Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

[NorthMike]

I know they are hard at work, just saying these days this isn't a 9 to 5 job...

Change in an organizations starts at the top, this one needs change. If staff isn't working on that tomorrow then they are misdirected. Yes we need talent, and they need to develop the talent that is here. Better teams do better in developing.

 

[walrus]

. Better teams do better in developing.

That's what concerns me. I didn't see much overall improvement until I see that I'm not sure Red can handle this job.

 

[Drew S.]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

I had unused tickets as well. I'm having trouble justifying spending that kind of money on watching a less than mediocre team. I'm sure eventually the team will improve and I'll pay to watch them play some of the better teams occasionally.

I'd be shocked if they aren't considerably cheaper next year. The administration has to be close to figuring out that what few season ticket holders they have left aren't going to continue to pay through the nose when there is plenty of availability of single game tickets.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

I'd be shocked if they aren't considerably cheaper next year. The administration has to be close to figuring out that what few season ticket holders they have left aren't going to continue to pay through the nose when there is plenty of availability of single game tickets.

prepare to be shocked, they won't drop a nickle

 

[hobeyfaker]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

prepare to be shocked, they won't drop a nickle

You are right. Price drops, unless you are involved in some highly competetive high tech industry, are rarely viable in most business plans. They just don't help the bottom line.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

prepare to be shocked, they won't drop a nickle

Agree, the price will not drop.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Just a UPDATE on a few who said after the Holiday Break (mid-December) that Denver would fold like a house of Cards...@ the Break 7-7-5...Now @ 21-8-7...Ranked #6 this week in the uscho.com Poll...and ranked in a tie for #6 in the Pairwise Rankings with Yale...boy did they fold. Granted Denver has better talent and was way better off then Maine, but remember too, that to keep a good team going you have to have someone behind the Bench to push the right buttons. Good for #19.

 

[NorthMike]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

BDN - Mahoney's article today - prediction for next year - "Barring injuries, next year’s Maine team should win at least 14 games with its improved skill level, easier nonconference schedule and maturation."
Good enough to hold the season tickets for?
But, the incoming class sounds good and hopefully the guys returning gain over the summer.

 

[zoofer]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Talking season ticket holders, here at UNH the Admin almost laughs at those loyal enuf to maintain their season tickets, by offering 4 tickets for $44 frequently during the season....last year we couldn't sellout Michigan or Notre Dame! Ridiculous.....

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Talking season ticket holders, here at UNH the Admin almost laughs at those loyal enuf to maintain their season tickets, by offering 4 tickets for $44 frequently during the season....last year we couldn't sellout Michigan or Notre Dame! Ridiculous.....

Doesn't shock me.

It's kinda funny that all the Maine fans here ignore the fact that once-mighty UNH is essentially in the same boat as the Bears are, even with Umile at the helm, whose career has been pretty stellar for a very long time.

Times are changing for a number of reasons, but I do miss the days when both programs were relevant. Call me a heretic yet again, but I was a huge UNH fan back in the day when they were good, and playing OOC and/or in the NCAAs. (Unless they were facing Maine, of course. )

 

[riverchief1]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Talking season ticket holders, here at UNH the Admin almost laughs at those loyal enuf to maintain their season tickets, by offering 4 tickets for $44 frequently during the season....last year we couldn't sellout Michigan or Notre Dame! Ridiculous.....

I remember the days when Lowell would actively market to UNH fans as they traveled in large numbers, trying to get them to come to away games in Lowell as it was an easy ticket to get and it would put bodies in the seats and money in the coffers. Whittemore South is what the Tsongas used to be called. Now Lowell leads Hockey East in attendance and is eighth in the nation, averaging 5,615 this year. But UNH is 15th which is still pretty good at a 4,892 average.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

I remember the days when Lowell would actively market to UNH fans as they traveled in large numbers, trying to get them to come to away games in Lowell as it was an easy ticket to get and it would put bodies in the seats and money in the coffers. Whittemore South is what the Tsongas used to be called. Now Lowell leads Hockey East in attendance and is eighth in the nation, averaging 5,615 this year. But UNH is 15th which is still pretty good at a 4,892 average.

That is good for UML and Hockey East...things changed when they(UML)put people in charge with hockey backgrounds...along with the hiring of Bazin...UML has developed into a solid Program.

