UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

[Snively65]

I am shocked, in fact completely shocked, that the national champions are coming to the Whitt for two on October 21-22, at least according to the UNH home schedule posted on the Schedules thread. If that UNH schedule is for real, our OOC schedule also now includes Dartmouth at the Whitt on October 28, along with the previously noted Princeton for two at the Whitt on January 5-6 and away games at RIT (two on November 24-25) and Sacred Wallet on December 30. That leaves two more OOC away games to be identified.

Edit: I just reread that the UNH home schedule is “tentative,” like so many of our recruits, maybe.

 

[Liveatjrl]

I am shocked, in fact completely shocked, that the national champions are coming to the Whitt for two on October 21-22, at least according to the UNH home schedule posted on the Schedules thread. If that UNH schedule is for real, our OOC schedule also now includes Dartmouth at the Whitt on October 28, along with the previously noted Princeton for two at the Whitt on January 5-6 and away games at RIT (two on November 24-25) and Sacred Wallet on December 30. That leaves two more OOC away games to be identified.

Edit: I just reread that the UNH home schedule is “tentative,” like so many of our recruits, maybe.

Hey Snives! The one thing that didn't quite add up to me was UNH hosting Northeastern for (3) games. Could they be playing a game as an OOC or maybe NU can't host a game around that time so all (3) conf games are at UNH?

Everything else looked good!

 

[Snively65]

Hey Snives! The one thing that didn't quite add up to me was UNH hosting Northeastern for (3) games. Could they be playing a game as an OOC or maybe NU can't host a game around that time so all (3) conf games are at UNH?

Everything else looked good!

Not so sure if everything else looks good, because RPI now coming to the Whitt on December 9th would give UNH 19 home games, still one too many even if one of the three NU home games is retracted.

 

[Liveatjrl]

Not so sure if everything else looks good, because RPI now coming to the Whitt on December 9th would give UNH 19 home games, still one too many even if one of the three NU home games is retracted.

Yea the rpi game wasn't on calendar - very interesting ... we'll find out soon enough what ends up being true or not.

 

[Snively65]

Yea the rpi game wasn't on calendar - very interesting ... we'll find out soon enough what ends up being true or not.

Yup, we will know more soon enough. I am surprised that no one has yet chimed in on Quinnipiac’s visit, especially given our lengthy discussion in our recent in-season thread in which it was noted that Pecknold has family in southeastern Cow Hampsha and was interested in the HC position when Umile retired but was supposedly told that the position had already been filled.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Yup, we will know more soon enough. I am surprised that no one has yet chimed in on Quinnipiac’s visit, especially given our lengthy discussion in our recent in-season thread in which it was noted that Pecknold has family in southeastern Cow Hampsha and was interested in the HC position when Umile retired but was supposedly told that the position had already been filled.

Whatever happened with the event recently (last week or two?) where Umile was an invited guest speaker who was going to take some questions from the floor? Or is the event date on that get-together still approaching?

If it happened, does anyone have any insight on how the questioning went? Did Coach get the "flamethrowers" some were discussing on here last month - especially regarding his role in the so-called "succession plan"? How did Coach handle it (video link or transcript available)? Or was it the usual deferential, slow-pitch softball batting practice fodder ("Coach, what was the high point of your great career?") variety of questioning?

Inquiring minds need to know ... Happy Friday, friends!!

 

[After the Whistle]

Chuck I am afraid I can’t help specifically on your question on the DU appearance. I had asked about that following week but got no response. Upon further exploration, looked to
youTube it found nothing at that time. On the UNH website I found that this 1 hour show was just part of an alumni weekend resentaion. Presumably just the ADsconteibution to a morning of classes and info session. So no answers, but can also note they had a photo with a spare audience.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Chuck I am afraid I can’t help specifically on your question on the DU appearance. I had asked about that following week but got no response. Upon further exploration, looked to
youTube it found nothing at that time. On the UNH website I found that this 1 hour show was just part of an alumni weekend resentaion. Presumably just the ADsconteibution to a morning of classes and info session. So no answers, but can also note they had a photo with a spare audience.

Thanks ATW. Assuming you meant "sparse", which is sad and fitting in its own right after all that's gone down.

 

[Snively65]

Ok, if Quinnipiac is really coming to the Whitt for two on 21-22 October, those should be sell outs, I would think. Like the Gophs or the Sioux or the Wolverines coming to the Whitt back in the day. So, Rand will be extending MS7’s stay at UNH several more years?

