Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

[billb]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

I watched Merrimack-BC the other night, and my sense is that Merrimack is a New England version of North Dakota. I can see a Miami-Merrimack final at The V, which would be a terrific game. Merrimack, sensing 'Their Moment,' and Miami staring down the barrel (yet again) at another Hockey East opponent.

Indeed, I suggested earlier that if Merrimack > UNH this year, there will be more than the usual amount of 'Hell To Pay' with respect to Umile. This Regional could be his Waterloo. His team can't evaporate into the ether yet again without serious repercussions. I think the coach of Lowell was bounced, in part, because of the meteoric success of Merrimack. One might argue that one had nothing to do with the other. I'm here to suggest that it did.

As you may be aware, the consensus here is that Mr. Umile will be leaving on his own terms. The early post-season swoon will never cost Mr. Umile his job.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

As you may be aware, the consensus here is that Mr. Umile will be leaving on his own terms. The early post-season swoon will never cost Mr. Umile his job.

nope, but certainly his wardrobe and the school's traditions will.

 

[5IslandsWildcat]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Back here in Manchester, it's business as usual, and, while I'll be happy to see UNH prevail, Merrimack is scary good. They can beat Miami, too.
I do like UNH because they don't goon it up, although there is the propensity to take the stupid penalty. They'll get the usual good game out of DiGirolamo, but it remains to be seen which team will show up in front of him. TV?

UNH penalties, stupid or otherwise, seem a key to this game. Miami has a 25.4% PP and UNH a 82.1% PK. The low PK hurt UNH little during the season because they are the lowest penalized team in HE. (Didn't look up nationally, but they are among the least penalized.) But in a single game, time in the box that would be normal for many teams could mean Redhawk goals. Not sure the opposite is true. Miami has an 88.1% PK and UNH only a 19.9% PP.

Also might need more than the "usual good game" from DiGi. Miami's first line is super while late in the season UNH's first line defense dropped off. Umile split up the first line several months ago, I suspect to improve the defense more than to spread out the scoring across lines. Miami is the #1 seed, so should be able to control when its lines are on the ice and against whom.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Indeed, I suggested earlier that if Merrimack > UNH this year, there will be more than the usual amount of 'Hell To Pay' with respect to Umile. This Regional could be his Waterloo. His team can't evaporate into the ether yet again without serious repercussions.

I think the coach of Lowell was bounced, in part, because of the meteoric success of Merrimack. One might argue that one had nothing to do with the other. I'm here to suggest that it did.

Ya, Coach Umile's record of success is comparable to Blaise MacDonald's record at UML.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Indeed, I suggested earlier that if Merrimack > UNH this year, there will be more than the usual amount of 'Hell To Pay' with respect to Umile. This Regional could be his Waterloo. His team can't evaporate into the ether yet again without serious repercussions. I think the coach of Lowell was bounced, in part, because of the meteoric success of Merrimack. One might argue that one had nothing to do with the other. I'm here to suggest that it did.

If UNH beats Miami this weekend, it will be a bigger upset than when UNH ambushed Nodak two years ago. UNH is a fourth seed, and many fans did not expect them to be in the NCAAs at all this season. Few fans have any expectations for UNH winning even one game this weekend. Umile certainly had a lot more confidence in his goaltender coming into the season than I did, and if it were not for DiGi, the Cats would not have been even close to a post-season appearance this year. Umile's situation is nothing like MacDonald's, not even close. Umile gets UNH into the post-season every year despite having much less talent on the ice than do Jerry York and Jack Parker. Simply compare the number of NHL draftees year after year after year amongst these three schools. As a UNH fan, I will be happy if our seniors leave it all on the ice and we are simply not blown out by a Miami team that is much, much stronger than when we visited them in Ohio at the beginning of the season. But, there is always the possibility of an upset or two, which happens just about every year.

 

[GoUNH]

If UNH beats Miami this weekend, it will be a bigger upset than when UNH ambushed Nodak two years ago. UNH is a fourth seed, and many fans did not expect them to be in the NCAAs at all this season. Few fans have any expectations for UNH winning even one game this weekend. Umile certainly had a lot more confidence in his goaltender coming into the season than I did, and if it were not for DiGi, the Cats would not have been even close to a post-season appearance this year. Umile's situation is nothing like MacDonald's, not even close. Umile gets UNH into the post-season every year despite having much less talent on the ice than do Jerry York and Jack Parker. Simply compare the number of NHL draftees year after year after year amongst these three schools. As a UNH fan, I will be happy if our seniors leave it all on the ice and we are simply not blown out by a Miami team that is much, much stronger than when we visited them in Ohio at the beginning of the season. But, there is always the possibility of an upset or two, which happens just about every year.

So true, whenever a team that has made the Tournament for 10 straight years wins a game its a huge upset. Right. And you're a UNH fan. Right.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

So true, whenever a team that has made the Tournament for 10 straight years wins a game its a huge upset. Right. And you're a UNH fan. Right.

