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

[HockeyRef]

Well, the UNH Men's Soccer 'Cats dropped the league championship game to #19 Bryant by a 1-0 score, with the only goal arriving in the 102nd minute (the second 10 minute OT). UNH had a first half goal marked off (properly) for an offsides on a rebound finish, and the Bryant 'keeper made an amazing full-extension save late in regulation time to keep the match going. Other than amateurish kits (looking like JV uniforms), Bryant proved to be the "real deal", as the top scoring team in AE, as well as being the top defending team in regular season play. I'd say UNH enjoyed a slight edge during most of the regulation game, but Bryant finished both halfs strongly, and they seemed to enjoy an edge in play in the overtimes as well. Having said that, that really only carved out the one quality scoring chance, and to their credit they made it count.

Crowd was a typically late-arriving bunch (myself included), I'd guess 4,000-5,000 but wouldn't be surprised if there were marginally more OR less. Effing cold for sure, but the wind wasn't so bad. Spent most of the second half and OT sitting next to a bunch of kids from Bryant who'd made the trip up from RI, and they were very entertaining. They knew the kid who scored the winning goal, and they reacted accordingly. The Bryant bench was also super-loud throughout, as I'm sure they knew their only shot at the NCAA's would be an outright win for the AE autobid. Reminded me a lot of the AE title game two years ago against UVM, where the visitors knew they had to win, and UNH knew they probably didn't have to win to make the national tourney. For the first 70-75 minutes it looked like only UNH was gonna win before penalties, but that changed in the latter minutes of regulation and throughout OT. it felt like the game turned when UNH finally got one of their strikers in behind the Bulldogs' defense, but a heavy first touch and alert opposing GK snuffed that out as quickly as it arose.

Long and short, Bryant will be in. UNH is virtually assured another NCAA bid (this was only their second loss of the season), and I suspect UVM misses out for not making it to the AE Finals. Only real question is whether UNH hosts its opening round game or not. Last time, they drew a very good crowd against UNC, which should stand them in good stead as a quality proven host team.

This has been a transition year for UNH, with eight new starters, and Coach Hubbard leaning heavily on the transfer portal. I think they lack the attacking ability to make a national run, but they should be a tough team for opponents to break down defensively, so if they get a good run of breaks and kind decisions, they could make a run? With much more talented teams in recent years, you gotta credit Hubbard with yet another year of UNH punching above their weight, both in the league, and (hopefully) nationally, especially over the coming weeks ...

UNH ends up in the 8th seed for the NCAA's getting a first round bye; will play the winner of Syracuse v BU. Good review of the game! Good luck Soccer 'Cats...
and bring on Friday!

 

[Chuck Murray]

UNH ends up in the 8th seed for the NCAA's getting a first round bye; will play the winner of Syracuse v BU. Good review of the game! Good luck Soccer 'Cats...
and bring on Friday!

Thanks for posting, 'Ref! UNH does indeed get the #8 seed, so conceivably they could get two home games - Round of 32 next Sunday, then if they advance, they should host #9 Clemson (or upset winner below them) in the Round of 16. #1 Marshall would likely be the quarterfinals opponent for the winner to earn a trip to the College Cup in Louisville KY.

Bracket (ncaa.com)

I see that both Bryant and UVM snuck into the tourney - not bad to have 3 AE programs (out of 8 total) in the tourney, while UMBC probably got left out due to UVM's past recent NCAA tourney pedigree - which also likely netted UNH the bye AND high seeding placement. Coach Hubbard has clearly put UNH Soccer on the national map. Amazing. Kudos.

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

As a side note, while doing some research on the recent tragic Adam Johnson death in English hockey, I discovered that a certain UNH goalie (Mike Robinson) is the back-up goalie on Johnson's Nottingham team, as was (I believe?) former UNH recruiting target Jake Ryczek (PC). The assailant Matt Petgrave played four years at University of New Brunswick about a decade ago (less?) and I'm not sure if they were one of the typical UNH preseason "Canadian college" opponents or not during his time there? FWIW the Petgrave kid was a frequent flyer in the penalty box, from his days in junior through college and into the low level minors, on both sides of the Atlantic. He has yet to return to action now two weeks plus after the tragic incident. Can only imagine what he's going through ...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Appreciate the rundown of the game yesterday, Chuck. I watched on TV and it was a close, even match. Felt like Bryant wanted it a bit more. It was interesting to hear Bryant's first year HC came from Franklin Pierce after winning the 2022 D-2 NCAA Championship. Feels like they could be a formidable opponent going forward. Between UNH, UVM and Bryant, America East may be on the rise nationally.

