2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

[grantfan]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Wow! Now that Sneddon has collected the hat trick - 3 kids off the 2009-10 team, it's apparently time for a new team photo on the Hockey website.
As the 'team' 'readies' for the upcoming series at UNH, there is no photo evidence on the hockey website that UVM has a men's hockey team to send up to Durham.

I applaud Ted Ryan of the Burlington Free Press for trying to shed some light on a very strange action taken by the coach immediately after a very low point in a season that seems to be spiralling out of control and downward.
If the coach says nothing and Milo says what he was told, either the coach is withholding some very damaging information, though the kid is not in jail and is still in school, or Milo is giving the explanation.

In his blog, Ryan declares that Milo's play has been inconsistent this season. From where I sit at the games, including a handful of road games, he seemed to play hard when I was watching. As one of about 15 Hockey East players averaging a point/game this season, if Milo was inconsistent, what can be said about the consistency of the other players? And should we judge the 'commitment to the team' of players like Brian Roloff, Brayden Irwin, Colin Vock, Kevan Miller, and Josh Burrows by their play in the Merrimack series, and specifically on Saturday night when, after a moderately embarrassing tie the night before, Merrimack did not allow them to touch the puck?

Linemates Roloff - defensively responsible for both of Merrimack's tying goals, Irwin - clean loser of the faceoff on Saturday's tying goal, and Vock - did he even play that night, each rang up -2s in the debacle. Commitment? Focus?

And 'captain' Miller and Burrows come onto the ice after the game gets tied and only seconds later get walked by a player not named Sidney Crosby? Commitment? Focus?

It seems incredible to me that the first matter of business after the players who played embarrassed themselves and the 'team' was to dismiss a player who did not participate in the Merrimack abortion. Maybe coach Sneddon should have looked in the mirror and thought about his own role in this debacle.

Very, very strange, and harsh, action by a coach who has not made very many good calls this season.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Well, this certainly is an interesting development. Just from reading the article, sounds like this kid never saw it coming and the article makes Sneddon look bad.

What kind of message does this send to the committed recruits (which are admittedly, quite good in the next few years)? The kid was expected to have that scholarship next year. When you take that away, it's dangerous and puts a message out there to recruits (both verbally committed and uncommitted).

Overreaction by Sneddon? More to the story? What gives?

 

[Ogilthorpe]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Very, very strange, and harsh, action by a coach who has not made very many good calls this season.

How can it be said the coach took harsh action when none of us knows the circumstances that led to the action. I get it, you don't care for Sneddon and you are entitled to your opinion. Looking at this coach's overall body of work since he arrived I have 100% confidence in his decision making and as stated before there has to be more to it. Sneddon is not one to over-react, he's not a loose cannon, and I in no way think he would make a decision as final as dismissing a player unless there was absolute cause. For Sneddon to be so quiet about details and to not be saying something like the player has violated the code of conduct steers me in the direction of damaging information is there that the coach is reluctant to share. Sneddon looks at the program as a family and wouldn't let a member of the family go based on lazy practice habits or someone who wasn't putting in the full effort. He would withhold damaging information about a player though out of respect for the player.

We can sit here all day and ponder up scenario's that may have taken place. I even traveled down the road of possibly this player had completely disrespected over time a young, first-year assistant coach in Gasparini and maybe things finally came to a head to the point that a relationship couldn't be salvaged and the head coach was backing an assistant coach. Nah, something that petty would have been dealt with and hashed out in a room, not ending in a dismissal. So who freakin' knows, all we know is there are 4 points on the table this weekend. Can Uvm clear their heads and just play....I'm interested to see how the seniors play over these last 6 regular season games. For the others, it's a good chance to go out and play like you're looking to stake a claim on one of the top two lines next season, which will be competitive and maybe that will help with the current season's fate.

 

[boblav1]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

A bit more on the Justin Milo dismissal:
"Tuesday evening, Milo said he had been told he was dismissed for inconsistent
effort and play and a lack of commitment to the team."

Here's the link:
http://uvmsports.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/milos-dismissal-another-blow-to-hockey-cats/

Burlington Free Press article.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/...01/100217007/0/SPORTS/Milo-is-off-Cats-roster

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

It seems incredible to me that the first matter of business after the players who played embarrassed themselves and the 'team' was to dismiss a player who did not participate in the Merrimack abortion.
.

