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

[jeteye1717]

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

The schedule is starting to take shape ... We can also approximate the UNH non-conference games.

December 27-31 New Hampshire (Manchester)/New Hampshire (Portland)

I believe (per the UHN thread) that the Manchester/Portland NC games with the Wildcats have been cut back to an alternating single game per season, i.e., @ Manchester this coming season, then @ Portland in 2017-18. I'm too lazy to go back and double-check; YMMV ...

 

[ticapnews]

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

I believe (per the UHN thread) that the Manchester/Portland NC games with the Wildcats have been cut back to an alternating single game per season, i.e., @ Manchester this coming season, then @ Portland in 2017-18. I'm too lazy to go back and double-check; YMMV ...

I just looked through the current UNH thread and the only reference was snively65 saying Maine and UNH would play 4 times. It may have been wishful thinking back in late December after the revenue didn't materialize as both teams suffered bad years. It would actually be a boost to the schedule as that would be another non-conference game, meaning Maine would have a weekend to fill rather than a one-off against someone (probably an ECAC/AHC team on 11/1)

 

[boblav1]

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

I just looked through the current UNH thread and the only reference was snively65 saying Maine and UNH would play 4 times. It may have been wishful thinking back in late December after the revenue didn't materialize as both teams suffered bad years. It would actually be a boost to the schedule as that would be another non-conference game, meaning Maine would have a weekend to fill rather than a one-off against someone (probably an ECAC/AHC team on 11/1)

A bit surprising that Denver has yet to show up on the Maine's schedule.

 

[umhockey91]

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

A bit surprising that Denver has yet to show up on the Maine's schedule.

I'm not surprised at all. Gendron is afraid(?) and Jimmy feels jilted(?).......would not be a good series for anyone at this point. Maybe someday......but not now.

 

[ticapnews]

I'm not surprised at all. Gendron is afraid(?) and Jimmy feels jilted(?).......would not be a good series for anyone at this point. Maybe someday......but not now.

It has more to do with Denver wanting high quality OOC opponents and Maine not fitting the bill. Maine is an anchor on a team's RPI but aren't quite predictably bad enough to be considered a cupcake.

 

[umhockey91]

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

It has more to do with Denver wanting high quality OOC opponents and Maine not fitting the bill. Maine is an anchor on a team's RPI but aren't quite predictably bad enough to be considered a cupcake.

That may be part of it.......but can you admit that a series at this point in time might be "awkward" for multiple parties?

 

[ticapnews]

That may be part of it.......but can you admit that a series at this point in time might be "awkward" for multiple parties?

Sure, it could be. I just think there is much more at play than awkwardness.

 

[dwollstadt]

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

That may be part of it.......but can you admit that a series at this point in time might be "awkward" for multiple parties?

This makes no sense. If Red was "afraid" of scheduling Denver, why would he have scheduled North Dakota, Quinnipiac, and Union in the early part of 2015? Union wasn't ranked that fall, but Red initially scheduled them the year before, when they were the defending national champs. I see no indication that Red has been reluctant to schedule top-quality opponents when he had the chance. Similarly, the suggestion that Montgomery would avoid playing Maine because he feels "jilted" makes him out to be more small-minded than I think he is. Putting aside the fact that a home-and-home series between Maine and Denver would be expensive for both teams, ticapnews' explanation--that Denver wants higher-quality OOC opponents than Maine--seems a much better explanation.

 

[umhockey91]

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

This makes no sense. If Red was "afraid" of scheduling Denver, why would he have scheduled North Dakota, Quinnipiac, and Union in the early part of 2015? Union wasn't ranked that fall, but Red initially scheduled them the year before, when they were the defending national champs. I see no indication that Red has been reluctant to schedule top-quality opponents when he had the chance. Similarly, the suggestion that Montgomery would avoid playing Maine because he feels "jilted" makes him out to be more small-minded than I think he is. Putting aside the fact that a home-and-home series between Maine and Denver would be expensive for both teams, ticapnews' explanation--that Denver wants higher-quality OOC opponents than Maine--seems a much better explanation.

It makes a great excuse.....that's for sure!

 

[dwollstadt]

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

It makes a great excuse.....that's for sure!

Excuse for who?

 

[NorthMike]

Sure, it could be. I just think there is much more at play than awkwardness.

Miami sure wont be a cakewalk next year, Maine is 0 and something against Miami it seems. So Red continues reaching into NCHC and would probably like to play Denver. It just comes down to that there are only so many OOC games and each side wants NCAA ranking advantage and make as much revenue out of OCC games as you can.

We would have a good game turnout if Jimmy came to the Alfond. Fans would like to see him again.