You do understand that an upset is determined by the relative abilities of the two teams involved, correct, and not how many consecutive times they've made the tournament? While seedings aren't always the best indicator, I think in this case, they're pretty accurate. I'm predicting a UNH victory, but I agree that it would be a pretty big upset.

If consecutive appearances were a determining factor in ranking the teams, UNH and Michigan would be the favorites to meet in the finals every year.

 

[Chris_NH]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Ya, Coach Umile's record of success is comparable to Blaise MacDonald's record at UML.

I wasn't trying to equate Umile and MacDonald; I was simply trying to suggest the possible ascendency of Merrimack as reasons why there might be a more harsh light shed on the coaches of those two programs. It couldn't have pleased the leadership at UMass Lowell to see a fellow Merrimack Valley school nine miles away suddenly 'Get Good.' But I sense that IF Merrimack outlasts UNH in Manchester (either beats them outright, or wins the first game while UNH loses theirs), the hue and cry for Umile's scalp will be more pointed than it's ever been.

That is my sense anyway. Hey, I live in NH and would love to see the Wildcats win it all.

On a related note, I am pleased to see an overall Regionals TV package that allows us to see most if not all the games!!

 

[chickod]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

So true, whenever a team that has made the Tournament for 10 straight years wins a game its a huge upset. Right. And you're a UNH fan. Right.

But he IS right. Making the tournament is one thing - winning is another. Just look at the Bruins. They have enough talent to get to the dance, but when the other teams "step it up" a level, the Bruins are always left behind. There is such a thing as "elevating your game" in the post-season. That's a lot easier to do when you have more talent. There is a reason that BU and BC have nine National Championships between them; their talent level is consistently higher. And although it is disappointing to get there and lose, it is better than not getting there at all. I'm not going to try to say that I "understand," because UNH has never won a NC and BU has, so I wouldn't have much credibility in that regard. And neither am I taking sides in the whole Umile "controversy" (if there is one)...just be careful what you wish for. You may get someone who you regret.

 

[GoUNH]

You do understand that an upset is determined by the relative abilities of the two teams involved, correct, and not how many consecutive times they've made the tournament? While seedings aren't always the best indicator, I think in this case, they're pretty accurate. I'm predicting a UNH victory, but I agree that it would be a pretty big upset.

If consecutive appearances were a determining factor in ranking the teams, UNH and Michigan would be the favorites to meet in the finals every year.

Oh boy. He plays a cowbell and dances like a school boy and now he's a hockey expert. Air Force beating Miami would be an upset. UNH beating BC in the tournament would be an upset. UNH beating Miami on Saturday would probably surprise a lot of people outside of the Hockey East circle but it wouldn't exactly be an upset. Have you ever played any type of organized hockey?

 

[broomball]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Where will all the Miami fans be sitting this weekend? I'm still looking around for tickets and want to find something reasonably close to the Miami camp.

 

[WildShawn]

Oh boy. He plays a cowbell and dances like a school boy and now he's a hockey expert. Air Force beating Miami would be an upset. UNH beating BC in the tournament would be an upset. UNH beating Miami on Saturday would probably surprise a lot of people outside of the Hockey East circle but it wouldn't exactly be an upset. Have you ever played any type of organized hockey?

Who gives a rat's butt what cbg does, why take a personal shot especially when he is correct? It would absolutly be an upset if unh beat miami Saturday. Look at the predictions, and use the eye test. Since you're the apparent expert. One team just won a championship and is on a huge roll. The other has won 4 of 11 and hasn't beaten a good team since November.
Guess which is which. Miami vaulted up the rankings to a 1 seed, unh went from a 1 seed to the bubble in a little over a month. While it wouldn't be a Holy Cross over Minnesota type upset, all indications lead to it being an upset.

 

[Darius]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Oh boy. He plays a cowbell and dances like a school boy and now he's a hockey expert. Air Force beating Miami would be an upset. UNH beating BC in the tournament would be an upset. UNH beating Miami on Saturday would probably surprise a lot of people outside of the Hockey East circle but it wouldn't exactly be an upset. Have you ever played any type of organized hockey?

Gotta agree with CBG here, not on UNH winning, but on the upset. I've seen most of their 2011 games in person, some on TV and UNH has not been playing well. I haven't seen nearly as much of Miami, but they played with talent, grit and desire in the CCHA championship. The rankings and seedings are obvious.

From today's Union Leader:

Dot Sheehan, senior associate athletic director at UNH... said about three-quarters of the tickets for the two-day event are already sold, a pace that is ahead of the 2006 and 2009 tournaments when the four-team fields included either Boston College or Boston University.

"Merrimack is the difference," Sheehan said. "They're certainly bringing a lot of fans."

Arena general manager Tim Bechert said Merrimack rented the arena's two open suites. The college will have upwards of five buses to carry students and fans to the games and could have a turnout similar to the one that took over Boston Garden for the team's run to the championship game of the Hockey East tournament last week.

"What happened with the team in Boston will hopefully carry over up here," Bechert said.

