UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

[Dan]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

What would show you that he can, what would show you that he can't? Players have to execute after all...He ran the PK last year, am I right?

Do you have confirmation or direct knowledge of this? This is the second time you assumed he coached the PK - and that is the first time I have heard this hypothesized, it seemed a pretty common thought amongst the board that he ran the PP. I certainly know he was getting all the credit for the PP when it was clicking over 20% in his first two years (with better PP talent)...

Coaches don't do the skating...players do.

Better get better at attracting players or none of those other skills will matter. That said, there are 1000s of examples in sports history of coaches inheriting rosters and getting much more or less out of the group than the previous coach. Coaches aren't absolved when players don't play well. Souza will either get the most out of the group or he wont. That will be subjective, of course, but we can't keep playing it both ways. If Souza has all these great qualities and is an excellent coach and recruiter than they need to translate into top recruiting classes, players that develop/execute and wins.

Location, facilities, parity, assuming he's coaching whatever unit is producing, etc, etc. We can twist ourselves into knots trying to give this guy a pass or we can evaluate the program as it exists now and over the course of the season and next year. As the HC, if they don't win, its his fault one way or another. Just as Im sure he'll enjoy the victory tour if he delivers, whatever the ultimate reason for that success...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Do you have confirmation or direct knowledge of this? This is the second time you assumed he coached the PK - and that is the first time I have heard this hypothesized, it seemed a pretty common thought amongst the board that he ran the PP. I certainly know he was getting all the credit for the PP when it was clicking over 20% in his first two years (with better PP talent)...



Better get better at attracting players or none of those other skills will matter. That said, there are 1000s of examples in sports history of coaches inheriting rosters and getting much more or less out of the group than the previous coach. Coaches aren't absolved when players don't play well. Souza will either get the most out of the group or he wont. That will be subjective, of course, but we can't keep playing it both ways. If Souza has all these great qualities and is an excellent coach and recruiter than they need to translate into top recruiting classes, players that develop/execute and wins.

Location, facilities, parity, assuming he's coaching whatever unit is producing, etc, etc. We can twist ourselves into knots trying to give this guy a pass or we can evaluate the program as it exists now and over the course of the season and next year. As the HC, if they don't win, its his fault one way or another. Just as Im sure he'll enjoy the victory tour if he delivers, whatever the ultimate reason for that success...

I am not giving anyone a pass...just pointing out what things go into evaluating a coach. And I thought that he did indeed coach the PK. Anyone know for sure? If I'm wrong I stand corrected.

Ps...I agree with your last statement...that ultimately, it comes down to the decisions made and implemented by the HC....I'm looking for a change this season but I also know it's not to be measured in 2 games.

 

[Dan]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

I am not giving anyone a pass...just pointing out what things go into evaluating a coach. And I thought that he did indeed coach the PK. Anyone know for sure? If I'm wrong I stand corrected.

Ps...I agree with your last statement...that ultimately, it comes down to the decisions made and implemented by the HC....I'm looking for a change this season but I also know it's not to be measured in 2 games.

I often speak in generalities (about what is said by many on the UNH threads) - it was just your post that jogged my thought process. I too would love a specific answer on his special-teams responsibilities - though I think the key to the 24% PP two years ago was more likely a product of Poturalski/Kelleher than whoever was doing the coaching. And the PK last year was more a result of UNH's improved defenseman and UNH's depth PK type forwards. Everything comes back to talent - thats why, to answer Snively's question, I harp so much on recruiting in lieu of other discussions...

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Do any other STH's have ANY CLUE from the UNH ticket office as to when the he11 we are going to receive our tickets? Criminy, we're two weeks into the regular season now!! I've e-mailed with no response.... ***???

Scott

I will find out for you tomorrow morning as the ticket manager left for a new job a few weeks ago.

I presume they have not found the replacement yet. We are a little over a week out so they should be in the mail.

 

[UNHProf]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Just watched the Souza press conference. I'm not sure what I expect him to say, but the "... I'm pretty happy with how we played" line was pretty jarring. While there were certain aspects of the game that were well played (Goaltending, PP on Sat.), all and all, there wasn't a lot to be really happy about.

 

[Scott]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Scott

I will find out for you tomorrow morning as the ticket manager left for a new job a few weeks ago.

I presume they have not found the replacement yet. We are a little over a week out so they should be in the mail.

Good to know.....thanks!

