2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

[e.cat]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Wow....Umile is clearly emotionally disturbed by last weekend. That cant be healthy....it seems clear he is taking this sport a bit too seriously, perhaps too much for his own health.

do ya think

umile is as passionate about the game and obviously unh hockey as anyone. i'd be a bit disturbed after losing to maine that way if i was him too though. but like he said, it was disappointing but unh is still in first place and has to move forward.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

hey chc thanks for the offer. maybe i should just go ahead and buy the dvd on amazon. probably easier on everyone.

Makes sense - the quality of the DVD will be much better.

just thinking out loud but this may be something the friends might want to get involvedd with. i bet if they could get together and copy some of these old tapes and dvd's and such they could sell a chit load of them as a fund raiser. just a thought.

Excellent idea. Nostalgia sells with the baby-boomers.

 

[zoofer]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Sure CHC, I'm pressed at work right now but I'll get to you about the DVD's...I don't have the 79 game but can check on who might.....e.cat is definitely right and if I do chose the UNH-PC game Friday over the Olympics I can talk with Bruce Hardenbrook about it for the Friends group to come up with...work now though.....

 

[Darius]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Wow....Umile is clearly emotionally disturbed by last weekend. That cant be healthy....it seems clear he is taking this sport a bit too seriously, perhaps too much for his own health.

Agreed. He looked and sounded like his dog died and he hadn't had a good night sleep all week. Desimone sounded depressed and Kessel like a man who won't be in Durham next year. I don't normally view these conferences so I have no frame of reference, but based on this clip the team better have an attitude adjustment (I think it will) or the HE semis and NCAAs are not going to happen.

 

[slaphappy]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Clark-Hislop-Cox
First time posting on the UNH board and only took a peek on the board when I noticed your username. Back in the day I had a chance to play against that line and walked away from the game in awe. They were so great together and had so much respect with the way they played together. One of my great loves of the game is to see the game played the right way, especially by lines that totally letting go of personal ego and playing the game with intelligence and skill.
Have only seen UNH on the tube, but would agree with your points about playing your 4th line on a more regular basis. Coaches often fail to empower these players and create a negative situation in so many ways. First off, you do run your top players into the ground, as you mention. Second you create a self fulfilling prophecy, in that, by not playing them they lack the confidence to play and when they do and make a mistake they are further knocked down in the confidence department, not to mention the divisions you create in the locker room, between the haves and the have not. Keep in mind that besides the 4th liners not playing you also have 4-5 players not even dressed for each game. Don't for a second think that most of these players are not ****ed off and think their coach is sticking it to them. People often misunderstand how demoralizing it is to not play.
The amazing thing is that the difference between the 4th lines and 3rd lines is usually so small that with playing time and confidence from the coaching staff many of these players actually have a chance to pass some of their teammates ability-wise by the end of the year. Hopefully Coach Umile, in the future will change his ways, but I wouldn't hold my breath as hard A coaches like himself tend to never change.

 

[slaphappy]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Clark-Hislop-Cox
First time posting on the UNH board and only took a peek on the board when I noticed your username. Back in the day I had a chance to play against that line and walked away from the game in awe. They were so great together and had so much respect with the way they played together. One of my great loves of the game is to see the game played the right way, especially by lines that totally letting go of personal ego and playing the game with intelligence and skill.
Have only seen UNH on the tube, but would agree with your points about playing your 4th line on a more regular basis. Coaches often fail to empower these players and create a negative situation in so many ways. First off, you do run your top players into the ground, as you mention. Second you create a self fulfilling prophecy, in that, by not playing them they lack the confidence to play and when they do and make a mistake they are further knocked down in the confidence department, not to mention the divisions you create in the locker room, between the haves and the have not. Keep in mind that besides the 4th liners not playing you also have 4-5 players not even dressed for each game. Don't for a second think that most of these players are not ****ed off and think their coach is sticking it to them. People often misunderstand how demoralizing it is to not play.
The amazing thing is that the difference between the 4th lines and 3rd lines is usually so small that with playing time and confidence from the coaching staff many of these players actually have a chance to pass some of their teammates ability-wise by the end of the year. Hopefully Coach Umile, in the future will change his ways, but I wouldn't hold my breath as hard A coaches like himself tend to never change.

 

[slaphappy]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Sorry folks about my old post going up again. Somehow it lost my new one and posted the old one. Most likely my mistake of some tech brainf@@@.
Just wanted to say great to hear the discussion has led some folks to putting some old footage together. I'm sure they'll bring back some great memories. Just remember that the skates and sticks of that era were beyond poor compared to the high tech stuff of today. This generation would be shocked if they tried to skate in those no supportive boots from those years.
Also keep in mind that the defensive structure played then made the game a lot more open and also a lot more consistent action, in my opinion. The goaltending had not yet been revolutionized with the butterfly and teams didn't
pack 5 players in the slot to protect the net or block shooting lanes. Lastly the dreaded trap had not yet been thought up by some evil mind to grind the game into a neutral zone ping-pong match.
Have fun with the tapes.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Agreed. He looked and sounded like his dog died and he hadn't had a good night sleep all week. Desimone sounded depressed and Kessel like a man who won't be in Durham next year. I don't normally view these conferences so I have no frame of reference, but based on this clip the team better have an attitude adjustment (I think it will) or the HE semis and NCAAs are not going to happen.

