Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

[NorthMike]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Good points, but Maine isn’t the only one in D1 with some of these recruiting expenses.

As a recruiter myself (different sport) - two points...

My mother has a lake house east of Bangor and flying into that airport is NOT cheap. Flying into another airport (even Portland) would kickstart the clock on visits upon pick-up and hinder what else Maine was allowed to do within their 48 hour window... ...

I fly a lot for work from Bangor, its not really that much more all things considered. Or I dont feel so.

Many point to North Dakota's recruiting prominence as a byproduct of their facilities - but I point to their cost of attendance. UND is freaking cheap. Minnesota kids can attend for essentially the same price as in-state recruits. Kids in a large number of neighboring states can attend for little more with WUE exchange rates. Outside of Canada a 50% ride leaves only around 10,000 a year for almost any kid they might want...

UMaine now has a similar tuition arrangement for new England States, students can go here for the in State tuition rates. Saves on Scholarship $.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Are you saying Maine has a bigger recruiting budget than any other program? Or am I misinterpreting something?

And if that's true, then what are they doing with that budget?

Than any other program on his list, yes, other than Air Force. Granted no private schools (BU, BC, PC, Northeastern) are listed.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Our well known Bangor family aren't the reason for hockeys slide nor should they be looked at as the fix. Yeah they got a raw deal over the radio contract, but thats what happens when the AD (James?) got a national corporation involved. (I never understood what Learfield brought to the table anyway). But frankly the ole am620 doesnt cover much ground anyway.

At the time The only reason that station existed was to cover UMaine sports

 

[umhockey91]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

The smartest person from Maine is Mr. King. Money aside. There cannot be a group or a set of people that can remedy this. I understand he may be upset with Blodget let go. I also understand he was given a **** sandwich by UMaine. At the end of the day, I can honestly tell you they have given ten fold more behind the scenes. So, people should be thankful for what he and his family has done. I wish for a day when the athletic department could remedy their short sidedness.

Laws yes.

I wonder if Mr. King cared that Cindy Blodgett was a horrible basketball coach? I mean.....what were they supposed to do....keep a bad coach for way too long and let a historically strong program go down the tubes?

 

[dunbar]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Happy 20th anniversary! I still have one question:


Where’s my snowmobile?

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

20th anniversary quotes.

Quote from Bobby Stewart in Lewiston Sun Journal “I think saying it’s the recruiting and the facilities is a huge cop out,” Stewart said. “My investment was I was told I was going to win a national championship. … No offense to Maine as an accredited university, but if I’m just worried about school, that’s probably not where I’m going.”

But Stewart says the Maine hockey program may be turning the corner.

“I think Benny and Alfie are starting to find the right kids,” he said.

Guite said Maine’s recruitment now centers on finding the right fit for the program and not always the most talented player available.

And another: “I love those guys like they are my brothers,” Stewart said of Maine’s current coaching staff. “But enough is enough. It’s time to win.”

Same article, quote from Tim:

“It wasn’t enough,” Whitehead said from his office at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, where he is the boys’ hockey coach.

“I still believe there’s no better place in college hockey to play than the University of Maine and Alfond Arena,” added Whitehead, who was the 2002 national coach of the year. “I’m rooting for them. I know how difficult it is to get to the (NCAA) tournament, let alone Frozen Fours and to win championships.”

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

He was fired as Maine’s head coach following the 2012 season, after leading Maine to 23 victories and the Hockey East regular season championship.

What?

In 2014, Maine launched the Savage Challenge, in which longtime supporter of the program Tom Savage pledged to match donations up to $1 million earmarked strictly for Maine’s hockey program. It was expected to be generate $2 million by 2019.

“That goal has not been met,” Ralph said.

That answers that question, but details would be nice.

 

[Drew S.]

What?



That answers that question, but details would be nice.

I’m not sure if it’s a getting older thing or not, but it shocks me how many mistakes I find. Story in the BDN today on filming of pet cemetery with tons of errors.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

What?

Tim won Hockey East title in 2004. He actually had 24 Hockey East tournament wins in his college career at both UML and Maine.

 

[NorthMike]

20th anniversary quotes.

Quote from Bobby Stewart in Lewiston Sun Journal “I think saying it’s the recruiting and the facilities is a huge cop out,” Stewart said. “My investment was I was told I was going to win a national championship. … No offense to Maine as an accredited university, but if I’m just worried about school, that’s probably not where I’m going.”

