Thanks for the informative post, 'Watcher. I remember well, reading about all of the incoming UNH recruits "as they happened" through the old Foster's Daily Democrat (RIP) daily sports section back in the day. A lot of that, of course, was in the pre-Internet days (at least for me, and I was on relatively early) and that was the lifeblood of information regarding ham-and-egg UNH fans like us and our friends, as was the run-up to the construction of The Whitt. In many ways, you can draw a line between pre-Internet UNH Hockey right down the middle of the year-plus it took to build the new arena - last days of Snively (late pre-Internet), and first days of The Whitt (early Internet).
Regardless, the amount of reporting on UNH Hockey back in those days was relatively staggering, and those "media booths" that still exist at The Whitt were standing room only for many years after. We are fortunate as UNH fans - as are college hockey fans in general - that you've been "The Man" on D-1 recruiting on both sides of the Snively-Whitt Era "chasm". Continuity hasn't been a common trait in traversing that gap.
Without betraying confidences ... not too long ago, I had a brief Internet exchange with one of those UNH stars of yore who you named in your latest post, just checking in and wishing him well. As a throwaway line at the end, I mentioned how great it would be if someone like him were to come in and resuscitate the UNH Hockey program. His response was verbatim, "I'm ready when they are". So that gives me a lot of hope.
Wow ... talk about another event that's fallen completely off the map ... the UNH Hockey Banquet. I think we attended once or twice (we did a lot when the kids were young), especially if autographs and player interaction was on the table, and back then it was HUGE - thanks Friends of UNH Hockey (again RIP)!! There are so many disconnected but historically wonderful past touchpoints that a new coach with even a passing familiarity with the program could resurrect to rebuild the old connections and enthusiasm the 'Cats used to enjoy. As it stands, they could've had this year's banquet in the drive-thru lane of the Effingwoods Wendy's, and STILL have room for more guests.
I also think I know who your "Coach Thick" is, and while my BFF Luce could easily fit that description as well, all I will say is that some guys are luckier than others, but the ones who find themselves on 3rd base at the start of their career, and somehow convince themselves they've "hit a triple" to get there ... well, those are the worst. Coach Holt started pretty much from scratch. Coach Umile at least started from the base that Holt had set for the program, and Kullen had put in motion on the recruiting front. Whether that's a first base or second base head start is up for debate, but I still hold to the idea that Umile left the place in better shape than when he arrived.
Lastly, as a postscript on what has turned out to be a rough week for late-stage Dead Wings alums ... after the passing of Petr Klima, we now learn that Gerard "Spudsy" Gallant has been given his walking papers by Chris Drury and the Rangers. Maybe the stars ARE aligning for Spuds to eventually get to the top with his old linemate/captain in Motown later this decade? Coached two of the best Rangers' teams in recent years, but with a first round collapse against the cross-Hudson rivals, it's another short term entry on the Gallant CV:
Rangers part ways with Gerard Gallant after disappointing season (nypost.com)
