UNH 2025 Offseason: Where in the World is MS7?

[Chuck Murray]

Have you all considered going back to the original Olympic rink size? kidding of course…. But that was quite an advantage, was it not ?

When you gotta rely on making crappy excuses to stay in a job, it's amazing the lengths you will go to. Including eliminating a competitive advantage.

MS7 sold us (and more importantly his employers) that he'd be able to attract better quality recruits with NHL sized ice. How's that worked out??

Lucky for his players, the dimensions of The Whitt also closely match those of all 29 active ECHL arenas, so he's got that going for him ...

 

[Chuck Murray]

This article about UConn's shift in culture is interesting and leads to another question I'd ask MS7..."how could you describe the culture at UNH? What drives it?

UConn men’s hockey will never be the same

The Huskies run to the regional final is only the beginning for the program.

www.theuconnblog.com

What an absolute boatload of tripe, but I'm not surprised. Good for the kids who are the true believers, but a dozen years in, and Luce still hasn't gotten a single trophy that matters. After all, that was one of his three goals in taking the job at Storrs ...

"When Cavanaugh arrived in Storrs in 2013, he set three goals for the program: Graduate players, create better men and win trophies. He often talks about how national championships should be the standard at UConn."

The standard has indeed been set at UConn. Here's a recap on how UConn fared in their 2025 quest for "trophies":

* 2nd place for something called the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off
* 4th place in the Hockey East regular season standings
* 2nd place in the Hockey East tournament after a UMaine beatdown
* 2nd place in the NCAA Allentown Regional (*ping* unlucky post!!)

Back in the old days, this was Coach Umile, except of course he would win a meaningless midseason tournament, AND he'd win the HEA Regular Season title, plus he won 2 HEA Tourneys after he'd been on the job for a dozen years. He'd also "win" two Regionals, and won two out of four National Semifinals in his first dozen-plus years in charge. And his "unlucky post shot" came in the '99 Finals vs. UMaine in Anaheim.

FWIW you could plug in "Bazin" for Umile above, and it would look pretty much the same (sans the arena building part) ...

Umile got brow-beaten incessantly on here for being the guy who "can't win the big one", but he was demonstrably better than Luce, across the board. Even considering facilities, Umile's success got The Whitt (capacity 6,500+) built in 5 years, while Luce got Baba Yaga's Ice Hut (2,600) built after a full decade.

In the meantime, Luce gets puff pieces not for winning anything, but just for coming kinda close, at a school that totally dominates another winter sport, where he himself is on record stating that "national championships should be the standard".

Anyway, this needed to be said. Just because.

 

[Snively65]

It would be two-on-one Tortorellas (John & Jim) ganging up on the AD f/k/a SB. I'd pay serious money to watch that play out.

Which is why it would never happen. Besides, I still hate John T. for his Game 82 antics at the end of the '24 NHL season. Glad he got fired. Karma.

“serious money” = $240k to buy out MS7’s contract?

 

[FDNY99]

What an absolute boatload of tripe, but I'm not surprised. Good for the kids who are the true believers, but a dozen years in, and Luce still hasn't gotten a single trophy that matters. After all, that was one of his three goals in taking the job at Storrs ...

"When Cavanaugh arrived in Storrs in 2013, he set three goals for the program: Graduate players, create better men and win trophies. He often talks about how national championships should be the standard at UConn."

The standard has indeed been set at UConn. Here's a recap on how UConn fared in their 2025 quest for "trophies":

* 2nd place for something called the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off
* 4th place in the Hockey East regular season standings
* 2nd place in the Hockey East tournament after a UMaine beatdown
* 2nd place in the NCAA Allentown Regional (*ping* unlucky post!!)

Back in the old days, this was Coach Umile, except of course he would win a meaningless midseason tournament, AND he'd win the HEA Regular Season title, plus he won 2 HEA Tourneys after he'd been on the job for a dozen years. He'd also "win" two Regionals, and won two out of four National Semifinals in his first dozen-plus years in charge. And his "unlucky post shot" came in the '99 Finals vs. UMaine in Anaheim.

FWIW you could plug in "Bazin" for Umile above, and it would look pretty much the same (sans the arena building part) ...

Umile got brow-beaten incessantly on here for being the guy who "can't win the big one", but he was demonstrably better than Luce, across the board. Even considering facilities, Umile's success got The Whitt (capacity 6,500+) built in 5 years, while Luce got Baba Yaga's Ice Hut (2,600) built after a full decade.

