UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

I think "struggling" is being very generous. If UAH men's basketball lost to an All-Star highschool team fans would be screaming from the rafters for blood. When you can lose to an Under-18 team and people aren't suprised you have gone from "struggling" to "awful." Trust me I know, I am a UT football fan.

Being a fan of a team that has not only lost to USA U-18, but has also seen a couple of USA U-18 players wearing my team's jersey (including a WJC gold medal winner), I'll tell you that these kids constantly train and are some of the best in the world. If you've ever seen them in international play, they are scary good. A game against consistent gold medal competitors does not define your season.

Since you've basically shown that you only came on here to pretty much slander your school's team, don't be surprised if you get a rough time here.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

It was, so before you start with "see?!?!?!":

We had the WCHA in town. We wanted to show them that there's still a market for UAH hockey in Huntsville, and that if we get into their league and work toward being competitive, a good chunk of those 5,000 will become paying customers.

If we didn't get the bump, that would've been bad. But we got even more than expected, and it was great.

The average since free game night at VBC: 912

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

The 5,000 attendance was on free game night. I don't think thats a fair representation...you have "free" anything at the VBC and you will draw a crowd. I did some fishing, 5,000 attendance was the highest fan attendance for a UAH game in 3 years. Average attendance since 2010-11 at VBC for UAH games: 1,002. I have been proven wrong, my apologies.

Oh gee, you've once again only looked at the independent years. Try looking when the team was actually in a league. Idiot.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

The average since free game night at VBC: 912

1431, 1381, 1469, add 'em up for 4281, average of, assuming I can still do math, 1427. Once again, you have proved your idiocy. Go back to your English homework.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Being a fan of a team that has not only lost to USA U-18, but has also seen a couple of USA U-18 players wearing my team's jersey (including a WJC gold medal winner), I'll tell you that these kids constantly train and are some of the best in the world. If you've ever seen them in international play, they are scary good. A game against consistent gold medal competitors does not define your season.

Since you've basically shown that you only came on here to pretty much slander your school's team, don't be surprised if you get a rough time here.

Its ok guys, I understand the animosity but also am enjoying the conversation. I am suprised to see so many responses so fast in defense of UAH Hockey and that is definitely a good sign. I think the hardship for this squad is also what gives it some of its charm: it's in the South. In SEC country people like victories in all sports as often as possible. I think UAH hockey's dip will only get worse if they don't win....and they are losing far more than they are winning now. When do you guys think realistically will be UAH's next winning season? Serious question.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

1431, 1381, 1469, add 'em up for 4281, average of, assuming I can still do math, 1427. Once again, you have proved your idiocy. Go back to your English homework.

1427. The numbers I got were "non-child" adult passes. I assume they give out free tickets to the under 5 crowd. When I went back and looked the numbers you gave included those kids, fair enough, fans are fans and I apologize. Still though, 1,400 is a very low number for any Div-I sport. I went to a soccer game at MTSU last Spring that drew nearly 1,300.

 

[UAHFAN61]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

UAHSTUDENT,
The coaching isn't bad. Our current coach was hired two weeks before the season began, so he is working with recruits he did not bring in, and you can't change a system overnight. Coach Kleinendorst is a former NHL assistant coach who won a Stanley Cup, and two seasons ago won the AHL title as a coach. Yes, the team is bad this year, but you have to give the coach time to bring in recruits and implement his style of play.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Oh gee, you've once again only looked at the independent years. Try looking when the team was actually in a league. Idiot.

Wow just went back into the 90's and looked at the numbers....ok UAH was a very good hockey team then. My hats off, should have researched that out.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

UAHSTUDENT,
The coaching isn't bad. Our current coach was hired two weeks before the season began, so he is working with recruits he did not bring in, and you can't change a system overnight. Coach Kleinendorst is a former NHL assistant coach who won a Stanley Cup, and two seasons ago won the AHL title as a coach. Yes, the team is bad this year, but you have to give the coach time to bring in recruits and implement his style of play.

