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

[JB]

Stating the obvious here, but the ONLY reason that our Cats have a winning record this season is Jakob Hellsten in net for 13 games, in which he is 8-4-1, with the second best GAA in Div 1 at 1.69 (no. 1 is 1.67) and sixth best SV% at 0.925. Hellsten has given up more than 2 goals only twice, 5 to Maine in loss and 3 to RIT in OT win. Were it not for Hellsten transferring to UNH this season, our record would be well below 0.500 like the previous several seasons. Yes, Conmy is a nice addition to the first line, but otherwise without Conmy and Hellsten this team is no better than last season. From what I have observed in the four NESN games that I have watched, the coaching remains poor, with hardly any presence in front of the opposing net, lousy shot selection, and a horrendous PP. All the above could be improved with better coaching, even with mediocre recruiting. Nevertheless, Go Cats, Beat UVM!!

hmmm... interesting

Numbers to support - Muszelik (all I can think of is cereal Kellogg's Mueslix) [TABLE="border: 1, cellpadding: 1, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]Year[/TD]
[TD]GP[/TD]
[TD]GAA[/TD]
[TD]SV%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22-23[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]3.23[/TD]
[TD].883[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]23-24[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]3.44[/TD]
[TD].869[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
So still no coaching / development as Muszelik has actually regressed.

Which does lead us back to coach conversation. This year is better, it is talent acquisition, as overall coaching (talent development, game plan, situational awareness, etc) is still questionable.

Freaking Power Play - we have gone from the 2 behind the next 5 on 3 to a "umbrella" with 5 white jerseys all the way around the outside of the box. Somebody could, rightfully, point out that it was in the flow of the PP not a setup and yet the puck was still shot on net rather than getting to a setup.

 

[NCAA watcher]

I actually like the PP movement at the top of the umbrella, with the three guys creating shooting lanes. More than the two stationary shooters who occasionally slide it down to the half-wall hoping that guy can go cross-ice to a shooter.

And stats tell me our PP is 20th in the nation, @.224 a pretty decent number. Better than the numbers from the last few year .198, .158, .178

 

[JB]

I actually like the PP movement at the top of the umbrella, with the three guys creating shooting lanes. More than the two stationary shooters who occasionally slide it down to the half-wall hoping that guy can go cross-ice to a shooter.

And stats tell me our PP is 20th in the nation, @.224 a pretty decent number. Better than the numbers from the last few year .198, .158, .178

In January 2 for 15 - 13.3% which is hanging out between 56 (Stonehill) and 57 (Ferris State) - and yes that is 56 and 57 for the year vs in January alone. More painfully that 2 for 15 includes 0 for 2 on the five minute majors in the first period of tight games that turned out as loses to BU and Uconn.

I do like the movement better than in the last few years, however the results aren't great. There are some basic things I see other Power Plays do that UNH just doesn't regularly do.

They don't use the "bumper" well, so that is a guy just standing around - Princeton was really amazing at the "bumper" feeding or shooting.

They don't really attack the box. Sometime the umbrella get the box out of alignment. Problem the pass is normally 50+ feet so goalies are getting across. They could take the ice getting a better (closer more dangerous) shot or making the box react again for a pass to the backdoor or somebody cutting (wait that would require somebody cutting to the net) etc.

They don't seem to have a good feel that not every point shot needs to be a backscratcher that allows the guy in front of them time to block it - Maine did a great job of getting a wrist shot or snap shot around the first guy in on net so the traffic in front can tip or get a rebound.

It doesn't seem they have a good feel for setting up a screen on the goalie, I don't have a good competitive example off the top. I just notice the few times they get a body in front of the goalie it seems they manufacture a way NOT to use that guys hard work. I will note at UCONN the lone PP goal that made it 5-0 (late in the 3rd) was a beautiful screen play, Winters moved to let Gendron's screen take the goalies eyes, the shot was quick past the first guy and allowed Gendron to also get a really nice tip on the puck.

The power play seems to be a "we do what we do thing". Maybe they are adding to it and I either don't see it or maybe I have a bias and don't want to see it.


Just thinking out loud, maybe if the PP practiced this sort of stuff the PK wouldn't look so dazed when another team does it to them as a change up during the game.

