2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

[grantfan]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

jc, you're right, and I do feel better that the team didn't try against Maine. I thought trying was the least the team could do, but you have made me much more comfortable with them doing less than that.

I did not second guess Sneddon for starting Madore in light of Spillane's sickness. I thought Spillane should have started last week while Madore was still on a high and I said that before last weekend. Two weeks later, it didn't work out too good. Sneddon knows how to ride one goalie; he doesn't seem too able to use two.

I'm not abandoning this team. We haven't seen the team's full lineup yet this season. When Milo's back and Stacey is in the lineup, then we'll see the 2009-10 Vermont Catamounts.

But it doesn't matter who the heck the players are, they can try. When they don't, I get unhappy. And I look to the top first. That's where I find the coach, whose team isn't competing right now. That's where I find the captains, who, if they are leading, are leading in a wrong direction. I believe that Brian Roloff is the true captain and leader of this team and I have given him a pass so far for one reason and based on one theory. The reason I've given Roloff a pass on leadership is because I do believe he is going hard all the time and leading by good example. My theory is that he might be holding back his vocal leadership because he may not feel good enough about his production. I certainly don't know that for a fact, but it sometimes happens. If that's the case, I hope he gets over it quickly because he is doing his part despite not scoring right now. Downing got off to a great start and McCarthy scored against BC, but they haven't been very good in the last two weeks despite Roloff's efforts and I'm not sure coach sneddon got Roloff excited for the season by telling him he's be playing with those 2 guys.

Somebody has to demand the effort from this team. Coach Sneddon has laid down the gauntlet, a "yard sale of changes" ARE coming. His words last week sounded good, as did captain Miller's. "A yard sale of changes" sounds really, really, really good. Like with the "blue collar" talk, let's see.

Others may be abandoning the team, including snowboarder and observer85, but not you and me, jc. We'll be the last 2 guys standing!

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Let me be clear on something. I really, really like Coach Sneddon. I think he's the best thing that has happened to the program since Martin St. Louis, Eric Perrin, and Tim Thomas. And I hope he's here for a long, long time (along with our President and AD).

And I give huge props to Dan Fogel for bringing in Corran and raising the competitive metabolism of the hockey program (including the women's team which is on the rise) and focusing on athletic programs that can be competitive.

There is no other coach I would rather have. But, even great coaches can't control the demeanor of the humans that play for them. Look at all the mental and emotional gymnastics that Parker puts his team though and vice versa. They missed the NCAA's two years ago and then win the NC last year, and look at BC last year after winning the NC the prior year.

These things happen. Teams also go through ups and downs within a season. UVM is in a down and has not REALLY had a sustained up yet.

I went into this season with a lot of confidence that the D would carry this team, but thus far I have been disappointed. I am frustrated with their play, particularly the last two games.

In the end I think the team will be OK if they get things straightened out soon but if they dig themselves too large a hole their true potential will likely not be realized.

I agree that Grantfan has gone a bit off the deep end with his recent post, but he watched the debacle in Maine, I only listened to parts of it, it was awful to listed to, I can only imagine how ugly it would have been to see with my own eyes.

Let's hope they get their act together in time for Friday.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

jc, you're right, and I do feel better that the team didn't try against Maine. I thought trying was the least the team could do, but you have made me much more comfortable with them doing less than that.

I'm not abandoning this team. We haven't seen the team's full lineup yet this season. When Milo's back and Stacey is in the lineup, then we'll see the 2009-10 Vermont Catamounts.

But it doesn't matter who the heck the players are, they can try. When they don't, I get unhappy. And I look to the top first. That's where I find the coach, whose team isn't competing right now. That's where I find the captains, who, if they are leading, are leading in a wrong direction.

Somebody has to demand the effort from this team. Coach Sneddon has laid down the gauntlet, a "yard sale of changes" ARE coming.

Others may be abandoning the team, including snowboarder and observer85, but not you and me, jc. We'll be the last 2 guys standing!

i certainly agree with this post much more then the previous, you are right UVM has a team with enough talent to be competitive, we've seen that with DU and BC. What they need is some leadership. IMO Sneddon isn't as much of it as the captains, Sneddon can change up the line up which it appears he is going to and work them in practice, but ultimately Roloff, Cullity, and Miller need to stand up in the locker room and open a can of whip ***. The team needs to work, and the team needs to take responsibility. The only line I see working consistently hard is the freshman line, despite their lack of production, which I think is why they are together, but there need to be some big changes and the majority needs to lie with the defense. Like I said in an early post, Miller, Cullity and Medvec each taking two penalties is totally unacceptable. Combine that with 1 from Roloff and you've got the three captains with 5 penalties??? Not much show of leadership there.....they need to be calm and not be taking lazy penalties which is exactly what hooking penalties are.

