UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

[Sean Pickett]

For example, MS7 wants to create a coach's club to allow fan access to have these conversations to engage with fans and also raise money but it seems like a struggle to get it to become a reality.

I've been reading about the demise of the UNH Friends of Hockey here and it reminds me very much of what happened to the BU Friends of Hockey. After Coach Parker retired BU took over the FOH and it ended as an actual organization. All benefits that used to be offered were stopped, the FOH room was shut down and it was nothing other than a fund-raising arm of the university (although under Coach O'Connell the FOH room was reopened for most(?) games). Furthermore, Coach Quinn created a Coach's Cabinet which in reality is an exclusive (BU's word) fund-raising version of the FOH as the minimum buy-in is $3,000. BU also offers premium seats, which are completely separate from both FOH and the Coach's Cabinet, but at least does give you some game day perks (parking; elevator direct from the garage to the concourse; pre-game dinner; club room access).

Before games BU FOH used to offer a pre-game meal (if you paid for it) and after the games you could met the players and their families. When she was young my daughter used to wait for the players to enter, aong with the other young children of families and Friends. FOH also used to organize an away trip every season, an annual pre-game parent's night dinner and a claim bake with lobster pre-game once a season. These and other FOH organized events, which used to foster friendship and getting to know other FOH members and player's families are all long gone.

Sean

 

[Darius]

Why do we have to pussyfoot around and call it "Coaches Club"? Why not just call it "Friends of UNH Hockey"??

I dunno. Ask Norbert or Mike. If it were up to me it would be called the Friendly Coach’s Club That Worships Darius The All Exultant Grand Imperial Mega Posting Wizard.

Club.

 

[HockeyRef]

I dunno. Ask Norbert or Mike. If it were up to me it would be called the Friendly Coach’s Club That Worships Darius The All Exultant Grand Imperial Mega Posting Wizard.

Club.

Now there's an org I can get behind. I'll be a charter member...

 

[Chuck Murray]

If it were up to me it would be called the Friendly Coach's Club That Worships Darius The All Exultant Grand Imperial Mega Posting Wizard.

Club.

That's FCCTWDTAEGIMPW(C) for "short". Or just The Grand Wizard between all of us pals on the UNH thread ...

 

[HockeyRef]

Foegele!

 

[Snively65]

Foegele!

Why cannot UNH get goal scorers like Warren Foegele? Oh ……. Wait ………

 

[Snively65]

That's FCCTWDTAEGIMPW(C) for "short". Or just The Grand Wizard between all of us pals on the UNH thread ...

“No one uses MS7 as a steppingstone to the FF; we will reverse the procedure.” — MS7, May 2023

And now there is only Pesce.

 

[NCAA watcher]

And now there is only Pesce.

There was always only Pesce. You don't count the ex-wife who walked out on you as one of your accomplishments.

 

[Snively65]

There was always only Pesce. You don't count the ex-wife who walked out on you as one of your accomplishments.

I think that Foegele had justifiable cause for walking out, which has been discussed at length in our threads.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Which, I think makes it even more pathetic to "claim" someone who walked out on you because of your failings.

 

[Snively65]

Which, I think makes it even more pathetic to "claim" someone who walked out on you because of your failings.

I get that part, but NHL “claims” are about all that we have left to talk about, and they all should count in my view, including the dismissed Casey DeSmith.

 

[Darius]

I wonder as well how that would be received; wonder if that group who has met a couple of times has done that? From the names I've heard most are former FOH members. So if Coach Souza
really wants this to come to fruition, and it seems he is interested in doing just that according to Norbert...then let him be the one to initiate it. When I joined the former group, it was for
one reason only; to support the program. I really didn't know much about Dick Umile other than the basics of who he was, and his past accomplishments.

The last thing I'd join any group would be to have sole interest in the coach...it wasn't about that then, and it wouldn't be about that now. Seems to me, he (Coach) has a lot on
his plate this season...lets see if this actually happens and if he is the one that brings it about...

Are there other groups besides this football group doing anything formal like you mention? I'd think UNH has guidelines in place for such group formation (formal that is).

My guess is he or the department would if he had the volunteer resources.

It has to be a team first organization.

 

[Darius]

This just hit me...when has Ben Barr ever mentioned his facilities as a stumbling block..checks notes they finished where.in HE this season???

Instead...he (Barr) sends his fans a heartfelt note thanking them for their support and it was more than obvious he has a special affinity for his players.

Not saying the same needed to happen on our end but gee alittle outward news other than "I can't win because my facility" would be a start..

Ps...and I have been guilty of this axiom "blame is the surest way to stay stuck in a situation"

Good points. As Norbert and others have suggested, better communication is an easy zero cost improvement.

 

[Darius]

I've been reading about the demise of the UNH Friends of Hockey here and it reminds me very much of what happened to the BU Friends of Hockey. After Coach Parker retired BU took over the FOH and it ended as an actual organization. All benefits that used to be offered were stopped, the FOH room was shut down and it was nothing other than a fund-raising arm of the university (although under Coach O'Connell the FOH room was reopened for most(?) games). Furthermore, Coach Quinn created a Coach's Cabinet which in reality is an exclusive (BU's word) fund-raising version of the FOH as the minimum buy-in is $3,000. BU also offers premium seats, which are completely separate from both FOH and the Coach's Cabinet, but at least does give you some game day perks (parking; elevator direct from the garage to the concourse; pre-game dinner; club room access).

