Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

............. Maybe the verdict on Norman is he will not be able to play Div. I as a defensemen...........

I agree with you on Norman. He was playing in a weak high school league in Minnesota. I hope he develops and does well, but I have my doubts at this point in time.

 

[BearNecessity]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Bill Norman reminds me of Richie Cunningham on happy days........sunken chest, looks like his suit still has the hanger in it.....may skate like the wind, but isn't a D 1 HEA player.......if Pryor stays healthy, he can handle PP, sometimes...O'Connor and Cornell can do it as well, if they get a chance, although Cornell and O'Connor as top defense pair feels better.....add PK in and they can work Rutt shows promise, Nemec may stay and start grad school, but he is 6'3" and that will get some attention.....if he comes back, you may actually have a better top 4 than you do today...O'Neil hasn't been himself since the beginning of the year......and Hegs can be an adventure......Sully will be a year older and more experienced and the race to back up will be a tight one....can we score enough is my main worry

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

I agree, although I don't know a thing about Norman.

Don't want to sound too critical, but Hegs and Pryor leaving will be addition by subtraction.

I like Cornell well enough, and really have high hopes for O'Connor, but it won't hurt to add a little beef- and maybe more poise- to the D.

Maine is getting some 'tending now, but the D is still very shaky at times. If the Bears can shore up their back-end, we won't have to worry as much as far as where the goals are coming from.

 

[Slapshot08]

I agree, although I don't know a thing about Norman.

Don't want to sound too critical, but Hegs and Pryor leaving will be addition by subtraction.

I like Cornell well enough, and really have high hopes for O'Connor, but it won't hurt to add a little beef- and maybe more poise- to the D.

Maine is getting some 'tending now, but the D is still very shaky at times. If the Bears can shore up their back-end, we won't have to worry as much as far as where the goals are coming from.

I gotta disagree with you here on a couple of points. First, Pryor's a junior...he's not leaving. And he's come a long way this year IMO. And Hegs and Nemec have been shutting down the top lines for the top teams in the country for most of the season. Pairing them with Mangene's line against the Kreider line vs. BC. and the Chiasson line against BU worked great. Not always pretty, but effective. And Hegs is getting chances when they put him up front on the PP....he just needs to start burying them. As far as Nemec, he might not be here next year (graduates this year even though he has a year of eligibility left). Without those two, we don't have a shutdown D.

I think we'll still have a solid top 4 next year with Cornell, O'Connor, Rutt, and Pryor...well at least top 3. It gets pretty scary after that. And the biggest addition by subtraction is definitely O'Neill. You only have to look at his +/- vs. his D partner, Cornell to see that he's a huge liability. I think he has been out there (and arguably responsible for) all 9 -- yes, 9 -- shorties against this year. And to be skating with the top line in the country on even strength and have a negative +/- is astounding. Watch how much better Cornell is when he's not covering for O'Neill.

And this D crew is playing well in front of average goaltending. Let's not forget that Sully is still in he bottom half of the country statistically. Far better than it was last year and early this year, but far from lights out.

 

[Drew S.]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

I gotta disagree with you here on a couple of points. First, Pryor's a junior...he's not leaving. And he's come a long way this year IMO. And Hegs and Nemec have been shutting down the top lines for the top teams in the country for most of the season. Pairing them with Mangene's line against the Kreider line vs. BC. and the Chiasson line against BU worked great. Not always pretty, but effective. And Hegs is getting chances when they put him up front on the PP....he just needs to start burying them. As far as Nemec, he might not be here next year (graduates this year even though he has a year of eligibility left). Without those two, we don't have a shutdown D.

I think we'll still have a solid top 4 next year with Cornell, O'Connor, Rutt, and Pryor...well at least top 3. It gets pretty scary after that. And the biggest addition by subtraction is definitely O'Neill. You only have to look at his +/- vs. his D partner, Cornell to see that he's a huge liability. I think he has been out there (and arguably responsible for) all 9 -- yes, 9 -- shorties against this year. And to be skating with the top line in the country on even strength and have a negative +/- is astounding. Watch how much better Cornell is when he's not covering for O'Neill.