Sheehan is not expecting large crowds following Notre Dame or Miami, but there are enough people joining the Notre Dame team and its band at the Best Western that some were booked at an affiliate hotel in Bedford.

Kathy Standish, one of the owners of the nearby J.W. Hills Sports Bar and Grill on Elm Street, is bracing for large crowds throughout the tournament. She said she's already had request of parties of over 100 people from Miami and Notre Dame fans.

"People have been calling all week," Standish said. "This has always been big, but there is so much more energy this time."

Sheehan and Bechert said the price of ticket packages, which range from $75 to $55, are lower than 2009, which is a concession to the economic times and a move that has helped boost sales.

"The economic climate is different and it did have an impact," Bechert said. "We lowered ticket prices and it seems to be working."

Complete article: http://www.theunionleader.com/artic...rticleId=557aff20-3122-4924-a37b-1e5dea588a9b

This will be a fun hockey weekend. "Anything can happen" is my UNH/Miami mantra. Digi could stand on his head, Moses could score 4 goals, the top line could revert to December form, Miami could lay an egg. Go 'cats!

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

If UNH beats Miami this weekend, it will be a bigger upset than when UNH ambushed Nodak two years ago. UNH is a fourth seed, and many fans did not expect them to be in the NCAAs at all this season. Few fans have any expectations for UNH winning even one game this weekend.

Maybe on paper but I actually would think that win over ND was more of an upset than a potential win over Miami this weekend.

Just my opinion though. I'm convinced BU would have met their demise the next night if UNH didn't come back to win that game.

 

[WildShawn]

Maybe on paper but I actually would think that win over ND was more of an upset than a potential win over Miami this weekend.

Just my opinion though. I'm convinced BU would have met their demise the next night if UNH didn't come back to win that game.

.
I think that unh team was better top to bottom than they are now and they sure left all of their effort on the ice that weekend. If this team puts forth that type of effort, they have a shot, but we have only seen it in small stretches since december. I also think you're basing it on your general feeling towards Miami, and I think that's short sighted. They are loaded compared to unh and on paper and on the ice they should win Saturday.

I'd love to see a third first round upset in 3 years for unh, it can happen.

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Oh boy. He plays a cowbell and dances like a school boy and now he's a hockey expert. Air Force beating Miami would be an upset. UNH beating BC in the tournament would be an upset. UNH beating Miami on Saturday would probably surprise a lot of people outside of the Hockey East circle but it wouldn't exactly be an upset. Have you ever played any type of organized hockey?

Somebody calls you out for being wrong, and you take a personal shot at them? There's a reason your little dots are all read. Comments like that are totally unneccessary. And more importantly, he's right.

10-0-3 in their last 13 games (or something like that) and a #1 seed, playing UNH as a #4 seed, means that a UNH Victory, by definition, is an upset. Just like when a #3 beats a #2.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

I don't necessarily agree that you go straight by the numbers either to determine an upset. If you look at the Hockey East tourney, you had UNH (2) play Merrimack (4), if those same two teams play Sunday, it'll be Merrimack (2) against UNH (4). Anyone who knew the two teams knew that Merrimack was/is a better team than UNH and it certainly wasn't an upset when they won last Friday. It may have surprised a lot of people who know nothing about college hockey and more specifically how this season had shaken down (I heard a lot of that on Monday), but it certainly wasn't an upset. People need to use their eyes and compare the teams by more than just the rankings/seedings.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Interesting thought/question... If you're amongst the thousands of Merrimack fans that will outnumber everyone else in the building Saturday, who are you rooting for in the first game? As a UNH fan I'm pulling for Merrimack in the 2nd game against Notre Dame, and hope that those that stick around will add to the excitement in game 2. I'm curious how the hoards of Merrimack fans, students especially, will turn out for the first game. Do they see UNH as a rival that they want to lose, or do they see them as a Hockey East team that they want to see succeed (as long as its not at their expense?)

 

[JB]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

I don't necessarily agree that you go straight by the numbers either to determine an upset. If you look at the Hockey East tourney, you had UNH (2) play Merrimack (4), if those same two teams play Sunday, it'll be Merrimack (2) against UNH (4). Anyone who knew the two teams knew that Merrimack was/is a better team than UNH and it certainly wasn't an upset when they won last Friday. It may have surprised a lot of people who know nothing about college hockey and more specifically how this season had shaken down (I heard a lot of that on Monday), but it certainly wasn't an upset. People need to use their eyes and compare the teams by more than just the rankings/seedings.

Wait let me get this straight so the reason there are 12-5 "upsets" in the squeaky ball tournament every year, it is not just merely coincidence...

In this case my eyes tell me that UNH beating Miami would be an upset. Not only do I think Miami is a more talented team but they also happen to be playing better hockey. The only thing Miami has going against them is the pressure that they are supposed to win this game.

 

[Yuppie Scum]

Re: Northeast Regional: Miami, Merrimack, Notre Dame, UNH

Where does it say they will be shooting twice at that end?

I was kinda upset, the designated sections at the Garden were at the defending ends for two periods.