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UNH Hockey 2023 Off Season Thread Turn and Face the Strange

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Somehow, I think some sort of 'closure' to the season is necessary and important, and I'm talking about a presser/some kind of statement, from the HC about the season.
I was just sent the note that UMO's Coach Barr sent to the fans on their facebook page by a mutual friend who roots for both teams (UNH and Maine, although
they try to deny they still follow Maine lol)

The note from Barr was a re-cap of the season, the ups, downs, and hopes for the future. Importantly he spells out the culture the team has developed, and their
hopes for continued success for the future, etc. He expressed his heartbreak for their last game and how they let down the 'Alfond Faithful'...His honesty and
candid reflection lets his fans know he 'gets it' and is fully invested in moving forward to produce the best product on the ice that he can. (and off ice
was mentioned as well)

I would welcome such a note from Mike Souza...to this fan at least, it would go a long way (IMHO) to showing the fans
that he understands the frustration and his goals moving forward. No excuses...just something, which is better, than nothing. While most here might
disagree the team did make strides this season, and he could talk about those.

As I indicated I asked the UL sports writer if there were plans to do such an interview about the season, and was told that at this point, there wasn't.
To me when you are faced with adversity you should meet it head on. I'd have a lot more respect for him if he did...Sure, I saw some of his post
game interviews but I'm talking about alittle more here than just those.

Does it change the season's record? No. But when you are the HC of a program where many people spend alot of money to attend games, travel to games,
etc, I think you owe these fans something...Maybe such a thing is in the works?? Should coaches be accountable to their fans?? I think they should be, to
some degree.

Thoughts?


i say this with the most gentle of my love as HR you are a true fan, definitely more loyal than I am now but what positives?

1. Under 500 In everything
2. Loss in the fist round of a make believe tournament
3. Further alienated players
4. Didn’t establish a #1 goalie ( j Forman I vote you)
5. Soaked NH for another $240k plus benefits



Let’s not forget while not MS7s fault we lost parking (well maybe since no one cared) which was a big disconnect between the U and athletics
 
i say this with the most gentle of my love as HR you are a true fan, definitely more loyal than I am now but what positives?

1. Under 500 In everything
2. Loss in the fist round of a make believe tournament
3. Further alienated players
4. Didn’t establish a #1 goalie ( j Forman I vote you)
5. Soaked NH for another $240k plus benefits



Let’s not forget while not MS7s fault we lost parking (well maybe since no one cared) which was a big disconnect between the U and athletics

Yeah am very in tune with the seasons negs but that's not the point of my post. But at this point? Doesn't matter. Am over it.
 
I am happy for Scott Borek and Josh Ciocco’s family. As long as CC and Colgate do not both win their NACHO and ECAC tourneys, the Warriors should make the NCAA’s.
 
I am happy for Scott Borek and Josh Ciocco’s family. As long as CC and Colgate do not both win their NACHO and ECAC tourneys, the Warriors should make the NCAA’s.

Me too...so far not too far off my predicts! Can "Cinderella Story" MC win the coveted HE tournament?? What a night!
 
Same.


Merrimack fans showed up to the Garden last night. Loved seeing that.

Supposedly 20 fan busses!!! Yes they were there in force...and wishing them well tonight! Was a late night with the OTs but worth it. Hope that BU player is ok...

I'm all for officials putting their whistles away...to some extent. I wonder if they'll bring them at all for tonight!!

Let's goooo 'Mack!!
 
Well guess I got my short statement about the season in a 603 challenge email..."season had its ups and downs but the second half left us with great optimism for the 23-24 season"...also "8 out of ten leading scorers returning" (Seems like an odd statement but whatev? Signals to me that Chase won't be returning fir a 5th season?)

EDIT: here's a list of our top 10 scorers/points from CHN...so means that Stevenson/Black (who I didn't think would return he's already in a 5th year) are the
ones he's talking about in the 8 out of 10...will Stevenson show up in the portal? hmmm....

GP G A P [TABLE="class: data sortable sticky, border: 0, cellpadding: 1, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Liam Devlin, F, So[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cy LeClerc, F, Fr[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chase Stevenson, F, Sr[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Colton Huard, D, So[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Damien Carfagna, D, Fr[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ryan Black, F, Sr[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nick Cafarelli, F, Jr[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nikolai Jenson, D, Jr[/TD]
[TD]33[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alex Gagne, D, So[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stiven Sardarian, F, Fr. [TABLE="class: data sortable sticky, border: 0, cellpadding: 1, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]29[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Guess I get his point...and yeah, I think there's good stuff here IF...development continues of the froshies...Winters, Cafarelli missing games due to
injury, and if you can't get excited about having a Fitzgerald joining next year, I mean...True story, think it was in 2015, friends and I went
to the B's training camp in the summer, to see Potsy train...Casey and Ryan Fitzgerald were there along with Brandon Tanev. The girls got
a great pic with them (minus Potsy) when camp was over for the day. I remember dubbing Tanev 'the guy on the end'. Still
think that about him when I see him play...

Am somewhat paraphrasing but that's the gist. Which is about all I had expected. Glad he feels optimistic; anything is better after this season.

