The team works hard but they just don't have the skill that Lowell, BC and others top HE teams have. I did like the play of the Freshman - Holoway, Fossier, Shea and Pearson. That gives me some optimism for the future. McGovern is solid between the pipes. Vesey didn't show me anything today. I expected he would be more of a force this year than he has been. Looks like a 12 win team to me.
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UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
- Thread starter walrus
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Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Yeah, it was pretty ugly but a lot of credit has to go to Lowell. They did a great job of not letting Maine get setup and clearing the puck as soon as they got a stick on it.
One interesting note is that Byron was on the ice as a dman towards the end when it was 5X5. I wonder if Maine would move him back there full time? If Herner isn't going to be eligible it might make some sense.
Yeah, it was pretty ugly but a lot of credit has to go to Lowell. They did a great job of not letting Maine get setup and clearing the puck as soon as they got a stick on it.
One interesting note is that Byron was on the ice as a dman towards the end when it was 5X5. I wonder if Maine would move him back there full time? If Herner isn't going to be eligible it might make some sense.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Despite the apparent lack of interest in Maine football... http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology
Our flagship program is having another nice year. A win over UNH and the deal is sealed.
Despite the apparent lack of interest in Maine football... http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/fcs-football/bracketology
Our flagship program is having another nice year. A win over UNH and the deal is sealed.
Its been a good season. Looking at the standings it seems like the UNH game is a winner gets to the playoffs scenario. Too bad they have to play two FBS games to make $$, if they had one more FCS win they'; probably be in regardless.
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
UNH has "owned" Maine the past few years in the battle for the Bryce Cowle musket. In my opinion, UNH is down a little this year. I think Maine will win this weekend at home and make the tournament.
UNH has "owned" Maine the past few years in the battle for the Bryce Cowle musket. In my opinion, UNH is down a little this year. I think Maine will win this weekend at home and make the tournament.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Probably true, but without the FCS wins the FBS might have to fill the last few spots in their eleventy-seven-odd bowls with 5-win teams, and I doubt that ESPN wants to do that.
Probably true, but without the FCS wins the FBS might have to fill the last few spots in their eleventy-seven-odd bowls with 5-win teams, and I doubt that ESPN wants to do that.
AMC
Registered User
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
You can't expect a team overnight to go from 0-7-3 to being an NCAA team. That's not how it works. There's no 5 minute movie montage to go from worst to first. You just get better, year on year. Maine is much better than last year, both via the eye test and via results on the ice.
People seem to expect the level of recruits to be what they were in the 1990's. That is delusional. Maine has institutional disadvantages when recruiting against the BC's, BU's, Big Ten schools, North Dakota, Denver, etc. that didn't exist back then. If Maine hockey can be, on average, about a .500 program, that's probably better than the University of Maine should have, all things being equal. We don't have the facilities, fanbase or money to be much more than that. Some years, do a little better, make the NCAAs. Some years, a little worse, travel in the first round of the HEA playoffs. Expecting the Frozen Four every year is just setting yourself up for perennial disappointment.
And, Monty coming to coach here was always nuts. He's at Denver where he can name his budget, an expensive private school in a popular city that puts all their eggs in the hockey basket. We are a poor, rural, public school in a declining state. No chance Maine could match Denver's salary, facilities or recruiting budget.
I'm not saying Red is a great coach who gets the most out of his players- I'm not in the locker room so I don't know. But he isn't a failure if he gets this to a .500 program.
You can't expect a team overnight to go from 0-7-3 to being an NCAA team. That's not how it works. There's no 5 minute movie montage to go from worst to first. You just get better, year on year. Maine is much better than last year, both via the eye test and via results on the ice.
People seem to expect the level of recruits to be what they were in the 1990's. That is delusional. Maine has institutional disadvantages when recruiting against the BC's, BU's, Big Ten schools, North Dakota, Denver, etc. that didn't exist back then. If Maine hockey can be, on average, about a .500 program, that's probably better than the University of Maine should have, all things being equal. We don't have the facilities, fanbase or money to be much more than that. Some years, do a little better, make the NCAAs. Some years, a little worse, travel in the first round of the HEA playoffs. Expecting the Frozen Four every year is just setting yourself up for perennial disappointment.
And, Monty coming to coach here was always nuts. He's at Denver where he can name his budget, an expensive private school in a popular city that puts all their eggs in the hockey basket. We are a poor, rural, public school in a declining state. No chance Maine could match Denver's salary, facilities or recruiting budget.
I'm not saying Red is a great coach who gets the most out of his players- I'm not in the locker room so I don't know. But he isn't a failure if he gets this to a .500 program.
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Don't know about Doherty, but my source says the NCAA made a ruling on Herner and it's 19 games he has to sit out.
