Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond
You've asked this question before - and while no one outside of the coaching staff can say with 100% certainty there is mounting evidence. Yes, who they're getting and who they're not getting is a big part of that equation.
You can also looks at what other schools our recruits were talking to and what schools the elite recruits were talking to - a lot of that information comes out after commitments are made. UNH has been nowhere to be found on the lists of elite recruits nor have elite schools been pursuing the players Souza has landed so far.
UNH now has two 99 defensemen - one from the EHL and one who is still playing U16. There are plenty of 99 defenseman already playing major minutes in prep schools, the USHL, the BCHL and other high-end junior leagues. It makes you wonder...
You're also dealing with an inexperienced recruiter who is not only recruiting for UNH but is without question the lead recruiter (a job and responsibility he has never held before) What is his approach to recruiting - some evidence is concerning shield many other questions remain. Has he been around enough to truly know what to look for or identify the small things that separate a top recruit from filler? Stewart was on the road a lot this season and seems to be UNHs #1 guy in the BC and US leagues. The only recruit who seems connected to Stewart so far is Sacco - a replacement for a lost walk-on. Does Souza trust Stewart? Is he willing to delegate? Are Stewart's trips being wasted?
No, I don't think UNH is being as aggressive as they should be (in terms of targeting not only elite kids but anyone they like) based on a lot of evidence (mainly how few commits there have been). I also don't care for the pools they seem to be fishing in the most often. And I stillI question whether or not they truly believe they deserve or can compete for the elite.
QU was a nobody without any tradition when Pecknold targeted and landed the first wave of top recruits he needed to build the program and he has eventually put it over the top. Sounds like a coach who never game a **** what anyone else thought and knew his environment would be a great fit for top players and has now proved it. Him barnstorming around BC is a cute story - that's what recruiters are supposed to, and HAVE to do. Without that attitude and effort you will never be successful.
Instead our head coach never travels further than Mass - and you have to wonder if our lead recruiter does either. Was Souza - the decision maker - ever truly on the road during the season? Did he ever miss a game because he was out in the Midwest or Western Canada? I never noticed it. Stewart did, but that means nothing if he can't come home and sell Souza on a prospect he has yet to see...
So no this is not just an uneducated opinion - there is plenty to support that there are real issues and questions surrounding UNH's recruiting efforts. If they land a few top kids over the next couple of weeks I'll apologize for my impatience.
Finally, the few elite kids that have been on campus were here months ago and we haven't heard a peep about them since. If it makes people feel better to think we're targeting kids and just can't land them then more power to them. To me that scenario certainly isn't any better...
Appreciate/ value your insight Dan as I know this is what you do for a living. I do agree, even with my infancy in this whole thing, that we probably are working with inexperience as far as recruiting goes. Obviously as you point out, QU wasn't much until someone like Pecknold created his vision of what he wanted, and went out to get it. At the same time everyone has to start somewhere and I am really hoping MS has been given the full 'go ahead' to do the same.
I'm hoping (and expecting?) that MS has the same ideas, and vision for his eventual program. (And, he's being allowed to get that message out...if it's being heard, well, that's another story). One other thing you mention, those kids who visited campus and haven't signed? At least that shows me they went after them. Of course, having them commit is even better...question is, why aren't they?
To me and of course, take it for what you will, the ONLY way UNH is going to be able to compete with the likes of what I witnessed this weekend watching the Regionals, is to
become the team those kinds of kids want to play for. Problem is...how do you do that without drawing those kinds of kids? There in lies the rub I guess. It's like wanting a job but being told you can't have it because you have no experience...how will you get experience if you don't get the chance??
Again, no slam on our current players because we have all seen them play well and you know, 'on any given night' kind of thing...they
can compete. Really I expected a better season than what we got this year. Not anything mega but better and I have no answers for any of that. And maybe I don't know jack either but I do know what I witnessed this weekend...and I want that kind of success for this program.
Past history success isn't going to be enough, but it has to speak for something. Problem is, these kids live in the here and now, but maybe, just maybe MS puts together a bunch of kids who buy his vision (and I like what I've heard from him) and it takes off. Heck, if NU can turn things around so can UNH. Dang...we just don't know what he's about and really won't, until he stands in the center of the bench!!! (Honestly, sometimes I wish they had never named him 'HC in waiting'. Personally I feel now this was a big mistake...creates ambiguity all the way around but what do I know about the inner workings of that program??) Still, I remain hopeful, as usual.
Lastly, I just don't believe (or want to believe? ) we aren't trying for the big fish but fully recognize, this is going to take some time...maybe alot of time...
ps...your comment about believing they can get or, deserve top line players is troubling...I mean, you may as well forget it if you don't think you can. What you say, translate into what you ultimately become. Fact. Henry Ford anyone??
