UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

"Meet UNH Commit Anthony Wyse"

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Nice interview, and he sounds like a good addition to UNH from all aspects. Welcome.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

The idea that Coach Umile is willing to pile all of this ice time on a spare part senior like Quast, and keeps Chanter (or Boyd or whomever) up in the stands just blows my mind. Let's even assume Chanter is the "next Quast". You have your worst team in 25+ years coaching at UNH, and it's going absolutely nowhere fast. There are really zero postseason expectations ... so why double down on a senior who's literally in the last week or two of his UNH career, and not have already given a more extended look-see at a kid who could be using that ice time to prepare for playing a more significant role for the next two-plus seasons?

Unless of course there really IS something to the idea that getting to the next round number is important to him.

The old dog is showing no signs of learning any new tricks at this point, I'm afraid ...

"so why double down on a senior . . ?" There's your answer.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Dick Umile - The Bad

The first real setback came with a tough loss to Denver in the NCAA tournament sometime in the mid 90s. This loss seemed to affect Umile deeply and would prove to be what I see as a crossroads type change to the program. UNH seemed to switch immediately to a more defensive system. This was my first disappointment with Umile and his program. The fire wagon got traded in for an SUV.

Yes, the program continued to excel and even reached much greater heights over the next few years but I think that was more a playing out of their momentum rather than any new impetus. They still managed to attract talented forwards but I think that was more on reputation than reality.

And this is a problem that haunts the program to this day. There are more talented forwards in the world than there are talented defensemen. This is true just in sheer numbers but it’s especially true at levels below pro hockey simply because d-men develop more slowly than forwards. Going defensive immediately made UNH’s recruiting pool smaller and tougher. If an NCAA team wants to live by defense, they had better have the ability to attract the small layer of cream at the top of the d-man pool. UNH couldn’t do this because they weren’t Michigan or North Dakota or BC, and because their own offensive reputation worked against them.

For this reason, among many others, UNH began a slow, very gradual glide to the middle, where they seemed to tread water for the better part of a decade. Just good enough, with just enough good players – Winnik, JVR, Butler – to keep the fans around but not good enough to really be anything.

I've never seen a more ridiculous analysis of Umile and UNH. So the beginning of the downfall was when they were blown out by Denver in 1995? Because he went away from having offensive teams. Well, the following year (the first year of the Whit) they had on the roster guys like Boguniecki, Mowers, Nickulas, and Bekar but, despite all that, they won 12 games, 8 in the Hockey East. They stunk because they were thin on the back end and had weak goaltending. The year after that they won 28 games, including 14 in a row and had, I think, five guys with more than 50 points. Despite all of that, they lost to BU in the HE final and CC in the first round of the regionals. It was then Umile turned to a more defensive mindset. That brought the success over the next several years. No, the gradual decline, then precipitous drop, in UNH's fortunes has everything to do with the quality of the players brought in to the program, nothing else.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Dick Umile - The Ugly

To finish one thought, it doesn’t help that for whatever reason, defensemen have never really improved – at least much – during their time at UNH. Mick Mounsey being the poster boy for that program shortcoming. He came in as a creative, dynamic freshman and was almost unwatchable by his senior year. That story could be told with a different name over and over again.

Then we have Umile himself. I don’t think introspection or self-assessment is a strength here. Other than the change from an offensive to a defensive approach – which was wrong imo – he does not seem to be very aware of why something does or doesn’t work. He seems to make his mind up about systems, players, tactics, recruiting, admissions processes and that’s it, end of story, we are not going to adjust – for years and decades on end.

What did change, and ties into this lack of introspection, is his intensity. A less important but telling example of that is in-season tournaments. UNH used to go to things like the Badger Showdown, the GLI, and other tournaments. I’ve lost touch a bit with the program lately but it seems like that doesn’t happen as much anymore. Yes, Dick, you’ve been there and done that, but that doesn’t mean the current players have.

And that’s really huge, it’s supposed to be about the players. I see a guy like Jerry York and he just seems thrilled to be around his team. He knows that while it might be his 30th time experiencing something, it’s his players’ first time, and he thrives off that, where Umile seems almost disdainful, like it’s the kids’ fault they’re 40 years younger than he is.

