UMaine 25-26: Marques My Word: Back to the Big Time

[ticapnews]

Barr hasn't gone from being a great coach to a lousy one, but he may need an approach adjustment. Another cross sport analogy is Mike Vrabel. I hear comparisons between him and Belichick. I think he is more like Parcells

They let him buy the groceries?

 

[grooverider]

They let him buy the groceries?

Well the good news is Souza just got himself another extension

 

[umhockey91]

No they didn’t. The Alfonds spent the money and they get to choose how it is spent. They want the Alfond name attached to the Maine hockey arena forever to honor Harold Alfond. That is how they honor the man that gave them the generational wealth. Why would they choose instead to spend on players without improving all of these athletic buildings that carry their name? You know this, so what you are implying isn’t a realistic scenario. However, they may donate additional funds for NIL. But let’s not criticize the school for spending improperly when it wasn’t even their money. And I do think that addition will help with recruit far more than you realize. It will at least get some high end recruits to put us on their list before the NIL even starts. With the old facilities it might have been the thing keeping Maine from even getting on their list. All other things being equal and you choose between substandard work out room, film room, locker room, no recovery pools, etc… then you would eliminate our program quite easily.

I think at moments like this when the team hits a skid everyone comes out with irrational thinking. I think you should recognize the facilities upgrade was a good thing for recruiting. And it is more about your previous point that this team has 13 newcomers, and the team isn’t gelling as a unit.

Too many people trying to be heros. For example, I saw Charbrier several times pass up a chance as dishing an assist to a forward cocked and waiting to onetime a pass. Instead he would try to wheel with the puck and end up shooting something that gets blocked or once he turned the puck over and it went for a rush the other way.

You have Boija that is too busy hollering at everyone, his own team, the officials, etc… He’s talented but his mental make up is showing it isn’t resilient.

You have C Freel seemingly sad and exhibiting frustration is having to be the spokesperson for the bad results. He’s obviously the best of the captains because we never hear from Holt. And Djuresevic is now being given the night off for turnovers even though he is an assistant captain.

I think we have a bunch of ingredients that are good but when mixed together doesn’t make anything good. It is annoying as a fan. But at least they technically still have a winning record. Might not be a world beater of a season.

I think we should lower our expectations to a middle of the hockey east standing, likely not hosting quarterfinals, and likely not getting to TD Garden, and likely not making NCAA tournament. Basically a rebuilding year.

You bring up some good points.

Regarding the Alfond funds.....yes, the donation was for facilities but I don't think the foundation micro-managed the use of those funds. In other words, UMaine administrators chose what type of facility improvements would be built. I have a bit of frustration that $50 million was spent but there was really nothing spent to increase revenue......in other words the only way for the program to increase revenue in the future is to raise ticket prices. I mean they actually shrunk arena capacity which is a bit sad considering there were only at 5K to begin with. And I think that the lack of expansion to club seating was maybe the biggest whiff.

They obviously needed to expand and renovate player facilities.....that really can't be argued.

I hate to agree with Drew on anything but he may be right about recruiting. I say this because if you follow Maine's recruiting (Heisenburg).....Maine has by far the most turnover of recruits in Hockey East. Guys appear and then disappear. The CHL thing was an embarrassment of riches for programs last season and Barr took full advantage but of course the best players took the NIL $$$ and headed to the Big Ten. Not sure if assistant coaching turnover has caused a hiccup....we are in a transitional period of recruiting so there will be ups and downs. No doubt that we will see what type of coach Barr is from here on out......not so much in wins and losses but how the team responds on the ice. Will they have jump in their step or are they just going to play aloof and spin down the drain. The off-season is going to be interesting to say the least.

 

[Jacob0804]

He's in this very thread, just posted a huge spiel about how awful Barr is. WhistleBB009

Ah, was that him, I couldn't remember.

 

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

If you don't care about Maine's NPI and their curent available path to the NCAA's you can skip this post.


Maine's currently 39th in the NPI, if they had split with UNH, Maine would have been 30th. If they swept UNH, Maine would have been 19th in the NPI sitting in a decent spot to climb up. The margin of error now for a At large NCAA bid is extremely low.

Using the CHN NPI modify game results tab. I entered Maine winning all the remaining games except the two Denver games which would put Maine's record at 24-9-1 (16-2-0 for the rest of the regular season) before the HE playoffs. That would get Maine to 9th in the NPI. Obviously game results from all the other NCAA games will lower or raise our placement in the NPI a little. If Maine lost an additional game against Northeastern they would be 11th before adding in results from all the other NCAA games.

