UNH 2025 Offseason: Where in the World is MS7?

[norbert]

Waiting...

Waiting for?

 

[Chuck Murray]

In whose mind?

So let's play a game then ... let's say a certain Coach X has been leading his program for about a decade, arguably the first three as an apprentice under a guy who had led the program to its greatest heights over a 20+ year stretch, but there was a noticeable downturn during his apprenticeship. Let's give Coach X the benefit of the doubt for those first three years, and lay the blame on his predecessor for that stretch ... but now Coach X as the guy who had been running the show from a recruiting standpoint takes over, and the program really doesn't budge outside of the bottom tier of their conference ... where they previously had enjoyed a long stretch as a top tier team under said predecessor in the same conference, arguably against better (at times legendary) coaching opposition.

Coach X gets his first post-hire "break" - and I make that qualification in reference to the initial "break" that gave him the job when other more experienced D-1 guys were available - when the combination of the virus and a doting paisan in the AD's office extends him after his worst season to date. Break #2 arrives at the intersection of the departure of said doting paisan and the arrival of a new AD, who is from a foreign land where D-1 hockey is an afterthought. And a year after kneecapping the most successful Hoops coach in their program's pathetic history due to not getting far above .500 nor progressing in their conference tourney, the new AD is SO impressed by Coach X nudging the historically competitive Hockey program just over .500 (and not progressing in their conference tourney) a year later that Coach X gets another "break" with a 3 year extension. And in Year 1 after Break #2, the program is right back in the sh!tter again.

"In the mind" of most competent and experienced D-1 AD's, I don't think most HC's like Coach X ever get the job in the first place ... but if they do, maybe some (or even most, with a personally invested boss) get Break #1, albeit without a full 3 year extension. Not many (if any?) get Break #2, not having done any better in those next 3 seasons, even based on the new AD's previously established criteria with the decision to axe the Hoops HC, producing pretty much the same results with far inferior resources (and history). Break #3 arguably arrived at the end of the 2024/2025 season, where said AD may have had their hands tied from firing/buying Coach X out due to financial constraints during the school's latest 2 year budgetary period being in a high degree of flux.

So there are now two years left on Coach X's deal, and Year 1 is still a heap of smoldering ashes left by the roadside. Coach X has staked a new course for the program, seizing upon the change of the D-1 Hockey recruiting landscape. Break #4, come on down. For once in his underwhelming D-1 coaching career to date, he seems to be at the forefront of a new recruiting niche that has opened up, just in time to make one final push to convince his new boss of his worth. But with lots of other programs either more cautiously behind, or sitting out Year One of these changes, there is no reason to think that if this new strategy proves to be successful, the competition for those players is only going to intensify. And if Coach X still finds himself in the 4th quartile next season ... what is the excuse going to be this time??

So let me ask you Darius ... in whose mind do you think the upcoming season isn't a "make or break" proposition for someone like Coach X???

 

[Potluck]

Let’s go with this. You tell us how you are connected to MS7 or who you are and love up sources.

So you did just make up the Conmy getting $50k in NIL money from BC. Helpful for all us to see you’re a king BSer. Maybe we’ll call you Huckleberry. It goes well with your fellow BSer Buford.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Souza will be the coach at UNH for the next 7-10 years - minimum. The CHL change and the funding of the renovation may revitalize UNH. Perhaps the haters should sit back and be willing to reconsider Souza in this new hockey environment.

Souza seems to be revitalized. The recent recruiting news suggests UNH is really pushing to take full advantage. The next 3-5 years of college hockey will be the most interesting in history.

NIL, new transfer rules in addition to the availability of CHL players adds a dimension that even college hoop and football are not experiencing. All that’s left is to get Punxsutawney Mike Souza to come out of his hole to speak to us and we’ll all believe.

Btw, I’m not saying Souza should be the coach. He’s fortunate the rules have changed. I just think some improve at their jobs and are able to take advantage of new opportunities.

Careful, potty ... this is the kind of "both sides analysis" that your newfound pal @spankyfrommaineoopsnh gets irked by, and when it's offered from certain quarters, gets someone accused of advocating for the proverbial lifetime contract, etc. O the tangled web we weave/when we practice to deceive

Prediction here is that @spankyfromumaineoopsnh will show himself as the CNN/MSNBC style lefty wingman for your comments, giving them a good leaving alone, just like those media outlets handled spanky's hero President Magoo, while going all hypocritically apesh!t in contorting my similar analysis.

 

[Robert Balin]

update on this one: Connor MacPherson has signed with Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Good sign they're high on him if they're planning to use an overage spot on him. Halifax was rebuilding last year (despite accidentally making it to the 2nd round in the playoffs) so they had OA spots open.

Thanks for the info Cinn. I'm assuming he'll have to have a decent year at Halifax to get a shot at returning to UNH we'll see.I'd like to see the Grimes kid and Connors kid find a spot on a MJ team why Souza has them going to the NAHL is beyond me.

 

[Darius]

So let me ask you Darius ... in whose mind do you think the upcoming season isn't a "make or break" proposition for someone like Coach X???

Mine. Some other posters. AD Rich's. Not yours.

 

[Darius]

Waiting for?

An answer on where you heard Conmy was being paid $50K by BC. Is this rumor or fact? If fact is payment information published? If published is it published by each school? By the NCAA? For all sports or just some? I find the NCAA's player financials to be an interesting subject.

 

[Darius]

Tuition waiver, so more than $50k

Does tuition waiver = scholarship?

 

[Potluck]

An answer on where you heard Conmy was being paid $50K by BC. Is this rumor or fact? If fact is payment information published? If published is it published by each school? By the NCAA? For all sports or just some? I find the NCAA's player financials to be an interesting subject.

Norbert’s a complete phony. Total know nothing. He’s just making it up as he does so often.

 

[cinnamoroll]

Thanks for the info Cinn. I'm assuming he'll have to have a decent year at Halifax to get a shot at returning to UNH we'll see.I'd like to see the Grimes kid and Connors kid find a spot on a MJ team why Souza has them going to the NAHL is beyond me.

Jayden Connors played the last regular season game with the Sudbury Wolves (already made playoffs, scratched most of their big players). They drafted him in the 4th round 2023 OHL Draft. He should fight for a roster spot at their training camp. Not sure about Grimes though

 

[norbert]

So you did just make up the Conmy getting $50k in NIL money from BC. Helpful for all us to see you’re a king BSer. Maybe we’ll call you Huckleberry. It goes well with your fellow BSer Buford.

Yes. I spun a wheel and it stopped so I said that. The problem is no one knows you. I know Chuck has been on here for years, JB and I went to college, Ref I know from games.

If you want to meet and have a conversation then we go from there. While you think you are the smartest in the room I know more that you can possibly fathom.

 

[Snively65]

Does tuition waiver = scholarship?

I think that a full scholarship = tuition and fees plus room and board. What I always have wondered is how players on partial scholarships make up the difference in these charges.

 

[Potluck]

Yes. I spun a wheel and it stopped so I said that. The problem is no one knows you. I know Chuck has been on here for years, JB and I went to college, Ref I know from games.

If you want to meet and have a conversation then we go from there. While you think you are the smartest in the room I know more that you can possibly fathom.

So you know Buford and Elwood? That’s like saying you know dumb and dumber. As for you Norbert, well, you’re a fraud.