 

[all bear]

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

Miami sure wont be a cakewalk next year, Maine is 0 and something against Miami it seems. So Red continues reaching into NCHC and would probably like to play Denver. It just comes down to that there are only so many OOC games and each side wants NCAA ranking advantage and make as much revenue out of OCC games as you can.

We would have a good game turnout if Jimmy came to the Alfond. Fans would like to see him again.

The fans would also love to see Paul Kariya , but that ain't happening either. Alumni shunting the fans, not that any or many of current fans even know who they were.

 

[ticapnews]

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

Miami sure wont be a cakewalk next year, Maine is 0 and something against Miami it seems. So Red continues reaching into NCHC and would probably like to play Denver. It just comes down to that there are only so many OOC games and each side wants NCAA ranking advantage and make as much revenue out of OCC games as you can.

We would have a good game turnout if Jimmy came to the Alfond. Fans would like to see him again.

Maine is 5-1 vs Miami. 3-0 at Alfond and 2-1 on neutral ice. This will be the first-ever trip to Oxford. Miami will ostensibly be making a return trip in 2017-18, which will be their first appearance at Alfond since January 2, 1993, when we played in the Dexter Classic.

Maine may want to play Denver, but the feeling is not mutual. On a sentimental level, I think Jimmy would much prefer to see a Maine team that is more on an equal footing with Denver, rather than a lion eating flesh off the carcass of a dying gazelle. From a practical level, it makes no sense for Denver to schedule Maine because Maine is in that Limbo territory - not nearly good enough to be worth anything in the RPI but too much of a risk to schedule Maine and lose (or tie). They have Boston College, Boston University and Providence all on their OOC schedule next season. No reason at all to play Maine.

 

[ticapnews]

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

The fans would also love to see Paul Kariya , but that ain't happening either. Alumni shunting the fans, not that any or many of current fans even know who they were.

Paul is a special case. He is in seclusion and by all reports hates hockey for what it did to him. I know that Tim reached out to him repeatedly and was refused. The Hobey Baker committee would like him to come back to Alfond because he has never received the ring they award the winner and they will only make the presentation at a game on campus. It isn't just Maine. He wouldn't even come out of seclusion for the retirement ceremony of Teemu Selanne - reported to be his closest friend in the hockey world. If he wouldn't even turn up for Teemu, he isn't going to be coming back to Maine anytime soon.

 

[Drew S.]

Paul is a special case. He is in seclusion and by all reports hates hockey for what it did to him. I know that Tim reached out to him repeatedly and was refused. The Hobey Baker committee would like him to come back to Alfond because he has never received the ring they award the winner and they will only make the presentation at a game on campus. It isn't just Maine. He wouldn't even come out of seclusion for the retirement ceremony of Teemu Selanne - reported to be his closest friend in the hockey world. If he wouldn't even turn up for Teemu, he isn't going to be coming back to Maine anytime soon.

I don't blame Kariya either. It's a disgrace what the NHL let happen to Kariya, Lindros, and Crosby(undoubtedly many others). None of them came close to achieving their potential. I think in time he will come back to Maine but it might not happen for 10 years or more.

 

[NorthMike]

Maine is 5-1 vs Miami. 3-0 at Alfond and 2-1 on neutral ice. This will be the first-ever trip to Oxford. Miami will ostensibly be making a return trip in 2017-18, which will be their first appearance at Alfond since January 2, 1993, when we played in the Dexter Classic.

Thanks for the stat. Better than I thought vs miami. I didn't know where to find it.

 

[maineiac]

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

Quinnipiac coming to Orono for 2 games next year. Not sure of dates.

 

[NCAAfan500]

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

I don't blame Kariya either. It's a disgrace what the NHL let happen to Kariya, Lindros, and Crosby(undoubtedly many others). None of them came close to achieving their potential. I think in time he will come back to Maine but it might not happen for 10 years or more.

Crosby has averaged 109 points a year in his career. Kariya was cut short due to a cheap shot from Suter, but Crosby and Lindros don't belong in the conversation.

 

[dwollstadt]

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

Quinnipiac coming to Orono for 2 games next year. Not sure of dates.

This must be because Red is afraid of high-quality opponents.

 

[Drew S.]

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

Crosby has averaged 109 points a year in his career. Kariya was cut short due to a cheap shot from Suter, but Crosby and Lindros don't belong in the conversation.

Wrong. He only has averaged 85. He's had a decent career but nowhere near where he would have been without the concussions. Lindros had 115 points as a 23 year old and never came close to that again. Where the great part of his career happened in the pre-internet days people completely forget just how good he was.