The Maine games are always riveting affairs, more so when they are at Alfond. If your team blew two goals lead both nights, you'd be upset too. I know earlier in the week he was still steaming about the stupid Pavelski penalty on Friday which got Maine going. But I think he was more po'd about the non-call on O'Neill's slash of Butler at center ice. Sure, Butler got up and came back into the game despite being pretty sore. But there were four officials on the ice and no one saw it? Pathetic. I have to think there was a complaint to the Hockey East offices. I'd be willing to be that somewhere down the road, probably not this year, there will be payback on that one.

As for attitude adjustment, my guess is that the team is looking forward, not back, right now. They still have a three point lead and they know that if they win tomorrow night, they can't be caught this weekend. Two at home next week against UVM, then home-and-homes with NU and BC. I would have to guess that, to a man, they like their chances. Got go out and prove it, no question, but they are still in the driver's seat.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

thank you cbg. if you can that would be awesome just let me know. no pressure but i can meet up with you at a game whenever or provide you with my email and address and phone #. it would be nice to get the other games too. some unh fan must have copies. i bet i'm not the only fan who would pay for them either, ya know?

I will take a look at them next week. I might actually be able to put them all on a DVD for you.

I would love to find copies of last year's regional games (yes, even the loss to BU) and the '02 HE final.

 

[Jon]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

If I make a mutual deal with your fanbase to pretend that the "game" tomorrow isn't actually happening, can we all go on with our lives? Shake on it?

 

[Aerman]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

If I make a mutual deal with your fanbase to pretend that the "game" tomorrow isn't actually happening, can we all go on with our lives? Shake on it?

Sorry Jon, but I don't really have anything better to do tomorrow night so I'll be there

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

If I make a mutual deal with your fanbase to pretend that the "game" tomorrow isn't actually happening, can we all go on with our lives? Shake on it?

Clip and post, you area clown!

Pretty sure the whiteboard will feature a variation on that.

 

[e.cat]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

I will take a look at them next week. I might actually be able to put them all on a DVD for you.

thanks cbg that would be great. appreciate it

Makes sense - the quality of the DVD will be much better.

thanks again anyway c-h-c.

But I think he was more po'd about the non-call on O'Neill's slash of Butler at center ice. Sure, Butler got up and came back into the game despite being pretty sore. But there were four officials on the ice and no one saw it? Pathetic. I have to think there was a complaint to the Hockey East offices. I'd be willing to be that somewhere down the road, probably not this year, there will be payback on that one.

it sounded like butler was up for an oscar the way the maine fans put it but who can believe them about anything. thanks for the insight. i'm sure butler has got a target on his back right about now and would expect other teams to go after him as well if they haven't already done so but that's part of the game.

 

[JB]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

As for attitude adjustment, my guess is that the team is looking forward, not back, right now. They still have a three point lead and they know that if they win tomorrow night, they can't be caught this weekend. Two at home next week against UVM, then home-and-homes with NU and BC. I would have to guess that, to a man, they like their chances. Got go out and prove it, no question, but they are still in the driver's seat.

For most teams (there are exceptions) at just about any level a long winning steak brings issues. Play can become lazy as confidence becomes over cofidence, at that point all the little things that got the winning streak going stop happening.

Generally it takes a good solid butt whipping to realize there is a problem and refocus. I think UNH just got the wake up call. Over the last 6 games they have had a 2 goal lead in 5 and let for of those games get tied up. Hopefully these last 2 have been the wake up call and turn out to be "good" for them.

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

it sounded like butler was up for an oscar the way the maine fans put it but who can believe them about anything. thanks for the insight. i'm sure butler has got a target on his back right about now and would expect other teams to go after him as well if they haven't already done so but that's part of the game.

I don't think he was acting. Hit after the whistle, while coasting to the bench. Regardless of the severity of the hit, it should be a penalty for that kind of cheap shot. If I was attacked with warning, my first reaction would be fall to the ice, to take all the weight off that leg too.

He covered his face, but who knows if he was swearing in pain, or just ****ed off that he was hit like that. On the subsequent shifts, Bobby limped, but was trying not too; each shift, it got a little less. You could see him skating around the leg -- not crossing over as aggressively, and he didn't use it to stop until late in the 2nd; he would always shift to use his left leg to stop.

 

[BobF]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

The Maine games are always riveting affairs, more so when they are at Alfond. If your team blew two goals lead both nights, you'd be upset too. I know earlier in the week he was still steaming about the stupid Pavelski penalty on Friday which got Maine going. But I think he was more po'd about the non-call on O'Neill's slash of Butler at center ice. Sure, Butler got up and came back into the game despite being pretty sore. But there were four officials on the ice and no one saw it? Pathetic. I have to think there was a complaint to the Hockey East offices. I'd be willing to be that somewhere down the road, probably not this year, there will be payback on that one.

Okay I am confused on this one !

#1 O'Neill did get a penalty, despite the fact no one saw it.