And it really should be about them, and they really do pick up on it when it isn’t. I feel that everything about the UNH program under Umile over the last 10-15 years suffers from the been there done that syndrome, including recruiting, which he seems to have checked out of completely. The no stone unturned, find the diamonds in the rough - Filipowicz, take the chance on the highly skilled but flawed players – Tom Nolan, do whatever it takes mentality – why is UNH the ONLY HE school never to recruit a European, is gone.

To sum it up, thanks Dick for rebuilding the program, and the memories, but it is absolutely unconscionable that you checked out as you clearly have but still continue to cash the paycheck. It’s time to give the seat up to someone who actually wants to do the work required, someone like you, 20 years ago.

EJ, I take it back. This post is worse. So Umile did nothing to develop defensemen at UNH? Tim Murray, Jayme Filipowicz, Steve O'Brien, Garrett Stafford, Brad Flaishans, ever heard of them? Citing Mick Mounsey is laughable. He wasn't even the best player in his family. Don't believe me, ask his parents. And, I guess you missed my post of a week or so ago. I said then I was bemused by folks like you, none of who probably have no more than a nodding acquaintance with the coach, who seem to have the ability to psychoanalyze the guy. Keep trying pal but, remember, the name of the game is talent. And UNH has had little of it over the past five years.

 

[E.J. Smith]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

I've never seen a more ridiculous analysis of Umile and UNH.

That's surprising, I figured you read your own posts at least once before hitting submit, I guess not.

Please regale us again with your tales of the insurance industry and how similar it is to coaching a D1 hockey team, those are priceless.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

That's surprising, I figured you read your own posts at least once before hitting submit, I guess not.

Please regale us again with your tales of the insurance industry and how similar it is to coaching a D1 hockey team, those are priceless.

Troll alert. Thanks for the time I wasted on you.

 

[Dan]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

I've never seen a more ridiculous analysis of Umile and UNH. So the beginning of the downfall was when they were blown out by Denver in 1995?.

You'd have a hard time convincing me that the 9-2 loss to Denver - while embarrassing - had anything to do with the downturn in UNH hockey's fortunes. The program won 186 games over the next eight years (through the loss to MN) and made the NCAA tournament 15 of the next 18 seasons.

The turning point for me was Thomas Vanek's game-winning goal in the 2003 final and Borek taking over for McCloskey (and being given far too much of the HC's responsibilities) that same season. The level of recruiting slipped slowly but consistently each season and UNH slipped further and further away from its national championship aspirations. UNH's leaky recruiting stream BURST wide open when Borek and Umile were asleep at the switch as Bourque, White and Reid all failed to matriculate. That was the final blow that has sent the program spiraling to where it is now...

So, I'd agree with Greg - the talent slowly got worse, until it dramatically got worse. Repairing the recruiting pipelines is the only way back towards the top of the standings and the polls...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

That's surprising, I figured you read your own posts at least once before hitting submit, I guess not.

Please regale us again with your tales of the insurance industry and how similar it is to coaching a D1 hockey team, those are priceless.

Familiar the tone, that this poster writes with. Hmmmm ...

Note to self - no spinning yarns about working in insurance ... check.

 

[Snively65]

Familiar the tone, that this poster writes with. Hmmmm ...

Note to self - no spinning yarns about working in insurance ... check.

Jacques "Rabbit" Pouriveau?

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Familiar the tone, that this poster writes with. Hmmmm ...

Note to self - no spinning yarns about working in insurance ... check.

Whomever it is, I tell you, the Titanic reference is huge. It's like knowing the name of the police officer who was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on a Dallas Tx street after he escaped from the book depository building...(I got that right once playing Trivial Pursuit coz I had just read a book on the JFK assassination much to my 'know it all' brother's despair and we ended up winning.) Oh and for anyone who needs this most vital info his name was J.D. Tippit...

Tough night for the DRW Chuck...imagine it's the B's turn tonight. Speaking of tonight, jealous Norbert that you are going to the B's v Hawks game!!! I was thinking of going to that myself but will be going to 'Mack instead. Tomorrow morning is coming too early...Go 'Cats!!