So to sum it up, if Maine wants to make the NCAA tourney they would probably need to either:

1. Win HE playoffs
2. Go 16-2 (.889%) or better the rest of the regular season, lose in their 1st HE playoff round (probably technically the 2nd round) and hope there are not a lot of Conference autobids from other conferences from teams that would be below the at large NPI cutoff line.
3. 16-2 (.889%) or better the rest of the regular season, make at least HE semis, then they would probably be in as an at large bid unless there was 4-6 autobids.
4. 15-3 (.833%) or better the rest of the regular season, make HE finals and then hope there are no to minimum amount of autobids.
5. Lose 4 or more of the remaining regular season games then the chance for an NCAA bid is dead without winning HE playoffs.

Playoffstatus simulations give Maine a 13% chance of making the NCAAs as of today. This is one way to avoid complaining about playing a de facto home game in the regionals.

 

[Sparkee]

You bring up some good points.

Regarding the Alfond funds.....yes, the donation was for facilities but I don't think the foundation micro-managed the use of those funds. In other words, UMaine administrators chose what type of facility improvements would be built. I have a bit of frustration that $50 million was spent but there was really nothing spent to increase revenue......in other words the only way for the program to increase revenue in the future is to raise ticket prices. I mean they actually shrunk arena capacity which is a bit sad considering there were only at 5K to begin with. And I think that the lack of expansion to club seating was maybe the biggest whiff.

They obviously needed to expand and renovate player facilities.....that really can't be argued.

I hate to agree with Drew on anything but he may be right about recruiting. I say this because if you follow Maine's recruiting (Heisenburg).....Maine has by far the most turnover of recruits in Hockey East. Guys appear and then disappear. The CHL thing was an embarrassment of riches for programs last season and Barr took full advantage but of course the best players took the NIL $$$ and headed to the Big Ten. Not sure if assistant coaching turnover has caused a hiccup....we are in a transitional period of recruiting so there will be ups and downs. No doubt that we will see what type of coach Barr is from here on out......not so much in wins and losses but how the team responds on the ice. Will they have jump in their step or are they just going to play aloof and spin down the drain. The off-season is going to be interesting to say the least.

“If you follow recruiting”… you should go to the Maine recruiting thread and see if you think I follow recruiting. Kuzma left and went Big10, likely to play games where his family could watch him. He had a great year of juniors and got lured by Penn State, his parents live in the middle geographically of the away teams in the Big10. He’s playing in major junior now, so it appears as though he is going back to Penn State and his younger brother is likely headed there with him. Montgomery swapped to go to Wisconsin where his father was a standout football player. So Wisconsin was likely his dream to begin with, not surprising he switched. Then you have Zach Wooten, a guy from Minnesota that is currently playing in Wisconsin in juniors choosing to stay in Wisconsin which is not far from Minnesota. So that isn’t a shocker.

I think if we want to see less recruits defect before they get to Maine we should recruit eastern Canadian kids where the geography works well for their families. Poirier(Quebec) is a great example. Gerrior(Nova Scotia), Langlois(Quebec), Usereau(Quebec), Coughlin(Prince Edward Island), and Rousseau(Quebec) all make tremendous sense. Incidentally, in that group is your top scorer, top goalie right now(until Boija gets out of his funk), and 4 nightly starters with the other two in and out of the line up as 6th and 7th defensemen(Usereau, and Coughlin). That is a tremendous inpmact this season from eastern Canadian recruits. Maine sits in the middle of that QMJHL, so the geography actually helps Maine in recruiting these plays. Their families get to drive down, stay in hotel one or two nights and they drive back. It isn’t as economical for families from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. They have to fly in, and rent cars, etc… much more of a financial sink. So they look at it practically and say, well we might only be able to watch you play 4 weekends this year, but if you choose closer to home I might only miss watching you play 4 weekends this year. AND I convert that flight tickets money and rental car money into game tickets and gas to just drive to see you play a lot more often. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why they prefer to play closer to home rather than Maine if your family is from over 10 hours drive away.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Buford, stay off the Maine board. You’re an embarrassment to UNH hockey.

I see our friendly neighborhood Karen has come to spread his/her/its goodwill on another undeserving fanbase (I mean that in a good way for the UMaine-iacs).

 

[Chuck Murray]

They just spent 50 million on the rink, doesn't seem like its had the desired effect on play. They would have been better off using the money for NLI.

