UNH 2021 Off-Season Thread: Finally!?!

[wildcatdc]

Pretty sure Margel delaying another year, ‘Watcher

 

[Chuck Murray]

Rich Burchill. the #121 NHL pick, goalie of the future who, as a freshman, couldn't get significant playing time from walk-on Greg Rota (.880 save percentage, 5.26 GAA), and then got arrested the summer of his sophomore year for breaking and entering during the summer USA festival in Houston. Was permitted back on squad where as a soph he posted a 6.00 GAA and .854 GAA, before being permanently thrown off the team for vandalism/urinating in public at the Durham Grange.

From what I understand, he righted himself personally, enrolled at Northeastern and had a solid senior year. He even had one year in the ECHL
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...y.php?pid=7813

Proof how you can take the boy out of Boston, but you can't always take Boston out of the boy.

((( the Durham Grange?!? Really?!?!?!? Quality insight you can only get at USCHO - bravo, 'Watcher!!! )))

At least he got a chance to tote a Beanpot around the original Garden while backing up Bruce Racine, on a team where a young Jimmy Madigan was just getting started as an NU assistant. Let's hope Burchill didn't try to replicate his Grange feat into the venerable old BP trophy that night!!!

 

[NCAA watcher]

Proof how you can take the boy out of Boston, but you can't always take Boston out of the boy.

Ah, that's more the Mike Golden story. Nearly broke the Reading pipeline to UNH. Second round NHL pick. First semester, 3 Fs and and a D. Shows up at Maine a year later claiming it just wasn't the right fit at UNH, and becomes and All-American.

The 40th player selected in the National Hockey League’s 1983 amateur draft second-round choice (of Edmonton) Mike Golden of Reading Mass will attend the University of Maine-Orono where he will become eligible in January of 1986 Golden attended the University of New Hampshire during the fall semester of that year but left after running into academic difficulty The 6-foot 190-pound centerright wing will begin attending classes at Maine and will work out with the team in two months “It’s a start on our recruiting for next year and fills one of our initial needs which is strength up front as well as scoring ability” said Maine Coach Shawn Walsh “One of my goals is to have the top recruiting class in the east this year and Mike Golden is a start to acheiving that goal Mike is the top recruit Maine hockey has ever had from a national standpoint” Golden played his high school hockey at Reading High where he was the team’s leading scorer his senior year He captained Reading to its first-ever Middlesex League title and was chosen the league’s Most Valuable Player that year as his team advanced to the Eastern Massachusetts Tournament semifinals He also played well for the Massachusetts schoolboy all-stars in their sweep of the Minnesota schoolboy all-stars “He scored in the high 50s (points) in 20 games his senior year” said Reading Coach Pete Doherty “Mike is the type of player who can do everything He can really skate he’s terrific with the puck and has a great awareness on the ice He has unbelievable potential and is the kind of player who can dominate a game He's a terrific talent” Golden who was chosen to several all-star teams said he wasn’t mentally prepared for college when he attended UNH “I went there with a bad attitude” admitted Golden “After I had been drafted my attitude was that I was going to be a pro So school my family and my friends became secondary I isolated myself and didn’t do anything (academically) and I paid for it I hurt my family I learned a great lesson from that and it was a mistake I’ll never forget It helped me grow up” Golden left New Hampshire at Christmas break to tour Europe with the United States Junior National team and upon his return played Junior B hockey in Stratford Ontario Golden pondered a pro career last summer. He returned to Reading and called some local colleges inquiring about returning to school He also received a call from Maine assistant Jay Leach who invited him up to Orono Golden was a little skeptical about leaving the Boston area but agreed to visit “I was unbelievably impressed with the fanfare and everything at Maine and I love the coaching staff” he said ‘There’s nobody I respect more than coach Walsh and I hope I can help his program and do as much as I can for the Maine Black Bears The coaching staff is going to build a tremendous program at Maine”

Burchill was actually a nicer kid, probably just a bit uncontrolled when he drank.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Ah, that's more the Mike Golden story. Nearly broke the Reading pipeline to UNH. Second round NHL pick. First semester, 3 Fs and and a D. Shows up at Maine a year later claiming it just wasn't the right fit at UNH, and becomes and All-American.

