What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

hobeyfaker said:
I would surmise that for most any elite coll hoc recruit, their primary objective is not just to play div 1 hockey, but to choose a program as the best launching pad towards their primary goal, to play professionally. Maine is no longer ONE of those programs. They are in a snowballing downward spiral, accentuated by top prospects reluctance to come here. (Gillies, Dumoulin, Wahlstrom) Who wants to come to a school to showcase their talents, when they won't even get to play in the NCAA's or TD Garden?
Click to expand...

It's not just that. Good players want to play with other good players. You can't be a lone diamond in a dung-heap and expect to succeed... Even Paul Kariya himself would struggle to score on this Maine team.

Take Byron. I saw his first two games in a Maine sweater (both losses) but thought then- and still do- that he was/is NHL material. Thing is, the opposition is on him like white on rice these days, because Maine has nobody else to be concerned about anymore. He'll sign a pro contract and work his way up the ladder IMO, but his numbers and his contract leverage will be below what they'd be if he'd had any help in college.

Maine is a big and physical team, but they are as slow as molasses. You just can't win that way anymore. Even Jeff Jackson has thrown away his old Lake State formula for success in that regard. The way the game is called now, foot-speed is an absolute must... Yet Maine is stocked with ponderous brutes. Ain't gonna work; we need a class of waterbugs, more along the lines of a typical BC team.
 
Last edited:
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Vesey to me just seems to play soft. Skates the puck behind the net rather than go hard to the net front. He's a big kid, needs to add some grit to his game and attack the slot more, not play around the periphery.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Stephen King just donated $1,000,000 to UMaine to establish a chair in Literature. Is this the first major donation he has made to UM since the Learfield fiasco? Could the icy relationship finally be thawing? The curse over?
 
ticapnews said:
Stephen King just donated $1,000,000 to UMaine to establish a chair in Literature. Is this the first major donation he has made to UM since the Learfield fiasco? Could the icy relationship finally be thawing? The curse over?
Click to expand...

I think the donation was actually from the Alfond foundation.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Jeff Cox reporting hockey alums meeting with athletic director- vague
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

DLG said:
Jeff Cox reporting hockey alums meeting with athletic director- vague
Click to expand...

I just asked him about this. It isn't Schutte's group as there is nothing scheduled yet and the group Jeff mentioned already has a meeting set. The more the merrier, but I'd love to see a united front.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Drew S. said:
I think the donation was actually from the Alfond foundation.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the tweet I saw was worded badly. It was from the Alfond Foundation and the position is named for King. Oh well.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

rufus said:
Vesey to me just seems to play soft. Skates the puck behind the net rather than go hard to the net front. He's a big kid, needs to add some grit to his game and attack the slot more, not play around the periphery.
Click to expand...

Pretty lame showing for Vesey isn't it. Seems like he knows he'll be gone next year and doesn't want to get hurt.

Gotta play with some grit, can't play professional with the men and not be physical.
 
NorthMike said:
Pretty lame showing for Vesey isn't it. Seems like he knows he'll be gone next year and doesn't want to get hurt.

Gotta play with some grit, can't play professional with the men and not be physical.
Click to expand...

Where do you think he is going? I can't imagine he would pick playing in the ECHL over college.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Drew S. said:
Where do you think he is going? I can't imagine he would pick playing in the ECHL over college.
Click to expand...
He was Drafted by Toronto...I don't see him leaving until he's played one more season @ Maine...and even then that's not a given after this season...he played well last year with some playmaking d-man(Hutton)& playmaking centerman(Shore)on the team....he has been a disappointment, hopefully his BIG brother gives him some advice and some down to earth talking to...hopefully.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

DLG said:
Jeff Cox reporting hockey alums meeting with athletic director- vague
Click to expand...

Jeff Cox is the king of being vague. Isn't Roberto locked up for life? He was "hearing" that major scandal that ended up being nothing. He "hears" a lot of stuff and then vaguely tweets them.
 
Last edited:
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

B
Fishman'81 said:
It's not just that. Good players want to play with other good players. You can't be a lone diamond in a dung-heap and expect to succeed... Even Paul Kariya himself would struggle to score on this Maine team.

Take Byron. I saw his first two games in a Maine sweater (both losses) but thought then- and still do- that he was/is NHL material. Thing is, the opposition is on him like white on rice these days, because Maine has nobody else to be concerned about anymore. He'll sign a pro contract and work his way up the ladder IMO, but his numbers and his contract leverage will be below what they'd be if he'd had any help in college.

