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Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
- Thread starter Salvo1017
- Start date
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
I am looking forward to seeing a number of storylines play out in 2010-2011:
- Joe Cannata as a full time starter
- Stephane Da Costa adding strength after a full season in Hockey East
- Chris Barton capping off a great 4 year career at MC
- Joe Cucci coming back for another season anchoring a second scoring line
- An increased workload for players like John Heffernan, Jeff Velleca and Francois Ouimet
- A solid freshman class led offensively by Mike Collins and defensively by Brendan Ellis
Thoughts?
I am looking forward to seeing a number of storylines play out in 2010-2011:
- Joe Cannata as a full time starter
- Stephane Da Costa adding strength after a full season in Hockey East
- Chris Barton capping off a great 4 year career at MC
- Joe Cucci coming back for another season anchoring a second scoring line
- An increased workload for players like John Heffernan, Jeff Velleca and Francois Ouimet
- A solid freshman class led offensively by Mike Collins and defensively by Brendan Ellis
Thoughts?
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Merrimack is in a different position this year, they have to deal with expectation, something the program hasn't dealt with in the past. We'll have to see how they respond.
Ellis is going to be a top dman and will impress early. This could be the last year for Cannata, DaCosta, and Bigos - so they will need to bring it this year.
4 of the first 5 HE games are on the road....... makes the start even more important.
Merrimack is in a different position this year, they have to deal with expectation, something the program hasn't dealt with in the past. We'll have to see how they respond.
Ellis is going to be a top dman and will impress early. This could be the last year for Cannata, DaCosta, and Bigos - so they will need to bring it this year.
4 of the first 5 HE games are on the road....... makes the start even more important.
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
I agree and mentioned in the HE thread that MC will not sneak up on anyone this year and I don't see how they are better than BC, Maine, BU, UNH, UVM, and NU who I think will all finish ahead of them in that order.
Yeah, they have an excellent player and some very good players, but so do these other teams. The other teams also have more depth.
Hanging a forward at the opposing blue line is probably not going to work this year.
The thing besides DeCosta that Mack has going for it is playing in a depressing rink where the opponent just wants to get out because it reminds them of their old youth hockey arenas again.....
I agree and mentioned in the HE thread that MC will not sneak up on anyone this year and I don't see how they are better than BC, Maine, BU, UNH, UVM, and NU who I think will all finish ahead of them in that order.
Yeah, they have an excellent player and some very good players, but so do these other teams. The other teams also have more depth.
Hanging a forward at the opposing blue line is probably not going to work this year.
The thing besides DeCosta that Mack has going for it is playing in a depressing rink where the opponent just wants to get out because it reminds them of their old youth hockey arenas again.....
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Agree in full about Ellis, all reports have been very positive.
Regarding Cannata, if you look at it from Vancouver's perspective (they own his draft rights) they have Luongo locked up long term at the NHL level and just resigned Cory Schnieder at the AHL level. My guess is they would rather keep Cannata in the NCAAs, but we'll see.
Agree in full about Ellis, all reports have been very positive.
Regarding Cannata, if you look at it from Vancouver's perspective (they own his draft rights) they have Luongo locked up long term at the NHL level and just resigned Cory Schnieder at the AHL level. My guess is they would rather keep Cannata in the NCAAs, but we'll see.
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
I'd rather see a game at Lawler than some crazy arena that feels more like a professional rink than a college barn...that's not what college hockey is about. Oh and perhaps you need some reminding of which arena in all of college hockey saw the best home record....was it Agganis? No...perhaps the Kohl Center...nope not that either.....it was the "depressing rink"....Lawler.
But anyways, Lawler is getting some nice renovations this year...student benches at the far side plus seats for the rest of the arena...it will certainly be a welcomed improvement but still keep the old-time hockey feel.
I'd rather see a game at Lawler than some crazy arena that feels more like a professional rink than a college barn...that's not what college hockey is about. Oh and perhaps you need some reminding of which arena in all of college hockey saw the best home record....was it Agganis? No...perhaps the Kohl Center...nope not that either.....it was the "depressing rink"....Lawler.
But anyways, Lawler is getting some nice renovations this year...student benches at the far side plus seats for the rest of the arena...it will certainly be a welcomed improvement but still keep the old-time hockey feel.
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Absolutely, Luongo and then Schnieder.....there's absolutely no reason right now to not keep Cannata in Hockey East
Absolutely, Luongo and then Schnieder.....there's absolutely no reason right now to not keep Cannata in Hockey East
joegrav
New member
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
I think you're confusing "college barn" and "MDC rink." Matthews is an old college barn. RPI's rink is a old college barn, as is Lynah, the Yale Whale, and Bright. Merrimack, UConn and Bentley don't play in college barns, they play in semi-glorified MDC rinks.
BTW, while Merrimack's 12-3-1 home record was impressive, BC went 14-2 at home, so your claim is incorrect.
I think you're confusing "college barn" and "MDC rink." Matthews is an old college barn. RPI's rink is a old college barn, as is Lynah, the Yale Whale, and Bright. Merrimack, UConn and Bentley don't play in college barns, they play in semi-glorified MDC rinks.
BTW, while Merrimack's 12-3-1 home record was impressive, BC went 14-2 at home, so your claim is incorrect.
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Meh, you can call the rink what you want, but the last two BC championship teams are 1-1 at the Lawler, goals scored: Merrimack 7-BC 7
Meh, you can call the rink what you want, but the last two BC championship teams are 1-1 at the Lawler, goals scored: Merrimack 7-BC 7
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
I've been in UConn's rink...it sucks...big time and Bentley plays at the town municpal rink...so I really dont see what "your point is there" either...those two rinks are no where near the atmosphere of a rocking Lawler rink
I've been in UConn's rink...it sucks...big time and Bentley plays at the town municpal rink...so I really dont see what "your point is there" either...those two rinks are no where near the atmosphere of a rocking Lawler rink
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
i like Merrimack because it is the Hockey East equivilent of Brown. I've been to Lawler Rink and I wouldn't say it's "rocking" by any stretch.
i like Merrimack because it is the Hockey East equivilent of Brown. I've been to Lawler Rink and I wouldn't say it's "rocking" by any stretch.