After tonight's HE games its time to turn my attention to more pressing matters.after of course, next week's Regionals where I will gaze ruefully at the ice where they usually paint UNH to signify the host.

Imagine that at least 1 of our HE teams will be in town..

Best wishes to all of you and thanks for putting up with me for another season (like you had a choice)
 
Last edited:
Well guess I got my short statement about the season in a 603 challenge email..."season had its ups and downs but the second half left us with great optimism for the 23-24 season"...also "8 out of ten leading scorers returning" (Seems like an odd statement but whatev)

Am somewhat paraphrasing but that's the gist. Which is about all I had expected.

Best wishes to all of you and thanks for putting up with me for another season (like you had a choice)

After tonight's HE games its time to turn my attention to more pressing matters.after of course, next week's Regionals where I will gaze ruefully at the ice where they usually paint UNH to signify the host.

Imagine that at least 1 of our HE teams will be in town..

Thought of you when I got the email. Boilerplate with no real substance, just a “hey, send us some money” letter more than anything else.
 
Thought of you when I got the email. Boilerplate with no real substance, just a “hey, send us some money” letter more than anything else.

Well thanks, nice to be thought of haha..and yep, like I said, pretty much what I expected. Have a great offseason d.g!
 
Well guess I got my short statement about the season in a 603 challenge email..."season had its ups and downs but the second half left us with great optimism for the 23-24 season"...also "8 out of ten leading scorers returning" (Seems like an odd statement but whatev? Signals to me that Chase won't be returning fir a 5th season?)

EDIT: here's a list of our top 10 scorers/points from CHN...so means that Stevenson/Black (who I didn't think would return he's already in a 5th year) are the
ones he's talking about in the 8 out of 10...will Stevenson show up in the portal? hmmm....

GP G A P [TABLE="class: data sortable sticky, border: 0, cellpadding: 1, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Liam Devlin, F, So[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cy LeClerc, F, Fr[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chase Stevenson, F, Sr[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Colton Huard, D, So[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Damien Carfagna, D, Fr[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ryan Black, F, Sr[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nick Cafarelli, F, Jr[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nikolai Jenson, D, Jr[/TD]
[TD]33[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alex Gagne, D, So[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stiven Sardarian, F, Fr. [TABLE="class: data sortable sticky, border: 0, cellpadding: 1, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]29[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Guess I get his point...and yeah, I think there's good stuff here IF...development continues of the froshies...Winters, Cafarelli missing games due to
injury, and if you can't get excited about having a Fitzgerald joining next year, I mean...True story, think it was in 2015, friends and I went
to the B's training camp in the summer, to see Potsy train...Casey and Ryan Fitzgerald were there along with Brandon Tanev. The girls got
a great pic with them (minus Potsy) when camp was over for the day. I remember dubbing Tanev 'the guy on the end'. Still
think that about him when I see him play...

Am somewhat paraphrasing but that's the gist. Which is about all I had expected. Glad he feels optimistic; anything is better after this season.

After tonight's HE games its time to turn my attention to more pressing matters.after of course, next week's Regionals where I will gaze ruefully at the ice where they usually paint UNH to signify the host.

Imagine that at least 1 of our HE teams will be in town..

Best wishes to all of you and thanks for putting up with me for another season (like you had a choice)

Interesting questions; thanks for posting, HR. I do not think that Ryan Black can return as he was a fifth (Covid) year, actually a grad student, this past season, I think. As for the Captain, as a senior, I think that he could have already entered the portal if he were so inclined. So, wondering who is the second “high-scoring player” that will not be back. Also, wondering about Fessenden, as he cannot enter the portal again, is my understanding, but he should still have a Covid year option. The Captain could have two more years, I think, an injury red shirt and a Covid.
 
Merrimack’s pretty much straight goalie rotation between Zachary Borgeil (19 games, 13-4-1, 1.97 gaa, 0.921 sv%) and Hugo Ollas (20 games, 10-5-0, 2.28 gaa, 0.916 sv%) reminds of UNH in 2001-2002 with Matt Carney (21 games, 16-3-2, 2.49 gaa, 0.905 sv%) and Mike Ayers (20 games, 14-3-1, 2.44 gaa, 0.915 sv%).
 
Only 358 days to go before the 3/11/24 announcement of the forthcoming national search for a new Men's Hockey HC.
 
Nah. UHN going “deep” into the post-season in 2024. Most of our ten highest goal scorers are returning! :-)

Ever the optimist, aren't you, Snives?

Since our long-standing beers-owed tally is back to even-steven ... howsabout we have a friendly bet that I'd love to lose then? UNH finishes in the MBPBEGAM RS slots (#9-#11) and I "win", UNH finishes 8th or better, you "win", and then we all get to deal with the implications of MS7's new extension for a best-ever 7th place finish ... ??
 
Nah. UHN going “deep” into the post-season in 2024. Most of our ten highest goal scorers are returning! :-)
Coach Souza set the bar here, right? It has been forever since we saw significant improvement from returning players. Time to make it happen. If it doesn't...
 
