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2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

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Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Good bounce back game for the Cats. They could have packed it up down 3-1 despite even territorial play to that point - maybe even a slight UVM advantage. This gives me hope that the Merrimack and Maine games were just aberrations and are behind them. But only time will tell. One thing for sure is the the Cats need to start getting some HE points....

too bad they could not get the winner, but at least the effort was there and they did not let UML get much of a sniff in the 3rd or OT.

I thought the UVM defense played well for a change. Forwards did a good job carrying the puck into the O zone and forechecking.
Not much trouble clearing the D zone either. Only complaint was not finishing more of the chances - 2 on 1's or jamming home rebounds. Hamilton played well but would have liked to see the Cats stuff a couple more home.

I liked the forward lines much better than the prior games. I like Leonards energy but he must stay out of the box.

Still too many penalties.

Getting Milo back was HUGE obviously. He was largely the difference.

Hope they bring their A game on Sunday. As we know, every HE game is going to be brutal this year - the league is near total parity looking at the results thus far.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Even with the pair of penaties by Leonard I loved the 4th line last night.

They had alot of energy and puck control and had several great scoring chances. McCarthy might be too skilled for the 4th line but its great to have that depth, he seems very suited to play center.

Would love to see these same lines play together some more but would think Sneddon already planned to have a few different playes play versus Providence.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

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

WHOLE NEW BALLGAME
Click to expand...

And what it Hamilton took a **** in his pants and had to go change himself halfway through the third? We can say all these "what ifs" (i admit, in a post just last night i did say "what if"), but the point is: UVM outplayed lowell and the shot total and fans who were there can verify this.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

midge843 said:
And what it Hamilton took a **** in his pants and had to go change himself halfway through the third? We can say all these "what ifs" (i admit, in a post just last night i did say "what if"), but the point is: UVM outplayed lowell and the shot total and fans who were there can verify this.
Click to expand...
shot totals always tell you everything about a game that's why BU won last night's game against northeastern
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

I'm making this argument, because if you're smart, it's just a mockery of the same argument lowell fans have made in the past on this website. There were games against Lowell where they had outshot UVM about 30-18 or so, and UVM would win by a pair of goals. The first thing out of these lowell fans mouths were "we outshot UVM by a landslide." I'm just making fun of this argument, and in a way, utilizing it to my own advantage because you (lowell fans) so cleverly did so in the first place.
 
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Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

good job by uvm this afternoon against the friars. played aggresive after a slow start.great to have Milo bck in the lineup and Mccarthy shows me more and more each game.would love to see stacey on the powereplay-could be the playmaker to set everything up.all in all a very good weekend for the catamounts.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

From INCH's power rankings this week where UVM moved up 1 to #11

"Senior forward Brayden Irwin leads the team in goals (four), assists (five), points (nine), penalty minutes (25), plus-minus (+7) and shots on goal (20)."

I think PC was his first game without a point. Hopefully Irwin continues to shine and put up the numbers he is capable. Maybe drop the PM's but then again those major penalties add up quick.

But after an 11 point season last year, things are definitely improving this season.

Although with Milo in the lineup not sure how long Irwin will be leading in goals and shots.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Justin Milo is amazing. Sneddon mentioned that he had not skated at all since his injury, the games this weekend were his first time on skates in awhile. In that light, I find his performance this weekend all the more remarkable. Hopefully he will have a huge point producing season.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

A very fun weekend up at ol' UVM! Like in the BC game, the team sparked the crowd, at least as the Lowell game wore on, which made the Gutt a fun place to be watching hockey this weekend. Hockey crowds can get quiet when not a lot happens in a game - no hits, no good scoring chances/saves, no goals - but when the home team provides those, a hockey rink is a fun place to be. This weekend, I thought the team gave the fans a lot to react to and cheer for.

Something sparked the team this weekend, so now we have to see if that spark flickers and dies, like it did after the Denver/BC start, or if it ignites what this team has shown it can be. And what this team can be seemed to be, like it was in the Denver/BC run, on display this weekend.

I didn't think Rob Madore sparked the team on Friday, but I thought he was very good and good goaltending makes everyone feel better. Mike Spillane, though, definitely sparked the team with a fantastic performance. That he sparked the team was evidenced by Anders Franzon's rebound save in the third period. Very possibly inspired by his goalie's efforts, Franzon was fully invested in helping his goalie keep the puck out of the net and helped in the purest sense. Franzon's effort made the puck Madore handed Spillane after the game the puck from his first shutout, not just his first win of the season.