That would suggest GRantfan that the MC weekend wasn't the issue wouldn't it?

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

After reading the free press acticle today I am even more confussed.

If you take Milo's surprise as truth it gets even harder to understand what it would take to drop him of the team like this.

If they are keeping something quiet why would Milo talk like he is being treated unfair or talk at all for that matter? Wouldnt he just say nothing?

 

[Ogilthorpe]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

After reading the free press acticle today I am even more confussed.

If you take Milo's surprise as truth it gets even harder to understand what it would take to drop him of the team like this.

If they are keeping something quiet why would Milo talk like he is being treated unfair or talk at all for that matter? Wouldnt he just say nothing?

I hear you....that's why my posts of late have kind of been scattered all about because I don't know what to think of all this.

Staying confident in my stance that the staff had to have a real solid reason that left them with no choice. But it is strange to hear from Milo period if there is more to the story.

Puckvoice, where the he-double hockey sticks are you....you'll get to the bottom of this story.

 

[Martin St. Louis Fan]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Hmm, you are correct on something. Kudos. I lack the ability to see into the future and was wrong. The call to dismiss certainly caught me by surprise, I as suspect it did pretty much everyone. Good job pointing out where I was wrong though. Thanks I appreciate that. Maybe you and Superfan Joe, TimmytheTiger and SteveF can form a group that searches all the threads correcting spelling, typos, grammar and pointing out after the fact where everyone is wrong. It would be a great service and I'm sure USCHO may even probably, but not likely pay you for such a great service to the USCHO community.

If you left out the part about wanting to see Cullity hurt to get him off the ice, all would be fine............

 

[GreenCat]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Maybe Milo is grantfan and Sneddon found out...........Hmmmm

 

[PuckVoice]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Puckvoice, where the he-double hockey sticks are you....you'll get to the bottom of this story.

I was at the news conference ... the entire news conference is up on the George Commo Archive at nsnradio.net ... unfortunately you need to hunt the Archive for it.
Scan down the list ... a bit before halfway down the 2010 dates will appear ... then look for George Commo Show 02-17-2010
There isn't much more there then what you already know ... but you can hear it in the Coach's own words.
I wish I knew more but I don't. You can bet though there are a lot of us out there looking.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Dismissing a player in mid-season is pretty rare in college hockey, and even rarer is a mid-season dismisal for pure on-ice performance. Sneddon doesn't strike me as the type of coach to dismiss a player for any other than very solid reasons, either. He's a very cerebral person who puts thought into whatever he does, and the fact that he consulted so many others leads me to believe that this dismissal likely has a lot more to it than just how Milo performed on the ice.

When coaches get rid of productive players in the middle of a season, it's usually because they have locker room, off-ice or academic issues.

 

[Ogilthorpe]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

I was at the news conference ... the entire news conference is up on the George Commo Archive at nsnradio.net ... unfortunately you need to hunt the Archive for it.
Scan down the list ... a bit before halfway down the 2010 dates will appear ... then look for George Commo Show 02-17-2010
There isn't much more there then what you already know ... but you can hear it in the Coach's own words.
I wish I knew more but I don't. You can bet though there are a lot of us out there looking.

Thanks, outstanding show and it helped to at least hear the press conference and your discussion with who i assume was bob white. bob sounded a lot like grantfan....hmm. nsn is awesome, checked out that incredible show from the essex football team a couple times in the fall.

These lines are going to be interesting this weekend.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Quite shocking turn of events but helps explain why Milo was a scratch this weekend. I thirst for the truth, like I thirst for some SNOW up here in the powder deprived hinterlands.

While this may help the team "come together" I fear that without Milo (leading point producer per game) and Stacey there is not enough offensive capability left to put the puck in the net. When you lose two of your top three scorers that is a serious DENT in the offense.

The seniors have not stepped it up at all. It's on their shoulders (Roloff, Irwin, Vock) but I'm not confident based on immediate recent history.

Hopefully Mackenzie is better or if not with Cullity, McCarthy, Anctil, McCarthy and Stacey out then they may need to skate all the D and still not have enough forwards?

Yikes.

I doubt this all impacts recruiting, although missing the HE playofffs is not going to help - that is for sure.

We also don't have a goaltending option with Spillane out. Madore has not really been back to freshman year form unfortunately.