#2 It was a 1st rate academy award winning performance. Butler did not miss a shift!

The night before, I think it was Thompson, was skating to the UNH bench and Maine's Cornell to the Maine bench, Thompson took exception to Cornell getting close to him and shoved him through the door of the Maine bench, no call. Butler went down like he'd been shot, what likely happened is the stick (not slash) to the leg as he and O'Neill crossed paths. But O'Neill did get a penalty so don't fool yourself and say there was no call!

By the way despite the losses I was impressed with this years version of Wildcats. Same issues need to be addressed however and that is winning battles along the boards and at the netfront, IMHO.

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Okay I am confused on this one !

#1 O'Neill did get a penalty, despite the fact no one saw it.

The people that are saying it wasn't called are wrong; however, I think their judgement is clouded by the fact that it was after the whistle, and it WAS a slash, not incidental, and were expecting more than just the 2 mins.

#2 It was a 1st rate academy award winning performance. Butler did not miss a shift!

No, but I paid close attention to his skating after; shorter strides, with little weight places solely on the leg for a bit. Testing it out, perhaps, but he was favoring it for a bit. And, the next few shifts for that line were SHORT; just the fact that the 1st line didn't start the PP, which they usually do, said he wasn't 100% acting.

#The night before, I think it was Thompson, was skating to the UNH bench and Maine's Cornell to the Maine bench, Thompson took exception to Cornell getting close to him and shoved him through the door of the Maine bench, no call. Butler went down like he'd been shot, what likely happened is the stick (not slash) to the leg as he and O'Neill crossed paths. But O'Neill did get a penalty so don't fool yourself and say there was no call!

Thompson should not have shoved, but I could see Cornell's mouth moving, so it may have been more than just the proximity . . . (who knows, maybe he said he was tired, and Paul was helping). If we're going to talk about penalties that should have been called against UNH, what about the sequence right before UNH score its first goal Saturday night? I couldn't believe the goal was allowed, after McCarey (I think?) pulled a Maine player down by the jersey, and then skated coast-to-coast and scored. Make up call, me thinks; I mean, I'll take the goal, but I was shocked. I felt dirty . . . (I said so to the Maine fans behind us).

By the way despite the losses I was impressed with this years version of Wildcats. Same issues need to be addressed however and that is winning battles along the boards and at the netfront, IMHO.[/QUOTE]

 

[BobF]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Thompson should not have shoved, but I could see Cornell's mouth moving, so it may have been more than just the proximity . . . (who knows, maybe he said he was tired, and Paul was helping). If we're going to talk about penalties that should have been called against UNH, what about the sequence right before UNH score its first goal Saturday night? I couldn't believe the goal was allowed, after McCarey (I think?) pulled a Maine player down by the jersey, and then skated coast-to-coast and scored. Make up call, me thinks; I mean, I'll take the goal, but I was shocked. I felt dirty . . . (I said so to the Maine fans behind us).

Good comments and as stated I did not, like the refs, see the O'Neill incident, and was not calling for a penalty on Thompson.

I was also surprised at that non call right before the UNH goal, but if the Maine players even spent a split second waiting for a whistle that is on them.

Nice to have a rivalry again after the way our Bears were playing the last couple of years!

 

[e.cat]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

I don't think he was acting. Hit after the whistle, while coasting to the bench. Regardless of the severity of the hit, it should be a penalty for that kind of cheap shot. If I was attacked with warning, my first reaction would be fall to the ice, to take all the weight off that leg too.

He covered his face, but who knows if he was swearing in pain, or just ****ed off that he was hit like that. On the subsequent shifts, Bobby limped, but was trying not too; each shift, it got a little less. You could see him skating around the leg -- not crossing over as aggressively, and he didn't use it to stop until late in the 2nd; he would always shift to use his left leg to stop.

absolutely should be a penality. did o'neill get one? bobf says he did get called on it and ambrose says he didn't..

i'm going to the game tonight and will be interested to see if there are any after effects.

as far as pay back on o'neill......hey what goes around comes around

 

[C-H-C]

Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season

Generally it takes a good solid butt whipping to realize there is a problem and refocus. I think UNH just got the wake up call. Over the last 6 games they have had a 2 goal lead in 5 and let for of those games get tied up. Hopefully these last 2 have been the wake up call and turn out to be "good" for them.

Well, the Monday morning quarterbacks/second guessing camps are set.

Camp 1 - UNH had become complacent and just needed a good butt whipping. If this turns out to be correct then their butts have been whipped (by Maine and Coach Umile) and they will cruise past the "easy" teams and at least split against the "competitive" teams. This means handily beating Providence and Northeastern (twice) and no worse than a split with Vermont (ranked #17) and BC (ranked #10).

Camp 2 - The two Merrimack games and two UMaine games revealed a more fundamental flaw (not just a mental lapse). The potential flaw that I see is that they have relied on 3 lines to win when they needed to be using a consistent 4th line on a more regular basis. I hope to h*ll I'm dead wrong. If there is a more fundamental flaw with our beloved Wildcats, then they will lose at least one game in the three games against Providence and Northeastern and they will be swept by either Vermont or BC.