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Expect to see a goalie rotation this weekend as per the Souza presser. He was glad he could play many different players it will be interesting to see if that happens again at CC...

 

[Snively65]

Do you have confirmation or direct knowledge of this? This is the second time you assumed he coached the PK - and that is the first time I have heard this hypothesized, it seemed a pretty common thought amongst the board that he ran the PP. I certainly know he was getting all the credit for the PP when it was clicking over 20% in his first two years (with better PP talent)....

I have no idea who coaches what, but was told that Souza was in charge of the PP last year when I asked why UNH played almost four minutes of 5-3 PP in Hanover and at the Whitt with two forwards behind the net in which the team did not record a single SOG and almost gave up two SHG on break-aways when they coughed up the puck. When I posted this bizarre observation last year, I was told that this creative strategy led to a PPG earlier in the season.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Some points from yesterday's presser:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/sports/20181017/presser-points-unh-hockey-practices-continue-to-be-goal-oriented

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

I have no idea who coaches what, but was told that Souza was in charge of the PP last year when I asked why UNH played almost four minutes of 5-3 PP in Hanover and at the Whitt with two forwards behind the net in which the team did not record a single SOG and almost gave up two SHG on break-aways when they coughed up the puck. When I posted this bizarre observation last year, I was told that this creative strategy led to a PPG earlier in the season.

Correcting myself: Yes, Souza was in charge of the PP last year; confused the fact that since he coached the D (which he did) he automatically coached the PK. Anyway, it's time for a big weekend and looking forward to seeing how we do against those Tigers! Sounds like they have a big ice sheet like us; wish I could get out there! Let's go 'Cats!!!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Just watched the Souza press conference. I'm not sure what I expect him to say, but the "... I'm pretty happy with how we played" line was pretty jarring. While there were certain aspects of the game that were well played (Goaltending, PP on Sat.), all and all, there wasn't a lot to be really happy about.

One of the myriad of problems that arises when a program has been in the tank for awhile is that it lowers the bar for what's acceptable, and by extension, where players and coaches can be "happy" with what they see and do. No one - and I mean, literally no one - currently with the UNH program knows what it's like to be part of a winning program at UNH (including Souza and Stewart in their coaching roles). Turning that stuff around is a lot harder than you might think.

I'm not going to kill the new HC for a stray quip in an early season press conference, but it does go to show just how deep and insidious the issues run that need to be fixed.

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Good to know.....thanks!

The UNH hockey tickets are printed and on a bus or truck to UNH today. You can pick them up at the Whit anytime they are open in the next week. You can pick them up on Saturday 10/27 as they will have tables in the foyer by the ticket office for the Vermont game. I wish it was better news. They are not mailing to season ticket holders as it was too short a window. They said there was a setback due to the ticket manager's promotion at another school with better wages and benefits. They are trying to find a replacement and maybe someone on the board might be interested.

 

[e.cat]

One of the myriad of problems that arises when a program has been in the tank for awhile is that it lowers the bar for what's acceptable, and by extension, where players and coaches can be "happy" with what they see and do. No one - and I mean, literally no one - currently with the UNH program knows what it's like to be part of a winning program at UNH (including Souza and Stewart in their coaching roles). Turning that stuff around is a lot harder than you might think.

I'm not going to kill the new HC for a stray quip in an early season press conference, but it does go to show just how deep and insidious the issues run that need to be fixed.

I don't know. My junior year in high school my football team went 2-7. Senior year we went 8-1 and won the state championship! It's all about the "groceries" as Ref alluded to.

If Souza starts going all negative in pressers a la Rick Pitino the FYP will be in jeoprady!

https://youtu.be/uRik9erWgQ8

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

I don't know. My junior year in high school my football team went 2-7. Senior year we went 8-1 and won the state championship! It's all about the "groceries" as Ref alluded to.

If Souza starts going all negative in pressers a la Rick Pitino the FYP will be in jeprady!

https://youtu.be/uRik9erWgQ8

The 'Cats had a rough season 2011-2012....Fast forward to Dec 2012 they were #1. Things can change...!! I know it depends on the horses etc....and I know who we had then, but, things can change...on a dime. Let's go 'Cats!!!!

 

[e.cat]

The 'Cats had a rough season 2011-2012....Fast forward to Dec 2012 they were #1. Things can change...!! I know it depends on the horses etc....and I know who we had then, but, things can change...on a dime. Let's go 'Cats!!!!