 

[Chuck Murray]

Ok, if Quinnipiac is really coming to the Whitt for two on 21-22 October, those should be sell outs, I would think. Like the Gophs or the Sioux or the Wolverines coming to the Whitt back in the day. So, Rand will be extending MS7's stay at UNH several more years?

Maybe our intrepid AD (who presumably will be back from vacation, and on the job by then) can arrange a private sit-down with Joe Dumais for brunch of the morning in between games, and sound him out for filling the HC vacancy that will have opened up in six months' time? Unless of course his boss would rather take the opportunity to try on something new, instead of the Bentley South house of bricks that is Quinnipiac??

It's funny ... if UNH was going to do something bold this offseason, I was 99% sure I was gonna jump back in with season tix for the first time since Snively closed. As they say in Durham though ... "Wait 'til next year!!" (rolleyes emoji)

 

[d.gerry]

Maybe our intrepid AD (who presumably will be back from vacation, and on the job by then) can arrange a private sit-down with Joe Dumais for brunch of the morning in between games, and sound him out for filling the HC vacancy that will have opened up in six months' time? Unless of course his boss would rather take the opportunity to try on something new, instead of the Bentley South house of bricks that is Quinnipiac??

It's funny ... if UNH was going to do something bold this offseason, I was 99% sure I was gonna jump back in with season tix for the first time since Snively closed. As they say in Durham though ... "Wait 'til next year!!" (rolleyes emoji)

Bold moves don't seem to be in the offing; last several years it's been more like Groundhog Day.

 

[Snively65]

Bold moves don't seem to be in the offing; last several years it's been more like Groundhog Day.

If true, do you not think that hosting the Quinnipiac Bobcats for two games at the Whitt a bold move? When was the last time that we played two OOC games against a reigning NC? Rather it seems the past decade or longer we have loaded up our OOC schedule with cupcakes (“if you cannot beat the cupcakes, you are the cupcake”).

 

[HockeyRef]

If true, do you not think that hosting the Quinnipiac Bobcats for two games at the Whitt a bold move? When was the last time that we played two OOC games against a reigning NC? Rather it seems the past decade or longer we have loaded up our OOC schedule with cupcakes (“if you cannot beat the cupcakes, you are the cupcake”).

Snives, why do you doubt we are playing them? Just curious. I think it's great we are finally playing the likes of QU...teams tend to 'play down' to the competition or the other team 'plays up'. This will be a great test for our 'Cats. It's about time if you ask me...Looking forward!!

UNH always lags with their schedule...why, I do not know.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Snives, why do you doubt we are playing them? Just curious. I think it's great we are finally playing the likes of QU...teams tend to 'play down' to the competition or the other team 'plays up'. This will be a great test for our 'Cats. It's about time if you ask me...Looking forward!!

I think you're both right ... first of all, Snives is right to point out that UNH has been focusing its OOC schedule on a cupcake-friendly basis ever since Coach Umile's three year "long goodbye" - first, to get the legendary coach to the fabled NRN (requiring 40 W's in 3 seasons - FAILED), and then to get his somewhat-less-than-legendary, hand-picked successor a foothold in the D-1 wars (I think it's safe to say that's BADLY FAILED).

So yeah, this scheduling of Quinnipiac certainly bucks their trend of the last decade or so, give or take. Which is where 'Ref is right, because it's good to see UNH at least pretending to behave like they belong at the "grown-ups table" like they used to. But if you're UNH, and you're gonna take a different approach ... you cozy up to Coach Pecknold, rely on his local roots, and pitch him on the idea that this would be his first step on a national "victory lap" for his program, insist on getting both home games early in the season (THE key piece of the devious puzzle) ... and when it comes to pass, you have the defending D-1 champs playing their first RS games (?) on the road at a program that prides itself on winning games in October. MS7 will have his guys revved up to defend their "Champions of October" virtual hardware, and QU will hardly know what hit them ...

... well, at least until after the first period of the first game, when QU can regroup and probably pull out a 4-4 tie, which UNH will "win" in the first shootout of the new season. Mucinex gets the first star, and then on the second game, the "new Fessy" will take his turn in goal and get lit up like the proverbial gasoline-soaked Christmas tree, and QU will coast to a 9-1 real victory. UNH is happy, they've put over 10,000 bums in the seats to open the home season, "won" the opening game (AND maybe the new AD does the low key brunch with future UNH HC Joe Dumais in between) ... and the Q is happy, Coach Pecknold has a little homecoming to start the season, has probably set up his buddy Dumais with his next job, AND he gets to use the Game One "loss" to motivate the defending champs for the rest of the season. Win-win-win, if you ask me.

