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Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

  • Thread starter Thread starter Priceless
  • Start date Start date
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Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Priceless said:
Maine, UHN, UVM and UMass are the flagship public schools in each state. I wouldn't be surprised to see UConn added to the mix when they join Hockey East, although once they're in conference they'll probably only play each other once OOC. That'll give each team 8 OOC games each season. With the Florida tournament every year that would leave Maine with 6. If the conference as a whole won't enter an agreement (*cough* Notre Dame) then I'd love to see Maine and the other publics get together with the WCHA and agree to home and home series. It's been a long time since we've seen the Alaska teams, Tech or Northern in Alfond and we've never seen Mankato. LTHC fans will eventually get diabetes from watching their teams pig out on cupcakes, then crash out in the national tournament when they run into teams that have been playing decent competition all year.
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And Maine is supposed to get better playing the "decent competition" of UVM, UMass and UConn in the non conference? Is that even a step up from an AHA "cupcake" fest of Robert Morris, RIT and Bentley? If Maine is playing the "new iron" of HEA (UNH, BU, BC, ND) for a total of 9 games (includes UNH extra), the "middle class" of HEA (PC, Merrimack, UML) for 6 games, and the "lower class" for 12-14 (UVM, UMass, UConn, NU), then Florida (we'll say 2 tough games), then your Portland AHA game (lower), that leaves 5 games. Let's delineate:

11 high quality games (BC/BU/UNH/ND/Florida)
6 okay games (PC/MC/UML)
12-14 junk games (UVM/UMA/NU/UCONN/AHA)
3-5 tbd, apparently not "big time" games in Alfond because those teams won't come here

I don't feel any real affinity playing the other "public flagships." It's not like Maine has been playing any of them from the very start. In UMass' 20ish years in Hockey East I have two memories of games against them in the past- the championship game in Boston with Jimmy and Quick standing on their heads, and the year they swept Maine in the Alfond in the playoffs. That's about it. I can't remember any big games against UVM. Have we even EVER played UConn? The University of Wyoming is a public flagship, and I don't hear any clamor to get Maine hoops out to Laramie every year.
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

AMC said:
And Maine is supposed to get better playing the "decent competition" of UVM, UMass and UConn in the non conference? Is that even a step up from an AHA "cupcake" fest of Robert Morris, RIT and Bentley? If Maine is playing the "new iron" of HEA (UNH, BU, BC, ND) for a total of 9 games (includes UNH extra), the "middle class" of HEA (PC, Merrimack, UML) for 6 games, and the "lower class" for 12-14 (UVM, UMass, UConn, NU), then Florida (we'll say 2 tough games), then your Portland AHA game (lower), that leaves 5 games. Let's delineate:

11 high quality games (BC/BU/UNH/ND/Florida)
6 okay games (PC/MC/UML)
12-14 junk games (UVM/UMA/NU/UCONN/AHA)
3-5 tbd, apparently not "big time" games in Alfond because those teams won't come here

I don't feel any real affinity playing the other "public flagships." It's not like Maine has been playing any of them from the very start. In UMass' 20ish years in Hockey East I have two memories of games against them in the past- the championship game in Boston with Jimmy and Quick standing on their heads, and the year they swept Maine in the Alfond in the playoffs. That's about it. I can't remember any big games against UVM. Have we even EVER played UConn? The University of Wyoming is a public flagship, and I don't hear any clamor to get Maine hoops out to Laramie every year.
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Maine has played UConn.

Pretty sure the Portland game will either be an AHA or ECAC team. Would like to see them sprinkle in a WCHA team but I won't hold my breath.

Good example of Wyoming for basketball. Very relevant to the conversation. Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut are all New England states whereas Laramie is 2200 miles away. Sparkling example.

I don't know for a fact that Maine is playing them because they are flagship universities, but that's what they all have in common. If that is correct, then UConn would be a natural fit.

