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UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition
- Thread starter norbert
- Start date
Apparently, our split with Quinnipiac at the beginning of the season is still paying dividends now.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
What exactly do you have in mind? Hey I did my part last season emailing, imploring, etc....to no avail. Going to put off making the renewal for now...other fish to fry but
if I get another phone call I am going to ask just what exactly do THEY have in mind to improve the situation on the ice (which, I know...isn't their job) but will be interesting to hear the response. We have been turned away from the closest parking even tho we get there most games before six...and I could give a crap about their 'season ticket' soda prices...to be honest.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Yep...you'd think by NOW this would be painfully obvious to this coaching staff, or, worse yet, the players themselves. They've played hockey long enough to k now that you don't leave your back door open like they constantly do...so they own a piece of this as well... On another note the great soccer coach Dave Pinkham gave me this advice when my Varsity field hockey team tied a game we were up in that when you are up by a goal that you pack it in...but NEVER leave a single player unmarked. Smart guy; that's why he rattled off 10 straight state titles til Dan and his team came along but to this day has the longest win streak in the country for school boy soccer (I think).On the issue of "sitting back and trying to protect a one goal lead" ... if you watch ANY hockey beyond that of your own team, you realize this is a commonplace occurrence, and certainly not an MS7 or UNH thing. The score dictates the longer a one-goal game goes into a 3rd period, the more chances a trailing team is taking to at least even things up. A well-coached team knows how to defend against that, and better yet, they also know how to counter that with taking advantage of the opposition's desperation. Last night's game was the perfect example.
UNH buttoned things up for most of the 3rd period. But they got careless, taking two super avoidable penalties, and even when they killed both of them, they couldn't clean up the aftermath of the second one, leading to the 2-2 equalizer. So now the momentum is back with the home team, and not surprisingly, they take advantage with the go-ahead goal. As UNH melts on ice with the realization of "Oh jeez, here we go again" another goal (4-2) follows seconds later. Then the officials decide it's time to do UNH a solid, and they start handing out penalties to UMaine to gift UNH a chance to get back into the game. Blockhead MS7, down two goals but up two players, decides for some reason NOT to pull Whale (which for fans of irony would have been a replay of the UMaine-Denver FF game in Boston back in the '00's), and worse yet, Barr takes advantage by having his guys spring Nadeau out of the box after his "taunting" penaltyto put in the SHG kill shot. Game set match.
The idea of "sitting back" happens all the time, and it could be the last place Blackhawks against the first place Jets in Winnipeg, and you will see Chicago pressing the play if they're one goal down in the later stages of the 3rd period. If you're ahead, you try to protect what you've got ... and if you're behind, you've got nothing to lose if you drop a game by one, two or three goals. UNH has proven over the last 9-10 games that they can't successfully manage a 3rd period. Coaching issue. UMaine (and others) have taken advantage, and a big part of that boils down to superior coaching in situational hockey.
FWIW I did not hate the Jenson penalty. It was on time, and it just as easily could not have been called. But why take that chance, knowing you are the road team, and the officials have an edict to curtail stuff that's on OR near the head? You ran the risk of shifting momentum (it did), and creating circumstances that could lead to a goal against OR another penalty (latter). Where is the discipline from the bench to tell your guys not to risk doing the (flailing at the time) opposition any favors?
Long and short ... we have a head coach who has always underestimated the amount of effort and application needed to perform his duties at the D-1 level. The only time we've ever seen him going "above and beyond" was during the early 2024 "charm offensive", when he was ubiquitous across all forms and shapes of media, when his professional future was on the line. I was optimistic this near-death experience (professionally anyway) would motivate him to apply himself and his guys to continue to build on their short run of success. That hasn't even come close to happening, although a nice out of conference run papered over the cracks, before the UConn sweep began the crash.
You are supposed to learn from your mistakes ... not repeat them over and over and over ... but this is where we are, and you don't have to be a student of the game to realize what's going on.
MS7 will play out the rest of the season ... UNH will find a couple of wins down the stretch, but instead of having a first round bye (top five) with a chance for home ice in the quarters (top four), the 'Cats will be on the road for the MBPBEGAM "playoffs" likely against the 6th seed, and the season will once again end a game or two short of Boston. All this PWR chatter about being a "bubble" team is silly, as if the NCAA was ever gonna seed a last place HEA team as an at-large in the national tourney. If you ever believed that, give me a jingle, I've got some prime "deeded wetlands" available for sale over here in Effingwoods.
