Re: UNH commitments/recruits for 2010 and beyond
I may have misintepreted Bag-Oh's comment.
My take is that there were two basic truths about UNH men's hockey prior to JVR suiting up in a Wildcats' uniform. First, UNH had never won a National Championship. Second, UNH had never had an elite, top 3 recruit. Heck, prior to JVR, I don't think a first round draft pick ever played for UNH. When JVR committed to UNH and actually showed up (unlike the young Bourque), some hoped (including me) that the two truisms would change. There were hopes that the elite play from an elite recruit would lead UNH to its first NC and that would, in turn, lead to more elite recruits coming to UNH. Obviously, neither happened. JVR was a solid, very good college hockey player but his play did not rise to the level of elite or All-American status (IMO). If he had almost single-handedly lead UNH to a National Championship, the way Gerbe did for BC, there would have been unparalled joy in Durhamville and the future of the UNH program would be brighter than ever.
I think Bag-Oh raised the specter of JVR's tenure having the opposite effect on UNH hockey. That is, top NHL recruits will look at JVR and UNH's modest accomplishments, especially in the 08-09 season, and decide that UNH is not a step on the yellow brick road.
I may have misintepreted Bag-Oh's comment.
My take is that there were two basic truths about UNH men's hockey prior to JVR suiting up in a Wildcats' uniform. First, UNH had never won a National Championship. Second, UNH had never had an elite, top 3 recruit. Heck, prior to JVR, I don't think a first round draft pick ever played for UNH. When JVR committed to UNH and actually showed up (unlike the young Bourque), some hoped (including me) that the two truisms would change. There were hopes that the elite play from an elite recruit would lead UNH to its first NC and that would, in turn, lead to more elite recruits coming to UNH. Obviously, neither happened. JVR was a solid, very good college hockey player but his play did not rise to the level of elite or All-American status (IMO). If he had almost single-handedly lead UNH to a National Championship, the way Gerbe did for BC, there would have been unparalled joy in Durhamville and the future of the UNH program would be brighter than ever.
I think Bag-Oh raised the specter of JVR's tenure having the opposite effect on UNH hockey. That is, top NHL recruits will look at JVR and UNH's modest accomplishments, especially in the 08-09 season, and decide that UNH is not a step on the yellow brick road.