And this D crew is playing well in front of average goaltending. Let's not forget that Sully is still in he bottom half of the country statistically. Far better than it was last year and early this year, but far from lights out.

I agree 100% on Pryor. He looked as bad as i've ever seen any college player look his first couple years but has done a complete 180 this year. I like him on the power play and think he has played pretty well 5 on 5 too.

I like how Riley and Hutton look on paper, time will tell but hopefully they can make an impact straightaway. They seem like our most promising defensive recruits in a few years.

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

I like how Riley and Hutton look on paper, time will tell but hopefully they can make an impact straightaway. They seem like our most promising defensive recruits in a few years.

Agreed!

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

I agree 100% on Pryor. He looked as bad as i've ever seen any college player look his first couple years but has done a complete 180 this year. I like him on the power play and think he has played pretty well 5 on 5 too.

I like how Riley and Hutton look on paper, time will tell but hopefully they can make an impact straightaway. They seem like our most promising defensive recruits in a few years.

Pryor is a Liability...and as far as Riley & Hutton,Expectations will be High and here's hoping that those Expectations can be achieved...but I'm in the opinion that they have to be ready for a change in level of play and ready for the up-tempo of the College game...and that may take some time in the beginning,but lets HOPE...that there the Diamonds in the Rough next season along with a few others.

 

[BobF]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Pryor is a Liability...and as far as Riley & Hutton,Expectations will be High and here's hoping that those Expectations can be achieved...but I'm in the opinion that they have to be ready for a change in level of play and ready for the up-tempo of the College game...and that may take some time in the beginning,but lets HOPE...that there the Diamonds in the Rough next season along with a few others.

Not sure how Hutton is a "diamond in the rough" kid played on a Canadian National all star team in British Columbia comes with all kinds of accolades. By the way so do Lomberg and Shore. So "diamonds in the rough?" methinks not! They come in with expectations to step in and play. And I expect they will do just that! Are they blue-chippers? Only time will tell, but it does look like our best recruiting class in quite awhile, and quite frankly it will need to be.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

......Pryor is a Liability....

Pryor is a great kid who has had to stuggle with concussions and hasn't been healthy enough to get playing time. If Nick can continue to be healthy, I am hoping he can continue to develop his skills at this level. I'm rooting for Nick Pryor.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Pryor is a great kid who has had to stuggle with concussions and hasn't been healthy enough to get playing time. If Nick can continue to be healthy, I am hoping he can continue to develop his skills at this level. I'm rooting for Nick Pryor.

Rooting for someone doesn't make him a great player. I rooted for David Wilson, he was never a great goalie I still liked him and wanted him to play. Nick has improved and hopefully he continues to improve. I still think he took quite a shot to the head friday night

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Rooting for someone doesn't make him a great player. I rooted for David Wilson, he was never a great goalie I still liked him and wanted him to play. Nick has improved and hopefully he continues to improve. I still think he took quite a shot to the head friday night

I never said that my rooting for Nick Pryor would make him a great player. Those are your words. I am rooting for Nick to improve, with more playing time perhaps he will. I am rooting for him because of the obstacles he has had to overcome. My comment was in direct response to a post stating that Pryor was a liability. I was pointing out that Pryor may be a liability because of the health issues and his not being able to practice and obtain playing time.

 

[BoSox3066]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Will-O's top 10 in the country in assists and I think third in Hockey East, +/- isn't great but they're not where they are without his puck moving and offense. Calling him a "liability" is off base.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

I'm OK with Nemec and Cornell, but I have to respectfully disagree about Pryor and Hegs.

They both can shut people down on the rush, but they seem to turn it over on the ensuing breakout half the time.

So many bad decisions and cough-ups around their net. I hold my breath when either one of them is handling the biscuit down low in traffic. Sully has saved their bacon a lot recently, IMO.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Not sure how Hutton is a "diamond in the rough" kid played on a Canadian National all star team in British Columbia comes with all kinds of accolades. By the way so do Lomberg and Shore. So "diamonds in the rough?" methinks not! They come in with expectations to step in and play. And I expect they will do just that! Are they blue-chippers? Only time will tell, but it does look like our best recruiting class in quite awhile, and quite frankly it will need to be.