 

[zoofer]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Times are changing for a number of reasons, but I do miss the days when both programs were relevant. Call me a heretic yet again, but I was a huge UNH fan back in the day when they were good, and playing OOC and/or in the NCAAs. (Unless they were facing Maine, of course. )
I totally agree Fishman 81.....that Championship game back in 99 was awesome! Alfie Michaud played his finest game to earn you guys the title....that and the linesman who kept the puck in the zone, when UNH was transitioning fast but left Dimitrakos down by the goalie, slowly getting up to rejoin the play.....oops!

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

BDN - Mahoney's article today - prediction for next year - "Barring injuries, next year’s Maine team should win at least 14 games with its improved skill level, easier nonconference schedule and maturation."
Good enough to hold the season tickets for?
But, the incoming class sounds good and hopefully the guys returning gain over the summer.

Larry is always very optimistic, that's ok. I went back and looked at last year's article and he had Maine ('15 - '16 team), finishing in 6th place in Hockey East.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

BDN - Mahoney's article today - prediction for next year - "Barring injuries, next year’s Maine team should win at least 14 games with its improved skill level, easier nonconference schedule and maturation."
Good enough to hold the season tickets for?
But, the incoming class sounds good and hopefully the guys returning gain over the summer.

That is delusional. Prior to UMass firing Micholetto they were the only school in Hockey East I wouldn't have traded Maine's next five years for. Depending on who they hire, I might flip that. My over/under for next year is 9.5 wins and 11th place.

 

[Drew S.]

That is delusional. Prior to UMass firing Micholetto they were the only school in Hockey East I wouldn't have traded Maine's next five years for. Depending on who they hire, I might flip that. My over/under for next year is 9.5 wins and 11th place.

I see next year being a lot like 08-09. That was the year Gus, Flynn, and Abbott were freshmen. Maine finished eighth then gave a great BU team a tough time in the hockey easy quarters. The three years after that Maine was good, even though they underachieved. Most of that was due to weak goaltending. The key for Red is going to be backing up next year's class with more good players in following years. It seemed like Timmy would have one decent class then two or three clunkers. Hopefully Red is able to fix this.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

I see next year being a lot like 08-09. That was the year Gus, Flynn, and Abbott were freshmen. Maine finished eighth then gave a great BU team a tough time in the hockey easy quarters. The three years after that Maine was good, even though they underachieved. Most of that was due to weak goaltending. The key for Red is going to be backing up next year's class with more good players in following years. It seemed like Timmy would have one decent class then two or three clunkers. Hopefully Red is able to fix this.

I don't understand which players coming next year are supposed to be Gus, Flynn or Abbott. Everyone here is excited about Robbins who was the highest scoring freshmen, he scored 11 points all year. 11. That was a good two week stretch for Nyquist.

I just... I don't see it. I don't see the talent on the current roster. I don't see the improvement on a game to game or season-long level. I don't see a star player walking into the lineup next year and producing enough as a freshman to make this a .500ish team like Larry does.

 

[Drew S.]

I don't understand which players coming next year are supposed to be Gus, Flynn or Abbott. Everyone here is excited about Robbins who was the highest scoring freshmen, he scored 11 points all year. 11. That was a good two week stretch for Nyquist.

I just... I don't see it. I don't see the talent on the current roster. I don't see the improvement on a game to game or season-long level. I don't see a star player walking into the lineup next year and producing enough as a freshman to make this a .500ish team like Larry does.

I'm not sure any three freshmen will be as good as that group but I think between fossier, Shea, Pearson, pappalardo, and Doherty three or four should be decent. The team in 08-09 had nothing in the junior and senior classes up front and next year's team will have brown, Byron, and Vesey.

 

[BBDiehard14]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

I'm not sure any three freshmen will be as good as that group but I think between fossier, Shea, Pearson, pappalardo, and Doherty three or four should be decent. The team in 08-09 had nothing in the junior and senior classes up front and next year's team will have brown, Byron, and Vesey.

Offensively, they should be better next season, and the expectation should be to be at least hosting a first-round playoff series.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

........ the expectation should be to be at least hosting a first-round playoff series.

That would mean finishing in 8th place or higher. Reasonable expectation and possible.