Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond
Alright, let me summarize on the disconnect that's emerged since the events of the last week.
I am a fan of UNH Hockey, first and foremost (at least at this level - I won't belabor my other team of choice further up the ladder). And I want to see a UNH Hockey program that plays WINNING hockey. Some folks like the wide-open "fire wagon" style of play, and some others like certain players for different reasons. That's all fine and dandy. I understand. Been there, done that. What I like to see is a program or a team that plays WINNING hockey. And invariably that's been (in my experience) with teams of players who combine skill, discipline, and character, and mold it into a team-first group mentality.
I can appreciate the skill of the one-dimensional player for sure, no doubt. But while we're all keeping score, I guess winning these games is something I've always figured was kinda important. And it IS a team sport, no? If I want to see pretty skating, there are other places I can see it. There's always the NHL All-Star Weekend skills contests for those who like hard slapshots or accurate wrist shots with no one pressuring the shooter. Appreciate away, that's great, and talent is a wonderful thing, to be treasured, absolutely.
But the most enjoyment I've ever gotten out of sports - and that's while playing, coaching, and just watching games of all sorts - is when a team attains the pinnacle of their respective competitions. And while I have great admiration of the rare skills some players possess, I reserve the greatest respect for those who are willing to sacrifice some of their individual glory for the good of a team that succeeds on a championship level. I think you folks know I don't really care too much about how former UNH players fare at the next level when they leave school early. That's just me - it's a loyalty thing. If I'm going to invest my emotions, my rooting interest, in a program/team, then I'm looking at that program's/team's players to be as committed as possible to reaching the top ... AS A TEAM. And when I see players falling short of the necessary commitment ... yeah, it p!$$es me off. I've played on teams with those kind of players, and I've coached players like that before, too. They can breed resentment among teammates, and can get coaches fired.
Vince Lombardi was famous for saying "Fatigue makes cowards of us all". Ultimately, I believe that goes to the core of what I believe about competitive sports, and especially competitive team sports. Give a player an excuse, and too often they'll take it and run with it. In Poturalski's case ... I'm sure he was injured, as C-H-C has confirmed today. But I'm pretty sure at this late date of the season, many players on UNH and Merrimack were at less than 100%. The winners fight through and overcome, the losers lick their wounds. And when you find out afterwards that between 4 and 19 teams are hot on this kid's trail for his pro signature - and I'm sure that didn't materialize out of nothing on Monday morning - then it looks and feels more like "protecting his investment", and some on board here become apologists for accepting less than complete effort. And I guess I'm just not that understanding of a fan.
I want to see WINNING hockey. That is the hockey played in March and April, with big excited crowds and tough opponents prepared to battle to the end and leave it all out on the ice. UNH used to be involved in those games regularly, and now we're not. Now we're here talking about whether Coach gets to the magic 600, where Poturalski will play next season and beyond, and whether he would have been one of the UNH greats had he stayed (which he didn't, so who cares), while mocking/deriding players who actually stayed and, in doing so, achieved great things as part of some of the best (i.e. WINNINGEST) UNH teams ever.
Now, if you'll all excuse me, I've got a bandwagon to catch, headed down Lowell way ...
Alright, let me summarize on the disconnect that's emerged since the events of the last week.
I am a fan of UNH Hockey, first and foremost (at least at this level - I won't belabor my other team of choice further up the ladder). And I want to see a UNH Hockey program that plays WINNING hockey. Some folks like the wide-open "fire wagon" style of play, and some others like certain players for different reasons. That's all fine and dandy. I understand. Been there, done that. What I like to see is a program or a team that plays WINNING hockey. And invariably that's been (in my experience) with teams of players who combine skill, discipline, and character, and mold it into a team-first group mentality.
I can appreciate the skill of the one-dimensional player for sure, no doubt. But while we're all keeping score, I guess winning these games is something I've always figured was kinda important. And it IS a team sport, no? If I want to see pretty skating, there are other places I can see it. There's always the NHL All-Star Weekend skills contests for those who like hard slapshots or accurate wrist shots with no one pressuring the shooter. Appreciate away, that's great, and talent is a wonderful thing, to be treasured, absolutely.
But the most enjoyment I've ever gotten out of sports - and that's while playing, coaching, and just watching games of all sorts - is when a team attains the pinnacle of their respective competitions. And while I have great admiration of the rare skills some players possess, I reserve the greatest respect for those who are willing to sacrifice some of their individual glory for the good of a team that succeeds on a championship level. I think you folks know I don't really care too much about how former UNH players fare at the next level when they leave school early. That's just me - it's a loyalty thing. If I'm going to invest my emotions, my rooting interest, in a program/team, then I'm looking at that program's/team's players to be as committed as possible to reaching the top ... AS A TEAM. And when I see players falling short of the necessary commitment ... yeah, it p!$$es me off. I've played on teams with those kind of players, and I've coached players like that before, too. They can breed resentment among teammates, and can get coaches fired.
Vince Lombardi was famous for saying "Fatigue makes cowards of us all". Ultimately, I believe that goes to the core of what I believe about competitive sports, and especially competitive team sports. Give a player an excuse, and too often they'll take it and run with it. In Poturalski's case ... I'm sure he was injured, as C-H-C has confirmed today. But I'm pretty sure at this late date of the season, many players on UNH and Merrimack were at less than 100%. The winners fight through and overcome, the losers lick their wounds. And when you find out afterwards that between 4 and 19 teams are hot on this kid's trail for his pro signature - and I'm sure that didn't materialize out of nothing on Monday morning - then it looks and feels more like "protecting his investment", and some on board here become apologists for accepting less than complete effort. And I guess I'm just not that understanding of a fan.
I want to see WINNING hockey. That is the hockey played in March and April, with big excited crowds and tough opponents prepared to battle to the end and leave it all out on the ice. UNH used to be involved in those games regularly, and now we're not. Now we're here talking about whether Coach gets to the magic 600, where Poturalski will play next season and beyond, and whether he would have been one of the UNH greats had he stayed (which he didn't, so who cares), while mocking/deriding players who actually stayed and, in doing so, achieved great things as part of some of the best (i.e. WINNINGEST) UNH teams ever.
Now, if you'll all excuse me, I've got a bandwagon to catch, headed down Lowell way ...
(as usual) but in my defense, was actually thinking, well, beggars can't be choosers so it sounded good to me!! Sigh..Who was/were the last group of player (s) that were in the top 10/20 if I may ask? No matter, still look forward to his arrival. And, like you, was thinking about 'Watchers top 40 skater thing..where was Pots in all of that?