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UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition

Dan said:
Potluck -


Is the answer as simple as Ben Barr? Could Ben Barr win at UNH? Why did Ben Barr accept a $226,000 salary to coach at UMaine? Would he have turned down $240,000 to coach at UNH?

If you don’t believe Souza is the answer, did you at one time? Do you believe he was hired because UNH was limited in what they would offer and not because he was Umile’s desired successor? If UNH was willing to offer more would they ignore Umile’s wishes?

--

I am NOT of the opinion that UNH will not support the program, but of the opinion that UNH will support a program they believe has earned their support. We are all UNH Hockey fans and want to see a commitment to the hockey program above all others. IMO, that's a commitment UNH should make. Its their path to revenue and athletic success/prestige.

Instead, beginning under Scarano and continuing to date - UNH seems to lean into whatever program is winning. When hockey won, UNH was a hockey school and they invested as such (new stadium). When football won, UNH was a football school and invested as such (new stadium). When soccer won, UNH became a soccer school and invested as such (new stadium).

If UNH is to be a hockey school again, then Souza (and Witt) need to win at a high level. Or be replaced by someone who will. Investment and enthusiasm will follow...
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To add some context, before Barr was hired the Alfond Foundation had already announced a 240 million dollar gift, with the potential to go up to 410 million to UMaine. The AD (at the time) and Jim Montgomery, who was on the search committee were both longtime mentors/friends of Barr from his time as a volunteer assistant at RPI. Does he come to Maine for a bottom tier HE salary without that 240+ million gift and his mentors trying to persuade him? I'm not sure. You guys should just get someone to gift a quarter billion to UNH and then you'll have no problem getting great coaches in hockey AND basketball, it worked for Maine.
 
blackbears9 said:
To add some context, before Barr was hired the Alfond Foundation had already announced a 240 million dollar gift, with the potential to go up to 410 million to UMaine. The AD (at the time) and Jim Montgomery, who was on the search committee were both longtime mentors/friends of Barr from his time as a volunteer assistant at RPI. Does he come to Maine for a bottom tier HE salary without that 240+ million gift and his mentors trying to persuade him? I'm not sure. You guys should just get someone to gift a quarter billion to UNH and then you'll have no problem getting great coaches in hockey AND basketball, it worked for Maine.
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Instead, all that we have received recently is a new name added to all the others on our rink. :(
 
Darius said:
Your global corporation matches employee charitable contributions, correct? :)

Highly unlikely. If it does, UNH and the athletic department have much bigger issues than head coaches, rink sizes, unrestricted bequeaths, library renovations, etc.
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Actually, it does, though my charitable donations aren't directed towards UNH. Though I am an alum, I didn't enjoy my time there, the quality of education I received or the politics pushed down my throat.

My allegiance to UNH Hockey predates my time as a student 30+ years ago.
 
Aerman said:
Once upon a time the big sheets were hockey’s version of the metric system, it’s where “everybody” was going. Never came to fruition and it’s no surprise the pendulum swung back. BUT, IMO, the big sheet was an advantage when the Cats could skate at least as well as anyone in the country and better than most. There have been flashes of talent here and there, but it’s been more than a decade since the whole team had that skill level. That said, those fast and flashy teams would often struggle on the NHL rinks where you could expect most of the postseason games to be played.
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The big sheet worked wonders during the regular season to make the NCAAs, but worked against the Cats on tje national stage when playing on NHL sized rinks against thumpers from the Iron Range.
 
TheGrouchyCat said:
The big sheet worked wonders during the regular season to make the NCAAs, but worked against the Cats on tje national stage when playing on NHL sized rinks against thumpers from the Iron Range.
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The Gophers from your “Iron Range” (wide sheet at Mariucci) interfered with one of our four Frozen Four quests for hardware between 1998 and 2003, but the other two who deprived us of that hardware were the Wolverines from Ann Arbor (small sheet at Yost) and the Black Bears (twice) from Orono (small sheet at Alfond). Half our regular season games were played on small sheets back then, so I do not buy that the Whitt’s wide sheet is what prevented us obtaining a natty or two. I think that the main reason that we do not have a natty is Thomas Vanek.
 
