UMaine Offseason...Belly Up to the Barr Boys

[grooverider]

Maine keeping their schedule secret like it's high security clearance, but this is what I have seen so far:

October 12-13- HOME - RPI
December 9th- HOME Bentley
Dec 29-30- Ledyard Classic -Dartmouth/Maine/Lake Superior/RIT
Jan 19-20- HOME UMass Lowell
Feb 3- AWAY UMass. Feb 2 probably someone in the area, NU/BU/BC/Lowell/Merrimack/UConn
Mar 8-9- HOME UMass

I can't find this UNH schedule anywhere?

Rumored- 2 games @Quinnipiac, 1 @ Home vs UNH
I also was told from someone at Maine their schedule for home will be front end heavy..take that fwiw.

 

[9twenty]

Maine keeping their schedule secret like it's high security clearance, but this is what I have seen so far:

October 12-13- HOME - RPI
December 9th- HOME Bentley
Dec 29-30- Ledyard Classic -Dartmouth/Maine/Lake Superior/RIT
Jan 19-20- HOME UMass Lowell
Feb 3- AWAY UMass. Feb 2 probably someone in the area, NU/BU/BC/Lowell/Merrimack/UConn
Mar 8-9- HOME UMass

I can't find this UNH schedule anywhere?

Rumored- 2 games @Quinnipiac, 1 @ Home vs UNH
I also was told from someone at Maine their schedule for home will be front end heavy..take that fwiw.

It was always nice when they played 1 weekend away, 1 weekend home....and a occasional 2 weekends on the road and vice versa....oh well, we shall see and make do.

 

[amkirby10]

Maine keeping their schedule secret like it's high security clearance, but this is what I have seen so far:

October 12-13- HOME - RPI
December 9th- HOME Bentley
Dec 29-30- Ledyard Classic -Dartmouth/Maine/Lake Superior/RIT
Jan 19-20- HOME UMass Lowell
Feb 3- AWAY UMass. Feb 2 probably someone in the area, NU/BU/BC/Lowell/Merrimack/UConn
Mar 8-9- HOME UMass

I can't find this UNH schedule anywhere?

Rumored- 2 games @Quinnipiac, 1 @ Home vs UNH
I also was told from someone at Maine their schedule for home will be front end heavy..take that fwiw.

According to the UNH schedule I saw, which is on the UMaine Hockey Fans Facebook page, Dec 1 is @ Orono, and Feb 16-17 @ Durham

 

[Drew S.]

It was always nice when they played 1 weekend away, 1 weekend home....and a occasional 2 weekends on the road and vice versa....oh well, we shall see and make do.

It baffles why me why all the schools can’t get together and make this happen. It’s not rocket science.

 

[umhockey91]

I hope the day comes again when we see a premiere non-conference series at the Alfond......North Dakota, Denver, Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State.....anyone of those would be awesome. I believe that Michigan & Penn State are the only schools that have never played at Alfond (?).

 

[grooverider]

It baffles why me why all the schools can’t get together and make this happen. It’s not rocket science.

I agree but now Hockey East has some wierd formula they go through now to determine opponents or so I'm told

 

[Drew S.]

I agree but now Hockey East has some wierd formula they go through now to determine opponents or so I'm told

Regardless of who Maine has to play the 12 home league games should be evenly distributed over the course of the season. It’s really bizarre they could handle this 25 years ago but can’t now.

 

[9twenty]

I hope the day comes again when we see a premiere non-conference series at the Alfond......North Dakota, Denver, Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State.....anyone of those would be awesome. I believe that Michigan & Penn State are the only schools that have never played at Alfond (?).

You may see Penn State some day...but don't hold your breath on Michigan coming to Maine.

 

[grooverider]

Updated with latest, changes in red

Maine keeping their schedule secret like it's high security clearance, but this is what I have seen so far:

October 12-13- HOME -RPI
December 1- HOME -UNH
December 6th- AWAY -Union (what a weird one on a Wednesday)
December 9th- HOME -Bentley
Dec 29-30- Ledyard Classic -Dartmouth/Maine/Lake Superior/RIT
Jan 19-20- HOME -UMass Lowell
Feb 3- AWAY -UMass. Feb 2 probably someone in the area, NU/BU/BC/Lowell/Merrimack/UConn
February 16-17- AWAY -UNH
Mar 8-9- HOME -UMass



Rumored- 2 games @Quinnipiac

 

[grooverider]

I'm still puzzled why Maine is in UNH again this year for 2 games. The UNH games above are now confirmed with their schedule release.