Including Notre Dame in the "iron" portion of Hockey East is a tad presumptuous. They are coming off an 8th place finish in the CCHA last year and finished 9th in 2010. Maybe we should wait and see if they actually compete for home ice on a regular basis in Hockey East before we pencil them in for Boston every March. Just a suggestion.
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Ma#1ne Hky said:
Not positive on this but I heard a while back that UNH & North Dakota would be the teams in the next Florida Classic to go with Co-Host Maine & Cornell.
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m

I heard the same from Maine fans about UNH and Maine sharing a charter south as they have in the past. No mention of UND but that would be great.
 
Ma#1ne Hky said:
Not positive on this but I heard a while back that UNH & North Dakota would be the teams in the next Florida Classic to go with Co-Host Maine & Cornell.
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One would assume that if this is the case, it would be maine-nodak and cornell-unh for the matchups
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Ma#1ne Hky said:
Not positive on this but I heard a while back that UNH & North Dakota would be the teams in the next Florida Classic to go with Co-Host Maine & Cornell.
Click to expand...

The rumor down in Florida was that North Dakota had backed out, probably replaced by Princeton.
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/02/05/sports/maine-hockey-team-now-has-a-blueprint-for-success/

While tthe subject is patently obvious, Larry's piece in the BDN underscores the value of leadership...and typically that has to come from Srs, but it starts from the net out....Marty is playing the way many of us have believed he could from Day 1...Columbus drafted him for a reason.... Joey has finally gotten religion, and is playing to lead, and not just to satisfy his long Island code of honor. Cornell and Nemec are solid players, nothing flashy, but will sacrifice to get things done. Now if Tim can finally figure out that that the PP needs to be corrected.... we may actually have something for a stretch run.....be fun to watch the frosh continue to grow and mature....
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Larry sums it up very well. I would add some additional perspective. These young players have come from successful teams where they had different roles. They have had to adjust to different strategies due to the strengths and weaknesses (scoring), of this team. What's happened, in my opinion, is that the players have been "over thinking" their moves on the ice which has lead to indecisiveness. Thinking too much in any sport is not good. It has to be instinctive. I think the players are now reaching the point in the season where they are much more comfortable with their team mates and how they need to play.
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Pucknut said:
m

I heard the same from Maine fans about UNH and Maine sharing a charter south as they have in the past. No mention of UND but that would be great.
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UNH has offered to pay for the plane trip down just for the honor of riding with the Maine team. Business as usual :)
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

AMC said:
Adding to my complaint that there is no link to the audio/video feeds on the front page of the Maine website, I'm going to add a whine about the quality of the video highlights Maine provides to the Hockey East website. Compared to every other team in the league, including Merrimack, it is embarrassing. Even when WABI covers the games. It's 2013. I've heard the excuses that the Alfond can't handle HD cables, or whatever the issue is.

You know what? I don't care. ****ing fix it. I would buy that ridiculously overpriced season video pass if it had any quality at all to it. This isn't 1974. I don't want to watch colored dots moving on a screen. I would, honestly, be okay with another season of TW if they took the money they would spend on buying him out and use it to not be an audio/video embarrassment.
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My biggest beef is that Larry knows three or four names for the whole game and then chooses to talk about the whole bio of a kid on the opposing team! Guess what Larry...Maine fans don't care! We've been listening for years and it's just old
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Odd?????? He does that sometimes but also leaves an unsuccesful (worst in the country) pp pairing together week after week...it's the most frustrating thing!
Who would do that?
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

There are now two spots remaining open for next season. No confirmation on which teams they are but Larry reports the are from the ECAC and AHA. Also, Maine is already $200,000 over next year's travel budget. The trip to Notre Dame is expected to cost around $50K. I predict that a lot of schools are going to regret adding Notre Dame to the league in coming years. Providence coach Nate Leaman and Merrimack's Mark Dennehy have suggested Hockey East enter a scheduling agreement with another conference to fill OOC games and fix costs. Gee, where have I heard that before? Also, the New Hampshire thing will not begin until 2014-15 if both sides can come to an agreement at all. I have heard through channels that UNH is not amenable to the deal so we'll see.