It drives me crazy watching soccer on a football field though, it's hard to get a feel for the spacing by the touchlines.

Totally agree with you on watching/playing/coaching soccer on a marked gridiron. It's getting less frequent at the higher levels, and hopefully UNH's new AD can get them to swap out the lines like the Krafts do for their teams in Foxboro. There is an expense, but it's not prohibitive, and if you want to be a national contender, it's little things like this that make your operation look even more professional (so to speak).

By the way, I did not realize it was Coach Resendes from Franklin Pierce. Jeezus, he's already part of the Hubbard coaching tree! Look who's first up on his references at his Bryant web page (seems I know almost half of those guys, at least by name, if not in person). One wonders if SNHU ever decides to make a push for D-1, it would seem he'd be the natural to lead them into the battle. Considering the amount of success he's had at every stop, Bryant may not be his final stop, and having played and coached in the Revs' organization certainly opens the door for him at the professional level IF he so chooses. In the meantime, the Hubbard-Resendes student/pupil thingie has just gotten started, and the pupil is off to a really good start.

Bryant University Bulldogs (bryantbulldogs.com)

Anybody know the status of this?

https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/news/re...rosse-facility

Edit - this appears to be the latest information I can find on 'Tucker Field'

https://tnhdigital.com/20533/sports/...nter-upgrades/

I think at least one of those fields is pretty much built out now. Maybe not with all the bells and whistles, but Bremner Field has a full size pitch behind the North (or is it West?) end zone of the stadium, and I think it's been used mostly by the UNH Women's Soccer team in recent years? Tucker Field is out behind the South/East end zone, where UNH Baseball played before the program was discontinued a generation ago as part of the Title IX realignment of UNH Athletics. I believe it is also has a full size Field Turf pitch, and is used for practice purposes by both the Men's and Women's teams. I think Bremner has lights, and Tucker as yet does not. Bremner is way more parking-friendly than the remote/isolated Tucker location, behind Lundholm and out by the railroad right of way. Here are links to both at the UNH Athletics website:

Bremner Field - University of New Hampshire Athletics (unhwildcats.com)

Tucker - University of New Hampshire Athletics (unhwildcats.com)

 

[Snively65]

The old Batchelder Baseball Field (same name as the outdoor rink under the Snively footprint), where Tucker Field is now, had a short 285 ft left field fence, a much longer 450 ft right field fence, and an even longer 560 ft fence to center. Lot of inside-the-park home runs even in Durham Pony League (13-15 year olds) as all one needed to do is get the ball over the center or right fielder’s head.

 

[Snively65]

CdS got his fourth win of season for Canucks in Montreal on Sunday, now 4-0-1 with 2.48 GPG and 0.922 SV%.

 

[d.gerry]

Enough soccer talk! ;- ) Don't get me wrong, I'm a casual fan and enjoy Chuck's analysis, also enjoyed watching on TV the last couple of seasons (ESPN+ has been great for that), but definitely not hardcore enough to go watch a match in person. Glad hockey is resuming! Time for some weekend predications.

Friday, unfortunately the Matthews Arena house of horrors continues to haunt UNH with a 3-1 loss on Friday night. Scoring struggles continue on Saturday, but able to grab a 2-2 tie, but with another "loss" in the SO. What does everyone think?

Edit: after nearly 25 years on this board, I've finally reached my NRN!

 

[norbert]

Enough soccer talk! ;- ) Don't get me wrong, I'm a casual fan and enjoy Chuck's analysis, also enjoyed watching on TV the last couple of seasons (ESPN+ has been great for that), but definitely not hardcore enough to go watch a match in person. Glad hockey is resuming! Time for some weekend predications.

Friday, unfortunately the Matthews Arena house of horrors continues to haunt UNH with a 3-1 loss on Friday night. Scoring struggles continue on Saturday, but able to grab a 2-2 tie, but with another "loss" in the SO. What does everyone think?

Edit: after nearly 25 years on this board, I've finally reached my NRN!

Sounds about right but hopefully wrong Friday as I’ll be in attendance. Though not a fan of Matthews arena or getting to it

 

[Snively65]

Enough soccer talk! ;- ) Don't get me wrong, I'm a casual fan and enjoy Chuck's analysis, also enjoyed watching on TV the last couple of seasons (ESPN+ has been great for that), but definitely not hardcore enough to go watch a match in person. Glad hockey is resuming! Time for some weekend predications.