 

[Chuck Murray]

I'm still puzzled why Maine is in UNH again this year for 2 games. The UNH games above are now confirmed with their schedule release.

Commish Nigel can only do so much to aid the cause of his former employer; this may be his '24 Care package to MS7?

 

[grooverider]

Commish Nigel can only do so much to aid the cause of his former employer; this may be his '24 Care package to MS7?

Maybe its a early care package for MS7 ..nothing gets a quicker pink slip than a sweep to your rival on home ice!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Maybe its a early care package for MS7 ..nothing gets a quicker pink slip than a sweep to your rival on home ice!

No doubt, groovy ... but I suspect MS7's fate will be decided well before the "White Out" weekend, as UNH has front-loaded its schedule, and we may know what the future is gonna look like by Thanksgiving weekend. By the time UMaine rolls into town, your prognosticated road sweep may only amount to flogging the proverbial dead horse.

Last season, Union put the boot in on UNH during a weekend in scenic Schenectady ... which improbably triggered MS7's late season resurrection from a professional death to earn him the right to play out the final year of his contract. This season, UNH heads out further west on the Thruway to Rochester to play two against RIT during the aforementioned Thanksgiving holiday weekend. They'll go out there in all likelihood with a losing record compiled after navigating the early season gauntlet of BU's, Q's, Northeasterns and Providences. If RIT replicates the hit that Union put on UNH last Winter, MS7 will be "dead man walking" by the time UNH arrives in the Downeast in early December.

Still admittedly jealous that you folks have gotten the right guy in charge, and are years ahead of us on the rebuild.

 

[9twenty]

No doubt, groovy ... but I suspect MS7's fate will be decided well before the "White Out" weekend, as UNH has front-loaded its schedule, and we may know what the future is gonna look like by Thanksgiving weekend. By the time UMaine rolls into town, your prognosticated road sweep may only amount to flogging the proverbial dead horse.

Last season, Union put the boot in on UNH during a weekend in scenic Schenectady ... which improbably triggered MS7's late season resurrection from a professional death to earn him the right to play out the final year of his contract. This season, UNH heads out further west on the Thruway to Rochester to play two against RIT during the aforementioned Thanksgiving holiday weekend. They'll go out there in all likelihood with a losing record compiled after navigating the early season gauntlet of BU's, Q's, Northeasterns and Providences. If RIT replicates the hit that Union put on UNH last Winter, MS7 will be "dead man walking" by the time UNH arrives in the Downeast in early December.

Still admittedly jealous that you folks have gotten the right guy in charge, and are years ahead of us on the rebuild.

Maine has found their coach in Ben Barr, finally after years of no hope there's a real chance to turn the corner and play at a high level...while UNH is in the same boat as Maine a decade ago....hoping that MS7 can be the answer...but you look at it from afar and UNH is headed in the way Maine went...down hard and grasping at straws and saying next year, next year....I don't see UNH making any changes soon and doing the same old same old....nothing.

 

[acs64]

Maine has found their coach in Ben Barr, finally after years of no hope there's a real chance to turn the corner and play at a high level...while UNH is in the same boat as Maine a decade ago....hoping that MS7 can be the answer...but you look at it from afar and UNH is headed in the way Maine went...down hard and grasping at straws and saying next year, next year....I don't see UNH making any changes soon and doing the same old same old....nothing.

I dont think so. Cant see UNH going the long drawn out route that Maine did. You have to learn from what we went through, if nothing more. My guess is that MS7 falls short of expectations one more year and thats the last straw. Who do they get to replace him? Tough question, but I just think the fans there are too passionate to accept mediocrity any longer especially if they witness the ascent of Maine hockey again.