 

[whitaker9999]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

We also don't have a goaltending option with Spillane out. Madore has not really been back to freshman year form unfortunately.

I think that Madore has played just about as well as last year. His numbers are just a little down because the defense has played poorly. A big reason for this is because Dan Lawson and to a lesser extent Josh Burrows are having bad seasons compared to last year. Without Madore playing the way he has this team would be in even more trouble than they are now

 

[Federal League]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/.../SPORTS/Justin-Milo-dismissed-from-UVM-hockey

Milo has been dimissed from the team, it doesn't say why though

I heard from a fairly credible source at the BU-Maine game Friday night that Milo had been in several fights with teammates over the last couple weeks, and that that's the reason he was scratched this weekend. I'd have to imagine that would also be the reason for his release. I don't trust this person enough to site him as an anonymous source in an article, and he said it was all off the record, but I've yet to hear anything more reliable.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

I heard from a fairly credible source at the BU-Maine game Friday night that Milo had been in several fights with teammates over the last couple weeks, and that that's the reason he was scratched this weekend. I'd have to imagine that would also be the reason for his release. I don't trust this person enough to site him as an anonymous source in an article, and he said it was all off the record, but I've yet to hear anything more reliable.

This would make more sense than just lack of effort on the ice.

I did hear a rumor that Downing sat because of a fight but again that is also just a rumor.

So maybe it is for the better of the team.

Still looking for the smoking gun.

 

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

This would make more sense than just lack of effort on the ice.

I did hear a rumor that Downing sat because of a fight but again that is also just a rumor.

So maybe it is for the better of the team.

Still looking for the smoking gun.

FWIW, I don't buy Milo's explanation that he was blindsided by the dismissal for one second--that's a bunch of BS. The facts show otherwise. I mean, he was a healthy scratch from a game a few weeks ago, so he had to know he was doing something that wasn't making Sneddon happy. In order to help save his reputation, he's got to say something like he didn't see it coming. It implies Sneddon is some kind of rogue coach who'll make snap decisions off-the-cuff.

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

If you left out the part about wanting to see Cullity hurt to get him off the ice, all would be fine............

Having prefaced all his comments with the phrase, "I don't wish injury on anyone . . .", why do people keep ripping on him for that? It's like with me; everytime the Yankees and Red Sox, I have to hope that Derek Jeter's getting his nails done, or something. He's a credit to the game and I don't want to see him injured, but . . . well, it doesn't hurt my feelings at all if he doesn't play, because it gives the Red Sox a better chance to win.

Perhaps it was poorly stated, but I think that's what jcarter was driving at with his statement.


I always look forward to the Vermont games, but this weekend could be more interesting than just two hockey games. Since their inclusion into the league, I pull for UVM to succeed (except weekends such as the one upcoming). I just like the team; it feels a little more blue collar than the BCs and BUs we face; the Field House feels like a larger version of Snively, and overall their addition to HE made the league stronger. I don't follow them closely as most of you do, but I'm curious if we'll ever find out exactly why Milo was dismissed.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

If you left out the part about wanting to see Cullity hurt to get him off the ice, all would be fine............

Where did I say that? Please point out that piece of information.

I said I am not sad that he may not be playing, I wish it hadnt been an injury that caused it, and instead a healthy scratch. But I never said I wanted to see him get hurt to keep him off the ice. Try rereading stuff if things seem off the wall, especially before you go making accusations.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel

Having prefaced all his comments with the phrase, "I don't wish injury on anyone . . .", why do people keep ripping on him for that? It's like with me; everytime the Yankees and Red Sox, I have to hope that Derek Jeter's getting his nails done, or something. He's a credit to the game and I don't want to see him injured, but . . . well, it doesn't hurt my feelings at all if he doesn't play, because it gives the Red Sox a better chance to win.

Perhaps it was poorly stated, but I think that's what jcarter was driving at with his statement.


I always look forward to the Vermont games, but this weekend could be more interesting than just two hockey games. Since their inclusion into the league, I pull for UVM to succeed (except weekends such as the one upcoming). I just like the team; it feels a little more blue collar than the BCs and BUs we face; the Field House feels like a larger version of Snively, and overall their addition to HE made the league stronger. I don't follow them closely as most of you do, but I'm curious if we'll ever find out exactly why Milo was dismissed.

Thank you. You are exactly correct with the way I intended to state things with my comment. Perhaps it was the way it was worded.