What happens after the season ends about a month from now is all that matters. MS7, who is SO all about the paycheck, will not have the integrity to resign. AD SB, who is still kind of a newbie to this hockey that's played on ice, will point to the contract, throw her arms up, and plead for patience, donations, and facility upgrades. Next season, we'll see another bottom tier finish, and no trip to Boston. Again, there will be no resignations, no buyouts, and no hope. And in '26/'27, we'll be treated to the "MS7 Charm Offensive 2.0". You read it here first ...
... like I've said a few times now, get ready to wait until circa 2030 for a legitimate shot at UNH Hockey relevance ...
Oh and Chuck? I saw your apology in one of your posts. Don't make me go all 'Gloria Steinham' on you but if I do? You'll deserve it...ha!
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Conmy is a problem. Penalties are a problem. Coaching is a problem. Didn’t says he’s the problem but for all hype he isn’t what people said he would be.
how many turnovers on the point? Shots over the net. Finding a dirty area and getting a puck?
HockeyRef
Well-known member
You know? OK...yeah da Whale has had his moments but I am not going to lay this on him. But I do have a feeling that Snives has brought up that maybe..just maybe...Hellsten was the key to last years 20 W's. And of course contributions from guys like Sardarian and Blaisdell....
Anyhoo...still some hockey left. Will miss this coming weekend flying the coup er I meant coop for warmer temps...
HockeyRef
Well-known member
he he we like living dangerously...bwahahaha
Puckthomas
New member
Please don’t blame the Saturday UNH loss on Whale. I honestly, as a Maine fan, do not see the goals by Russell, Scholle, or even Nadeau are on him. Those were system breakdowns and not goalie faults. Jared is a good goalie.
You did warn me you'd overwhelm me with statistics and analysis, but I wasn't prepared to be dazzled like this!
Yes, you have busted me. I enjoy watching UNH Hockey - and especially the stars that have come through the program. Even more so the last decade or so, when there has been so little to be excited about otherwise. How strange of me. For you watching talent is salt in the open wound of UNH's struggles apparently. What a miserable experience that must be...
2015-16, UNH finishes 11-20-6. Which player got most of the blame? Fifty-two point scorer and Hobey Baker finalist Andrew Poturalski.
2019-20, The Wildcats eke out a .500 record at 15-15-4. Which player held them back? The All-Hockey East defenseman who led the entire team in assists (22) and points (29), ranked fourth in goals scored (7) and played 25-minutes a night against the opponents' best forwards, Max Gildon.
Looks pretty stupid in hindsight, and it should. Those two weren't a problem then. Neither is Conmy, now. Depth of supporting cast, coaching and recruiting. Same as it ever was...
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BTW, perhaps not up to the standard of analysis you've set for us all, but here's an interesting stat. A complete list of UNH's Top-9 forwards who scored a goal this weekend at Maine:
Ryan Conmy
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You know? OK...yeah da Whale has had his moments but I am not going to lay this on him. But I do have a feeling that Snives has brought up that maybe..just maybe...Hellsten was the key to last years 20 W's. And of course contributions from guys like Sardarian and Blaisdell....
Anyhoo...still some hockey left. Will miss this coming weekend flying the coup er I meant coop for warmer temps...
Imagine how bad we'd be with a second lazy, high-skilled, point-per-game forward on this team! Thank goodness for small victories...
grooverider
Your Team Sucks
I thought you guys had some players who played good this weekend, in particular Lavins and Sweeney seemed to have an extra step and energy.
The biggest ghost from watching at my seats: Devlin. He was basically invisible minus maybe one point blank attempt.
The biggest ghost from watching at my seats: Devlin. He was basically invisible minus maybe one point blank attempt.
The Devin knock is a fair one. He followed a strong junior year with a lousy senior year.
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I’m not blaming the season on Whale but 5 on 3 shorty? BU snafu and the BC one? This a trend and a coaching opportunity but we don’t have one.You know? OK...yeah da Whale has had his moments but I am not going to lay this on him. But I do have a feeling that Snives has brought up that maybe..just maybe...Hellsten was the key to last years 20 W's. And of course contributions from guys like Sardarian and Blaisdell....