 

[observer85]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

This week, in keeping with captain Kevin Miller's declaration that this team's character is that of a "blue collar" team, I will be donating to the Victory Club enough blue collars to sew onto the team's 3 jerseys. This way, no matter how Miller's team plays, even if they won't be able to say the team plays like a "blue collar" team, they will still talk about UVM's blue collars.

Psychologists suggest that the human being uses diversionary tactics to take oneself away from facing reality. This blue collar comment might be one of the more meaningful things ever written in these pages.

Like I said in an early post, Miller, Cullity and Medvec each taking two penalties is totally unacceptable. Combine that with 1 from Roloff and you've got the three captains with 5 penalties???

Perhaps the fact that Medvec took 2 penalties implies he was following the lead of his captains...

I'm not abandoning this team. We haven't seen the team's full lineup yet this season. When Milo's back and Stacey is in the lineup, then we'll see the 2009-10 Vermont Catamounts.

Others may be abandoning the team, including snowboarder and observer85, but not you and me, jc. We'll be the last 2 guys standing!

It looks like Hockey East is going to be an interesting league to watch this year.

After Boston College beats Merrimack College on Friday night, MC turns the table on BC and beats them in their rink, 5-3. At one point, MC was up 5-1. They must have some serious home ice advantage with that high school rink they play in.

It might be a bit premature to write off this UVM team, snwbrdr. Lets see how they do at home this coming weekend.

How can I be guilty of abandoning this team? I am more of the glass half full kind of person who is looking at reasons - from a psychological point of view of why these things are happening.

I think of these past 2 games as a blip. Just as 2 years ago started out poorly with a 1-5-1 record and then they righted themselves, this team is not in as bad a shape as that one was.

Milo and Stacey are top 6 forwards on this team. By them not being in the lineup, 1/3 of the key offensive production is missing. They have a history of being able to play, score and compete with the best. The team needs them and when they are not available, other players with less experience are not filling in adequately for them.

Perhaps the defensemen have the feeling that they need to overcompensate for them being out of the lineup. Maybe once Sneddon has his top 6 back in place, the D will go back to playing D?

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

I'm trying to manage my high expectations and create some reverse psychology but certainly I am not abandoning the team. If you read what I have written - it is about how we suck right now (last two games), and how their recent very poor efforts concern me greatly (with regard to the remainder of the season). It is true that the way they played the last two games - if extended over the season - would land them in last place in HE - I don't think that can be disputed.

However, I said early on and continue to say that this is a top 10 to 15 team IF they get their act together. And a top 15 team CAN win the NC if they get hot and have a few fortunate bounces at the right time.

Now is the time to right the ship though, not in January because that only leaves one way to get to the tournament and that is the brutal way - through the HE championship.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

I watched the Maine game and 5 on 5 Vermont played fairly well....but they were unable to get any momentum because of all the bad penalties which for the most part looked like correct calls. The PP and Pk is were they lost the game as all 4 Maine goals were on specail teams.

With a team so full of big guys with good hands I would love to see a Lawson or other big guy in front of the goalie on the PP, and those carrying up the puck need to dump more often, the Cats D try to carry the puck deep into the zone much to often and now that other teams are clogging up the blue line to stop our rush, if we dump more often it keeps the D pair back.

The cats had 3 break aways with good players that if buried could have helped get the Cats going but all 3 failed to score.

 

[Martin St. Louis Fan]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

One of the things that I noticed was the they went back to the home run pass. The success against Denver and BC was the use of the short crisp break out passes. Seemed like they were panicking way too early in both games.

 

[observer85]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Vermont falls to #15 in both the USCHO and USA Today polls. Not bad, thought they would be around 18 or 19. Lose this coming weekend and most likely they leave the top 20; win 2 this weekend, they climb back in the 10-12 range IMHO.

 

[hockeymascot]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Vermont falls to #15 in both the USCHO and USA Today polls. Not bad, thought they would be around 18 or 19.

Polls are opinions of various coaches/media. Sometimes a team can learn a lot about itself through adversity. Having seen Vermont play this year, I was very impressed with the way that they executed their systems...be it forecheck, offense, puck support, d-zone coverage and defensive support....not to mention the impressive play of Madore and the timely scoring. However, for whatever reason, there are elements of your identity as a team that you need to be consistent with....and that is everyone on the same page doing a lot of little things well. When they took penalties, the PK guys did their job. When they had a scoring opportunity, they capitalized. The most dangerous teams to play are teams that are struggling. Coach Sneddon will make them realize why they were successful early, even without the compliment of their good players who are out of the line up.....team play....not individual play!! It is a process.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Nice. I had to bump this from the third page of ancient posts.

I guess we are pretty much still speachless

 

[hockeymascot]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

I hope my post wasn't too difficult to understand.....or left anyone speechless!!