OOC games:
UMass (2)
Vermont (2)
Army (1 or 2) (Portland? Portland/Orono?)
vs Princeton (Florida)
vs UNH/Cornell (Florida)
ECAC Opp (2)
AHA Opp (2)
Undecided Opp (2)
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Priceless said:
There are now two spots remaining open for next season. No confirmation on which teams they are but Larry reports the are from the ECAC and AHA. Also, Maine is already $200,000 over next year's travel budget. The trip to Notre Dame is expected to cost around $50K. I predict that a lot of schools are going to regret adding Notre Dame to the league in coming years. Providence coach Nate Leaman and Merrimack's Mark Dennehy have suggested Hockey East enter a scheduling agreement with another conference to fill OOC games and fix costs. Gee, where have I heard that before? Also, the New Hampshire thing will not begin until 2014-15 if both sides can come to an agreement at all. I have heard through channels that UNH is not amenable to the deal so we'll see.

OOC games:
UMass (2)
Vermont (2)
Army (1 or 2) (Portland? Portland/Orono?)
vs Princeton (Florida)
vs UNH/Cornell (Florida)
ECAC Opp (2)
AHA Opp (2)
Undecided Opp (2)
Click to expand...
Well I for one and I know that does not count,don't care for playing OOC games vs Hockey East teams...but for now it looks like that maybe the norm for a few seasons. Notre Dame will come back and bite Hockey East,bet on that one...should have stayed as a 10 team league and gauged what the landscape of how the Big Ten & the NCHC would have on the College Hockey world...again ONLY imo here. It would have been better to add Quinnipiac & RPI to Hockey East. With just two openings as you say are left they should try to fill it with Quinnipiac/Union/RPI or Dartmouth...as they will get no takers from the B10,NCHC...maybe the NEW WCHA,maybe. Now that leads Maine to the MONEY Trail...in the RED to start...wow...huh...do you think that will factor in on if they KEEP or BUYOUT Whitehead..??? I mean if Attendence continues to hover in the 3000-3500 range and the Season Ticket Sales drop again this coming season(2013-14)and there are less Donors,the average to small pocket donaters(FOMH,BBC,End of year Donations)and if you get a Deep Pocket Donor or two say the heck with this...plus lost Advertising. Looks like on paper that Maine Hockey is in trouble,or is it..? Or is it who cares anymore..?
 
Re: Maine 2012-13 Part 3D: Still digging

Ma#1ne Hky said:
Well I for one and I know that does not count,don't care for playing OOC games vs Hockey East teams...but for now it looks like that maybe the norm for a few seasons. Notre Dame will come back and bite Hockey East,bet on that one...should have stayed as a 10 team league and gauged what the landscape of how the Big Ten & the NCHC would have on the College Hockey world...again ONLY imo here. It would have been better to add Quinnipiac & RPI to Hockey East. With just two openings as you say are left they should try to fill it with Quinnipiac/Union/RPI or Dartmouth...as they will get no takers from the B10,NCHC...maybe the NEW WCHA,maybe. Now that leads Maine to the MONEY Trail...in the RED to start...wow...huh...do you think that will factor in on if they KEEP or BUYOUT Whitehead..??? I mean if Attendence continues to hover in the 3000-3500 range and the Season Ticket Sales drop again this coming season(2013-14)and there are less Donors,the average to small pocket donaters(FOMH,BBC,End of year Donations)and if you get a Deep Pocket Donor or two say the heck with this...plus lost Advertising. Looks like on paper that Maine Hockey is in trouble,or is it..? Or is it who cares anymore..?
Click to expand...

I would guess, and that's all it is, that the ECAC team in question is Quinnipiac. Odds are it is a non-Ivy anyway. I'm hoping the AHA team is Niagara. Considering the budget, I would not expect to see any WCHA teams next year. Considering other HEA teams are in the same boat I would say this isn't a Maine-only problem. If UMA and UVM were willing to play OOC games (they may have even asked, I don't know) and PC and Merrimack are having trouble filling dates it seems to be a league wide issue.

As for how the budgetary concerns impact TW I have no idea. I still say his job is tied to Abbott's decision to stay on as AD but the travel budget does complicate things.
 
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