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

The teams from 2003-2009 were still elite Dan as there was little change in talent level and it would be safe to say there was as much talent on the 2008 team than the 2003 team. Stevie Moses senior year was the start of a downward trend and I am certain that Coach Umile would like to add all the best players in the country that he could (given the 18 scholarship limitations). I feel all UNH fans pain but it is not fair to say that Borek was the downfall as he brought in as many all-americans if not more than McCloskey. We are not the first choice of most players because they want to live in cities and Maine and VT to a a lesser degree have felt the change over the past 5-6 years. When we bring in terrific players, they like the campus but most choose the same 10 teams that have an advantage over all others. There have been many kids who probably regretted going to BC/BU/Michigan etc as they were relegated to 3rd and 4th lines. If they had hindsight, UNH would have been a better choice for many of them.

It is not anyone's fault at UNH hockey that we have not landed a complete all-star team as our Boston competitors have. I am sure many on the boards think they can do a better job than Borek or Souza. I am sure Coach Umile would be thrilled if you could bring the Under 18 all star team to UNH. They are doing the best they can given the realities today. I believe they have signed some very good players and BU and BC have had down cycles as well. If our first line stars return next year and our freshman and sophomores take the next step, we should have a very good year next year. Many of the better teams have star senior players and they do reload each year. We will have elite players in each class next year and I hope this is the start of better things.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Tough night for the DRW Chuck...imagine it's the B's turn tonight.

I suspect the B's will do fine. The Hawks are probably exhausted from all their goal celebrations last night.

DRW have some decent puck movers on the backline, but no true top pairing, hence not ready for prime time.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

There have been many kids who probably regretted going to BC/BU/Michigan etc as they were relegated to 3rd and 4th lines. If they had hindsight, UNH would have been a better choice for many of them.

A little early to be drinking the moonshine don't you think?

This is why inbreeding is bad people.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

It is not anyone's fault at UNH hockey that we have not landed a complete all-star team as our Boston competitors have. I am sure many on the boards think they can do a better job than Borek or Souza. I am sure Coach Umile would be thrilled if you could bring the Under 18 all star team to UNH. They are doing the best they can given the realities today. I believe they have signed some very good players and BU and BC have had down cycles as well. If our first line stars return next year and our freshman and sophomores take the next step, we should have a very good year next year. Many of the better teams have star senior players and they do reload each year. We will have elite players in each class next year and I hope this is the start of better things.

I do hope you're right, '1932, and better things are just over the horizon. But when I see you saying things like "they are doing the best they can, given the realities of today" ... with all due respect, I fall in with Dan's thinking as to me, that's just more lame excuse-making. What "realities" are holding the program back exactly? That kids like to go to school in the big city? Was that really any different a decade or two ago?? Heck - two decades ago, Portsmouth (and Durham) had less entertainment options AND the Downeaster access to Boston hadn't yet arrived. But the program had positive momentum, competed consistently at or near the top, and players came to play.

The reality of the situation that UNH Hockey finds themselves faced with nowadays has everything to do with squandering all of the good momentum they'd built up through the early part of this century. Drip-drip-drip, year by year, falling gradually away from the top, and watching formerly mediocre HE programs (see UMass Lowell, now Providence) zooming past them, not making excuses, but tapping into their own resources and finding their own different pathways to success. Whether either/both of those programs will enjoy the extended runs that UNH/Coach Umile or UMaine/Walsh-Standbrook enjoyed - remains to be seen.

I don't want to hear any more excuses. The Jumbotron excuse may have been the biggest bunch of hogwash I've ever heard trotted out about why recruits might not be attracted to UNH any more ... but that's here now, and I don't see any apparent uptick in recruiting, do you? Facilities this, admissions that, the Hub O' the Universe's irresistible tractor (sp?) beam, yada yada yada.

Enough already. Not meant as anything personal towards you, '1932 - I enjoy your thoughtful posts and your point of view makes for some refreshing and insightful reading. But the folks running the program have gotten WAY too comfortable and set in their ways in recent seasons, and the results on the ice reflect that, and cannot be ignored.

Let's start the Souza regime now ... figure out if Stewart is on board or not ... and let's get to work. JMHO.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

The teams from 2003-2009 were still elite Dan as there was little change in talent level and it would be safe to say there was as much talent on the 2008 team than the 2003 team. Stevie Moses senior year was the start of a downward trend and I am certain that Coach Umile would like to add all the best players in the country that he could (given the 18 scholarship limitations). I feel all UNH fans pain but it is not fair to say that Borek was the downfall as he brought in as many all-americans if not more than McCloskey. We are not the first choice of most players because they want to live in cities and Maine and VT to a a lesser degree have felt the change over the past 5-6 years. When we bring in terrific players, they like the campus but most choose the same 10 teams that have an advantage over all others. There have been many kids who probably regretted going to BC/BU/Michigan etc as they were relegated to 3rd and 4th lines. If they had hindsight, UNH would have been a better choice for many of them.

