The Barr Has Been Raised at UMaine

[Chuck Murray]

No doubt. Sucks we missed out on what looks to be a good player, Walshy missed out on tons of them, it happens.

No one gets them all, right? Not even Walshy/Standbrook. The key is to identify the top talent, get yourself in the mix as a serious contender for their signature, and hopefully your abilities as a coach and the assets of your program draw more than your fair share to commit to you.

Barr seems to have done a nice job at this, at several past destinations.

No reason to think a guy who can win in Schenectady, can't win in Orono ...

 

[acs64]

No one gets them all, right? Not even Walshy/Standbrook. The key is to identify the top talent, get yourself in the mix as a serious contender for their signature, and hopefully your abilities as a coach and the assets of your program draw more than your fair share to commit to you.

Barr seems to have done a nice job at this, at several past destinations.

No reason to think a guy who can win in Schenectady, can't win in Orono ...

And no reason that if and when Maine starts winning consistently that UNH cant at least try to keep up with them .

 

[Chuck Murray]

And no reason that if and when Maine starts winning consistently that UNH cant at least try to keep up with them .

Yup, at least that's the logical hope. Having said that, I have no faith in the folks further up the chain at UNH to do the right thing anyway, so until our useless idiot careerist AD retires, I don't see anything positive happening with UNH Hockey. He's the guy who fell for Umile's vaunted succession plan, and now we're living through the resulting wonderland of endless, abject mediocrity.

I'm not exaggerating when I admit your AD and his HC hire seem to be top notch.

You'd think the goal for every program would be to win games/draw fans. Not here in Titletown ...

 

[amkirby10]

Glad to see Barr invited to throw out the first pitch at Hadlock Field, with his sons in tow. Good way to integrate him into the state community a bit.

 

[The Zlax45]

Agreed Wally. Although it is interesting to see some of the folks on here trying to draw Barr into the Walshy coaching tree by using the brand-new "Three Degrees of Shawn Walsh" method, taken from the more widely-known "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" meme used for Hollywood connections.

Barr is an RPI guy, through and through. Played there, got his start in coaching there, and that's where he crossed paths with Ralph and Monty. Met up with Leaman (previously a short term UMaine volunteer assistant) at Union, before he followed him to Providence. Not denying Leaman was influenced by Walshy, but I think it's really a stretch to extend that influence to Barr. All of those guys do have an apparent common trait of fearlessness, but that's hardly unique to Walshy.

If the RPI job opens up again, it might be the only D-1 job Barr considers leaving UMaine for ... ?

Carvel left his alma mater for UMass...there was another reason though.

 

[The Zlax45]

Yup, at least that's the logical hope. Having said that, I have no faith in the folks further up the chain at UNH to do the right thing anyway, so until our useless idiot careerist AD retires, I don't see anything positive happening with UNH Hockey. He's the guy who fell for Umile's vaunted succession plan, and now we're living through the resulting wonderland of endless, abject mediocrity.

I'm not exaggerating when I admit your AD and his HC hire seem to be top notch.

You'd think the goal for every program would be to win games/draw fans. Not here in Titletown ...

I don't think there is an AD in America East or Hockey East that has been at their school HALF as long as Marty has been at UNH.

 

[Chuck Murray]

I don't think there is an AD in America East or Hockey East that has been at their school HALF as long as Marty has been at UNH.

Therein lies the problem. It's awesome that he spearheaded efforts to upgrade the football facilities from the level of abject embarrassment to the improved state of affairs across the street from The Whitt nowadays. But if the various athletic teams you are charged with overseeing have been most notable for their overall lack of on-field achievement over the last 20 years, that's a huge issue for fans. And so long as you're going to charge your fans money to view those games, the fans should be able to provide feedback on the quality of the product (or lack thereof).

Even his most notable accomplishment - the growth of UNH Football - has tempered in recent years, and may ultimately suffer the same "almost but not quite" fate as UNH Hockey did a generation (give or take) ago. Hoops would kill to achieve such a level, and for the most part, the Women's sports teams have done no better. Hopefully Coach Hubbard and Men's Soccer can accomplish the things that eluded Coaches Umile and McDonnell (so far).

New blood in the UNH AD's office is badly needed. But this is a UMaine thread, so I'll leave it at that ...

 

[Runsub5]

Latest news/info on Ben Barr by Larry in today's BDN. Moving to Brewer and Ben shares some thoughts about what he is looking for in players. Two transfers and an offer to an assistant coach.

https://bangordailynews.com/2021/06...ey-coach-hopes-to-restore-prominence-to-team/

 

[Jackcurtis23]

https://bangordailynews.com/2021/06...ey-coach-hopes-to-restore-prominence-to-team/

 

[Fishman'81]

I know you’re a relatively new fan and weren’t around for the glory days but there was a time when Maine would bring in players like Richard ever year. Since Shawn died there have been few truly exciting recruits. That’s not to say there haven’t been good players because there definitely have been. It’s just a different vibe going into the season with one or two new guys who you are really excited to see play.

Whitehead recruited some vintage Maine talent... Red, none.

No way Barr could do worse.

 

[amkirby10]

Hockey East tournament format is changing for next season. All 11 teams will qualify, and rather than a best-of-three at the start before single elimination for the semifinals and finals at the Garden, the entire tournament will be single elimination.

Thoughts?

 

[Drew S.]

Hockey East tournament format is changing for next season. All 11 teams will qualify, and rather than a best-of-three at the start before single elimination for the semifinals and finals at the Garden, the entire tournament will be single elimination.

Thoughts?

I’d prefer only top eight make it but this is next best thing. I hated the tournament being three weekends and this avoids that. I think single elimination leads to a lot more excitement in each game and it’s good not to have to potentially play three games in a row.

