I just scanned thru Barr's page on the UMass website, and he looks to me like a very appealing option. He's been a key part of building not one, not two, but three national champions (Union 2014, Providence 2015, and UMass 2021). None of those were exactly bigtime programs until recently, perhaps except for Providence. Big time recruiters don't always translate to great coaches, David Quinn at BU is a good example of that in my opinion, but having a guy like him who speaks recruit's language and can get guys in is a fantastic start.
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 Offseason 2020: We Stay Home But Swayman Leaves
- Thread starter AMC
- Start date
- Status
You Mainers have been saying there's no money. If there's no money you ain't getting Barr. He's got a great situation and will be able to pick his spot over the next few years. He can be selective. You guys better start sending checks to the AD.
net presence
Active member
Sean...yeah, I wasn’t very clear about the pay in 2010. At that time, the referees in the “old” WCHA were making $350 per game and the linesmen were $200. With any official staying overnight receiving $175 per day for per diem. With their hotels coming out of that money. That was the top pay in DI hockey as the other conferences were only paying the referees between $300-$325 and only about $60 a day per diem, with the league direct billing the hotel rooms.
So, according to my math (which is admittedly not great) in that 10 yr span, the officiating fees went up just 15%. Whereas the average coaches salary increase in that time frame was 67%. It simply shows how little the college level values their officials. My only observation is, you get what you pay for. Especially in comparison to the lowest level of pay for women’s DI b-ball. Makes no sense.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Exactly. If Ben could have recruited in the first place, Maine wouldn't be mired where it is right now.
So let's go ahead and promote him! Makes zero sense.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
You never cease to amaze me.
Maine flat-out sucks right now, and continuing this folly just translates into several (or many) more years of sucking.
Why not take a flyer on a younger coach who isn't steeped in the recent tradition of futility? My God.
mainetwentytwelve
MAINE~IAK
I 100% agree with this. IMO I think the only real chance Maine has of returning to relevance is catching lightning in a bottle with a younger, up and coming coach. MAYBE Guite is that guy (but I doubt it). Personally, I'd like to see Lang or Barr if we can get them. If I had to put money on it, I'd say Guite is the man.
Last edited:
Ma#1ne Hky
New member
I keep wondering about the so called process...I mean are they going with backwards first? Then forward second? I do understand you need someone to be the figure-head while this is going on...but search first and your plan B or back-up plan is wait till next year and go with the Interim....as I said awhile back FISHMAN, fasten your seat belts for the Roller Coaster ride aka Soap Opera 101....but kidding aside....ATTN: Ken Ralph, this is a MAKE OR BREAK HIRE for this hockey program...no if's/and's about it.
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Chuck, I don't see better funding coming in the future unless some 1%er steps up and sets up an endowment for a hockey coach.
I don’t understand how you can say that when they made the NCAA’s the last time there was a full season.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
You're probably right, you would certainly know better than myself. I just figure that Guite is the cheap affordable option, is already in situ, and at worst buys some time until a more traditional offseason a year from now. At best, he turns out to be a better HC than he has been as an assistant, and then you're good for the short-term future. Not a lot of precedent for that, as we're learning the painful way at UNH with MS7.
==========
Whoever lands Barr will probably have won this offseason, AND potentially the next decade or so in whatever league he might wind up in. His past has been here in the East, so I'm guessing it will turn out to be a well-heeled ECAC or Hockey East school that offers Barr the best combination of compensation, facilities and gravitas to make his recruiting that much more effective. Unfortunately, I don't see UMaine currently ranking too high in any of those categories, and I think Barr will feel he has earned the right not to have to build his next (destination) program from the ground up. I wouldn't be shocked if he lands at BC/BU? The rich get richer, etc.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Even though a step or two ahead of the two others you've named, Providence wasn't a national contender until Leaman and Barr got them there. As mentioned in the preceding post, Barr has established that he can recruit a middling-to-lower D-1 program to the very top of the division. I suspect he won't feel he needs to prove himself a fourth time in his first HC job.