 

[JB]

so it appears I have yet again killed a UNH discussion...

so, Trump and Biden are both absolutely amazing - discuss

oh and bumping this back to the first page

 

[Snively65]

so it appears I have yet again killed a UNH discussion...

so, Trump and Biden are both absolutely amazing - discuss

oh and bumping this back to the first page

I liked your take on the UNH PP, JB, based on my limited observations of four or five games that I have watched on NESN this season. BTW, my posts about SOG are mostly directed at e.cat, whom I think sees my humor; not so sure about Chuck. It just drives me nuts watching five players way out on the perimeter firing away shots on the PP, with no one approaching the net for a possible tip, rebound, or setting a screen. To me, that is lousy coaching, pure and simple, and it never seems to change. I have become much more attuned to this UNH PP deficiency watching the Bruins PP this season, in which JvR takes a beating night in and night out in front of the net. Wish that JvR had played that way during his two years at UNH.

 

[Chuck Murray]

so it appears I have yet again killed a UNH discussion...

so, Trump and Biden are both absolutely amazing - discuss

oh and bumping this back to the first page

Wow, what did I miss?!? Mom's been hospitalized for a couple of weeks, so I've not been on here regularly. Sorry.

I didn't see anything offensive on here this week. And I'm not one to take offense easily (BTW Snives I "get it" on the SOG humor attempts). Sunday was a bad day (Luce eking out a win), and Tuesday was a good day (DJT big win).

JB, I'm sure you've got some ways to go before you catch up to me on killing discussions dead cold in their tracks.

Right now I'll settle for getting back to a normal day-and-night schedule, thank you ...

 

[e.cat]

A UNH sweep up in Hippieville might be a bridge too far. I’d love it if the Cats sweep the dirty hippies but I don’t see it happening. And yes SOG rulz!

 

[JB]

Wow, what did I miss?!? Mom's been hospitalized for a couple of weeks, so I've not been on here regularly. Sorry.

Hope mom is getting better.



Thankfully it appears SOG is humor, and it only works if somebody is annoyed. I'll be annoyed about SOG for everybody else.

JB, I'm sure you've got some ways to go before you catch up to me on killing discussions dead cold in their tracks.

That post was really about getting the UNH discussion off page 2. Although I have noticed a track record I post lots of facts and well crickets...



Numbers all say anything less than a sweep at Vermont should be disappointing for UNH. I predict that UVM plays 2 physical games and come Sunday I am disappointed.

 

[HockeyRef]

Chuck, best wishes where your mom is concerned...JB..as for 'crickets' on your factual posts, for me at least, I think you give a lot of great info
that really can't be disputed lol...facts...are facts! And as you know I'm not exactly up on some of the particulars so I just try to keep up haha.

Being disappointed on a Sunday (esp where UVM is concerned) is commonplace esp when we really need something to happen. Agree UVM will throw a physical game
which tends to stymie our 'Cats; I hope they are up for it...kind of like Sunday's game with UConn. Here's hoping. On paper we should sweep, but I think
UVM is going to be up for it as always.

ecat, you have you SOG thing, for me, it's def FO wins that are important. We all have our hockey 'thing'...!

HR's prob not gonna happen predicts:

Fri: UNH 2 UVM 1
Sat: UVM 3 UNH 2

Let's gooo 'Cats! (our Cats that is..)

 

[e.cat]

Chuck, best wishes where your mom is concerned...JB..as for 'crickets' on your factual posts, for me at least, I think you give a lot of great info
that really can't be disputed lol...facts...are facts! And as you know I'm not exactly up on some of the particulars so I just try to keep up haha.

Being disappointed on a Sunday (esp where UVM is concerned) is commonplace esp when we really need something to happen. Agree UVM will throw a physical game
which tends to stymie our 'Cats; I hope they are up for it...kind of like Sunday's game with UConn. Here's hoping. On paper we should sweep, but I think
UVM is going to be up for it as always.

ecat, you have you SOG thing, for me, it's def FO wins that are important. We all have our hockey 'thing'...!

HR's prob not gonna happen predicts:

Fri: UNH 2 UVM 1
Sat: UVM 3 UNH 2

Let's gooo 'Cats! (our Cats that is..)

SCORE>FO>SOG.

The SOG thingie goes back to a confab with Chuck (best wishes to mom) some years back. Apparently only Snively65 and I get the joke.

 

[Vermont2004]

A UNH sweep up in Hippieville might be a bridge too far. I’d love it if the Cats sweep the dirty hippies but I don’t see it happening. And yes SOG rulz!

Hey! We aren't all hippies! (Just most of us lol). Best of luck this weekend. Should be a good series.

 

[e.cat]

Hey! We aren't all hippies! (Just most of us lol). Best of luck this weekend. Should be a good series.