In the meantime, Luce gets puff pieces not for winning anything, but just for coming kinda close, at a school that totally dominates another winter sport, where he himself is on record stating that "national championships should be the standard".

Anyway, this needed to be said. Just because.

Cavanaugh living rent free in your head...priceless. I'm disappointed you have turned a blind eye to the embarrassing ice conditions that existed in Manchester for the regional.

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Cavanaugh living rent free in your head...priceless. I'm disappointed you have turned a blind eye to the embarrassing ice conditions that existed in Manchester for the regional.

What are you talking about? This was discussed...the ice, the goal pegs and the overall lack of experience the rink crew had managing the facilities.

Hell, Chuck and I even discussed this in person during Friday's doubleheader. With HockeyRef. As did virtually every other fan in the arena or watching on TV.

Your power of observation is nothing short of astounding.

 

[FDNY99]

What are you talking about? This was discussed...the ice, the goal pegs and the overall lack of experience the rink crew had managing the facilities.

Hell, Chuck and I even discussed this in person during Friday's doubleheader. With HockeyRef. As did virtually every other fan in the arena or watching on TV.

Your power of observation is nothing short of astounding.

Oops..my bad...it must have been lost in all his rants about Luce Cavanaugh and MS7. Im making popcorn now for his next editions on NIL, revenue sharing, roster limit issues, and the continuing saga of how your AD is running this program straight into the ground....which on a serious note is beyond shameful! I

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

We need something to distract us.

We're sitting like Baby in the corner watching everyone else boogie at the Big Dance.

 

[JB]

Topic to discuss:

Assumption: Souza somehow hangs on long enough to get the locker room renovation.

What is the next excuse?

- Rink too small? De-shrink the rink
- no NIL money
- the other coaches are mean to him
- Hockey team can't function without their own custom coach bus
- current boxes need new carpet - how can we possibly recruit and win with old carpet
- need a second set of boxes
- to match the general campus aesthetic the Whitt needs a brick facade

Let's get creative, MS7 is going to need our help

 

[Chuck Murray]

Cavanaugh living rent free in your head...priceless. I'm disappointed you have turned a blind eye to the embarrassing ice conditions that existed in Manchester for the regional.

OK smarta$$, your turn. Convince us why Luce has earned the "kid gloves treatment" he's gotten for winning absolutely nothing. 3, 2, 1 ... go!!

 

[Potluck]

OK smarta$$, your turn. Convince us why Luce has earned the "kid gloves treatment" he's gotten for winning absolutely nothing. 3, 2, 1 ... go!!

Oh Buford, Cavanaugh has something called achievement in his life. While you spent your adult years sporting a bowl haircut while dealing with periods of unemployment and alcoholism, Cavanaugh was the top assistant for the greatest coach in the history of college hockey and recruited national championship winning teams. He then took over a truly moribund UConn program without an on campus D1 facility in a Basketball ONLY state, and gradually built it into a Final 8 team with a gorgeous new hockey facility. Cavanaugh currently enjoys successfully recruiting blue chip talent and covers his mouth to avoid laughing during his yearly trip to the Ant Hill that we call that Whit.

Since you and Elwood a/k/a JB aren't familiar with modern American amenities and go to the bathroom in the woods to save the costs of constructing a bathroom, beautiful modern buildings and amenities attract modern successful human beings as customers and recruits. Cavanaugh now enjoys the benefits of heading a top 10 hockey program that he essentially created.

You, of course, have no idea what achieving a real long term goal means. It involves mental toughness, effort, resiliance, intelligence and above all avoiding do nothing social media, knuckleheads like you.

 

[JB]

... Cavanaugh was the top assistant for the greatest coach in the history of college hockey and recruited national championship winning teams. He then took over a truly moribund UConn program without an on campus D1 facility in a Basketball ONLY state, and gradually built it into a Final 8 team with a gorgeous new hockey facility. ...

Wait a minute.

Potluck:
JB: your suggestion that it's Mike Souza's job to build a new arena is bizarre. I'm no longer a Souza fan but holy cow. I find it incredible that you don't think the University should have an athletic facilities development strategy helmed by experienced people. You think the coaches should build their teams facilities?

Potluck:
Don’t get in the way JB is on a roll. He thinks new arenas and renovations should be funded by private money at a state school.

So Cavanaugh gets credit for the gorgeous new hockey facility? I though suggesting coaches were part of getting donations for building new arena's was bizarre. (Particularly when Souza's only real skill displayed that earned a new 3 year contract was get TDL's donation, which was actually my point.) So what did Cavanaugh do to get this as part of his accomplishments? Was he using a shovel, running an excavator?