Justin Milo sparked the team. The powerplay seemed to take shape even early in the Lowell game by shots, many by Milo and Brayden Irwin, who is really playing like a kid who wants to be a pro hockey player, and shots spark crowds and build energy and momentum. Shots make puckhandling errors less likely and force the other team to look for and chase rebounds, and Milo certainly came out shooting on Friday. His first goal of the Providence game, from my viewpoint on the offensive blue line, was a great play and shot and kept the team and crowd going.

Brett Leonard sparked the team. Great for Brett Leonard, working his way into the lineup and taking advantage of his opportunity. But his play and the play of his line often kept the excitement in the building. And alongside the spark and positive energy Leonard provided, Chris McCarthy again showed how good a player he is. It had been a couple of weeks. Many times over the weekend, those players showed what good energy combined with good ability can produce. And their play impacted the games.

While I wouldn't say Franzon sparked the team, his play all weekend was terrific and now the team knows they have yet another excellent defenseman that can be relied on. I thought Franzon was excellent this weekend and might quietly be as good a puckhandling defenseman as Vermont has. I was very impressed with his play, especially handling the puck. Likewise, I think McCarthy and David Pacan and Tobias Roos and Sebastien Stalberg have shown the team that it has forwards that can keep the puck moving in the right direction and have momentum-sustaining shifts.

Two things about this team to me. First, they have a ways to go to live down the manner in which they themselves extinguished the season's early spark. Proof that this spark will take hold and ignite something great will take time and a nice string of 60 or 65 minute efforts, like they showed this weekend. Second, this is NOT, in my opinion, a 'blue collar' team. They have to work hard, to be sure, but this is a pretty skilled team that moves the puck well and has a good number of high-end skilled players - Roloff, Vock, Milo, Irwin, Stacey, McCarthy, then some - Downing, Stalberg, Roos, Pacan, a notch below. This team, in my opinion, is a skilled team that should get toughness from the big defense. I don't consider Vermont a blue collar team, I consider them a fast, skilled team that needs to play fast and hard. I do not think they should or will be grinding out 2-1 and 3-2 wins, which is what I would call a 'blue collar' team. This weekend they showed they can erase deficits (against a good team) and win by 3. Now, a 'blue collar' work ethic, that I will love to see!

The team has shown us their abilities. Now, we will watch it reveal its character.
 
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Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Yes, a good weekend - a very good recovery from the debacles of the prior two weekends. I hope we look back at those two Mack and Maine games as an aberration at the end of the year.

UVM seemed to start slow in each of the two games though. Kind of the same problem as Mack (after two shifts) and Maine where the slow starts buried them before they could get off the mat. I think they overcame the generally ineffective first periods partially because they were on home ice and had crowd support.

This team needs to come out stronger in the first on the road and sustain the effort.

I thought the D was much better this weekend overall. Franzon made some freshman mistakes but looks like a real solid player that the will need when they turn much of the D over after next year.

Mackenzie is also looking good.

Looks like Cullity may be gone for awhile. Is Lawson hurt? Not shocked to see him out Friday but two consecutive games tells me there is an injury? (missed the pregame radio both nights)

Milo was huge. What a spark to get him back. Irwin looked good again, he is stepping it up as needed. Having Milo back really does help the depth considerably.

McCarthy had a great game on Sunday. That fourth line was awesome. Leonard was good again, like his energy (call him Lenes). Maybe he has found a spot in the line-up. Good for him. Shows all the work and patience pays off. The 4th line was WAY, WAY better than any of the prior games that I had seen.

Marshall seemed to get going a bit this weekend but I still think there is a lot of upside hidden in there.

Hoping to see a bit more out of a few more forwards and a little more offense from the D, but overall a nice effort.

Spillane made all the saves, (except the one Franzon made). Congrats. Lots of rebounds though but most to the corner. Much different style than Madore that the D need to be ready for. At least he did not wander as far as he usually does... He only scared me once in his wandering. I suspect we are looking at a rotation for a while????......

BC will be ready for revenge. I hope the Cats bring their A game both nights. It would be nice to gather a few more points to make up for the Mack and Maine disappointments.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Yeah, a bummer to see Franklin quit the team. Not sure what that says, maybe nothing. Maybe he saw Leonard get a chance after two years of waiting, saw him make the most of it, and figured he's now behind Albertson, Higgins, Atkinson, and maybe Anctil to get ice time. That leaves them a little thinner if they encounter a bunch of injuries, or a flu bug. But good luck to him and thanks for putting in the effort up until now.