Don't know about Doherty, but my source says the NCAA made a ruling on Herner and it's 19 games he has to sit out.
Can live with that. It would mean he misses the rest of the semester which isn't the end of the world. Hopefully we get good news on Doherty soon. I wonder if he took a summer class at Brown and that is what is causing trouble.
UVM Cat in Texas
Now UVM Cat in Georgia
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
AMC
Registered User
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Right, but you don't jump from last year's worst team in school history to above .500 in one year. That's my entire point. Maine can definitely be a team that averages 15/16/17 wins a year. But it's not an overnight thing. Get to 11/12/13 this year, that's a good step forward.
Right, but you don't jump from last year's worst team in school history to above .500 in one year. That's my entire point. Maine can definitely be a team that averages 15/16/17 wins a year. But it's not an overnight thing. Get to 11/12/13 this year, that's a good step forward.
AMC
Registered User
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Lowell had won 16, 20 and 19 before bottoming out with 5. Then jumped up to 24, 28, 26, 21, 25. The base talent level was higher than what Maine has had lately, but yes that is an impressive one year leap.
Lowell had won 16, 20 and 19 before bottoming out with 5. Then jumped up to 24, 28, 26, 21, 25. The base talent level was higher than what Maine has had lately, but yes that is an impressive one year leap.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
There's a lot of volatility in college hockey lately, and practically no truly elite programs exist anymore. This fact gives me some hope that Maine can reach national relevance again in short order, but only if it can attract at least a few outstanding players.
These days, you can make the NCAAs with one genuinely talented line, a solid goalie, and a bunch of reliable grinders. All we need Red to do is to lure just a few snipers to Orono, and Maine can be instantly competitive... Still waiting for him do do that, though.
There's a lot of volatility in college hockey lately, and practically no truly elite programs exist anymore. This fact gives me some hope that Maine can reach national relevance again in short order, but only if it can attract at least a few outstanding players.
These days, you can make the NCAAs with one genuinely talented line, a solid goalie, and a bunch of reliable grinders. All we need Red to do is to lure just a few snipers to Orono, and Maine can be instantly competitive... Still waiting for him do do that, though.
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Exactly. At least so far there aren't any players like Spencer Abbott, Brian Flynn, Matt Mangene etc. That was a Frozen Four team if they had a goal tender.
Exactly. At least so far there aren't any players like Spencer Abbott, Brian Flynn, Matt Mangene etc. That was a Frozen Four team if they had a goal tender.
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
People actually think Maine football will beat UNH? That hasn't happened much, UNH must really be having a really down year.
2 on the road at Vermont, close friday, blow out Saturday if it continues to follow the pattern.
People actually think Maine football will beat UNH? That hasn't happened much, UNH must really be having a really down year.
2 on the road at Vermont, close friday, blow out Saturday if it continues to follow the pattern.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2016 2017 season thread
Absolutely. And don't forget Nyquist... If Darling wasn't intent on having just too much fun that last year, we might be singing a different tune right now. (Not that I really fault him for that; you can get in a little trouble with The Man when you're young and reckless, even in Orono.. But don't quote me on that one.)
Tell ya what, though, if Red could bring in a Sweetland or two, never mind a Goose or a Purcell, or even the dipsy-doodle twins, this year's team could be looking at 5-6 more wins, and a shot at a low NCAA seed. Maine is that close, as long as Mac keeps doing what he's doing.
Absolutely. And don't forget Nyquist... If Darling wasn't intent on having just too much fun that last year, we might be singing a different tune right now. (Not that I really fault him for that; you can get in a little trouble with The Man when you're young and reckless, even in Orono.. But don't quote me on that one.)
Tell ya what, though, if Red could bring in a Sweetland or two, never mind a Goose or a Purcell, or even the dipsy-doodle twins, this year's team could be looking at 5-6 more wins, and a shot at a low NCAA seed. Maine is that close, as long as Mac keeps doing what he's doing.
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Have you not seen Fossier or Pearson? They're significantly better than Flynn, Abbott, or Mangene and it's not that close.
NorthMike
Well-known member
It depends on what the will of the school is, if they want a competetive program or just a 50℅ team, Im still waiting to see what they are trying to do, walking the talk you could say. I see improvements, surely slow going. I dont buy that there is not enough money, the school location is not attractive or the facility isnt up to par. Quality players will go anywhere to advance their goals, has to be a winning program. There are other schools same us; state u, location challenges who are in the top 20 pretty routinely. Case in point minn duluth. Hardly a top location, minimal facility, home games arent on campus, but been a competetive team lately. I believe Red and company want the program to be alot better, hopefully they can get it there in the next few years and keep home games in orono where they belong.
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