Sounds like the kid could've walked into Animal House and not missed a beat. Golden Mike, pride of the UNH Class of '87, at least until he became the pride of the UMaine Class of '88.

Burchill was actually a nicer kid, probably just a bit uncontrolled when he drank.

You think?!? Busting up the grange, then urinating all over the place. That'll leave an impression.

Most city kids stop at the stereotypical cow tipping. This kid went next level, I guess ...

 

[NCAA watcher]

Pretty sure Margel delaying another year, ‘Watcher

Ah, interesting. Thanks. That makes it more likely Evans is on the team, though Souza seems a fan of Turner. Speaking of using the opportunity to reset the roster and maybe get a recruit because of the rebuild, there's Ellis Rickwood, the BCHL top scorer, whose sister is on the women's team. He is raw, and will be a defensive liability (as will Evans) until they learn the system (last night he had less than enthusiastic backchecks on two goals against
https://youtu.be/jKpIVHBOFyU?t=23

But he fits a glaring need on the RW, and his offense cannot be ignored.set up a nice PP chance with a long backhanded pass cross-ice through traffic.
https://youtu.be/jKpIVHBOFyU?t=12

won the game in OT with a toe-drag roofer
https://youtu.be/jKpIVHBOFyU?t=216)

(I'd add that 16 year old Matt Wood on Victoria is impressive and the son of former UNH women's assistant Jamie Wood)

Sr.Ward----------Sr.Pierson--------Sr.McAdams
Jr.Blaisdell------Sr.Engaras--------So.Gendron
Sr.Stevenson---Jr.Hermann-------Fr.Cronin
Sr.Richels-------So.Cafarelli--------Fr.Evans
Fr.Sweeney-----Sr.Cipollone-------Sr.Esposito
Fr.Ring-----------Jr.Hankinson

[out - Crookshank, Kelleher, Grasso, Sato, in --- Cronin, Sweeney, Ring, possible Evans & Turner]

Jr.Eriksson------So.Reid
Sr.MacKinnon---Sr.Verrier
Fr.Huard--------So.Jenson
Fr.Gagne-------Sr.Semandel
Sr.Hickey
[out- Maass, Nagle, in -- Huard, Gagne, possible Ardanaz]

 

[HockeyRef]

According to a reliable source, @UNDmhockey forward #HarrisonBlaisdell is transferring to @UNHMHOCKEY https://t.co/nB38CrYg4w

-As per CHC via Twitter

 

[Drew S.]

According to a reliable source, @UNDmhockey forward #HarrisonBlaisdell is transferring to @UNHMHOCKEY https://t.co/nB38CrYg4w

-As per CHC via Twitter

You can tell a man from Yawkshire but you can’t tell him much.

Maine had a yorkie a few years ago but he didn’t do much and after a couple years transferred to a DIII school, hopefully yours works out better.

 

[Chuck Murray]

According to a reliable source, @UNDmhockey forward #HarrisonBlaisdell is transferring to @UNHMHOCKEY https://t.co/nB38CrYg4w

-As per CHC via Twitter

I think 'Watcher hinted at this development not too long ago, the kid's dad played in the NHL back in the '80's, first rounder by Detroit, made hay based on a single breakout season in juniors, and never lived up to the billing. Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Blaisdell has scored two (2) goals in 50+ games for NoDak after a single breakout season in juniors.

Harrison Blaisdell Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

 

[NCAA watcher]

I think 'Watcher hinted at this development not too long ago, the kid's dad played in the NHL back in the '80's, first rounder by Detroit, made hay based on a single breakout season in juniors, and never lived up to the billing. Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Blaisdell has scored two (2) goals in 50+ games for NoDak after a single breakout season in juniors.

Your hatred for Red Wings busts is showing ....

