UNH 2026-27 Season Let's Go 'Cats!

[HockeyRef]

After a sluggish start UNH puts together a decent 2nd and 3rd getting 3 much needed HE points. Ring and Johnson 2 pt nights and Simpsin with the shutout and..an. assist!
Do it again 'Cats!!

 

[FlagUp17]

After a sluggish start UNH puts together a decent 2nd and 3rd getting 3 much needed HE points. Ring and Johnson 2 pt nights and Simpsin with the shutout and..an. assist!
Do it again 'Cats!!

Missed today’s game as we had a number of friends over. Glad to hear it was a good night for the ‘Cats. Gotta bring it again tomorrow!

Also glad to see two of the goals were even strength! Need a lot more of that!

 

[HockeyRef]

Um dayum UVM...swept BC..leads HE.

 

[Jellsville USA]

The Wildcats turned in a strong performance last night, and I suspect their talent level will be sufficient to overcome occasional shortcomings in preparation and in-game adjustments. That said, tonight represents an important early-season test.

Securing Hockey East points this early is always valuable. A victory tonight would likely elevate UNH into the Top 20 of the NPI rankings, which, while not especially meaningful at this stage of the season, is nonetheless an encouraging indicator of progress.

It was also nice to see VanTassell record his first goal. Vass has been impressive. Simpson is rock solid. Gotta give MS7 some credit for establishing the Ring-Johnson-Guite line early. They are a force. I'm still curious whether Fitzy factors back into the lineup at some point.

Go Cats!

 

[HockeyRef]

Am encouraged we have been scoring some even strength goals. Let's hope for a sweep tonight! Go 'Catttsssss!
Any news on Fitzy?

 

[HockeyRef]

The Wildcats turned in a strong performance last night, and I suspect their talent level will be sufficient to overcome occasional shortcomings in preparation and in-game adjustments. That said, tonight represents an important early-season test.

Securing Hockey East points this early is always valuable. A victory tonight would likely elevate UNH into the Top 20 of the NPI rankings, which, while not especially meaningful at this stage of the season, is nonetheless an encouraging indicator of progress.

It was also nice to see VanTassell record his first goal. Vass has been impressive. Simpson is rock solid. Gotta give MS7 some credit for establishing the Ring-Johnson-Guite line early. They are a force. I'm still curious whether Fitzy factors back into the lineup at some point.

Go Cats!

Agree it will be a big test...and agree on your top line assessment. Hope the team brings it big with the home ice crowd!

 

[norbert]

He was still in the boot last night at the game. Sounds like another 2-3 weeks for the sprain.

Am encouraged we have been scoring some even strength goals. Let's hope for a sweep tonight! Go 'Catttsssss!
Any news on Fitzy?

 

[Chuck Murray]

I googled the rule, 55. The AI results are torn on if a penalty shot was warranted. AI thinks it needed to be a break away or clear possession that was an scoring threat. Otherwise 2 min minor IF an intentional act.

I haven't gone back to the video but I didn't catch the broken stick part at all and the play was on the boards in the corner....

What additionally frustrates me was the (UVM) announcers noting that the faceoff after the penalty shot goal was delayed as Souza wanted an explanation.... Ummm seems a bit late, you have the fit (throw sticks, water bottles, stand on dashers) BEFORE the penalty shot happens

Typical MS7 ... day late, dollar short.

Probably can throw that criticism at myself here, as I'm playing catch-up after a week away in sunny FLA

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

I fell asleep while 0-0 and an absolute snoozefest of a game. Was shocked to wake up to a 3-0 win. What a snipe by Ring.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Booze in the lobby fixes everything, right?

Takes some of the edge off the quality of the overall UNH fan experience these days ...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Let's say MS7 leads this team to a 10-16 record by the end of Jan. What is the harm in shipping him out at that point in the season (if it's even possible to nuke the contract)? What do ya have to lose? There's enough coaching in the room, plus Torterella, to finish HE in 10th. Yippee!

One advantage that strikes me is that UNH would be one of the first schools into the "new coach" pool. If MS7 is released, everybody then knows the spot is available. Or, maybe they immediately hit a home run with some idle wizard who becomes permanent.

From the players perspective, they'd know change (improvement?) is coming, maybe giving any guys on the fence confidence to stick around. Might even help recruiting.

I'm sure there are downsides to this sinister plot as well; just can't think of what they might be at the moment...

Maybe, just maybe, this process has already begun, and perhaps may have been ongoing since the new AD came onto the job?

 

[Chuck Murray]

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying keeping Souza is the answer. Herb Brooks could come back from the dead and coach and i still think we would struggle and continue to finish in the basement of hockey east. A new coach doesn't fix all our problems we will be climbing out of the hole Allison and Marty put us in for the next decade + .

In all honesty, I think 99.9% of the blame rests with Blue Skies on this front. Rich wasn't hired to resurrect the competitiveness of the various UNH Athletics programs, and her hirings in Hoops, Soccer and Football were a combination of naievete and convenience.

In retrospect, I'm actually glad she didn't complicate Hockey's outlook by making another mediocre hire. She did enough of that with the other programs.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Great point! I wish UNH would of promoted Borek instead of going the Souza route. Could argue UNH has not been competitive since Lassonde and Borek left.

In fairness to Borek, there wasn't a ton of support for him in the fan community or with Blue Skies as the successor to Umile. Different reasons of course, as long-time fans didn't see Borek as a compelling option (his prior HC history centered around succeeding Jeff Jackson's Lake State juggernaut, bringing it to a screeching halt) ... and he wasn't paisan enough to pass muster with Umile and Scarano. He also hasn't been an overnight success at Merrimack, but he's kept grinding and grinding, and good things often come to those who work hard and have a clue at what they're doing.

 

[Chuck Murray]

With the new balance of power in Concord, additional funding in Durham could be a possibility. One can hope anyway.

Seems like Tony DiLorenzo's nascent political career has come to a premature end, so his legacy tour may revert back to UNH Hockey plus the McIntyre project?