Over to you, potty ... you've guaranteed us on the other thread that this is a guarantee of a program's success. Can you 'splain in potty-to-English, s'il vous plait?

Well the good news is Souza just got himself another extension

Winner winner, chicken dinner. Groovy, you just won the contest on the UNH thread as to which UMaine-iac would pop the "MS7 extension" cork first. Congrats!

 

[WhistleBB009]

Coaches dont play the game

Good point… so I guess we don’t need a coach then

 

[Potluck]

Well the good news is Souza just got himself another extension

Bravo. Best post of the weekend.

 

[Potluck]

A thought from a UNH fan. Maine absolutely shut down and embarrassed UNH in the first two periods Friday. Fabulous team defense, although UNHs offense is lacking. UNHs goal came on an unassisted soft goal against a Maine goalie that likely was rusty from lack of UNH shots.

Maines problem seems similar to UNHs - lack of snipers. That’s not coaching or effort IMO.

Barr is outstanding. I’ll trade Souza for him anytime, and I am no Souza hater

 

[WhistleBB009]

For those who are wondering, I showed up when it mattered and honestly I care about this team a lot just like all of you. But when you keep hearing things about what goes on behind closed doors, it gets harder and harder to stay quiet. It’s serious stuff.

We all love this team and want them to succeed but sometimes you have to ask at what cost.

Nobody ever really questioned why Jason Fortier and Erik Soltys left. At some point, you start wondering if the issues go deeper than the roster. Just watching what happens behind the bench during a game says a lot.

We’re some of the best fans in the NCAA but we can’t ignore the human side of things. Wins matter but so do the people out there playing.

This is delicate for me to say but if anyone else has seen or felt the same things, please speak up Something needs to change for the well-being of our Black Bears. Believe me Ben Barr is the problem…!

And for those who strongly defend him, there’s no need to insult me…you’re only seeing one part of the picture. I say this with respect for all of you.

 

[McGoverners]

For those who are wondering, I showed up when it mattered and honestly I care about this team a lot just like all of you. But when you keep hearing things about what goes on behind closed doors, it gets harder and harder to stay quiet. It’s serious stuff.

We all love this team and want them to succeed but sometimes you have to ask at what cost.

Nobody ever really questioned why Jason Fortier and Erik Soltys left. At some point, you start wondering if the issues go deeper than the roster. Just watching what happens behind the bench during a game says a lot.

We’re some of the best fans in the NCAA but we can’t ignore the human side of things. Wins matter but so do the people out there playing.

This is delicate for me to say but if anyone else has seen or felt the same things, please speak up Something needs to change for the well-being of our Black Bears. Believe me Ben Barr is the problem…!

And for those who strongly defend him, there’s no need to insult me…you’re only seeing one part of the picture. I say this with respect for all of you.

You said literally nothing with respect. You fired off almost a dozen posts dancing on Barr's failure this weekend, elaborated on literally nothing, then disappear when the team wins games. You deserve all the criticism you get

 

[McGoverners]

Based on the press conference, the only goal for the rest of the season is fixing culture and getting by in. The short turnaround this week is going to tell us a lot about where their heads are at

 

[Jacob0804]

For those who are wondering, I showed up when it mattered and honestly I care about this team a lot just like all of you. But when you keep hearing things about what goes on behind closed doors, it gets harder and harder to stay quiet. It’s serious stuff.

We all love this team and want them to succeed but sometimes you have to ask at what cost.

Nobody ever really questioned why Jason Fortier and Erik Soltys left. At some point, you start wondering if the issues go deeper than the roster. Just watching what happens behind the bench during a game says a lot.

We’re some of the best fans in the NCAA but we can’t ignore the human side of things. Wins matter but so do the people out there playing.

This is delicate for me to say but if anyone else has seen or felt the same things, please speak up Something needs to change for the well-being of our Black Bears. Believe me Ben Barr is the problem…!

And for those who strongly defend him, there’s no need to insult me…you’re only seeing one part of the picture. I say this with respect for all of you.

You just keep making claims about being in the know and "behind the scenes", with no justification as to how you can make those claims. Literally anyone could make the same claims.

 

[Potluck]

You just keep making claims about being in the know and "behind the scenes", with no justification as to how you can make those claims. Literally anyone could make the same claims.

The UNH forum has the exact some problem with posters that make scurrilous allegations against players and coaches without any facts to back them up. It really is a problem.