 

[observer85]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Polls are opinions of various coaches/media. Sometimes a team can learn a lot about itself through adversity.

Agreed on the adversity comment. 2 years ago this program was 1-5-1 when the seniors and juniors on this current team were sophomores and freshmen. That team ended the season over .500 (17-15-7). Have to believe these players will use that experience to right these past 2 ineffective games.

Having seen Vermont play this year, I was very impressed with the way that they executed their systems...be it forecheck, offense, puck support, d-zone coverage and defensive support....not to mention the impressive play of Madore and the timely scoring. However, for whatever reason, there are elements of your identity as a team that you need to be consistent with....and that is everyone on the same page doing a lot of little things well. When they took penalties, the PK guys did their job. When they had a scoring opportunity, they capitalized.

It might be hard for Vermont fans to respond to this having only played 1 home game. Wonder what game you saw this type of play in? In Denver, based on what I saw on TV that 1st Friday night, they did not. The home game vs. BC, they struggled early then took over in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The other TV game, versus Maine wasn't easy to watch.

A Vermont fan can only hope what you describe above happens this weekend in both games.

The most dangerous teams to play are teams that are struggling. Coach Sneddon will make them realize why they were successful early, even without the compliment of their good players who are out of the line up.....team play....not individual play!! It is a process.

Again, based on the results from 2 years ago and the upgrade in talent level from 2 years ago, this should be a dangerous team to play. From reading posts by UML diehards, I get the sense they are hoping this team waits until after Friday to fix what issues they have.

 

[grantfan]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Observer, thank you for the important work of bringing back news of the UM-Lowell Chiefs tribe. You are at least the equal of jcarter in analyzing their smoke signals and infiltrating their private, coded thread.

You do important work. Be safe.

 

[Ogilthorpe]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Haven't seen the line-ups come out yet today but in Milo's blog looks like he should be in and Brett Leonard will be in. Like it, Leonard is a quick, intense little player similar to Lenes (not expecting him to be Lenes just commenting on style) who should provide some much needed energy which hopefully will infuse throughout the team. Would also expect Franzon in for one of the D.

 

[observer85]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Haven't seen the line-ups come out yet today but in Milo's blog looks like he should be in and Brett Leonard will be in. Like it, Leonard is a quick, intense little player similar to Lenes (not expecting him to be Lenes just commenting on style) who should provide some much needed energy which hopefully will infuse throughout the team. Would also expect Franzon in for one of the D.

Vock/Roloff/Milo
Downing/Irwin/Stacey
Nilsson-Roos/Marshall/Stalberg
Leonard/McCarthy/Pacan

Cullity/Miller
Medvec/Burrows
MacKenzie/Franzon

Madore

Looks like Yard sale of changes has sent Higgins, Anctil, Albertson, Franklin, Lawson, Herrington to watch from the stands. Interesting D pairing of putting Cullity and Miller back together after they played most of last season as partners.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Very nice to see Milo back. So much for indefinite....

For the most part I like the lineup changes. surprised to see Lawson sit when Medvec, Cullity and Millier each took a pair of penalties last weekend.

 

[midge843]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Not a great start to this one, but very satisfied and impressed with the team's poise. UVM absolutely dominated Lowell in the third period and really took it to them. They could have won this game 5-3 if Hamilton hadn't been sharp. I thought Lowell would have "no problem disposing of UVM" (according to numerous UML fans). UVM outshot UML 37-22 including two hit posts. I think the stats speak for themselves. UVM didnt play their best hockey in the first two periods, but really showed what they're capable of in the third. UVM has to work on their consistency. UML has a crapload to work on as well. But hey, that's why the season's as long as it is; room for improvement for both squads.

 

[Patronick]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Not a great start to this one, but very satisfied and impressed with the team's poise. UVM absolutely dominated Lowell in the third period and really took it to them. They could have won this game 5-3 if Hamilton hadn't been sharp. I thought Lowell would have "no problem disposing of UVM" (according to numerous UML fans). UVM outshot UML 37-22 including two hit posts. I think the stats speak for themselves. UVM didnt play their best hockey in the first two periods, but really showed what they're capable of in the third. UVM has to work on their consistency. UML has a crapload to work on as well. But hey, that's why the season's as long as it is; room for improvement for both squads.

And Lowell could have went up 4-1 and not taken two dumb penalties. See how much fun the "what if" game is?

 

[UMLGoon]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

what if justin milo's right arm had fallen off his body midway through the third period?

WHOLE NEW BALLGAME

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

And Lowell could have went up 4-1 and not taken two dumb penalties. See how much fun the "what if" game is?

Spin in any way you want if you saw the game you know who the better team was and who took the point and ran. Just look at the quotes from both coaches who had totally opposite feelings about a 3-3 game.