After Whitehead got fired Corkum was interim head coach until they hired Red. They need someone to run the program while they do the search.
umhockey91
Well-known member
Amen!
Not to belittle Red's passing......but Ken Ralph has been handed all of this on a silver platter. He doesn't have to deal with the whole keeping or firing Gendron thing now. Even the timing is perfect with the new fiscal year starting on July 1. That is the only hope that I am holding out for......that Guite has been hired as interim HC until June 30. That would totally make sense giving the program 2+ months to mourn and the search committee 2+ months to do their search and interviews. But yeah.....I don't have much confidence in anything to do with this program right now. Hiring Guite will continue to erode the program and fan support will continue to dwindle.
LostonaRinkinMaine
New member
They made the tourney because Swayman was Christ Reincarnated. Their defense was absolutely terrible.
Ben is a great interim, and I hope he gets a fair shake at the real thing, but I have a feeling Greg Moore will be getting a phone call.
NorthMike
Well-known member
The more I think about this coaching situation the worse it seems, that Guite gets the job. No offense meant personally towards Guite, I know nothing if he is a good coach, and wish him well for the sake of the program. But, this appointment will be so disappointing and frustrating in terms of bringing hope for success to the program which some other hire could really bring. We would have to wait through another 3 to 5 years of excuses and promises to see what the true results would bring. Then if the results aren’t there then what? Try another 3 to 5 years? Without a key hire the program will no doubt just fade further into cementing its position in the bottom tier by continuing to play poor to mediocre hockey, with moments of some brilliance.
The worst part of this is that it would clearly show the school is not going to support hockey in a manner needed to bring it back to the front. It seems part of this decision would be that they just don’t have the heart to cause Guite and Alfie packing with the hire of new coach. Instead just pacify some of the fan base that seems to hold dear having alum and someone part of the glory days running the program. Good grief they have to let go of the glory days, that was +20 years ago!!! That cash cow is pretty well done, dead.
OK that’s all nice and cozy but this hire is not very likely going to bring back regularly (more often than not) going to at least one post season event, the Garden, NCAA regionals, or frozen fours, with fans going in support of the team, proud to be there, instead of just going to be spectators and wishing/hoping.
I don’t know I fear this hire would be another huge mistake, hopefully this projection is way off but I don’t think so.
Is there any hope for Maine hockey? I had some but this would strip me of it.
The worst part of this is that it would clearly show the school is not going to support hockey in a manner needed to bring it back to the front. It seems part of this decision would be that they just don’t have the heart to cause Guite and Alfie packing with the hire of new coach. Instead just pacify some of the fan base that seems to hold dear having alum and someone part of the glory days running the program. Good grief they have to let go of the glory days, that was +20 years ago!!! That cash cow is pretty well done, dead.
OK that’s all nice and cozy but this hire is not very likely going to bring back regularly (more often than not) going to at least one post season event, the Garden, NCAA regionals, or frozen fours, with fans going in support of the team, proud to be there, instead of just going to be spectators and wishing/hoping.
I don’t know I fear this hire would be another huge mistake, hopefully this projection is way off but I don’t think so.
Is there any hope for Maine hockey? I had some but this would strip me of it.
umhockey91
Well-known member
I'm sure that our resident BC fan on this thread can answer that. You know that Barr is a good candidate when other teams fans start posting reasons why it won't happen.
What tournament are you guys talking about? The Hockey East tournament? If you're talking about last year, Maine finished #15 in the PWR before the Hockey East tournament got canned. That's a very tenuous NCAA tournament position with no guarantee they would get in. But I guess you'd technically be right in that Atlantic Hockey was set to be #16 overall.
umhockey91, I didn't say Barr to Maine wouldn't happen. I am just going off what you guys have said about there being no money. If that is the case then I don't think it will happen.
- Status