Couldn't agree more Ref!

 

[deltabravo62]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

The UNH hockey tickets are printed and on a bus or truck to UNH today. You can pick them up at the Whit anytime they are open in the next week. You can pick them up on Saturday 10/27 as they will have tables in the foyer by the ticket office for the Vermont game. I wish it was better news. They are not mailing to season ticket holders as it was too short a window. They said there was a setback due to the ticket manager's promotion at another school with better wages and benefits. They are trying to find a replacement and maybe someone on the board might be interested.

Every one of the last four years (every year that I have had season tickets) there has been some "problem" or "setback" in getting them to us. I understand one or two but EVERY year for the last four... Someone needs to get with the program and work to get these "setbacks" under control (see: do their job). Every contact I have had within the program lately has basically boiled down to "what do you expect us to do". I expect that there would be improvement when there are issues, not just lip service and a "we'll getcha next time" response.

 

[Scott]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

The UNH hockey tickets are printed and on a bus or truck to UNH today. You can pick them up at the Whit anytime they are open in the next week. You can pick them up on Saturday 10/27 as they will have tables in the foyer by the ticket office for the Vermont game. I wish it was better news. They are not mailing to season ticket holders as it was too short a window. They said there was a setback due to the ticket manager's promotion at another school with better wages and benefits. They are trying to find a replacement and maybe someone on the board might be interested.

Thanks for the updated info 1932!

And yes, echoing deltabravo's comments....seems like every year there is a yet another snafu with regards to season tickets. In the old days, we pay our money in June, tickets arrive in the mail in August (sometimes early September). Why has it become such a complicated process? Football STH's never seem to have a problem...why does the administration stick it to the hockey STH's every year? Fix the process and put in safeguards (like when Ticketing Managers bolt for greener pastures elsewhere )

 

[jeteye1717]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

* Perhaps others find it difficult, but I have no problem throwing full support behind the current team (in particular the players who do nothing but give it their all) while debating the state of the program. Which again ...

Well, from my perspective I would hope that every player who "gives it their all" (and there are many on the current roster) would have more than 'nothing' to show for their efforts! I attended both games this past weekend in person at Colgate, and as others have pointed out, there was a lot to like despite the disappointing pair of 1-2 losses. Both of our young goalkeepers made some outstanding saves that kept the game(s) within reach, and as a group I thought our freshman skaters accounted for themselves quite admirably. Since Umile was loath to give much responsibility to his freshman classes, I wanted to see if coach Souza would buck that trend and let his newcomers do more than dip their toes/skates in the shallow end when the game was already decided. I couldn't have been happier to see nearly all the newest 'Cats skating regular shifts in all circumstances, full strength, PP and PK, and from my seat behind the bench they fit right in. I thought both of our F defensemen (MacKinnon and Verrier) more than held their own against yes, not an especially loaded Raider squad, but one that pressed 'em hard all night. I was curious to see if Pierson, fresh off his CMA team in Indiana, was up to the challenge of competing against, older, bigger, stronger opponents and sure enough, he potted the 'Cats only goal on Friday night, lasering in a rebound PP goal to open the scoring. Of the upperclassmen, Miller stood out to me, working hard in the dirty areas on offense (especially in the slot, where he was mugged time and again) and Vela seems to have fully embraced the 'C' on his sweater, as he could frequently be seen chatting up the officials at breaks and skating hard, 'tho too often to little effect. Perhaps others have noted this already, but Souza's decision to sit Boyd on Saturday was the absolute right thing to do, and a move I doubt Umile would have made under similar circumstances. He had a brutal game on Friday, making numerous mental errors that frequently led to Grade A Colgate chances. But I'll cut him some slack by noting that nearly all of his mistakes were of the 'commission' variety, trying so hard to make a play that when it didn't go as he'd hoped the results were nearly disastrous (leaving his feet to lunge for the puck at the Blue Line to keep it in, but missing, leading to a Colgate odd man rush the other way; pivoting off his man at the post to chase a loose puck behind the net that soon ended up the stick of the guy he just left, etc.). I can tolerate that kind of over eagerness (if poor, but correctable, decision-making) far more than mistakes of 'omission' resulting from timid play. Souza seems to be saying that each/every player will be held accountable for his game day play; if the mistakes are numerous and avoidable, well, let's work on it in practice and we'll get you back in the lineup when you're up to speed with the game plan. Upperclassmen in particular always seemed to get the benefit of the doubt under Umile, so I'm heartened to see that Souza won't automatically be giving them the same deference as Umile did - good for him. If there's a true competition all week - regardless of when you first set foot in Durham - to see who'll earn a spot in the lineup, that's all for the good. And one other thing - Souza probably leaned over mid-game and whispered in the ear of more players this past weekend than Umile did all last season, maybe even the last *two* seasons combined. It just wasn't his style, but it's clear that Souza intends to teach in the moment (as I've long witnessed and admired coach York doing for so long at BC), a change that I think in the long run will prove to be one if his most important culture shifts to the program moving forward ...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity