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Hooraaaaaay. BC played down to far inferior Merrimack teams.
Hang a banner!!!!
And I thought the UNH fans were stupid with their trivial little moral victories. This one beats anything I've seen from them.
Hooraaaaaay. BC played down to far inferior Merrimack teams.
Hang a banner!!!!
And I thought the UNH fans were stupid with their trivial little moral victories. This one beats anything I've seen from them.
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Say what you want, but coaches across the board in HE did not want to come play at Lawler....you can make your jokes and say that they didn't want to play there because it's a "MDC rink" that resembles youth hockey rinks....but there's really no arguing on the subject...our home record speaks for its self.
So if you don't like Lawler...that's fine don't come watch a game there...stick to your large arenas that hardly sell out...the last time I've been to a game at Conte it was half empty and half full of old silver-haired alum. Me personally I'll take watching a game 5 rows up from the ice at Lawler any day. At Conte you pay 20 dollars for nose-bleeds and when the place is half empty you get yelled at by security for moving down....what a joke.
Say what you want, but coaches across the board in HE did not want to come play at Lawler....you can make your jokes and say that they didn't want to play there because it's a "MDC rink" that resembles youth hockey rinks....but there's really no arguing on the subject...our home record speaks for its self.
So if you don't like Lawler...that's fine don't come watch a game there...stick to your large arenas that hardly sell out...the last time I've been to a game at Conte it was half empty and half full of old silver-haired alum. Me personally I'll take watching a game 5 rows up from the ice at Lawler any day. At Conte you pay 20 dollars for nose-bleeds and when the place is half empty you get yelled at by security for moving down....what a joke.
sterlippo1
Well-known member
Last edited:
sterlippo1
Well-known member
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
apples and oranges and you know it
And I thought us NU fans were bad with our love for our arena/rocking fan base
apples and oranges and you know it
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
We get it. Merrimack was outstanding at home last year. No coach wants to play on the road, but you have to. The atmosphere may have been pretty good at Merrimack, but that doesn't mean it still can't be a sub-par DI men's ice hockey rink.
Conte Forum holds 7,884 for hockey. With tickets ranging from around $10-$30...I'd say the average would come out to under 20. Still, with the economy, it has kept people away. There are no nose bleed seats at Conte. Very few bad seats in the place IMO.
We get it. Merrimack was outstanding at home last year. No coach wants to play on the road, but you have to. The atmosphere may have been pretty good at Merrimack, but that doesn't mean it still can't be a sub-par DI men's ice hockey rink.
Conte Forum holds 7,884 for hockey. With tickets ranging from around $10-$30...I'd say the average would come out to under 20. Still, with the economy, it has kept people away. There are no nose bleed seats at Conte. Very few bad seats in the place IMO.
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
Gee, with a record like that at home I'm wondering why I didn't see Merrimack at the Boston Garden and the NCAA regionals.
Might want to work on that 4-15-1 road record.
Since you like referencing BC championship teams of the past, consider how worthless home records are (in addition to Merrimack's absence in the HE semis and NCAAs again last year with that amazing home record) when you look at BC's 2008 championship team that had a 6-7-4 home record at Conte.
If I had to choose, I'd take a good road record over a good home record any day. The playoffs are entirely on the road (neutral = not home = away for all intents and purposes) once you're out of the QFs.
You can joke about it all you want but BC still absolutely rakes in cash with some empty seats and Merrimack is making chump change with these sold out crowds (how many people constitute a sell-out at Merrimack, 400 people?).
Was it because BC was playing a dreadful hockey program like Merrimack? Doesn't get many BC people excited. You might see it full if BC raises the banner versus the Warriors this year, though.
Gee, with a record like that at home I'm wondering why I didn't see Merrimack at the Boston Garden and the NCAA regionals.
Might want to work on that 4-15-1 road record.
Since you like referencing BC championship teams of the past, consider how worthless home records are (in addition to Merrimack's absence in the HE semis and NCAAs again last year with that amazing home record) when you look at BC's 2008 championship team that had a 6-7-4 home record at Conte.
If I had to choose, I'd take a good road record over a good home record any day. The playoffs are entirely on the road (neutral = not home = away for all intents and purposes) once you're out of the QFs.
You can joke about it all you want but BC still absolutely rakes in cash with some empty seats and Merrimack is making chump change with these sold out crowds (how many people constitute a sell-out at Merrimack, 400 people?).
Was it because BC was playing a dreadful hockey program like Merrimack? Doesn't get many BC people excited. You might see it full if BC raises the banner versus the Warriors this year, though.
Re: Merrimack Offseason thread - preseason rank 10th again? I think not
I'd imagine coaches like Parker, York and Umile dont want to play at Lawler because it's embarrassing for their NHL ready players to play at a rink that is worse than the ones they played on in Mites.
It must be hysterical for a BC or BU to play at Lawler immediately after the Beanpot. Going from the Garden to that dump in North Andover must be a shock for the players to deal with.
I'd imagine coaches like Parker, York and Umile dont want to play at Lawler because it's embarrassing for their NHL ready players to play at a rink that is worse than the ones they played on in Mites.
It must be hysterical for a BC or BU to play at Lawler immediately after the Beanpot. Going from the Garden to that dump in North Andover must be a shock for the players to deal with.