It is not anyone's fault at UNH hockey that we have not landed a complete all-star team as our Boston competitors have. I am sure many on the boards think they can do a better job than Borek or Souza. I am sure Coach Umile would be thrilled if you could bring the Under 18 all star team to UNH. They are doing the best they can given the realities today. I believe they have signed some very good players and BU and BC have had down cycles as well. If our first line stars return next year and our freshman and sophomores take the next step, we should have a very good year next year. Many of the better teams have star senior players and they do reload each year. We will have elite players in each class next year and I hope this is the start of better things.

Its a false excuse to say "we'll never beat BC / BU in recruiting." There's a nice big swatch below that. While there can be no dispute that White, Reid, Kolomatis and Bourque failures severely cut momentum, those events coincided with an equally significant issue. UNH was competitive up to the failed 2009 class. Borek decided he wanted to move the recruiting from BC to the Mid-Atlantic region, choosing less-well established (USA Festivals, etc) players that he could project -- he obviously trusted the Comcast program. He came away with:

2009 Sorkin
2009 Thrush
2009 Hill
2009 Smith
2010 Gaudreault
2010 Maller

From that Comcast program was John Gaudreau. Everyone talks about the second 2011 miss on him, but Borek missed on him in 2010 in the midst of the Team Comcast/Maryland surge.


Add in the early "higher money" commits (Chevrier), the late projects (Quast, McDonald) that didn't work out, the stupid deferrals (Laleggia, Vecchione), and the failure to monitor recruits' academics (Reid, White, Masonius), and you have enough reasons as to why we are where we are tied more to judgment than lack of platform.

------------------------------------------------
Here are the profiles of the Comcast pipeline-- tell me if UNH was getting known quantities vs. wishcasting on prospects

And try and find the word "skilled" in there (other than Jamie Hill).

UNH Looks to Team Maryland Again Thurs. 10/21/10
They’re actually not Team Maryland U-18 anymore. They’re now the DC Capitals U-18. Same franchise. Same coach. Just a different name.
But UNH, which has recruited Nick Sorkin, Casey Thrush, and Maxim Gaudreault off Team Maryland in recent years, is still getting their best players, having just beaten out Northeastern University for 6’1”, 163 lb. LD Dylan
Kersner, by the way, is defensive – in a good way, of course – about all his top Div. I prospects all winding up at UNH. “Don’t beat me up in the article,” he said. “We’ll have kids going other places!”

Team Maryland = UNH Pipeline Tues. 4/27/10
6'1", 180 lb. Team Maryland Midget AAA forward Maxim Gaudreault has committed to the University of New Hampshire for the fall of '12 (possibly '11). A 7/16/92 birthdate from Annapolis, Maryland, Gaudreault is the third player from Team Maryland to commit to UNH in a little over a year. He, along with Nick Sorkin ('10) and Casey Thrush ('11 or '12), will overlap in college, which just might be the first time three Marylanders appear on the same NCAA Div. I hockey squad.
A left shot who can play either wing or center, Gaudreault is described by his coach, Jason Kersner, as "our most complete player."

A Power Forward for the Wildcats October 29, 2009
Team Maryland Under-18 LW Casey Thrush has committed to UNH for 2012. Thrush, who's 6'1”, 175 lbs. and a 5/5/92 birthdate, is a senior in high school who will play two years of juniors before college. A linemate last year of UNH '10 recruit Nick Sorkin, Thrush is a big power forward and a strong skater. “Casey works extremely hard,” Team Maryland head Jason Kersner says.

UNH assistant coach Scott Borek recognized something in [Comcast Kyle] Smith early on, and quickly targeted him. UNH was the only college Smith visited.