Given what you know as a fan and what you are seeing on the ice when do you think UAH's next winning season will be?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

1427. The numbers I got were "non-child" adult passes. I assume they give out free tickets to the under 5 crowd. When I went back and looked the numbers you gave included those kids, fair enough, fans are fans and I apologize. Still though, 1,400 is a very low number for any Div-I sport. I went to a soccer game at MTSU last Spring that drew nearly 1,300.

You've never seen AIC or most Atlantic hockey games involving schools with letters not including R, I, and T, eh?

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

You've never seen AIC or most Atlantic hockey games involving schools with letters not including R, I, and T, eh?

I suppose not, I am not an avid hockey fan, I love to watch it though and make my way down to the VBC to every home game. What is a descent crowd in Div-1 hockey?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Wow just went back into the 90's and looked at the numbers....ok UAH was a very good hockey team then. My hats off, should have researched that out.

I tell you what, go back and do a little more research, and then come back with a better formulated opinion. I can't guarantee that the others will reconsider their opinion of you, but I know I will.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

I tell you what, go back and do a little more research, and then come back with a better formulated opinion. I can't guarantee that the others will reconsider their opinion of you, but I know I will.

Listen I come from the philosophy that you are only as good as your last game. Gene Chizik was fired from Auburn and he won a National Championship 2 seasons ago. Those numbers in the past are impressive but they don't change today and the current situation here at UAH. I don't think its unrealistic to envision a Huntsville without hockey. Once again I am looking purely at today and the numbers at the game, the pucks in the net, and the player stats on the sheet are depressing. We need to go to Croatia, Ukraine, and Canada and kidnap some A-class players....whose with me?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

I suppose not, I am not an avid hockey fan, I love to watch it though and make my way down to the VBC to every home game. What is a descent crowd in Div-1 hockey?

A decent crowd depends upon the league, the school, and the opponent. You'll see some programs that have incredible home support from not only the school but the community, such as RIT, Cornell, BU, and they regularly fill or sell out their building, even if the team isn't at the top. You'll also see teams with a sizable travelling contingency, such as RPI, Clarkson, Michigan, among others. Rivalry games will naturally fill a building, too. (Clarkson-SLU, Mich-MSU, BU-BC, among others)

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

A decent crowd depends upon the league, the school, and the opponent. You'll see some programs that have incredible home support from not only the school but the community, such as RIT, Cornell, BU, and they regularly fill or sell out their building, even if the team isn't at the top. You'll also see teams with a sizable travelling contingency, such as RPI, Clarkson, Michigan, among others. Rivalry games will naturally fill a building, too. (Clarkson-SLU, Mich-MSU, BU-BC, among others)

I assume the VBC is a pretty nice venue for college hockey. I go watch hockey in Nashville off and on at the Bridgestone Arena and don't find it that much more comfortable than my experience at the VBC. .

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Listen I come from the philosophy that you are only as good as your last game. Gene Chizik was fired from Auburn and he won a National Championship 2 seasons ago. Those numbers in the past are impressive but they don't change today and the current situation here at UAH. I don't think its unrealistic to envision a Huntsville without hockey. Once again I am looking purely at today and the numbers at the game, the pucks in the net, and the player stats on the sheet are depressing. We need to go to Croatia, Ukraine, and Canada and kidnap some A-class players....whose with me?

Or you could go through the recruiting process, like most schools do to get those players. One thing to remember with players, though, and you don't see this so much in football or basketball, is that you have to make sure you aren't grabbing professionals. There's a league in Canada called Major Junior, and anyone who plays there is ineligible for NCAA hockey. There are plenty of other leagues in Europe for teenagers that are considered professional, as well.

As for your hastiness to fire a coach for simply losing a game, you're never going to get anywhere with that in hockey. Learn some patience. This coach just started, and he's basically been dealt a hand with nothing but 2's, 3's, and 4's (if you play Bridge). Remember that many of the players on his team he did not recruit, so they may not be prepared for his system.