I was just going through the list of interesting kids, and he ticks the marks upside. First, he only turned 20 after the season. Second, he was highly regarded at 15, a second round WHL pick. Third, he had a strongish rookie season in the BCHL for a 16 year old. His "breakout" season was his 17 year season, and the NHL drafted him in the fifth round, even as he was originally a second round Central Scouting ranking mid-year, and 3rd rounder in final rankings. Fifth in the BCHL in goals as a 17 year old is good.

He then had a strong freshman year at NoDak, with 12 points on a deep team as a true freshman, but lost playing time as the year went along. Last year was mired on 4th line, and grinding is not really his thing. But as we see, even NHLers like Warren Foegele are fourth liners as sophomores.

So, he's had one bad year, last year, off a promising development track. He definitely has top two line potential, and a change in scenery is important at times.

 

[Dan]

Blaisdell has scored two (2) goals in 50+ games for NoDak after a single breakout season in juniors.

Harrison Blaisdell Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

That's what happens when you're young and playing on a very good team - at UNH he immediately rockets to a top-3 (natural) offensive talent w/ higher upside than a guy like Ward, and perhaps even Pierson...

Richels, Cafarelli and Gendron were a combined 3-10--13 in 52 games played last season and those are UNH's top young guns (pending the development/matriculation of Cronin/Evans/Margel/Turner).

Blaisdell is a nice pick up with three full years of eligibility remaining. His addition makes it less likely they rush Evans/Turner/Margel to Durham - though, IMO, adding another talented piece makes it even more important to matriculate/bunch your better talent and let them grow together...

 

[Dan]

My prefered UNH line-up this season, ignorant of scholarship money, w/ remaining eligibility in ():

Ward (2) – Pierson (2) – Rickwood (4)
Blaisdell (3) – Engaras (3) – Cronin (4)
Stevenson (3) – McAdams (1) – Gendron (4)
Richels (4) – Evans (4) – Turner (4)
Cafarelli (4)/Herrmann (3)

Esposito-Sweeney-Cipollone-Ring-Hankinson

Eriksson (3) – Reid (4)
MacKinnon (2) – Gagne (4)
Huard (4) – Ardanaz (4)
Jenson (4)

Verrier-Semandel-Hickey

Murphy (3, NU)
Baliotti (4)


PP - Pierson, Rickwood, Blaisdell, Cronin, Evans, Richels, Turner, Gendron | Eriksson, Reid, Ardanaz
PK - Ward, Engaras, Stevenson, McAdams, Herrmann | Reid, MacKinnon, Huard, Gagne

--


Take your lumps and develop - I think that's still a team capable of finishing 8th, they just do it with higher upside and the potential to compete for home ice together in the future. This group also allows you to be selective about adding high-end recruits/transfers and matriculations from the recruits already verballed. I'm over watching 8th place teams w/ little upside, knowing future seasons will all be the same but w/ a different cast of characters...

 

[Snively65]

Your hatred for Red Wings busts is showing ....

I was just going through the list of interesting kids, and he ticks the marks upside. First, he only turned 20 after the season. Second, he was highly regarded at 15, a second round WHL pick. Third, he had a strongish rookie season in the BCHL for a 16 year old. His "breakout" season was his 17 year season, and the NHL drafted him in the fifth round, even as he was originally a second round Central Scouting ranking mid-year, and 3rd rounder in final rankings. Fifth in the BCHL in goals as a 17 year old is good.

He then had a strong freshman year at NoDak, with 12 points on a deep team as a true freshman, but lost playing time as the year went along. Last year was mired on 4th line, and grinding is not really his thing. But as we see, even NHLers like Warren Foegele are fourth liners as sophomores.

So, he's had one bad year, last year, off a promising development track. He definitely has top two line potential, and a change in scenery is important at times.

Maybe will turn pro with the current third-place Jets after next season? I am fine with that, as long as we get some much needed goal scoring this coming year.