Coach Souza set the bar here, right? It has been forever since we saw significant improvement from returning players. Time to make it happen. If it doesn't...
Let's say it does. Excepting an incredibly successful season, what then? AD Rich's decision matrix is a lot easier if we have a (((huge))) improvement or no improvement than it is with being somewhat improved. Nobody wants to be in one year extension territory.
 
Ever the optimist, aren't you, Snives?

Since our long-standing beers-owed tally is back to even-steven ... howsabout we have a friendly bet that I'd love to lose then? UNH finishes in the MBPBEGAM RS slots (#9-#11) and I "win", UNH finishes 8th or better, you "win", and then we all get to deal with the implications of MS7's new extension for a best-ever 7th place finish ... ??

Well, I am not that optimistic, which is the reason for my postseason “deep” in quotes. I think that it is a given we finish somewhere within #9-11 again next season, but my “deep” means that we will win the MBPBEGAM game next season, as we came close this past season. I will take that friendly bet for the proverbial pint at Libby’s. :-)
 
Yes..I understood your point or I think I do. I think that unless you (meaning anyone) havent read some of the stories going around this past week (or season) in CHN for ex MC is on a mission fueled by the loss of Josh Ciocco..and that losing meant their season would be finished and that the team had grown so close over the season they didn't want it to end. Definitely it was obvious Borek took the loss very hard last night...guessing that weighed heavily on his mind.

Now of course they do get to play again as we now know. My point about all of this for me at least is off putting demeanor or not the guy has shown he can build a program...and win.

Having met Scott a few times while he was at UNH I thought he was a "nice guy". He's certainly paid his dues in the coaching ranks (and in his life) . They love him in Merrimack thats for sure...will be interesting how they do in the next few seasons to prove they werent a fluke?

We don't need a coach who's a big jerk...but we sure don't need a guy who can't seem to find the formula to success.
Are you saying then that UNH is.looking at personality first..coaching ability last? I doubt you feel this way...you are too intelligent for that. I'm a lousy read sometimes!

And if he did "diss" Lane Hutson in the handshake line that's unfortunate (didn't see it). Doubt Lane lost any sleep over it. I suspect BU has bigger fish to fry.

And I noted their unis last night. I wasn't sure if those gold unis were their away jerseys but I did notice the jersey had "JC" on them. Maybe their blue ones did not? And maybe MC got permission to wear them. I doubt there will be a formal statement from Steve Metcalf's office :-) I guess I'll have to see what MC wears Friday!

If I'm off base in understanding your point I hope you will clarify! Prob I am missing the point/boat coz sometimes I have been known to not get it.

Hard to believe isn't it?!?!
Not to clutter up your thread, but...

I have never met Coach Borek and have no idea if he is a nice guy, however, what I noticed of his demeanor during and after both games is that he puts up a tough guy image. He had the same look and stance immediately after Merrimack's winning goal against UML as he had after BU's winning goal vs MC. I think part of it may have been that Coach Bazin challenged the goal, but then Coach Borek challenged BU's goal, which makes him.look like a sore loser. I didn't see the diss of Lane Hutson at the Garden, but I did watch it on DVR and I really didn't see anything there.

However, his disregard for protocol rules shows a pattern of breaking NCAA rules and regulations, which I find troubling. Remember, he violated NCAA recruiting rules back in 2009 when he was associate head coach at UNH.

As for coaching ability vs personality, in the end I believe BU went with Coach Pandolfo in large part because of his personality. They certainly didn't go with him primarily because of his coaching ability, as he had no head coaching experience to go on. I now think they made the right choice, but he could also have been Coach O'Connell 2.0.

As for Merrimack's uniforms, both their whites and navies had the JC patch on them, which is what I would have expected. And maybe Merrimack "got permission" to wear the gold jerseys, however, as I've stated elsewhere, that is not an option for postseason games.

Sean
 
Last edited:
Not to clutter up your thread, but...

I have never met Caoch Borek and have no idea if he is a nice guy, however, what I noticed of his demeanor during and after both games is that he puts up a tough guy image. He had the same look and stance immediately after Merrimack's winning goal against UML as he had after BU's winning goal vs MC. I think part of it may have been that Coach Bazin challenged the goal, but then Coach Borek challenged BU's goal, which makes him.look like a sore loser. I didn't see the diss of Lane Hutson at the Garden, but I did watch it on DVR and I really didn't see anything there.

However, his disregard for protocol rules shows a pattern of breaking NCAA rules and regulations, which I find troubling. Remember, he violated NCAA recruiting rules back in 2009 when he was associate head coach at UNH.

As for coaching ability vs personality, in the end I believe BU went with Coach Pandolfo in large part because of his personality. They certainly didn't go with him primarily because of his coaching ability, as he had no head coaching experience to go on. I now think they made the right choice, but he could also have been Coach O'Connell 2.0.

As for Merrimack's uniforms, both their whites and navies had the JC patch on them, which is what I would have expected. And maybe Merrimack "got permission" to wear the gold jerseys, however, as I've stated elsewhere, that is not an option for postseason games.

Sean
Is this a new thing for Coach Borek? I don’t recall this or really any other vibe from him before.

Coach Pandolfo’s personality looked to be all business. In a scary kind of way.
 
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