Also that gorgeous new hockey facility at a state school - majority of the funding was from donations. Uconn is a state school right? I thought new arenas weren't funded by private money at state schools?

Potluck - do you actually have a coherent, consistent argument?

NOTE:
1) The USCHO search feature is super handy
2) I don't really care about Cavanaugh, that is a Chuck thing

 

[Darius]

Not sure which of our now two threads is most appropriate for this so I’ll post on the newer one that y’all be wasting your time cluttering the board with your relentless back and forth. You are fighting for second place. I am the smartest, most informed, most connected, have the best information, thoughts and perspective of anyone posting to the UNH threads. I am also the most handsome.

 

[Potluck]

Wait a minute.





So Cavanaugh gets credit for the gorgeous new hockey facility? I though suggesting coaches were part of getting donations for building new arena's was bizarre. (Particularly when Souza's only real skill displayed that earned a new 3 year contract was get TDL's donation, which was actually my point.) So what did Cavanaugh do to get this as part of his accomplishments? Was he using a shovel, running an excavator?

Also that gorgeous new hockey facility at a state school - majority of the funding was from donations. Uconn is a state school right? I thought new arenas weren't funded by private money at state schools?

Potluck - do you actually have a coherent, consistent argument?

NOTE:
1) The USCHO search feature is super handy
2) I don't really care about Cavanaugh, that is a Chuck thing

Elwood, I love your ambition. You can't help it if your silly. Please don't compare NH with Connecticut. It's a Kia v. Mercedes sort of thing, honestly. Connecticut has entrepreneurs and a vibrant, intelligent state house. Just compare the trajectory and progress of UConn v. UNH. UConn built a public- private facility with UConn being the engine that created the entire project.

https://rihebc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/University-of-Connecticut-taps-P3-for-on-campus-hockey-arena-_-Bond-Buyer.pdf

Tale of two arenas: UConn, Sacred Heart banking on added value to growing hockey programs

By 2022, assuming construction avoids delay, all four of the state’s programs, which...

www.ctpost.com

Toscano bought the naming rights for about $10 million when the project was near completion -$20 million was the fundraising goal. UConn's facility without question was driven and financed throught the school and state. It reached out to donors years after it was planned. If the stories confuse you, no worries. You would have forgotten about them by dinner time anyways.

As for the head coach, he took over in 2014. He didn't have a winning record untll 2022. The rink was announced in 2018. It opened in 2023. It wasn't winning that built the rink - at all. But he was the face of program and the school kept him on as head coach through the construction of the rink. That more than anything else is a tribute to his work ethic and integrity.

Interestingly, UConn did not have its first winning season until the year before the grand opening of the rink. The coaches clearly recruited around the rink plan.

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Elwood, I love your ambition. You can't help it if your silly. Please don't compare NH with Connecticut. It's a Kia v. Mercedes sort of thing, honestly. Connecticut has entrepreneurs and a vibrant, intelligent state house. Just compare the trajectory and progress of UConn v. UNH. UConn built a public- private facility with UConn being the engine that created the entire project.

https://rihebc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/University-of-Connecticut-taps-P3-for-on-campus-hockey-arena-_-Bond-Buyer.pdf

Tale of two arenas: UConn, Sacred Heart banking on added value to growing hockey programs

By 2022, assuming construction avoids delay, all four of the state’s programs, which...

www.ctpost.com

Toscano bought the naming rights for about $10 million when the project was near completion -$20 million was the fundraising goal. UConn's facility without question was driven and financed throught the school and state. It reached out to donors years after it was planned. If the stories confuse you, no worries. You would have forgotten about them by dinner time anyways.

As for the head coach, he took over in 2014. He didn't have a winning record untll 2022. The rink was announced in 2018. It opened in 2023. It wasn't winning that built the rink - at all. But he was the face of program and the school kept him on as head coach through the construction of the rink. That more than anything else is a tribute to his work ethic and integrity.

Interestingly, UConn did not have its first winning season until the year before the grand opening of the rink. The coaches clearly recruited around the rink plan.

If CT is so great, why are so many people leaving? It couldn't possibly be people are fed up with outrageous taxes and a progessive legislature....