Forwards for Vermont, UNH March 6, 2009
Team Comcast 16-and-Under RC Jamie Hill will be joining teammate Kyle Smith at UNH in the fall of ’11. Hill, a 5’9”, 162 lb. high-skill playmaker, is the leading scorer in the AYHL with a 23-52-75 line in 30 games. (Smith, by the way, is the second-leading scorer in the league with 74 points. Hill is a 2/13/92 birthdate from Glassboro, NJ.

UNH Finds a Forward Below the Mason-Dixon Line March 3, 2009

UNH has a commitment from lanky 6’2”, 160 lb. Team Maryland 18-U left shot forward Nick Sorkin. A 6/3/91 birthdate currently in his senior year in high school in Maryland, Sorkin will come north to play for Sean Tremblay’s New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs
We saw Sorkin, who plays the off wing, when Team Maryland (AYHL) came north for the Beantown Fall Classic, and he jumped out at us. He’s an excellent skater with a long, fluid stride and good hands. He can see the ice and make plays. While he’s a ’91, he’s still on the early curve of his development.
His coach, Jason Kersner, said that Sorkin has really worked hard this season and taken his game to another level. “More important than how good he is right now is how good he can become,”

Sorkin, who also took an official visit to Maine and an unofficial visit to Northeastern, is unique in that, while he is by no means the first Div.
The fact that these so-called non-traditional hockey areas are also home to NHL teams has helped them grow the numbers.

“We’re never going to be like Massachusetts or Minnesota down here but we’re growing and if a kid wants to stay here now he has a lot of development ... Current UNH defenseman Jamie Fritsch, a senior, is also a Marylander.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The projects

UNH Taking a Chance on an Unknown Thurs. 12/15/11

UNH associate head coach Scott Borek, in attendance at a recent Exeter vs. Tabor game, happened to run into an NHL scout for a Canadian-based team and began to pick his brain. The scout suggested that Borek zip down I-95 and take a look at the big rear guard who is just coming into his own. After watching just one practice and one game the Wildcats liked what they saw and made their move.

Quast is interesting because he does not have the typical pedigree that most top tier Hockey East recruits have.

6'0”, 185 lb. Salisbury School junior forward Jason Kalinowski has committed to UNH for the fall of '15. Kalinowski is a gritty, strong, two-way, physical forward. Kalinowski is "a guy who has made us better both on the ice and in the locker room with his competitiveness and his work ethic.

UNH Lands ‘Diamond in the Rough’ 8/24/11
MacDonald, who has a 3.9 gpa, is the classic late bloomer, having never played in any USA Hockey Festivals. He just played high school hockey and the Empire League -- and was a huge success at both levels.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

But that shouldn't keep them from taking long looks at Hillis, Mitchell - as Watcher mentioned - or Harrison (5-9), Sandhu (5-7), Ward (5-9), etc...

Are they after guys aggressively, or are they as hesitant and indecisive to offer/pull the trigger as it seems. If they are being aggressive, are they losing or just waiting on extended offers?

With U.Mass' coach on the hot seat, they have a commitment from the AJHL rookie of the year, a puck moving d. I wonder whether a late surprise might become available.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=199655


CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
SEASON AWARDS BY SEASON
2014-2015 AMHL First All-Star Team
2015-2016 World Junior A Challenge All-Star Team
World Junior A Challenge Gold Medal
AWARDS BY LEAGUE
- AMHL First All-Star Team 14/15
- World Junior A Challenge All-Star Team 15/16
- World Junior A Challenge Gold Medal 15/16

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

It's like knowing the name of the police officer who was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on a Dallas Tx street after he escaped from the book depository building...

J.D. Tipett.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

The teams from 2003-2009 were still elite Dan as there was little change in talent level and it would be safe to say there was as much talent on the 2008 team than the 2003 team. Stevie Moses senior year was the start of a downward trend and I am certain that Coach Umile would like to add all the best players in the country that he could (given the 18 scholarship limitations). I feel all UNH fans pain but it is not fair to say that Borek was the downfall as he brought in as many all-americans if not more than McCloskey. We are not the first choice of most players because they want to live in cities and Maine and VT to a a lesser degree have felt the change over the past 5-6 years. When we bring in terrific players, they like the campus but most choose the same 10 teams that have an advantage over all others. There have been many kids who probably regretted going to BC/BU/Michigan etc as they were relegated to 3rd and 4th lines. If they had hindsight, UNH would have been a better choice for many of them.