Anyhoo...still some hockey left. Will miss this coming weekend flying the coup er I meant coop for warmer temps...
My earlier comparison between Hellsten and Whale was part of my groping for a cause of our drop off this season.You know? OK...yeah da Whale has had his moments but I am not going to lay this on him. But I do have a feeling that Snives has brought up that maybe..just maybe...Hellsten was the key to last years 20 W's. And of course contributions from guys like Sardarian and Blaisdell....
Anyhoo...still some hockey left. Will miss this coming weekend flying the coup er I meant coop for warmer temps...
Hellsten, 28 games, 57 ga, 2.04 gaa, 5 shut outs, 9.09 sv%, 15-12-1
Whale (so far), 28 games, 72 ga, 2.68 gaa, 2 shut outs, 0.90 sv%, 11-13-4
As far as the D-men in front of Whale, all are about the same as last year on offense, except for Huard, who is way off. But perhaps the D-men have regressed dramatically on defense this season?
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
The only way UNH qualifies for the big tourney is by winning the little tourney. So the next 6 games are kinda meaningless.Hoping for our HEA basement team sneaking into the NCAA’s is about the only reason that I have for following the Wildcats this season, Chuck. Call me silly if you like, but the possibility of making NCAA tournament history is intriguing to me.
I'll leave it up to your hockey intelligence to determine how likely it is UNH will run the table to the HEA tourney title.
I'll be charitable and give you my analysis using compound probabilities (and being generous):
MBPBEGAM Round: 25% chance of winning (road team vs. likely #6 seed)
Quarterfinal Round: 10% chance of winning (if we win MBPBEGAM round, and play #1 seed)
So that's a 2.5% chance of advancing to Boston for the semifinals. Then ...
Semifinal Round: 20% chance of winning on neutral ice vs. top remaining seed
Hockey East Finals: 25% chance of winning on neutral ice vs. top remaining seed (now that at least #1 is gone)
Meaning UNH has a 5% chance of winning the HEA Tourney, if they somehow manage to get themselves there.
Chances for UNH to qualify for the NCAA Tourney? One in 800, or 0.125% chance of success.
Winner is the first person to channel Jim Carrey from "Dumb and Dumber" in responding to this post ...
Jellsville USA
Registered User
Dan must be in for $700 on the Conmy alternate jersey
I think the bottom line here is the boys need more structure, discipline, and on and off ice coaching. The talent is there (including Conmy) and has been. (forever optimistic!). Mr. Souza, you should do what is right for the program and step down.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Here is the probability matrix from CHNThe only way UNH qualifies for the big tourney is by winning the little tourney. So the next 6 games are kinda meaningless.
I'll leave it up to your hockey intelligence to determine how likely it is UNH will run the table to the HEA tourney title.
I'll be charitable and give you my analysis using compound probabilities (and being generous):
MBPBEGAM Round: 25% chance of winning (road team vs. likely #6 seed)
Quarterfinal Round: 10% chance of winning (if we win MBPBEGAM round, and play #1 seed)
So that's a 2.5% chance of advancing to Boston for the semifinals. Then ...
Semifinal Round: 20% chance of winning on neutral ice vs. top remaining seed
Hockey East Finals: 25% chance of winning on neutral ice vs. top remaining seed (now that at least #1 is gone)
Meaning UNH has a 5% chance of winning the HEA Tourney, if they somehow manage to get themselves there.
Chances for UNH to qualify for the NCAA Tourney? One in 800, or 0.125% chance of success.
Winner is the first person to channel Jim Carrey from "Dumb and Dumber" in responding to this post ...
It gives UNH 0.6% chance of winning HE championship and getting automatic qualifier. Otherwise the chance is 1% for at large bid.
Now you should be like Carey in Liar liar and hold yourself in contempt of court for general mockery of the court proceedings.
Robert Balin
Member
Sparkee, you remind me of a generic SteveF without any context.Here is the probability matrix from CHN
It gives UNH 0.6% chance of winning HE championship and getting automatic qualifier. Otherwise the chance is 1% for at large bid.
Now you should be like Carey in Liar liar and hold yourself in contempt of court for general mockery of the court proceedings.