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UNH Hockey 2023-2024 Season Thread - End Of The Cellar-Dweller Era??

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norbert said:
I didn’t lose a think. Tomorrow I’ll wake up and my life will be the same. You will have to live with the small man syndrome. And don’t forget unless you win the natty this comes full circle
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Well Norbert you never have to worry about winning a Natty that's for sure.
 
Sparkee said:
Can't wait to see you cheering for Maine. This should be good.
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"Cheering" is exaggerating the point, but the more you yap, the more you risk discrediting the rest of the UMaine fans. BTW I'm pretty confident I know more of them than you do, for whatever that's worth, bubble boy.

Coach Barr's growing success at UMaine puts more pressure on the UNH program to keep up. That should be good for UNH fans, except many of us have a gnawing feeling in the pit of our stomachs that the AD is about to make a huge mistake and extend fresh terms to MS7. So tonight, I'm actually glad there is a clear answer to whether Souza is up to the job after one decent (not great) season. I just hope the AD was paying close attention.
 
not the unh of old, but am happy they had a respectable season overall. Don't follow the program as much as I used to, but its nice to have a D1 squad playing close to home. That said, a loss to maine still hit hard haha...never got over 1999, or that 2002 debacle.

Glad to see folks on this forum are still tearing eachother apart - in jest, or for real. Either way, have a great off season
 
Just came by to see the chatter on the coaching situation. Thought I’d also apologize for the behavior as a Maine fan. All of that was tough to read. Every fan base has them unfortunately on boards like these.

I commented on Chuck’s novels, but even that feels a bit out of line. I get the enthusiasm and candor.

Anyway, as a Mainer and grad, had a lot of friends who went to UNH and enjoyed my fair share of pick up games at Whit, meals at Holloway, dollar slices after 11 at DHOP, a cocktail at scorps or libs, hazy mornings in Stoke, and late nights on Madbury or some house at the Greens, Coe, and Young drive.

Best of luck going forward. Souza was a hell of a player. It will be an interesting decision to move on from him after his best season, and the programs first 20 win season in 10 years. Could be a necessary reset.
 
It amazes me how home ice is so important in college hockey. Then I remember they are not pros they are young college students. im sure it was a tough ride back to Durham though.

Credit to Maine. They took it to us. If they play like they did last night they'll give BU a run for their money. Then again they're just college students so who knows?
 
So it begins in what I call No Man's Land. This was my fear going into the season. If it was another below standard season, it was an easy see ya later Souza. If he made the tournament, then you can't make a change yet. Instead we get close to making it with a good season. Is it just a fluke good year or is he building to get back to the standard? Did it just take longer than we all hoped? Do you make a change and experience misery longer if it starts like Souza? Do we stick it out and it was only a 1 year fluke? Of course it could go the other way on each choice. Could get a new guy to invigorate the program or Souza may have finally found the right direction. So we sit in limbo & hope for the best outcome.
 
Basement Bias said:
So it begins in what I call No Man's Land. This was my fear going into the season. If it was another below standard season, it was an easy see ya later Souza. If he made the tournament, then you can't make a change yet. Instead we get close to making it with a good season. Is it just a fluke good year or is he building to get back to the standard? Did it just take longer than we all hoped? Do you make a change and experience misery longer if it starts like Souza? Do we stick it out and it was only a 1 year fluke? Of course it could go the other way on each choice. Could get a new guy to invigorate the program or Souza may have finally found the right direction. So we sit in limbo & hope for the best outcome.
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Again. We sit in limbo again and most likely for the next 3 seasons if the rumor mill is correct. This is a young team...was disappointing nonetheless I'm sure for them. Pains me to think of that long bus ride home.

Im thinking more of the same going forward tho...if things dont change at the top. Just above average. This team tho made some strides and they should be proud of that. Hearing next years talent is going to be good build on what we have but..

Meanwhile...someone needs to explain to me how Ben Barr comes into a drowning program and doesn't need 8 years to right the ship...

Sorry to seem so ungrateful there were a lot of good moments even great ones but its also one more season of going to the Garden next week and watching someone else play.
 
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HockeyRef said:
Meanwhile...someone needs to explain to me how Ben Barr comes into a drowning program and doesn't need 8 years to right the ship...
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where would Maine be this year without the Nadeau brothers? Barr is lucky— they grew up within sight of the Maine Border in a small town in New Brunswick, and picked Maine so their family could go to all of their games.
 