It is not anyone's fault at UNH hockey that we have not landed a complete all-star team as our Boston competitors have. I am sure many on the boards think they can do a better job than Borek or Souza. I am sure Coach Umile would be thrilled if you could bring the Under 18 all star team to UNH. They are doing the best they can given the realities today. I believe they have signed some very good players and BU and BC have had down cycles as well. If our first line stars return next year and our freshman and sophomores take the next step, we should have a very good year next year. Many of the better teams have star senior players and they do reload each year. We will have elite players in each class next year and I hope this is the start of better things.

Pretty delusional analysis which, I think, Watcher has offered a very good rebuttal. However I'll throw in a bit about All-Americans - Brian McCloskey - Tim Murray ('97), Mark Mowers ('98), Jayme Filipowicz ('99), Jason Krog ('97, '99), Ty Conklin ('00, '01), Darren Haydar ('02), Colin Hemingway ('02, '03), Michael Ayers ('03), Lanny Gare ('03), Steve Saviano ('04), Sean Collins ('05), Brian Yandle ('05, "06). That's 12. Scott Borek - Brad Flaishans ('08), Mike Radja ('08), Matt Fornataro ('08), Kevin Regan ('08), Bobby Butler ('10), Paul Thompson ('11). That's 6. Personally, I don't think these numbers mean much because some who came in when McCloskey or Borek was an assistant were actually recruited by others. For instance, Haydar's first contact was with Chris Serino while Kevin Regan's was Dave Lassonde. But the overall point is the overall talent level in McCloskey's approximately 10 years is vastly superior than in Borek's time. A fact. As for Steve Moses, his problems have nothing to do with coaching. He just couldn't put the puck in the net.

 

[E.J. Smith]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

You'd have a hard time convincing me that the 9-2 loss to Denver - while embarrassing - had anything to do with the downturn in UNH hockey's fortunes. The program won 186 games over the next eight years (through the loss to MN) and made the NCAA tournament 15 of the next 18 seasons.

The turning point for me was Thomas Vanek's game-winning goal in the 2003 final and Borek taking over for McCloskey (and being given far too much of the HC's responsibilities) that same season. The level of recruiting slipped slowly but consistently each season and UNH slipped further and further away from its national championship aspirations. UNH's leaky recruiting stream BURST wide open when Borek and Umile were asleep at the switch as Bourque, White and Reid all failed to matriculate. That was the final blow that has sent the program spiraling to where it is now...

So, I'd agree with Greg - the talent slowly got worse, until it dramatically got worse. Repairing the recruiting pipelines is the only way back towards the top of the standings and the polls...

Dan, I'm not trying to overplay the reaction to the loss to Denver. Primarily it was just a disappointment as I felt it was the first wrong foot put forward during the Umile regime. As I mentioned, the program continued to rise after that. But, and to really stretch an equivalence here, similar to repealing Glass-Steagall, the negative effects were much delayed. In a way, it didn't wound UNH immediately, it changed their DNA generationally. I look to a couple down the road situations that I think stemmed from the sea change after the DU game.

JVR was our Eichel. But unlike BU, UNH didn't hitch their wagon to him like they could have. It seemed like Eichel was never off the ice, and it was all guns blazing offense. JVR, however, seemed like he was shackled a bit. Only got regular shifts - which I guess must have been DU's reach, to even let a freshman play at all - didn't always play with the other best offensive players on the team, etc. UNH had one of the 2 or 3 best offensive players in college hockey at the time. They should have gone back to fire wagon and seen how it played out, the odds were in their favor while they had him. But they didn't adjust at all and got FAR less out of JVR than they should have.

More generally, UNH has suffered from offensive malaise for years. They no longer seem to be able to turn it up even when they want/need to. That could be talent, and is in part, but it's also the fact that the creativity and fun seems to get drummed out of anyone who plays for UNH. No one seems to be having fun anymore. Obviously I only see this from a distance and maybe it's all birthday parties and giggles in the locker room, but most of the forwards seem like they don't dare put a foot out of place on the ice. Like, "we do this dance by the numbers, don't give me any of that creative stuff, it might lead to a shot on goal against us, stick to what I drew up on the board." UNH's forwards haven't looked like they're having any fun for a VERY long time.

Those are the types of things that I think had their genesis way back in that loss to Denver.