Before games BU FOH used to offer a pre-game meal (if you paid for it) and after the games you could met the players and their families. When she was young my daughter used to wait for the players to enter, aong with the other young children of families and Friends. FOH also used to organize an away trip every season, an annual pre-game parent's night dinner and a claim bake with lobster pre-game once a season. These and other FOH organized events, which used to foster friendship and getting to know other FOH members and player's families are all long gone.

Sean

Sean, do you have a sense of how the Coach's Cabinet was received, how many joined? The cost far outweighs the perks. Duh. I'd think most who joined were already contributing significantly.

My take on the demise of FOH organizations coinciding with coaching transitions is that the schools had known for some time that the lifespan for organizations of this type was limited. The urgency wasn't there to force the change on the soon to be former coaches who were familiar and comfortable working with the FOH organizations. The incoming coaches understood the need and were comfortable doing things differently. Similar things likely happened when Coaches Parker and Umile became head coaches. Perhaps it was that they understood the days of walking a high school player over to the admissions department, putting their arm around him and saying, "This young man is going to play for me next year. Take care of him." or having an assistant coach hand a team captain a wad of cash to entertain recruits at the Keg Room or Dugout were over.

 

[Chuck Murray]

I get that part, but NHL “claims” are about all that we have left to talk about, and they all should count in my view, including the dismissed Casey DeSmith.

DeSmith was preparing for his 4th year at UNH when things went sour (around Labor Day weekend IIRC?) so he was on campus at UNH longer than even Pesce was. Foegele left very early in his sophomore season when he was struggling for ice time behind the infamous "Senior First Line Checking Line" concept put together by a past-his-due-date Coach Umile. Gaudreault/MacDonald/Smith lasted about half the season, but Foegele had clearly seen enough, and ran back to Juniors after spot duty in 5 games. Nevertheless, Foegele still tied team Captain Colin (LOL) MacDonald in scoring at one (1) point apiece, despite the Captain playing half the season before spending most of the rest of the season in the stands.

I knew the program was in deep doo-doo at the moment MacDonald was selected Captain, on the virtue of returning from a very nasty injury. If your Captain had been a career 4th liner who spent close to half of his games (pre-injury) not dressed and watching from the stands, you cannot be surprised that when he returns to action, he's going to be the same 4th liner who can't be guaranteed a regular slot in the line-up. You give a kid with that inspiring story a nice award at the post-season banquet - you don't make him team Captain.

It was also MS7's first of now 8 seasons behind the UNH bench. Make of that what you will ...

 

[HockeyRef]

I think that Foegele had justifiable cause for walking out, which has been discussed at length in our threads.

I think WF is a great success story. Recognized college hockey wasn't for him...went a different path...knew he was capable and stayed with.
I wouldn't call him a 'UNH product' like Jack Edwards might say (if he does) per se, but, yup...something to talk about I guess. Hey if Warren wants to sell
me one of his UNH jerseys, I'd buy it...

I thought about deleting that comment...

Let's goooo Hurricanes!!!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Stanley Cup update: Picking Dallas to squeak past Seattle in Game 7 tonight, but to come up short to Vegas in 6 games.

The 'Canes will put HR's nightmarish Panthers' run to an end in 5 games, and then storm to the Cup in 5 games vs. VGK.

It'll be the first time in many a year that a UNH player played a significant role in a Cup-winning team.

 

[Snively65]

Stanley Cup update: Picking Dallas to squeak past Seattle in Game 7 tonight, but to come up short to Vegas in 6 games.

The 'Canes will put HR's nightmarish Panthers' run to an end in 5 games, and then storm to the Cup in 5 games vs. VGK.

It'll be the first time in many a year that a UNH player played a significant role in a Cup-winning team.

“….. a significant role…..”? With those two words, probably need to go all the way back to Dave Lumley’s first of two with the Oilers in 1983/84 when he played 56 games and scored 6 goals and 21 points with a +14 during the regular season, and played 19 games and scored 2 goals and 7 points during the playoffs. Lumley played in only 12 regular season games and scored only 4 points early in the next season before getting traded to the Whalers thereby missing the SC playoffs.

Kevin Dean played in only 17 regular season and 3 playoff games for the Devils in 1995.

Bryan Muir played in only 8 regular season and 3 playoff games for the Avs in 2001.

TvR played in only 18 regular season games for the Black Hawks in 2015.

Do we have any other UNH alums with Stanley Cups?

EDIT: I forgot to note Rod Langway’s SC with the Canadians in 1979 in which he played 45 games and scored 3 goals and 7 points during the regular season, along with 8 games and 0 points during the playoffs.

 

[HockeyRef]

UNH hockey awards being released...when they are done I'll put it up. So far tho...

Alex Gagne Nate Hardy Ironman and Whoop Snively Citizenship Award

Steven Sardarien most improved

Chase Stevenson Sid Knight Academic Award

 

[Darius]

UNH hockey awards being released...when they are done I'll put it up. So far tho...

Alex Gagne Nate Hardy Ironman and Whoop Snively Citizenship Award

Steven Sardarien most improved

Chase Stevenson Sid Knight Academic Award

I saw that. Are they seriously live tweeting this with nothing on unhwildcats.com until later???