 

[UAHSTUDENT]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Or you could go through the recruiting process, like most schools do to get those players. One thing to remember with players, though, and you don't see this so much in football or basketball, is that you have to make sure you aren't grabbing professionals. There's a league in Canada called Major Junior, and anyone who plays there is ineligible for NCAA hockey. There are plenty of other leagues in Europe for teenagers that are considered professional, as well.

As for your hastiness to fire a coach for simply losing a game, you're never going to get anywhere with that in hockey. Learn some patience. This coach just started, and he's basically been dealt a hand with nothing but 2's, 3's, and 4's (if you play Bridge). Remember that many of the players on his team he did not recruit, so they may not be prepared for his system.

Can this coach with his expertise and NHL background do anything if this team stays independent or is his stay here at UAH hinging upon entrance into a conference too?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Can this coach with his expertise and NHL background do anything if this team stays independent or is his stay here at UAH hinging upon entrance into a conference too?

I'd say that's up to a combination of the coach and administration. I'm not going to put words into his mouth.

 

[UAHChargersFan]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

UAHStudent, it is clear that you do not really have any experience or solid knowledge regarding UAH hockey, its history, or current challenges. I would strongly advise you do some more research before jumping to conclusions on various topics like UAH hockey attendance, stats, and coaching situations. It is true that UAH hockey has not been doing well for many years now, but it is the lack of conference affiliation that has caused inconsistent and poorly scheduled games. It is the lack of conference affiliation that leads to poor recruiting for the team. It is the lack of consistent games that leads to poor crowd turnout (especially when UAH goes on the road for weeks). The list really does go on with the problems, but they all be summed up as: conference challenges. Honestly though, your misinformation about the program doesn't really surprise me. I was a UAH student (recent alumni) and I can safely say that UAH students are largely and completely oblivious to anything that UAH does or is planning. In fact, you mentioned that most students say they "don't like hockey." In my experience, most UAH students don't even know anything about hockey, have never been to a game, and (more importantly) do not care about anything UAH related. However, the alumni and UAH hockey fans understand that UAH hockey is vital to the school. It brings recognition, pride, and it is the only tradition UAH actually has.

As for your question, "When will UAH's next winning season be?" That is almost impossible to answer. If UAH gets accepted to the WCHA, it maybe within the next few years. UAH has thrived when it has had stability (something it clearly lacks now). It could also be the case that the WCHA declines UAH's bid and they drop the program entirely like Portera wanted. There will never be a winning season at that point. Your question is really impossible to answer and you might as well ask Alabama fans, "When will Alabama go back to having a losing football season?" It is inevitable, but who can really say when that will be?

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: UAH Hockey 2012-13: Still breathing

Conference affiliation will go a long way in making any program in college hockey more successful both on the ice and at the box office.

Conference affiliation will give UAH a guaranteed home slate with games on a more regular basis. Right now you are going weeks (months?) between home games. That is an impossible scenerio to try and build and/or maintain a fan base with, which in turn hurts at the box office.

But as mentioned earlier, conference affiliation goes along way with recruits and the product on the ice. Recruits want to play in front of home fans, which is something UAH can't offer right now as an independent. They don't want to be on the road 12-14 of the 17 weekends for games. At least if they can get into the WCHA, they will be guaranteed 7 home weekend, maybe more with non-conference possibilities.

Also, conference affiliation gives them a chance to play for a berth in the NCAA tournament, something they don't get as an independent. Face it, if they don't win 25-30 games as an independent, they are not going to the NCAAs.

Independent scheduling is tough. There is a reason that the CHA was formed when it was back in 1999-2000, none of those teams wanted to go at it as an independent because they knew it would probably kill their program with the lack of home games. And the CHA worked out pretty well for BSU, UAH and Niagara as far as getting to the NCAAs.