But Stewart says the Maine hockey program may be turning the corner.

“I think Benny and Alfie are starting to find the right kids,” he said.

Guite said Maine’s recruitment now centers on finding the right fit for the program and not always the most talented player available.

And another: “I love those guys like they are my brothers,” Stewart said of Maine’s current coaching staff. “But enough is enough. It’s time to win.”

Same article, quote from Tim:

“It wasn’t enough,” Whitehead said from his office at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, where he is the boys’ hockey coach.

“I still believe there’s no better place in college hockey to play than the University of Maine and Alfond Arena,” added Whitehead, who was the 2002 national coach of the year. “I’m rooting for them. I know how difficult it is to get to the (NCAA) tournament, let alone Frozen Fours and to win championships.”

https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/04/03/faded-glory-maine-hockey-struggles-to-stay-relevant-on-national-stage-2/

Good article

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/04/03/faded-glory-maine-hockey-struggles-to-stay-relevant-on-national-stage-2/

This is in the Press Herald today too.

I'm glad some questions are getting asked, I just hope they continue to get asked in a global "let's audit the entire athletic department and consider starting over from square one" kind of way.

 

[NorthMike]

This is in the Press Herald today too.

I'm glad some questions are getting asked, I just hope they continue to get asked in a global "let's audit the entire athletic department and consider starting over from square one" kind of way.

https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/04/03/20-years-later-umaine-hockey-team-savors-its-ncaa-championship/?rel=related

Another one.

Yeah Im actually hopeful Ralph will reset the athletics. Not sure it will be successful. I just hope he doesnt 100% focus on facilities as the answer.

 

[Drew S.]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

I’m happy they printed the fan’s quote on ticket prices. They are ridiculous and hopefully get fixed next year. I also didn’t go to a game this year at the Alfond and honestly a lot of it was the schedule. That is the kind of thing Maine controls and it needs to be improved moving forward. When you go long periods of time with no home games, and a lot of weekends off in general, fans lose momentum as well.

 

[BoSox3066]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

There are some great quotes in the story.

Did anyone copy edit or fact check it?

The Whitehead firing graph is laughably inaccurate.

It also says Abbott is the only All American since 2011. Pretty sure both Shore and Hutton were All Americans.

 

[NorthMike]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

The ticket quote isnt exactly accurate.
They have plenty of $20 seats, then you pay the $2.5 fee.

There is other seating at $50 (donor) and some $40 in the lower center sections or on the glass.

Personaly I don't think $20 is too much, but it would be interesting to see if $15 seats would bring more revenue.

 

[BoSox3066]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

The thing Ralph says about BIG schools taking hockey seriously changing the landscape ****es me off too.

Because Providence Duluth and Denver are Big 10 football money schools right? JFC

 

[rufus]

There are some great quotes in the story.

Did anyone copy edit or fact check it?

The Whitehead firing graph is laughably inaccurate.

It also says Abbott is the only All American since 2011. Pretty sure both Shore and Hutton were All Americans.

Also, Maine's first NCAA appearance was 1987, not '86, with final fours in 1988 and '89, not '87 and '88.

 

[BoSox3066]

Also, Maine's first NCAA appearance was 1987, not '86, with final fours in 1988 and '89, not '87 and '88.

Just sloppy. All this stuff is on the internet and takes 10 minutes to look up. Seeds needless doubt about the accuracy of the stuff in there thats not.

 

[dunbar]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Happy thoughts: https://youtu.be/56PyrqwF06c

 

[ticapnews]

I’m happy they printed the fan’s quote on ticket prices. They are ridiculous and hopefully get fixed next year. I also didn’t go to a game this year at the Alfond and honestly a lot of it was the schedule. That is the kind of thing Maine controls and it needs to be improved moving forward. When you go long periods of time with no home games, and a lot of weekends off in general, fans lose momentum as well.

The school only controls some of it. Unless it has changed, Hockey East sets the times and dates of all conference games. All Maine can do is schedule non-conference opponents.

As for ticket prices, discounts for kids seems like a no-brainer and I have long been a proponent of price specials for certain games. I've been told that isn't an option because they don't want to anger season ticket buyers by offering discounted tickets. Maybe that can change too.