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

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

You want a positive? Here's a positive. Last night's game was televised in Canada and more alumni than Mike Schutte watched. His FB post was the impetus for other alumni to come out of the woodwork. Memories of Harold Alfond and Pat's Pizza were exchanged. Then I clued them in on what is happening on campus. Phone calls have been made and emails have been sent. Pockets of alumni are involved again. It is my hope and belief that awareness will spread. Mike suggested an angry mob of alumni outside Kreech's office might get his attention. I'm not sure a mob would be constructive but a group of alumni meeting with Kreech and/or Hunter might. Bobby Stewart mentioned forming an alumni council to help.

I firmly believe one key way forward for this program lies in getting the alumni involved again. Last night may have been the first step in reconnecting with them.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

ticapnews said:
You want a positive? Here's a positive. Last night's game was televised in Canada and more alumni than Mike Schutte watched. His FB post was the impetus for other alumni to come out of the woodwork. Memories of Harold Alfond and Pat's Pizza were exchanged. Then I clued them in on what is happening on campus. Phone calls have been made and emails have been sent. Pockets of alumni are involved again. It is my hope and belief that awareness will spread. Mike suggested an angry mob of alumni outside Kreech's office might get his attention. I'm not sure a mob would be constructive but a group of alumni meeting with Kreech and/or Hunter might. Bobby Stewart mentioned forming an alumni council to help.

I firmly believe one key way forward for this program lies in getting the alumni involved again. Last night may have been the first step in reconnecting with them.
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Lets hope your right in the regard that its time for some to be outspoken towards speaking to the AD and getting creative and get the ball rolling, in a positive way...we all know the negative...and it does stink. Time will tell, hoping its more then JUST talk...action by many will be the telling factor...
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

ticapnews said:
You want a positive? Here's a positive. Last night's game was televised in Canada and more alumni than Mike Schutte watched. His FB post was the impetus for other alumni to come out of the woodwork. Memories of Harold Alfond and Pat's Pizza were exchanged. Then I clued them in on what is happening on campus. Phone calls have been made and emails have been sent. Pockets of alumni are involved again. It is my hope and belief that awareness will spread. Mike suggested an angry mob of alumni outside Kreech's office might get his attention. I'm not sure a mob would be constructive but a group of alumni meeting with Kreech and/or Hunter might. Bobby Stewart mentioned forming an alumni council to help.

I firmly believe one key way forward for this program lies in getting the alumni involved again. Last night may have been the first step in reconnecting with them.
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Honestly, its a little baffling to me that a guy like Schutte would lose touch with the program so much. He played two years under Timmy and actually played with both Guite and Jean. It's too bad if Timmy didn't make much effort to keep in touch with the guys who graduated while he was coach. Hopefully this does lead to that group being more involved with the program, it can certainly use all the help it can get.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

hobeyfaker said:
Yep, its what bad teams do. They hang around, but in crunchtime(3rd period), their lack of talent, shines thru and they lose.
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Here's my take and the announcers alluded to it. Maine over commits and expends a lot of energy attacking early in the game. ND uses their high energy players to wear out the Maine team. Late in the game Maine is gassed and ND uses their highly skilled offensive players to score. Slightly over simplified, but close to what happened. Jackson knew how to handle Maine. This strategy might work for Maine if they could score goals. Score early and then attack defensively. Maine over committed early in the game and it resulted in breakaways and one on one with goaltender. Morris kept Maine in the game and played very well.
 
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Drew S. said:
Honestly, its a little baffling to me that a guy like Schutte would lose touch with the program so much. He played two years under Timmy and actually played with both Guite and Jean. It's too bad if Timmy didn't make much effort to keep in touch with the guys who graduated while he was coach. Hopefully this does lead to that group being more involved with the program, it can certainly use all the help it can get.
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I have become somewhat of a conspiracy nut in regards to this. Speaking with Alumni of the hockey program and alumni of the school as a whole I see a vast difference in levels of communications.