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Snively65 said:
The Gophers from your “Iron Range” (wide sheet at Mariucci) interfered with one of our four Frozen Four quests for hardware between 1998 and 2003, but the other two who deprived us of that hardware were the Wolverines from Ann Arbor (small sheet at Yost) and the Black Bears (twice) from Orono (small sheet at Alfond). Half our regular season games were played on small sheets back then, so I do not buy that the Whitt’s wide sheet is what prevented us obtaining a natty or two. I think that the main reason that we do not have a natty is Thomas Vanek.
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Alfie says hi.
 
Snively65 said:
The Gophers from your “Iron Range” (wide sheet at Mariucci) interfered with one of our four Frozen Four quests for hardware between 1998 and 2003, but the other two who deprived us of that hardware were the Wolverines from Ann Arbor (small sheet at Yost) and the Black Bears (twice) from Orono (small sheet at Alfond). Half our regular season games were played on small sheets back then, so I do not buy that the Whitt’s wide sheet is what prevented us obtaining a natty or two. I think that the main reason that we do not have a natty is Thomas Vanek.
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Sparkee said:
Alfie says hi.
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Snively65 said:
Of course, Alfie, too. :rolleyes:
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Yup and I would add "and a couple of bounces" Vaneked and bounced.
 
TheGrouchyCat said:
Actually, it does, though my charitable donations aren't directed towards UNH. Though I am an alum, I didn't enjoy my time there, the quality of education I received or the politics pushed down my throat.

My allegiance to UNH Hockey predates my time as a student 30+ years ago.
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Interesting. I loved my time at the U and am pleased with my UNH education. It could have been WAY better but most of that is on me not the U and I've done okay in spite of myself. Lots of good lessons learned at the U both in and out of the classroom. Politically, as an eastern MA native and eventual transplant, coming to UNH and the admittedly relatively liberal seacoast was eye opening into the conservative way of thinking. It resonated with me to a degree. I suppose UNH was the most liberal spot in the state and (long haired freak at the time) Rick Hurd's labor union class was one of my favorites however this was balanced by making friends with fellow students and meeting families from far flung reaches of the state like Keene, Clairemont, Berlin, Laconia (some of the best!) and Rochester (more of the best, but I swear the lilac city wasn't considered seacoast back then). I also became friendly with non students and families in the seacoast area which while always the most liberal region of NH was a very different place in the times of third term mandate ax the tax Mel.

Did your predating come from being a local?

Go cats. Beat NU!
 
Darius said:
Did your predating come from being a local?
/QUOTE]

Yes. I grew up in Exeter and lived next door to Dana Barbin.

He would bring the bring the team over to the house for homecooked meals and beer. As a little boy, I was the keg pumper and an unofficial mascot. I think all my sticks were cutoffs given to me by various players, in addition to hand me down gloves.

My first memory ever was a game at Snively. My dad grew up in Duluth and was quite the player himself, so we always went to games.

As for UNH, I went because it was relatively cheap. I was the poor kid who was accepted to the Exeters and Andovers of the world and the Tier 1 universities but didn't have the cash. So, I found UNH terribly easy and quite boring. I ended up going to the library to read a book a day on whatever caught my fancy. As an autodidact, I found it easy to teach myself, but knew I needed a degree.

Upon graduation, I moved to the border of China/Mongolia to work for a company as the only foreigner in a city of 4mm and never looked back. Even then, my parents would send VHS tapes of games broadcast on Channel 11.
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Snively65 said:
The Gophers from your “Iron Range” (wide sheet at Mariucci) interfered with one of our four Frozen Four quests for hardware between 1998 and 2003, but the other two who deprived us of that hardware were the Wolverines from Ann Arbor (small sheet at Yost) and the Black Bears (twice) from Orono (small sheet at Alfond). Half our regular season games were played on small sheets back then, so I do not buy that the Whitt’s wide sheet is what prevented us obtaining a natty or two. I think that the main reason that we do not have a natty is Thomas Vanek.
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Fair enough. Yes, they were big but they could also SKATE.
 
Snively65 said:
My first prediction of the season:

UNH 4, NU 2
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Not a bad guess Snives! Despite a lousy 3rd we hung on to get the W. Sweet game for our boy Marty! Da Whale continues to impress when it counts.

wow didn't realize we went ten seasons without a win at Matthews...I should because I went to most of them!

Three in a row and 5-1-1 in their last 7 (according to NESN guys?) Big PWR test coming with the Big Green...

14 in PWR FWIW dept...go 'Cats!
 
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