Maine is a big and physical team, but they are as slow as molasses. You just can't win that way anymore. Even Jeff Jackson has thrown away his old Lake State formula for success in that regard. The way the game is called now, foot-speed is an absolute must... Yet Maine is stocked with ponderous brutes. Ain't gonna work; we need a class of waterbugs, more along the lines of a typical BC team.
Click to expand...
Byron is for real...just does not have the supporting cast...as for size...that's all we've heard from this Staff...getting BIGGER...well how has that worked out..? You need a mix...some size on one or two d-pairings and you need at least one line with size...but you need speed/big or small...and a few snipers and playmakers while were sizing it up...oh and a Goaltender that plays consistant and can steal games for you...it's a MESS from top to bottom...same old/same old since the after the Ice-Breaker Classic in Portland.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Ma#1ne Hky said:
He was Drafted by Toronto...I don't see him leaving until he's played one more season @ Maine...and even then that's not a given after this season...he played well last year with some playmaking d-man(Hutton)& playmaking centerman(Shore)on the team....he has been a disappointment, hopefully his BIG brother gives him some advice and some down to earth talking to...hopefully.
Click to expand...

Vesey strikes me as the type of player who can perform as long as he is playing with top players. He's along for the ride. He's not going to make a line, but he can be a good piece on a line that already has it flowing nicely.
 
MCWarrior1011 said:
Vesey strikes me as the type of player who can perform as long as he is playing with top players. He's along for the ride. He's not going to make a line, but he can be a good piece on a line that already has it flowing nicely.
Click to expand...

Yup, he likes to float a bit too much... Would be okay if he had linemates who could get him the puck once or twice in a blue moon , but hey guess what ain't happening. Looks like he's beginning to realize he has to work a little to touch the puck
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Rumor has it, Red gets extension today. I imagine 2 years but I don't know that for sure. Results on the ice sure don't deserve that but you either have to buy him out and extend him so he isn't a lame duck coach. I think he is pretty well liked among long time fans. Lonborg, Shore, peccaro, Hutton departures have all hurt but thats college hockey now. Hopefully the incoming recruits can help and we only lose the seniors.

https://twitter.com/MarkEmmertPPH/status/700551114203209729
 
Last edited:
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

walrus said:
Rumor has it, Red gets extension today. I imagine 2 years but I don't know that for sure. Results on the ice sure don't deserve that but you either have to buy him out and extend him so he isn't a lame duck coach. I think he is pretty well liked among long time fans. Lonborg, Shore, peccaro, Hutton departures have all hurt but thats college hockey now. Hopefully the incoming recruits can help and we only lose the seniors.

https://twitter.com/MarkEmmertPPH/status/700551114203209729
Click to expand...
No the results on the ice do not warrant a extension, but "IF" they do extend...just one year...that gives him 2 years, one from his current contract and the extended year...this should tell RG that he has two seasons to get it together or else...pressure needs to be applied by the AD. State the facts with Progress a major issue. His(RG)two plus this season have produces nothing, more or less they have gotten worse each and every year. Not good at all.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Ma#1ne Hky said:
No the results on the ice do not warrant a extension, but "IF" they do extend...just one year...that gives him 2 years, one from his current contract and the extended year...this should tell RG that he has two seasons to get it together or else...pressure needs to be applied by the AD. State the facts with Progress a major issue. His(RG)two plus this season have produces nothing, more or less they have gotten worse each and every year. Not good at all.
Click to expand...

Makes good sense. Don't suppose the Ath Dept reads this blog.

An extension would not be surprising, the AD is probably taking heat and wants to get the hockey business off his plate to concentrate about other matters.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

NorthMike said:
Makes good sense. Don't suppose the Ath Dept reads this blog.

An extension would not be surprising, the AD is probably taking heat and wants to get the hockey business off his plate to concentrate about other matters.
Click to expand...
He needs to reach out for help...not a slam on him...but he does not have the experience around the game/what it means/and to the State wide fans and Alumni around the State and Country for that matter...would be nice for him to reach out to a few, maybe like a Grant Standbrook & a Stu Haskell...people that have been around the block and in the know...and for that matter people that care for this Program and its well being.
 
Re: Maine Black Bears - Return to the Glory Years or On to Oblivion?

Congratulations Red and staff and all the best in the future.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top