Hopefully they can sort out the ridiculous ot/shootout rules. Whatever they decide to do should not be complicated and if they do decide to have a shootout don’t call those ‘ties.’

 

[sezenack]

I’d prefer only top eight make it but this is next best thing. I hated the tournament being three weekends and this avoids that. I think single elimination leads to a lot more excitement in each game and it’s good not to have to potentially play three games in a row.

Hopefully they can sort out the ridiculous ot/shootout rules. Whatever they decide to do should not be complicated and if they do decide to have a shootout don’t call those ‘ties.’

What are you talking about? The Hockey East Tournament uses continuous 5v5 OT to decide games

 

[Drew S.]

What are you talking about? The Hockey East Tournament uses continuous 5v5 OT to decide games

I was referring to last year’s regular season.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

I think they should stick to 8 teams make the playoffs...make the the regular season have some meaning to it, with that said I would change a few things during the the regular season...The Point system: 3 points for a regular season win - 2 points for a overtime win - and a single point if the game after overtime is tied, nothing wrong with ties during the regular season...I would change overtime also to be 10 minutes instead of 5 minute and keep the play @ 5x5 on the ice...heck you play 5x5 for 60 minutes keep it like it was suppose to be in the first place....AND "NO SHOOT-OUTS" no way on that....stay with best 2 out of 3 in the first round then go to one and done for the Semi's and Finals. On a different note I heard a rumor of OC games for 2021-22 season could have Maine @ Penn State and @ Omaha with Alaska Fairbanks and Quinnipiac coming up to Alfond to play Maine...have anyone heard this or different OC teams..? One thing for sure it's been a long time that I can't wait for the season to begin....

 

[Chuck Murray]

I think they should stick to 8 teams make the playoffs...make the the regular season have some meaning to it, with that said I would change a few things during the the regular season...The Point system: 3 points for a regular season win - 2 points for a overtime win - and a single point if the game after overtime is tied, nothing wrong with ties during the regular season...I would change overtime also to be 10 minutes instead of 5 minute and keep the play @ 5x5 on the ice...heck you play 5x5 for 60 minutes keep it like it was suppose to be in the first place....AND "NO SHOOT-OUTS" no way on that....stay with best 2 out of 3 in the first round then go to one and done for the Semi's and Finals.

Hear, hear. I agree with about 95% of this post. Only quibble is, I would just keep the win at 2 points - regulation or OT - and if you lose in OT, then tough - zero points for you. I hate it that the final 5-10 minutes of regulation in a lot of close games become way too cautious, with teams clinging to their precious 1 point guarantee to get to OT. Don't reward teams for their cautious play - reward teams who decide to "go for it". There's enough of a damper on modern hockey with all the "system" play, let's take away some of the incentive to "play it safe". Fortune favors the brave, etc.

If we do have to continue with regular season OT, then 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for an OT win, 1 point for an OT loss, and zero for a regulation loss. And skip the shootout - award more penalty shots, err on the side of giving them out in a close call situation, instead of the other way around. The one-on-one thing used to be exciting - now it's watered down, because we see it so often in the shootouts.

As the poster said above ... nothing wrong with RS ties. Hockey is a great sport, doesn't need gimmicks to "sell" it to casual fans who don't give a rat's anyway ...

 

[UncleRay]

I'm a fan of only the top 8 making the playoffs. The commish said they want all players to be able to compete for the championship. They have been all season long. And I dislike reseeding at any point in the tourney. The way I look at it, the lower seed assumes the higher seed in an upset.

 

[Chuck Murray]

I'm a fan of only the top 8 making the playoffs. The commish said they want all players to be able to compete for the championship. They have been all season long. And I dislike reseeding at any point in the tourney. The way I look at it, the lower seed assumes the higher seed in an upset.

If we're saying the RS should count for something (and I agree, it should) ... doesn't re-seeding protect the teams who played well in the regular season? Even if #8 beats #1 once a decade or so, why should they avoid having to play #2 next, and then shift into playing the winner of #4 v. #5, while the 2nd seed is punished by seeing their semifinal likely against a higher seed (#3 unless, #6 upsets them) than the #8 team gets? If you want the RS to count, keep it consistent.

 

[UncleRay]

If we're saying the RS should count for something (and I agree, it should) ... doesn't re-seeding protect the teams who played well in the regular season? Even if #8 beats #1 once a decade or so, why should they avoid having to play #2 next, and then shift into playing the winner of #4 v. #5, while the 2nd seed is punished by seeing their semifinal likely against a higher seed (#3 unless, #6 upsets them) than the #8 team gets? If you want the RS to count, keep it consistent.

There are many ways to look at it that make sense. My view is that the RS is played to determine who should play in what seeds in the tourney. At that point in time, a line should be drawn in the calendar. What happened before is no longer relevant, only what happens in the tourney. The #2 isn't punished if #8 beats #1 - they will still play the #3 they expected to if the #1 won.

 

[Chuck Murray]

There are many ways to look at it that make sense. My view is that the RS is played to determine who should play in what seeds in the tourney. At that point in time, a line should be drawn in the calendar. What happened before is no longer relevant, only what happens in the tourney. The #2 isn't punished if #8 beats #1 - they will still play the #3 they expected to if the #1 won.

Sure they're punished.

Without re-seeding, #2 likely faces #3 (possibly #6) in the semis. With re-seeding, they'd face #8

In the meantime, #8 would face winner of #4 or #5 without re-seeding, or #2 with re-seeding.

So without re-seeding, #2 likely plays #3, and #8 plays the 3rd best team.

I doubt anyone loses any sleep over it either way, but let's leave "no re-seeding to the NCAA.