Well, from my perspective I would hope that every player who "gives it their all" (and there are many on the current roster) would have more than 'nothing' to show for their efforts! I attended both games this past weekend in person at Colgate, and as others have pointed out, there was a lot to like despite the disappointing pair of 1-2 losses. Both of our young goalkeepers made some outstanding saves that kept the game(s) within reach, and as a group I thought our freshman skaters accounted for themselves quite admirably. Since Umile was loath to give much responsibility to his freshman classes, I wanted to see if coach Souza would buck that trend and let his newcomers do more than dip their toes/skates in the shallow end when the game was already decided. I couldn't have been happier to see nearly all the newest 'Cats skating regular shifts in all circumstances, full strength, PP and PK, and from my seat behind the bench they fit right in. I thought both of our F defensemen (MacKinnon and Verrier) more than held their own against yes, not an especially loaded Raider squad, but one that pressed 'em hard all night. I was curious to see if Pierson, fresh off his CMA team in Indiana, was up to the challenge of competing against, older, bigger, stronger opponents and sure enough, he potted the 'Cats only goal on Friday night, lasering in a rebound PP goal to open the scoring. Of the upperclassmen, Miller stood out to me, working hard in the dirty areas on offense (especially in the slot, where he was mugged time and again) and Vela seems to have fully embraced the 'C' on his sweater, as he could frequently be seen chatting up the officials at breaks and skating hard, 'tho too often to little effect. Perhaps others have noted this already, but Souza's decision to sit Boyd on Saturday was the absolute right thing to do, and a move I doubt Umile would have made under similar circumstances. He had a brutal game on Friday, making numerous mental errors that frequently led to Grade A Colgate chances. But I'll cut him some slack by noting that nearly all of his mistakes were of the 'commission' variety, trying so hard to make a play that when it didn't go as he'd hoped the results were nearly disastrous (leaving his feet to lunge for the puck at the Blue Line to keep it in, but missing, leading to a Colgate odd man rush the other way; pivoting off his man at the post to chase a loose puck behind the net that soon ended up the stick of the guy he just left, etc.). I can tolerate that kind of over eagerness (if poor, but correctable, decision-making) far more than mistakes of 'omission' resulting from timid play. Souza seems to be saying that each/every player will be held accountable for his game day play; if the mistakes are numerous and avoidable, well, let's work on it in practice and we'll get you back in the lineup when you're up to speed with the game plan. Upperclassmen in particular always seemed to get the benefit of the doubt under Umile, so I'm heartened to see that Souza won't automatically be giving them the same deference as Umile did - good for him. If there's a true competition all week - regardless of when you first set foot in Durham - to see who'll earn a spot in the lineup, that's all for the good. And one other thing - Souza probably leaned over mid-game and whispered in the ear of more players this past weekend than Umile did all last season, maybe even the last *two* seasons combined. It just wasn't his style, but it's clear that Souza intends to teach in the moment (as I've long witnessed and admired coach York doing for so long at BC), a change that I think in the long run will prove to be one if his most important culture shifts to the program moving forward ...

Really appreciated this post; it was refreshing to read that Souza made choices based on what were ultimately best for the team and his demeanor behind the bench will indeed go a long way with the players. Lest we forget this is D1 hockey and the best shall play! Go 'Cats! Gooooo Sox!!!!

 

[Snively65]

The UNH hockey tickets are printed and on a bus or truck to UNH today. You can pick them up at the Whit anytime they are open in the next week. You can pick them up on Saturday 10/27 as they will have tables in the foyer by the ticket office for the Vermont game. I wish it was better news. They are not mailing to season ticket holders as it was too short a window. They said there was a setback due to the ticket manager's promotion at another school with better wages and benefits. They are trying to find a replacement and maybe someone on the board might be interested.

I nominate e.cat to be our next STH manager!