 

[NCAA watcher]

More up and coming coaches getting their feet wet. While he may be getting teed up to be a Jackson replacement down the road, he's replenishing the pool that got fished pretty hard the last four years with Barr, Keefe, Mayotte, Strand, Nightengale, Naurato.

Notre Dame with a big hire for its third assistant coach. AHL Chicago Wolves head coach Brock Sheahan, who previously won a Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel, is headed back to his alma mater.

 

[Snively65]

Snives, why do you doubt we are playing them? Just curious. I think it's great we are finally playing the likes of QU...teams tend to 'play down' to the competition or the other team 'plays up'. This will be a great test for our 'Cats. It's about time if you ask me...Looking forward!!

UNH always lags with their schedule...why, I do not know.

It is not that I doubt that Quinnipiac in particular is coming to play two at the Whitt, but our home schedule that is posted on the Schedules thread is listed as “tentative” and has 19 home games, if RPI is added, which is two too many, I think.

 

[Snively65]

I think you're both right ... first of all, Snives is right to point out that UNH has been focusing its OOC schedule on a cupcake-friendly basis ever since Coach Umile's three year "long goodbye" - first, to get the legendary coach to the fabled NRN (requiring 40 W's in 3 seasons - FAILED), and then to get his somewhat-less-than-legendary, hand-picked successor a foothold in the D-1 wars (I think it's safe to say that's BADLY FAILED).

So yeah, this scheduling of Quinnipiac certainly bucks their trend of the last decade or so, give or take. Which is where 'Ref is right, because it's good to see UNH at least pretending to behave like they belong at the "grown-ups table" like they used to. But if you're UNH, and you're gonna take a different approach ... you cozy up to Coach Pecknold, rely on his local roots, and pitch him on the idea that this would be his first step on a national "victory lap" for his program, insist on getting both home games early in the season (THE key piece of the devious puzzle) ... and when it comes to pass, you have the defending D-1 champs playing their first RS games (?) on the road at a program that prides itself on winning games in October. MS7 will have his guys revved up to defend their "Champions of October" virtual hardware, and QU will hardly know what hit them ...

... well, at least until after the first period of the first game, when QU can regroup and probably pull out a 4-4 tie, which UNH will "win" in the first shootout of the new season. Mucinex gets the first star, and then on the second game, the "new Fessy" will take his turn in goal and get lit up like the proverbial gasoline-soaked Christmas tree, and QU will coast to a 9-1 real victory. UNH is happy, they've put over 10,000 bums in the seats to open the home season, "won" the opening game (AND maybe the new AD does the low key brunch with future UNH HC Joe Dumais in between) ... and the Q is happy, Coach Pecknold has a little homecoming to start the season, has probably set up his buddy Dumais with his next job, AND he gets to use the Game One "loss" to motivate the defending champs for the rest of the season. Win-win-win, if you ask me.

Looks good, but your Game 1 scenario against Quinnipiac seems to overlook the fact that we lost our senior shoot-out specialist and Captain in the portal to Merrimack.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Looks good, but your Game 1 scenario against Quinnipiac seems to overlook the fact that we lost our senior shoot-out specialist and Captain in the portal to Merrimack.

This is October we're talking about, Snives. UNH is to October what Jerry York used to be after January 1st. Money.

 

[Felger]

maybe the new AD does the low key brunch with future UNH HC Joe Dumais

I assumed that had already been done in Naples

 

[HockeyRef]

It is not that I doubt that Quinnipiac in particular is coming to play two at the Whitt, but our home schedule that is posted on the Schedules thread is listed as “tentative” and has 19 home games, if RPI is added, which is two too many, I think.

Gotcha! Of course if we had a schedule to actually look at....ha! Someone I know who was once a Maine fan/now UNH fan (which, I have my doubts that they've really given up their Maine affiliation but, hey, whatever) thinks Maine fans must be mad there's no game at Orono.
..my come back was welp, we haven't played them in a White Out the Whitt since what, 2019 ish? (until this past season, that is)
I forget...

Regardless, we are playing some hockey in October. One way or the other.

Chuck, I got a kick out of your QU predictions. I wasn't gonna touch that with a 50 foot pole (making a predict on that).