There is a hockey alumnus who still lives in the area. A national champion who would make a fantastic role model for current players and an invaluable resource for potential recruits. He also has a degree from the school. The only time the school has contacted him was to ask for money to the endowment. The school has not contacted him at any other time. Even to ask for money for other things.

Contrast that with another alumnus with a degree from the school but no ties to the athletic department. He receives a quarterly newsletter and at least a couple requests for money every year.

Something just doesn't add up.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

One thing for sure about playing at Notre Dame. They are going to get the calls at home. Big time.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Face it, Maine hasn't scored a goal the whole wknd on ND. Its like bein in a bad marriage, ya need to get out, yet somehow you keep watchin and hangin in. ND is as good a team as there is in HE. They will do damage in the post season.
 
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Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Still falling and when does this thing hit bottom
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Drew S. said:
What exactly did you expect this weekend? Notre Dame is much, much better. The next three weekends are the ones where Maine has some chances for wins.
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Next 3 weekends??? Home to Merrimack...Away @ NU...then the Hockey East Playoffs versus/most likely #5 or #6 seed in Hockey East...maybe a chance @ 2-2-0 or 1-3-0...but NO wins coming in 1st Round of HE play...far stretch just to win 10 games.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Drew S. said:
What exactly did you expect this weekend? Notre Dame is much, much better. The next three weekends are the ones where Maine has some chances for wins.
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I was hoping they steal a point but it was clear they aren't even close to ND. Team D might as well have been pylons. The only bright spots were Matty and Robbins. Until they can score on PP and get some mobile D this team is a cellar dweller. I see attendance going down further as no one wants to watch this.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

This season is now pointless. I suppose some points in the final 2 wknds to get a high enough seed to get a home playoff series to even have a chance of winning that one, but we all know they are not advancing beyond that, if even that.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

"It was the 17th time this season Maine has scored one goal or less in a game."

What else do you need to know?
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

You can teach defense but you can't teach speed, offensive talent and creativity. You either have it or you don't. I actually thought Maine played pretty well this weekend... this disparity in talent though just can't be overcome. I'll pick ND over PC
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

all bear said:
You can teach defense but you can't teach speed, offensive talent and creativity. You either have it or you don't. I actually thought Maine played pretty well this weekend... this disparity in talent though just can't be overcome. I'll pick ND over PC
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I thought ND was far better than PC
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Sure you can teach defense, and sound positioning and solid play can offset superior speed to some extent. But how many times did we see one ND forward blow by and through 2 or 3 Maine defenders without anyone laying so much as an arm on them? Surely those guys aren't so fast and agile that someone couldn't get put a a body on them.

If they are too quick, then play off them a bit, force them to the outside, don't go after them and then have to hold or hook them as they blow by because you were too aggressive and got beat.

Yeah, they're playing better, and trying to their utmost abilities. But I still don't think the defensive positioning is where it should be. Maybe they just can't execute it, but to me it seems more often they get flustered or riled up and take themselves out of it. Playing smart can offset some of a better team's advantage. But we don't play too smart either, as all the penalties show.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

rufus said:
Sure you can teach defense, and sound positioning and solid play can offset superior speed to some extent. But how many times did we see one ND forward blow by and through 2 or 3 Maine defenders without anyone laying so much as an arm on them? Surely those guys aren't so fast and agile that someone couldn't get put a a body on them.

If they are too quick, then play off them a bit, force them to the outside, don't go after them and then have to hold or hook them as they blow by because you were too aggressive and got beat.

Yeah, they're playing better, and trying to their utmost abilities. But I still don't think the defensive positioning is where it should be. Maybe they just can't execute it, but to me it seems more often they get flustered or riled up and take themselves out of it. Playing smart can offset some of a better team's advantage. But we don't play too smart either, as all the penalties show.
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Jake Evans did a number on Maine's defense. If defense is teachable, they need more or better coaching. In addition, when Maine plays a more skilled team, they lose both composure and discipline.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

What exactly does Jay Leach do for this team? Is his coaching or recruiting stellar? If not......he's probably a candidate for replacement. Bring in someone that can teach them better puck handling, skating, defense, and/or work with goaltenders!
 
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