Ferrrao1994 said:
Offer Rand Pecknold down at Quinnipiac a truck of cash to take the job. He’s from Bedford. Maybe we can lure him home.
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As you know there was no national search...and sadly UNH would need that truckload of money to pay a top notch coach like Rand.

Would have been interesting to know who did inquire regardless but that's a dead issue...
 
BassAle said:
where would Maine be this year without the Nadeau brothers? Barr is lucky— they grew up within sight of the Maine Border in a small town in New Brunswick, and picked Maine so their family could go to all of their games.
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I mean can't argue that those two players made their season...no doubt. Bradley had a 4 point night last night alone. Not sure they will get past BU next week but they also have the NCAAs to test their mettle.

Hoping "The twins from Ontario"...coupled with the players we have returning can be the difference makers for UNH next season.

Still...Barr deserves alot of creds...hes moving on and we are not. But it was still a blast beating them at home and that will remain the highlight of the season for me.

Oh and sweeping UML for a change...even tho they had a challenging season.
 
BassAle said:
where would Maine be this year without the Nadeau brothers? Barr is lucky— they grew up within sight of the Maine Border in a small town in New Brunswick, and picked Maine so their family could go to all of their games.
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Exactly, although you also did pick a nice senior transfer from Bentley in Harrison Scott.

And, where would UNH have been without junior Nodak transfer Jakob Hellsten in net? My guess is that we would have had yet another losing record this season.
 
HockeyRef said:
Meanwhile...someone needs to explain to me how Ben Barr comes into a drowning program and doesn't need 8 years to right the ship...
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REF - I am sorry to say this is a stupidly simple question to answer. It has been answered here a number of times, but not necessarily in a straight line. Maine identified and hired the right guy. As to getting the Nadeau brothers, yup that was fortunate and he made sure they didn't get away, got a good amount of talent to put around them and can clearly coach the team up.

This is a simple story -

Coach A. Played 4 years at the school. Spent 9 years kicking around AHL/ECHL. Spent 8 years kicking around pro hockey in Europe. Assistant coached 4 years - Coached 2 years at (never done anything) Brown and 2 years at (never done anything) Uconn.

Coach B. Played 4 years of college hockey. Assistant coached for 14 years. 4 stops under 3 different head coaches. Each stop was a turn around. All 4 made the NCAAs in year 3 of the turn around. 3 of the 4 won it all in year 5 or 6 of the turn around. Bounced around a bit, typically only stayed 3 years so was only present for one title.

Which coach looks better to hire to turn a program around?

P.S. Coach Barr is right on schedule, will make the NCAAs in year 3. And as long as Maine isn't Western Michigan (and if they can get the Nadeau brothers to stick 3 years) well maybe year 5 will be super special.
 
JB said:
REF - I am sorry to say this is a stupidly simple question to answer. It has been answered here a number of times, but not necessarily in a straight line. Maine identified and hired the right guy. As to getting the Nadeau brothers, yup that was fortunate and he made sure they didn't get away, got a good amount of talent to put around them and can clearly coach the team up.

This is a simple story -

Coach A. Played 4 years at the school. Spent 9 years kicking around AHL/ECHL. Spent 8 years kicking around pro hockey in Europe. Assistant coached 4 years - Coached 2 years at (never done anything) Brown and 2 years at (never done anything) Uconn.

Coach B. Played 4 years of college hockey. Assistant coached for 14 years. 4 stops under 3 different head coaches. Each stop was a turn around. All 4 made the NCAAs in year 3 of the turn around. 3 of the 4 won it all in year 5 or 6 of the turn around. Bounced around a bit, typically only stayed 3 years so was only present for one title.

Which coach looks better to hire to turn a program around?

P.S. Coach Barr is right on schedule, will make the NCAAs in year 3. And as long as Maine isn't Western Michigan (and if they can get the Nadeau brothers to stick 3 years) well maybe year 5 will be super special.
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As if I don't know how our coaching selection went down. For the record it really wasn't a question per se I was asking more of a point to make about how unfortunate it is that UNH has been in this boat for as long as we have been. Maybe it's the beginning of something good who knows...get back to me in 3 years.

But gee thanks sooo much for clearing that up for me...
 
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oh I think this gives UNH something to look for...

In need of a coach, that has experience coaching in winning environments, including turn arounds (multiple). Preferred qualification include recruiting. With this search criteria you can now go looking for College Assistant and USHL coaches.

Mike Souza is a nice guy, a still inexperienced nice guy. The inexperience is why he can't, yet, adjust his coaching as needed. (It is generally easier to learn from a mentor than to learn via the school of hard knocks by yourself.) Yeah us!
 
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