I've seen the hype over Recruits the past 3-4 years at Maine,understand that thats the Business in giving the glowing reports,but I'll stick to what they do on the ice and and how they progress from say the Blue/White game to games 5 then 10 games and to the mid-season point...alot will factor in is the playing time...but hoping there are a few that can come in and handle the grind from the get-go as there will be job openings up for grabs come next fall.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Pryor is a great kid who has had to stuggle with concussions and hasn't been healthy enough to get playing time. If Nick can continue to be healthy, I am hoping he can continue to develop his skills at this level. I'm rooting for Nick Pryor.

I have nothing against Pryor,he has had the bad luck of the injury bug...want the BEST for "him" and the Team...maybe I should have said I thought he was a liability on the defensive side....but it's just imo.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

. I was pointing out that Pryor may be a liability because of the health issues and his not being able to practice and obtain playing time.

Lack of playing time has hurt him. When you don't play for most of a year its hard to get settled in.

 

[Hockeyman99]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

A couple of our D, while they move the puck well are soft in the defensive zone and give up a lot of scoring chances. I personally like D that are hard for the other teams forwards to play against and make them fight for every inch! For whatever reason the D mentioned prominently in this thread plays very soft and seldom wins any battles. I too like the emphasis on size for our recruits. Forwards should be a little nervous when they enter our zone, crash our net, harass our goalie!

 

[KnowItAll]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

By the way, wally.......the Monarch recruits are freshmen and sophs........do you REALLY expect freshmen and sophs to lead us to the promised land??? Like you and others have said many times, another Kariya ain't walking through the door anytime soon!

Flynn's a senior with a C
Shemansky mangene, nemec, cornell and Beattie are juniors (that's got to be a record... 5 in a class from the same junior team)

Matt Duffy was a monarch, and Derek Damon was on the team that came before the monarchs (they have his name on a banner at the rink)

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

Flynn's a senior with a C
Shemansky mangene, nemec, cornell and Beattie are juniors (that's got to be a record... 5 in a class from the same junior team)

Matt Duffy was a monarch, and Derek Damon was on the team that came before the monarchs (they have his name on a banner at the rink)

Is that MY quote???

 

[irishfan85]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: Monarchs and More......

I'm so sick of hearing about nice kids. Pryor is a nice kid, as are most of the kids on this version of the Black Bears. The problem is there are nice kids on BU, BC and Merrimack. It is not mutually exclusive. You can have nice kids who do well academically that are also good hockey players. Remember Jim Leger? He was great on the PK and was a tenacious worker on some good UMaine teams. He won the Humanitarian Award. The Kariya's all did well academically. As someone who's followed college hockey since the 80s, I've seen lots of good hockey teams and lots of good hockey teams with nice kids. For recent examples, Merrimack has taken a kid with cancer under their wings. BU has worn a blue patch for a foundation. Western Michigan adopted a kid with cancer last year.

Pryor is a good kid, but an awful Division I hockey player. Just watch the turnovers. The defense has several guys who are good on the PP and good offensively, but they aren't necessarily good Division I defenseman.

I'm also sick of the never ending pipeline to the Jr. Monarchs. The Jr. Monarchs have a great coach and are one of the best programs in the EJHL. However, do you see any other team in HE with so many players from the EJHL on their team? Maine has more kids from the Monarchs (8) than any other HE team has kids from the entire EJHL (6). Maine has 10 EJ kids in total.

Flynn has turned out to be a hell of a hockey player. Mangene is a tenacious player who flies on the ice. Great finds by the coaching staff. But it strikes me as either lazy or working with very little recruiting budget. Either scenario isn't pretty. One shows poor work ethic. One shows the university isn't committed to hockey excellence like it once was.

When Maine had their best teams, did they ever have more than 5 guys on the team from the EJ? Somehow, I doubt it. I also doubt BC or BU won NCAA Titles last decade with more than 5 guys from the EJ. BU had five EJ guys on their 09 team. Only Higgins and Matt Gilroy played important roles. Ruika and Gaudet didn't play and Kevin Gilroy played in less than one third the games with 2 points. In other words, all of those guys but Higgins were originally walk-ons. Matt Gilroy earned a scholarship and won the Hobey Baker, but those other three were just local kids who were walk-ons.