Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

[Pucknut]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Nonis job safe for now....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...leafs-plan-wins-mlse-support/article22938348/

 

[Drew S.]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

I think you guys are missing the point. I agree with getting rid of Lomberg, other people don't, whatever. This team with Lomberg doesn't jump from 10 wins to 20. Some people apparently think Gendron is an awful coach, some think he's fantastic, I think he's probably somewhere in between. Whatever. With the talent on this team, I don't think there's a coach out there that gets them to 20 wins. If you think someone else, with Lomberg on the team, could get them to maybe 15/16 wins, okay. I can buy that, but the point to follow stands:

Beginning in the late 1980's through the 90's, Maine probably was in the top 5-10 nationally in spending on ice hockey. Right now, I would be shocked if Maine was in the top 50%. And that matters. A lot. Most of Maine's peer schools have much less broad athletic programs. UNH doesn't have baseball anymore, it's big sports are football and hockey (and their hockey is suffering). UVM doesn't have football or baseball. Lowell doesn't have football. Northeastern dropped football. Maine has 50+ football scholarships, 18 hockey scholarships, 12ish baseball scholarships to pay for, as well as women's equivalencies. That's a lot, especially considering how every time you open the paper you read about how much the UMaine system as a whole is in crisis. There's a limited pool of money to spend, and Maine is trying to spread it across a very wide swath.

For years and years, Maine could rely on having the biggest recruiting budget, the most up to date facilities, the best equipment, etc. Maine used to play a true national schedule, from Alaska to California to Florida to Ohio to Minnesota, etc. Now they are limiting flights, staying close to home, etc. Is Maine committing more resources to hockey than Lowell? Or Northeastern? Or Quinnipiac? Or.... you name it.

That's why Maine isn't MAINE anymore. And why we won't be again until the state/board of trustees figures out how to fix the statewide system, then the Orono administration figures out its plan for athletics with the money it has, then the athletic department figures out how to divvy up funds.

TL;DR version: the university is broke, and hockey is expensive, and we aren't outspending our rivals anymore.

Very well said. I think beyond that the non-athletic facilities have slipped way behind the other schools in Hockey East to.

If there is one thing I think you could fault Timmy for it was for trying to recruit too many good students. I remember reading that when Shawn passed Maine's team GPA was like 2.2 and when Timmy got axed it was up to like 3.5. Obviously being a good hockey player and being a good student aren't mutually exclusive but I would be willing to bet that there were guys who would have been superior to who Maine brought in but Timmy wasn't interested because of their grades. It's ironic because two of his best players were Levielle and Tyler, Leveille was a non-qualifier and apparently Tyler wasn't a great student.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Another place where Tim hurt the program, fund raising. Red is out there, shaking hands before every game. Jay and Ben are out there also. Red is very approachable, his office is open. You can ask questions but be prepared to not like the answer He calls a spade a spade

Yep.

And Drew is right about the non-athletic facilities. I work with high schoolers in southern Maine. Not a one of them has any interest in UMaine. (Or USM, to be honest). When I ask them about it, point out that it is a great deal, good education, cheap, all they say is that they heard it was a dump, or that it was out of money, etc. The few that do go visit talk about how nice the new rec center is, then ask why the rest of the campus looks so bad in comparison. And it's true. Ten years ago I sat in classrooms up there that had severe water damage in the ceilings that caused paint to rain down on you. Those classrooms look the same today.

As the state ages and gets poorer, the University system is going to be less and less of a fiscal priority. It shouldn't be, it should be a palace that draws students from out of state who stay in Maine, but instead it is a fat piece of the budget that is ripe for plucking. Until that changes, we need to lower our expectations.

 

[umhockey91]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Yep.

And Drew is right about the non-athletic facilities. I work with high schoolers in southern Maine. Not a one of them has any interest in UMaine. (Or USM, to be honest). When I ask them about it, point out that it is a great deal, good education, cheap, all they say is that they heard it was a dump, or that it was out of money, etc. The few that do go visit talk about how nice the new rec center is, then ask why the rest of the campus looks so bad in comparison. And it's true. Ten years ago I sat in classrooms up there that had severe water damage in the ceilings that caused paint to rain down on you. Those classrooms look the same today.

As the state ages and gets poorer, the University system is going to be less and less of a fiscal priority. It shouldn't be, it should be a palace that draws students from out of state who stay in Maine, but instead it is a fat piece of the budget that is ripe for plucking. Until that changes, we need to lower our expectations.