New Report: Connecticut Lost People Due to High Taxes

Highly taxed people will vote with their feet — and they are moving away from Connecticut. According to a March report by the Heritage Foundation, If You Tax Them, They […]

yankeeinstitute.org

Connecticut population boom goes bust after Census error

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

insideinvestigator.org

Dan Haar: CT losing thousands of people to other states but growing population, new data shows

The pandemic brought an influx of people to CT and they're still coming to some towns. Overall the numbers show a stronger picture than before Covid.

www.ctinsider.com

CT is losing residents in their 40s and 50s, Census data shows

Newly released U.S. Census population estimates show how Connecticut is losing residents in their 40s and 50s.

www.ctinsider.com

During the same time period, the population of NH has grown in every county.

Wonder why that would be?

 

[JB]

Elwood, I love your ambition. You can't help it if your silly. Please don't compare NH with Connecticut. It's a Kia v. Mercedes sort of thing, honestly. Connecticut has entrepreneurs and a vibrant, intelligent state house. Just compare the trajectory and progress of UConn v. UNH. UConn built a public- private facility with UConn being the engine that created the entire project.

Got it. I was confused and thought you making blanket statements like

Potluck:
Don’t get in the way JB is on a roll. He thinks new arenas and renovations should be funded by private money at a state school.

Were actually statements you stood behind and believed.

When confronted with facts your solutions is:
1) deflect - Can't compare UNH to Maine, can't compare UNH to North Dakota, can't compare UNH to Uconn, can't compare UNH to ... every example you don't like the reaction is you can't compare it. All the examples you don't like are significant private money to build or renovate.
2) Lie - UML example. I am still waiting on a reply on the real details? or UMA example another lie from you that buildimg was built for Basketball. If you had ever been you would know.
3) obscure that is a nice article yet the final bill to build Toscano was $70M and that means way more donations were needed, shifting all the numbers around

So what you really mean is, you hate New Hampshire.

You also refuse to admit your blanket statements were WRONG. It is OK just stay it, you will feel better.

Potluck:
As for the head coach, he took over in 2014. He didn't have a winning record untll 2022. The rink was announced in 2018. It opened in 2023. It wasn't winning that built the rink - at all. But he was the face of program and the school kept him on as head coach through the construction of the rink. That more than anything else is a tribute to his work ethic and integrity.

You realize this means he was part of getting out and getting donations. How could you possibly suggest a coach would do such a thing.

I have figured it out. The problem is you have no coherent argument. I am guessing you don't know how to make a coherent argument.

 

[JB]

Not sure which of our now two threads is most appropriate for this so I’ll post on the newer one that y’all be wasting your time cluttering the board with your relentless back and forth. You are fighting for second place. I am the smartest, most informed, most connected, have the best information, thoughts and perspective of anyone posting to the UNH threads. I am also the most handsome.

I think I can agree with almost all of this statement. The most handsome I will need to take your word for it, as I don't think we have ever met.

 

[Potluck]

Got it. I was confused and thought you making blanket statements like



Were actually statements you stood behind and believed.

When confronted with facts your solutions is:
1) deflect - Can't compare UNH to Maine, can't compare UNH to North Dakota, can't compare UNH to Uconn, can't compare UNH to ... every example you don't like the reaction is you can't compare it. All the examples you don't like are significant private money to build or renovate.
2) Lie - UML example. I am still waiting on a reply on the real details? or UMA example another lie from you that buildimg was built for Basketball. If you had ever been you would know.
3) obscure that is a nice article yet the final bill to build Toscano was $70M and that means way more donations were needed, shifting all the numbers around

So what you really mean is, you hate New Hampshire.

You also refuse to admit your blanket statements were WRONG. It is OK just stay it, you will feel better.



You realize this means he was part of getting out and getting donations. How could you possibly suggest a coach would do such a thing.

I have figured it out. The problem is you have no coherent argument. I am guessing you don't know how to make a coherent argument.

So you didn't read the stories. Didn't think so. Not enough pictures. Private money did not drive UConn. It was public. The school went to donors at the end (naming rights, etc..)

Elwood, you, like Buford, do not actually know what government is. You're the guy in Ohio that yelled "get your filthy government hands of my Medicare"

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Not sure which of our now two threads is most appropriate for this so I’ll post on the newer one that y’all be wasting your time cluttering the board with your relentless back and forth. You are fighting for second place. I am the smartest, most informed, most connected, have the best information, thoughts and perspective of anyone posting to the UNH threads. I am also the most handsome.

Word on the street is that you're pretty dreamy. Or, at least that is what HockeyRef says...

 

[Potluck]

Grouchy: What's wrong with leaving a state? Moving to NH is a good option if you want to leave cheap. Of course you get what you pay for.

 

[Darius]

Word on the street is that you're pretty dreamy. Or, at least that is what HockeyRef says...

I also have the biggest… ego.