 

[Blackbear96]

Ahh yes, only a matter of time before Whistle shows up with the unsourced, "trust me bro", hyperbolic bullsh*t when the team has their worst weekend of hockey since Barr's first year in Orono. He was on the train of players transferring last year, and let's call a spade a spade, Antonnaci / Lesakowski / Berzins / etc are not moving the needle on this current team.

There's one thing that is ABUNDANTLY clear, and that is the lack of leadership that exists on the current roster. Speaks to the notion that not everyone is a leader and shows how incredible last year's group of upperclassmen truly were. It was obvious on Friday that the team expected to roll a much less talented UNH team, and then expected them to roll over Saturday after scoring an early goal. Sure there's a ton of freshmen, and I'm sure ego's exist. Ego's exist on every team in the country - I'm confident Greg Brown and Pandolfo deal with PLENTY of them.

Issue is all of the freshmen coming into a locker room that really lacks leadership. Sure, that's partially on the recruiting side, but you also expect your upperclassmen to take the reigns. There's plenty of reason to think this team can find a gear and get hot in 2026 - I wouldn't bet money on it - but it's certainly not impossible. If you've been reading the tea leaves, since the first presser of the season, Barr has alluded to the fact that the team has no identity and he doesn't know what they are - a far, FAR cry from their preseason ranking.

It will be very interesting to see what the roster looks like after this year, because I'd expect a ton of turnover. One thing is for certain, unless a Big10 /NCHC or NHL team comes calling, Ben Barr will still be in Orono - and we should be damn thankful he will be.

 

[NorthMike]

These posts by an individual (assumed) hunting for Barrs head clearly have no credibility and no one here is biting.

Having said that, evidence does exist that Barr "yells" at the players. Barr did admit such in his last press conference. Is that sort of behavior and level of it common in D1 - I have no idea - ????

So what about all this yelling. My opinion is to listen to what Barr tells us during pressers and not most of the posts on here or facebook. People here have good posts and thoughts but mostly its just that, how much fact is included, IDK.

But one thing for sure is that Barr has a way of telling us whats going on. Which I appreciate, alot of coaches dont let info on whats going on in the locker room out for public consumption. His last presser revealed alot and what is going to be the teams priority to fix.

Barr carries alot of emotion, has high expectations and drive for excellence which Im sure coupled with the frustration of things not sinking into the players, yeah people can boil over and get the whole team riled up. Id rather have a coach emotionally invested than a sleepy guy just getting by.

Clearly its up to Barr and the coaching staff along with the captains to get the egos, frustration and tempers in check. Sometimes theres a rotten apple or just a collection of personalities that will never mesh. They just have to figure it out or if they dont theres always next year.

Im firmly backing Barr and have no preconceived expectations for this year. Its a process to bring the program from what it was to what everyone wants. Progress is not always a linnear positive slope. Patience is a virtue.

 

[ticapnews]

For those who are wondering, I showed up when it mattered and honestly I care about this team a lot just like all of you. But when you keep hearing things about what goes on behind closed doors, it gets harder and harder to stay quiet. It’s serious stuff.

We all love this team and want them to succeed but sometimes you have to ask at what cost.

Nobody ever really questioned why Jason Fortier and Erik Soltys left. At some point, you start wondering if the issues go deeper than the roster. Just watching what happens behind the bench during a game says a lot.

We’re some of the best fans in the NCAA but we can’t ignore the human side of things. Wins matter but so do the people out there playing.

This is delicate for me to say but if anyone else has seen or felt the same things, please speak up Something needs to change for the well-being of our Black Bears. Believe me Ben Barr is the problem…!

And for those who strongly defend him, there’s no need to insult me…you’re only seeing one part of the picture. I say this with respect for all of you.

As someone who is legitimately and verifiably connected in some small way to the program, I will respectfully tell you to shut your fucking mouth and stop talking publicly about things best kept behind closed doors. Best case scenario is you are just another anonymous blowhard pretending to be in the know for some kind of imaginary clout in an internet forum. Worst case is that you actually have some access to information and are betraying the trust that someone placed in you.

Whichever it is, you're not helping anyone by posting this shit here. Go find another forum to peddle your garbage.

 

[umhockey91]

As someone who is legitimately and verifiably connected in some small way to the program, I will respectfully tell you to shut your fucking mouth and stop talking publicly about things best kept behind closed doors. Best case scenario is you are just another anonymous blowhard pretending to be in the know for some kind of imaginary clout in an internet forum. Worst case is that you actually have some access to information and are betraying the trust that someone placed in you.

Whichever it is, you're not helping anyone by posting this shit here. Go find another forum to peddle your garbage.

???