In fairness though......many Southern Mainers don't even know anything exists North of LL Bean. UMaine could have gold plated buildings and they would thumb their noses anyway. UNH....BC....etc all the way with many in Cumberland and York counties.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

In fairness though......many Southern Mainers don't even know anything exists North of LL Bean. UMaine could have gold plated buildings and they would thumb their noses anyway. UNH....BC....etc all the way with many in Cumberland and York counties.

I don't think that's true. Plenty of kids are into Colby, Bates and Bowdoin. I think we sent like six kids to Farmington last year. Maine Maritime is really, really popular right now (guaranteed good money when you graduate). Honestly, I think we sent more to Husson than Orono.

You have to attract students. Everyone else is trying to. It seems like Maine is trying to repel them.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

I don't think that's true. Plenty of kids are into Colby, Bates and Bowdoin. I think we sent like six kids to Farmington last year. Maine Maritime is really, really popular right now (guaranteed good money when you graduate). Honestly, I think we sent more to Husson than Orono.

You have to attract students. Everyone else is trying to. It seems like Maine is trying to repel them.

Hussons transformation is unreal, when I was a kid we called it Husson High. They have quite the network now. Maine Maritime is really popular up here also. You have a chance to retire in your 40s

 

[boblav1]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Saturday's game moved to 4:00pm.

TIME CHANGES TO THREE HOCKEY EAST CONTESTS SATURDAY

WAKEFIELD, Mass. - Due to forecasted inclement weather, three Hockey East contests scheduled for Saturday night have been moved to a 4 p.m. start time: No. 2 Boston University at New Hampshire, Massachusetts at No. 15 UMass Lowell and Maine at Merrimack. All Friday games remain to be played as scheduled, including New Hampshire at No. 2 Boston University live on NESN at 7 p.m.

- See more at: http://hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1415/201502/feb12hea.php#sthash.oUnd0GGl.dpuf

 

[BoSox3066]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Rufus nailed it, I wouldnt be so sour on the direction of the program if the conditioning and style we saw last year carried into this year. The way they look bugs and scares me much more than the record. It was a step forward last year and 3 steps back now, which makes absolutely no sense considering they had their first full summer with Reds conditioning program

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Rufus nailed it, I wouldnt be so sour on the direction of the program if the conditioning and style we saw last year carried into this year. The way they look bugs and scares me much more than the record. It was a step forward last year and 3 steps back now, which makes absolutely no sense considering they had their first full summer with Reds conditioning program

I think you hear the same from many people in and out of the rink about last year to this year...makes no sense...like you figured they would improve in many areas,maybe not in the W/L record...but a group NOBODY would want to play against each night...but its been puzzling to say the least.

 

[Erix_The_Red]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

then ask why the rest of the campus looks so bad in comparison. And it's true. Ten years ago I sat in classrooms up there that had severe water damage in the ceilings that caused paint to rain down on you. Those classrooms look the same today.

Unless you're an engineer. Those facilities are nice.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Unless you're an engineer. Those facilities are nice.

Well, right. But turning your state flagship into "We're an engineering school and all the liberal arts majors can go f themselves" is probably suboptimal.

 

[BassAle]

Well, right. But turning your state flagship into "We're an engineering school and all the liberal arts majors can go f themselves" is probably suboptimal.

The system needs to close at least one campus to better fund the flagship. There is no need for two northern maine campuses, or even one in Washington county. Community colleges can take up a lot of the slack.

 

[hobeyfaker]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Saturday's game moved to 4:00pm.

So now if you pay the 9.95 you can watch both games on streaming video?

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

The system needs to close at least one campus to better fund the flagship. There is no need for two northern maine campuses, or even one in Washington county. Community colleges can take up a lot of the slack.

They also need to figure out what USM is. Is it Maine's "city" university? Or is it basically Orono-lite with a campus in Gorham? Trying to be both has been a disaster.

 

[rufus]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

like you figured they would improve in many areas,maybe not in the W/L record...but a group NOBODY would want to play against each night.

Exactly. And it's really puzzling that that attitude and performance isn't there.

 

[blackbearbandie]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

2-0 Maine after 1. Quite the crowd here at seasons watching the game streaming from the web.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

3-2 Maine now, up 3-0 and then 2 for MC, 2nd verse same as the first

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

2-0 Maine after 1. Quite the crowd here at seasons watching the game streaming from the web.

Awesome! Sounds like a good time. Go Blue!

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

3-2 Maine now, up 3-0 and then 2 for MC, 2nd verse same as the first

Well I came in late. That ain't good. Oh well, let's see how she plays out.

At least the Pats won finally!!!!

Maybe we get some puck luck here and get some points out of Merrimack.

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Hockey 2014-15 Volume 2: Red's Revenge

Awesome! Been waiting for that guy to get a good one. He's worked hard and it is going to pay of going forward I think.

Maine up 4-2 now.