 

[HockeyRef]

That's what happens when you're young and playing on a very good team - at UNH he immediately rockets to a top-3 (natural) offensive talent w/ higher upside than a guy like Ward, and perhaps even Pierson...

Richels, Cafarelli and Gendron were a combined 3-10--13 in 52 games played last season and those are UNH's top young guns (pending the development/matriculation of Cronin/Evans/Margel/Turner).

Blaisdell is a nice pick up with three full years of eligibility remaining. His addition makes it less likely they rush Evans/Turner/Margel to Durham - though, IMO, adding another talented piece makes it even more important to matriculate/bunch your better talent and let them grow together...

Sounds like a great pick up for sure Dan! Thanks for your optimistic look at him; could something be happenin' in Durham??? Now...to settle the goalie thing

 

[Chuck Murray]

But as we see, even NHLers like Warren Foegele are fourth liners as sophomores.

Well played. Your hatred for Captain Turtleneck is far more subtle than mine for DRW draft busts.

I hope Blaisdell works out. Make sure to keep him away from cheap beer and the Durham Grange.

 

[JB]

Dan - that sounds like a reasonable plan... As the current tactics are "doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results"... The key is to know that is what you are doing.

 

[HockeyRef]

Pretty sure Margel delaying another year, ‘Watcher

He signed a NLI or does that not matter?

 

[Dan]

He signed a NLI or does that not matter?

It’s supposed to matter, but no, it doesn’t, not any more...

Its basically an accounting trick now, locks him into UNH even if they send him back to JRs (as long as they renew their offer next summer) - but UNH could tell him to hit the bricks anytime...

No idea why kids agree to this.

 

[Chuck Murray]

It’s supposed to matter, but no, it doesn’t, not any more...

Its basically an accounting trick now, locks him into UNH even if they send him back to JRs (as long as they renew their offer next summer) - but UNH could tell him to hit the bricks anytime...

No idea why kids agree to this.

From what I've seen locally, the HS in the town next door puts on a brief dog-and-pony show, inviting the student-athlete and their parents to come to the auditorium, they put on cute new sweatshirts, with the student-athlete's future destination on the front, spruce the stage up with the college's logo, and do a little signing ceremony with the local media in for a quick photo-op and powder-puff questions, which runs in their next edition (or whenever they have extra space to fill).

It's almost become a rite of passage, Dan - probably even more so for the parents than for their kid.

It's a status symbol, the currency of prestige in the community as well as in many schools ...

 

[NCAA watcher]

My prefered UNH line-up this season, ignorant of scholarship money, w/ remaining eligibility in ():

Ward (2) – Pierson (2) – Rickwood (4)

Wonder how much sway having his sister here helps? He jumped to the BCHL to push himself, so maybe has bigger programs in mind. Alternatively, UNH could offer him a spot right away that the big programs don't have the luxury of offering for next year. His interview with the BCHL podcast says he liked the ontario league because he was promised a top line spot as a 17 year old. "I could have gone to a higher team and not played..." Joined Victoria because they've had a lot of talent "they said I'd play up high in the lineup..."
But for college recruiting, he says he's young and has lots of time.

Maybe UNH can have Harrison Blaisdell talk to him about getting lost at a bigger program.

Victoria forward Ellis Rickwood, with numerous NCAA Div. 1 programs after him, continued to enhance his stature for the 2021 NHL draft by scoring his league-leading 11th goal.

https://www.timescolonist.com/sports...ion-1.24308590

Island Division-leading Victoria (10-3) got a goal and three points in the Saturday matin?e from Ellis Rickwood. The slippery forward from Brantford, Ont., has been inundated with NCAA Div. 1 offers and is being touted for the 2021 NHL draft. Rickwood was leading in BCHL scoring, pending late results from games Saturday night.

https://www.timescolonist.com/sports...ign-1.24311305

 

[boblav1]

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
Hearing goalie David Fessenden transferring to New Hampshire from Alabama-Huntsville. 6-foot-6 netminder had .910 save percentage for Chargers as soph in '20-21

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/311286/david-fessenden