Another MS7 apologist.

Are you seriously suggesting that the piss poor record of MS7 over the last eight years is because he doesn't have a third assistant? If so, I've officially seen it all and am forced to ask a question...how are you related to him? Second cousin, perhaps?

Souza could have Ralph Engelstad Arena at his disposal with its full suite of training facilities and staff and still mismanage a game and the entire program.

His teams would still be out of shape and fade in the middle of the second period. Drafted recruits would still exit via the transfer portal only to flourish upon their departure from UNH. He would still alienate 95% of his team and play favorites as reported by current and former players and their families.

Even with world-class facilities and budget, he'd still be operating in the Witness Protection Program dodging his responsibility to engage with fans, STHs and even the media, unless those reporters are personally selected with cherry picked questions. He has zero visibility. Or, credibility at this stage of his career for that matter.

Is this because he doesn't think he has to? Is he scared? Is it arrogance? He can't justify his lack of performance except to make blanket excuses that have NOTHING to do with his in game management, lack of team fitness, player development or why his best recruits leave.

So, he hides. Like his lame duck year from a few seasons ago, the hockey community is starting to circle its wagons to protect one its own from fair and justified criticism.

Blatantly transparent and utterly predictable.
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LMFAO...I have no skin in your game...I think he should have been fired a long time ago...see my last post about why those resources are so important to the next guy coming in though.
 
Chuck Murray said:
I would love to see the MS7 apologists provide a list of the paid 3rd assistants for the other 10 programs in HEA.

Because apparently, this is the new reason latest excuse why MS7 can't coach/recruit his way out of a wet paper bag lol 🤮 😂
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I am in no way a MS7 apologist Chuck...thought you were smarter than that...also thought you knew how to use Google a bit BUT guess you cant do that either...I'll give you the staff for your boy Mike Cavanaugh at UConn to help you out a bit:
Head Coach: Your buddy Mike
Associate Head Coach (paid asst spot) Tyler Helton
Associate Head Coach (paid Asst spot) Nick Peruzzi
Assistant Coach (paid Asst spot) Alex Westlund
-Note: Alex replaced the original 3rd paid Asst Vince Stiletti who left to become the goalie coach Coachella Firebirds in the AHL...Stiletti was promoted form volunteer assistant to full time paid assistant in Sept 2023. The NCAA approved the 3rd Assistant in July. 2023 for the 2023-2024 season.
Director of Hockey Operations Jacob Paluch
 
TheGrouchyCat said:
Please explain, in explicit detail and, like all of us here are in kindergarten, how a $75k a year third coach dramatically improves the program?

Maybe, under a new head coach. Under MS7, a third coach is just one more member of the team to be mismanaged.
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I dont know...how about another recruiting base to draw from. A guy who can be out on the road recruiting instead of having your Associate head coach ...a guy who probably runs either the PP or PK. You dont need your goalie coach at every game as much as you need your specialty guys. I'll go with those 2.
 
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