Friday, unfortunately the Matthews Arena house of horrors continues to haunt UNH with a 3-1 loss on Friday night. Scoring struggles continue on Saturday, but able to grab a 2-2 tie, but with another "loss" in the SO. What does everyone think?

Edit: after nearly 25 years on this board, I've finally reached my NRN!

Unfortunately, 25 is not a round number, Dale. A perfect square, yes.

UNH is 6-5-0 at home, 0-2-0 on neutral ice, and indeed a horrible 1-6-1 at Matthew’s since the 2013/14 season. But the 2013/14 season props up UNH win totals.

But, this year will be different, as I predict that we sweep the regular season from both HEA Fuskie teams.

 

[d.gerry]

Unfortunately, 25 is not a round number, Dale. A perfect square, yes.

UNH is 6-5-0 at home, 0-2-0 on neutral ice, and indeed a horrible 1-6-1 at Matthew’s since the 2013/14 season. But the 2013/14 season props up UNH win totals.

But, this year will be different, as I predict that we sweep the regular season from both HEA Fuskie teams.

I hope you're right on this one. BTW, the round number I was referencing was my number of posts, not the quarter century!

 

[Chuck Murray]

BTW, the round number I was referencing was my number of posts, not the quarter century!

That's not just the NRN, Dale ... that's the NRBRN (next really big round number)!! Congrats!!!

I'm not too far away from my own NRBRN in my favorite "hobby" of the last 20 years or so, just need to stay healthy and relevant, and I might just get there in 2025 ...

 

[HockeyRef]

Sounds about right but hopefully wrong Friday as I’ll be in attendance. Though not a fan of Matthews arena or getting to it

Super easy if you take a subway from either Medford or Oak Grove; Orange line puts you right at the doorstep practically...I might be there as well and that's
how I'm getting there...maybe see you!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Super easy if you take a subway from either Medford or Oak Grove; Orange line puts you right at the doorstep practically...I might be there as well and that's
how I'm getting there...maybe see you!

Sure does. Mass Ave. station, and it's a closer walk to Mathews than from the "A" Lot to The Whitt. 100% true.

 

[HockeyRef]

Sure does. Mass Ave. station, and it's a closer walk to Mathews than from the "A" Lot to The Whitt. 100% true.

Thanks for filling in the blanks Chuck! UNH is way overdue for a W at Mathews...and of course NU is eager to break out of their early
season funk. Kind of agree with dgerry its a tough place to win but would like to think we could. I'm just glad we are playing again!

Personally I expect a split with the 'Cats losing a close one there but winning at the 'Whitt. Really curious to see what/how
the goal tender thing goes; will we see a return of TyMuz?

HR's predicts:

Fri NU 3 UNH 2
Sat UNH 2 NU 1

 

[norbert]

Super easy if you take a subway from either Medford or Oak Grove; Orange line puts you right at the doorstep practically...I might be there as well and that's
how I'm getting there...maybe see you!

Thanks. We drove in last year and needless to say there was a lot of screaming in our car.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Thanks. We drove in last year and needless to say there was a lot of screaming in our car.

I worked on the NU grounds crew (for summer duty) back in the late '70's/early '80's. Tough place to park, and not the greatest neighborhood either, and while I understand both options have improved over the last generation, I still take the T when I make that trek. Kinda miss the place if I'm being honest ...

 

[d.gerry]

Super easy if you take a subway from either Medford or Oak Grove; Orange line puts you right at the doorstep practically...I might be there as well and that's
how I'm getting there...maybe see you!

How long is the ride from Oak Grove to the Mass Ave Station?

 

[Drew S.]

How long is the ride from Oak Grove to the Mass Ave Station?

All depends on how many times the train breaks down.

 

[Scarlet]

How long is the ride from Oak Grove to the Mass Ave Station?

I'd say 30-35 minutes. There are some slow zone areas. Not many, though.

 

[Darius]

Fish on Ice: a UNH Hockey Staple:
https://tnhdigital.com/22991/uncategorized/fish-on-ice-a-unh-hockey-staple/

 

[Chuck Murray]

All depends on how many times the train breaks down.

Sad to admit, but this is the official WIS "WISecrack of the Season" to date.

The MBTA has become about as reliable as the latest UNH rejuvenation under MS7. Lots of stops and starts.