 

[9twenty]

I dont think so. Cant see UNH going the long drawn out route that Maine did. You have to learn from what we went through, if nothing more. My guess is that MS7 falls short of expectations one more year and thats the last straw. Who do they get to replace him? Tough question, but I just think the fans there are too passionate to accept mediocrity any longer especially if they witness the ascent of Maine hockey again.

I'll throw a name out, Mike Ayers...former stand out goaltender @UNH...now coaching @BC.

 

[grooverider]

I'll throw a name out, Mike Ayers...former stand out goaltender @UNH...now coaching @BC.

Agree with acs64 . They have a new AD. MS7 is a lame duck this season. He will be fired unless they miraculously finish top 3 in Hockey East or make it to the Tourney. There is literally UNH fans not renewing their season tickets because of the mediocrity this guy has created.

But it does take time....

Barr's first season he was shopping with the late Red Gendron's groceries, and you saw how painful that year was. The compete was there, but not much high end skill. Last year you got more of Barr's players in, and the team was much more competitive, up and down sometimes, but overall surprising and created expectations.

Now the season ticket renewals are up this year, people are excited again, and Maine is building a program with the right guy leading it. UNH cannot wait another year or hope the mediocirty will get better. Because they are likely to have a few more down seasons after they get the right guy in place.

Joe Dumais is a guy who I think UNH absolutely needs to pay him whatever he wants. Back up the brinks truck for.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Agree with acs64 . They have a new AD. MS7 is a lame duck this season. He will be fired unless they miraculously finish top 3 in Hockey East or make it to the Tourney. There is literally UNH fans not renewing their season tickets because of the mediocrity this guy has created.

But it does take time....

Barr's first season he was shopping with the late Red Gendron's groceries, and you saw how painful that year was. The compete was there, but not much high end skill. Last year you got more of Barr's players in, and the team was much more competitive, up and down sometimes, but overall surprising and created expectations.

Now the season ticket renewals are up this year, people are excited again, and Maine is building a program with the right guy leading it. UNH cannot wait another year or hope the mediocirty will get better. Because they are likely to have a few more down seasons after they get the right guy in place.

Joe Dumais is a guy who I think UNH absolutely needs to pay him whatever he wants. Back up the brinks truck for.

Think you've got it right on Dumais, groovy. That's who's in the forefront of my thinking, and I'm frankly disappointed (annoyed even) UNH didn't make a play for him this offseason. Like with Barr, it's only a matter of time before someone comes knocking on his door, and every season you wait and prolong the mediocrity, the more the chances some other program steps in, and then you're off to a Plan B or a Plan C option instead.

I saw Ayers get a mention, and while I'm sure he'll get consideration, he's been at BC for awhile now, and he may be cheesed off that UNH didn't approach him (we think?) when Umile was paving the path for MS7's hire.

A dark horse candidate I would also get behind in a major way is Eric Boguniecki, who was a long-time AHL assistant who's now scouting with the Arizona Coyotes organization. He's a guy who's pretty much seen it all, can claim a 20 goal NHL season, and can talk a dog off the proverbial meat wagon with his personality. This would be his first chance to be in charge, and I think he would grab that chance with both hands and make stuff happen in a very positive way. It's the way he was as a player, and from what I've heard, it was his way as an AHL assistant. If Dumais gets snagged by another (better?) program, then hopefully it would open the door for Bogey.

It'll be an interesting next 8 months (July-March) here in Effingwoods, watching things play out across HEA's northern tier.

 

[acs64]

Son played against Bogey when they were peewees. Awesome player, him and Chris Drury on the same Connecticut team that eventually won the New Englands and I think were national champs. Kid could find the back of the net.

 

[NorthMike]

I dont think so. Cant see UNH going the long drawn out route that Maine did. You have to learn from what we went through, if nothing more. My guess is that MS7 falls short of expectations one more year and thats the last straw. Who do they get to replace him? Tough question, but I just think the fans there are too passionate to accept mediocrity any longer especially if they witness the ascent of Maine hockey again.

The wildcats are not in as bad a shape as we were. They have some talent and I liked their play over the past few years. Although they seemed to lack a cohesiveness within and didnt play like a team, their weakness. Would love to see Unh and us make the boston teams more humble.