That’s good to know Actually, I have many good friends who are UVM grads including my son-in-law. Wish I could be there as the Gutt is a fun barn. Good luck as well kinda

 

[Ferrrao1994]

I've been a UNH fan since the late 90s/early 2000's. From a little kid I would always remember going to every game possible at the Whit and it was one of the best experiences ever. Seeing the crowd be so into the games, and the men's hockey team always competitive making the playoffs so many years in a row. Traveling to the TD Garden for the hockey east playoffs, traveling to the regionals (even though it always ended in heartbreak.) Even took time off of school in elementary to be at the 2003 frozen four in Buffalo (Ended in a heartbreak loss.) The last couple of years for Umile were tough as it seemed like he had one foot out the door. When Umile retired I stopped paying attention to the team, mostly due to the fact that I was just finishing up college and starting my young adult life.

Fast forward to this year when I saw UNH beat a ranked opponent, and another.. and another and thinking "Wow this must be a different team than the last few years" I went back to the whit for my first hockey game in 8 years against RPI and while there were elements of those early days were the same, they did tweak a few things to the presentation (Life is life song while everyone claps, the goal song etc.) I've been paying attention to the team a lot closely now and pleasantly surprised with how good the teams been playing up to this point. After the holiday break the cats have shown some inconsistencies mostly losing to games they shouldn't (Army, Uconn) but with that being said, they're just outside the playoff picture and with a good stretch of hockey and a decent Hockey East tournament, they can very well make the playoffs for the first time in years. I write all of this to say that it's so nice to see UNH Hockey competitive and I hope this is a step in the right direction, Souza or not.

It's always been hard for UNH to keep up with the bigger city college for recruits but i'm hoping that we can get back to competing for playoff berths again and go on a streak just like we did in the early 2000's. Big weekend series with UVM as we need to wrack up wins against winnable opponents to keep up with the juggernaut which is Hockey East.

 

[Ferrrao1994]

Also this is a longshot, but does anyone have 2 extra tickets for the UNH UMaine game Saturday the 17th?

 

[d.gerry]

Also this is a longshot, but does anyone have 2 extra tickets for the UNH UMaine game Saturday the 17th?

Um, you don't get to come on here after two posts and ask for tickets to the biggest games of the year, sorry! Haha, just kidding. Anyway, it's really not that hard at all to compete for recruits with the "big city" colleges. Many kids don't actually like the city and prefer a campus like Durham, the real problem is you need to win. If UNH can stay competitive and show progress (like making the NCAA tourney) the recruits will start to come. Success begets success.

 

[HockeyRef]

Also this is a longshot, but does anyone have 2 extra tickets for the UNH UMaine game Saturday the 17th?

Hey welcome to the board..enjoyed your post below..
have 2 extra tickets but they would be for Fri...waiting to hear from one of my kids (UNH grads) if they are going or not.

Hope to see more of your posts in the future!

 

[HockeyRef]

Ryan Conmy and Jakob Hellsten made the Hobey ballot!
Not sure who was the last UNH player to be considered? Maybe Angus Crookshank? Tyk and Potsy were the last 2 that I remember...As I recall TyK made the final 10..

Haven't seen the total list imagine HE would be well represented with the Hutson/Cellibrini/Nadeau etc making it.

 

[d.gerry]

Ryan Conmy and Jakob Hellsten made the Hobey ballot!
Not sure who was the last UNH player to be considered? Maybe Angus Crookshank? Tyk and Potsy were the last 2 that I remember...As I recall TyK made the final 10..

Haven't seen the total list imagine HE would be well represented with the Hutson/Cellibrini/Nadeau etc making it.

Hellsten I get, Conmy seems a stretch to me. Good to see nonetheless!

 

[Dan]

Hey welcome to the board..enjoyed your post below..
have 2 extra tickets but they would be for Fri...waiting to hear from one of my kids (UNH grads) if they are going or not.

Hope to see more of your posts in the future!

Careful of the new poster, Ref...

If you swap the third 'R' and the 'A' in this new poster's name you'd get Ferraro1994 - as in Chris & Peter Ferraro, who wrapped up their UMaine careers in 1994!

This might be an undercover Black Bear trying to sneak his way into the building!

 

[acs64]

Careful of the new poster, Ref...

If you swap the third 'R' and the 'A' in this new poster's name you'd get Ferraro1994 - as in Chris & Peter Ferraro, who wrapped up their UMaine careers in 1994!

This might be an undercover Black Bear trying to sneak his way into the building!

Ha ha, you got me ! Im gonna fly up from Tampa and sneak in . Howzabout a free ticket, lol. Good undercover work though. The US gubbment might have a position for you.