Sounds like Cullity may miss this weekend but won't be gone for an extended time. Might cut down on his physicality though if that shoulder is questionable for a long time.

That was a pretty bad turnover that he made to end up taking that penalty and getting that injury. I hope he learns from it on tape. Can't hold onto the puck that long and make that turnover in your own zone when you are the only guy back.

Sounds like BC is playing a lot better recently. Those will be tough games. The Cats need to at least split. I think this weekend says a lot about where they are headed (of course you could say that about every weekend - but every weekend is truly critical).
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

Snowboarder, I was thinking back to the weekend and how very well I thought Franzon, a freshman, played, especially with the puck. You pointed out his freshman mistakes. On the play Cullity got hurt, you very correctly observed how he held onto the way too long as the last man back and then gave it up. He's a senior.

Snowboarder, what is a freshman mistake?
 
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Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

FYI, I was just looking at the video page on BC's website. It indicates that both UVM games this weekend will be "free events." So, if you can't be there, watch on your computer for free!
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

A freshman mistake would be doing something, or not doing something, that one would do, or not do, if one had more experience.

A senior mistake would be thinking that you can do more than last year because of your experience but not realizing that you are one year older, slower, and more senile.

Addition by subtraction.

I'm still surprised that Lawson was sitting but he will probably play this weekend with Cullity hurting. BC will be buzzing. Can the Cats wear them out with their size and strength on D or will BC wheel and deal freely as they wish?
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

I think we need to start 2 threads each week, one for talk about hockey and stuff , like going to the game etc and another just for JCater and the morons fans the other team has to try to prove which is more pathetic.
 
Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread

I think you are onto something there Cat Lover. I'm feeling fortunate to have enjoyed this board for a number of years before jcarter arrived on the scene and stirred up the morons down south. It's annoying to surf the garbage posts looking for something about hockey

I posted this over in the game thread but thought I would put it here so UVM fans don't need to waste time on 10 pages of irrelevant childish flaming.

Keys to the weekend for UVM:

1. UVM needs to stay out of the penalty box. They have been taking way too many penalties and their PK has been poor all year EXCEPT the one prior game against BC.

2. UVM needs to get their powerplay going. It's been awful all year thus far.

3. Having Milo back is HUGE for the Cats. He scored half their goals last weekend coming off over a month off skates with an injury. Having him back adds significantly to their depth and offensive capability.

4. Forward lines were completely changed last weekend and it created much better depth (see point 3 also) and consistency across the forward lines. We should see the same line combinations again.

5. Leonard, a Junior, played his first two games of his career last weekend. He reminded us fans of Peter Lenes in terms of energy and effort (and size). Nice to see the kid persevere through two years of practice with no game time and then hit the ice and be a difference maker. I suspect he earned another start on Saturday.

6. McCarthy had a great game Sunday centering the 4th line. Showing flashes of being an impact freshman in his fourth game (missed first two games to injury). He should be motivated to make a difference in the house that did not want him this year.

7. Roloff and Vock have been relatively quiet this year point wise although Roloff has been noticeable many games on the ice. Too much PK may be wearing them out. Look for them to get it going soon - hopefully Saturday.

8. Stacey missed a game to illness at Maine and despite scoring a goal last weekend did not seem to have the impact he had in the first three games of the season. Look for him to get it going also.

9. Probably the biggest key is the defense. It's an experienced D with only one freshman and one soph skating regularly (the freshman has played 3 games now I think). They have yet to play a collective decent road game as a unit. They finally got their game together on Sunday and gave up no more than a handful of quality chances. Interestingly, that was with a 5 man rotation after their one senior left the game with an injury about 4 minutes into the game.

10. Cullity is hurt, day to day. The coaching staff considers him a key leader. A few of us fans don't have any clue what goes on interpersonally but think that from an on ice product standpoint that him not playing might be addition by subtractions because he has problems staying out of the box.

11. Our largest player, Dan Lawson, sat both games last weekend. Kind of a shocker to me. I will be very surprised if he's not on the ice this weekend.

I would not be surprised to see Spillane Saturday, and possibly twice. Madore has not played up to his standard from last year. Spillane scares me with rebounds and wandering from the cage, but he might give a better shot to win right now. He was 7-2-? last year. That is a good win/loss ratio.

In any case, I hope the Cats bring their A+ game to a venue that has been "difficult" (understatement) for them since joining HE.
 
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