UNH- How Far West Do We Go?

[Potluck]

There is absolutely nothing - zero, zip, nada, zilch - that UNH is doing nowadays that is better than what they used to do as a program 20+ years ago. The best thing UNH did in the early Umile era was do have ambition, almost extreme ambition at that. They not only modernized what Snively previously had to offer, but dared to almost double the capacity of the old place. Which meant there were a lot of reputations on the line internally, and the motivation, the pressure to succeed ... while it initially almost killed Coach Umile (forcing him to quit the lung darts circa 1997), everyone - coaches and admins included - raised their game and somehow made it work. They literally used much the same blueprint as Dartmouth had with Thompson Arena, but made it bigger and better ... they saw the crazy momentum that Walshy had built in Orono, and ended up almost matching it on the ice, and possibly exceeded it off the ice (revenue).

There's no doubt in my mind that Jack Parker pushed BU to build the palace that is Agganis, as a direct result of the challenges he faced from northern NE. But at some point, mostly due to an embedded AD who professionally found himself on 3rd base when hired by UNH, thinking he had stroked a triple all by himself, ambition turned into much more careful and measured commitment, empire building, and loss of focus on what had once been the greatest sports "franchise" in the history of the State of New Hampshire. Excuses became too easy and convenient, and folks in the admin who once had an edict to fill those extra seats, could now point to the bigger arena in the center of the state, and instead of fighting to preserve their hard-earned gains ... they just gave it away.


Putting aside the overly dramatic overtones you constantly harp on, and with all due respect (!) ... it's not so much a matter of "modernizing", it's a matter of having MUCH more competent and ambitious professionals running the show in Durham. Sprucing things up and modernizing aspects of the program are part of a successful strategy, but cannot be THE strategy. "Shrink The Rink" is the albatross currently draped over MS7's shoulders, and it's a monument to the program's loss of ambition. UNH might just as well have taken all of that money and lit it on fire at center ice of The Whitt. I hope no one forgets that ...

Umile got the job simply by being promoted to head coach when Kullen suddenly died. No search. UNH hired an alum thst had no head coaching experience other than high school. There was nothing ambitious in general about the hockey program in the early 90s. There was nothing ambitious or innovative about Umile hiring his GBL buddy Chris Serino to be his recruiter.

The key was construction of the Whitt.

Overnight UNH went from having an upscale high school rink with some charm to the number 2 facility in the east behind Conte. The number 3 facility was far behind.

 

[NCAA watcher]

UNH hired Brian McCloskey in Aug 1992

UNH made huge splashes by securing the best two eastern USA players (Eric Boguniecki over Maine and BU, and Tom Nolan over BC and Michigan) in Nov 1992, as well as top Western Canadian player Tim Murray.

Boguniecki was heavily recruited by the University of Maine. “I thought UNH was the place for me,” Boguniecki said. “I had pretty much, UNH in mind since last year.” Boguniecki, a sturdy 5-8, 185 pound center, is a senior at Westminster, a prep school in Simsbury, Conn. He is a member of the U.S. Select 17 team which competed at the Phoenix Cup in Japan, July 29-Aug. 10, against teams from Russia, Canada and Japan. Boguniecki led the U.S. in scoring with two goals and he tied for first in points with thee during the three-game tournament. He was also a member of the U.S. Select 16 team the year before. Boguniecki said he was impressed with the school’s campus and UNH’s coaching staff headed by Dick Umile. “ I wanted to play in Hockey East and I wanted to stay in the East,” he said. “I’m looking forward (to attending UNH). I can’t wait.” Boguniecki, who shoots right, led Westminster to a berth in the Division 1 prep school finals last season. He scored 26 goals and added 39 assists for 65 points. He scored a total of 96 points his freshman and sophomore years at the Gunnery School in Connecticut before transferring to Westminster. Boguniecki is considered one of the top forward recruits in the United States.

Nolan, a 5-10, 175-pound center from Springfield, Mass., and Larochelle, a 6-1, 180-pound goaltender, selected UNH after visiting the campus last weekend. Nolan is considered the prize jewel of UNH’s recruiting class. A creative playmaker and scorer, the Avon Old Farms forward was among the top recruits in the country. He visited Maine, Boston College and St. Lawrence and was also being recruited by Michigan, Michigan State and Providence. “I love the coaches,” Nolan said of the UNH staff. “The coaches were just great plus I love the campus. I want to get my degree and help the team win a national championship,” he added. “They’re striving to get better and better every day. I think they’re working toward and striving toward a national championship. I think we can do it in a couple of year.” Nolan is hoping to be an impact player. “I can’t wait to get up there,” he said. Nolan scored 29 goals and dished out 24 assists last season for Avon. As a sophomore, he scored 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists). His older sister, Amy, is a senior at UNH.

Murray visited Kent State and was also being recruited by Michigan State, North Dakota, Clarkson, Notre Dame and Boston University. He has 2 goals and 19 assists in 23 games. “That’s my strength,” he said of the offensive game. The NCAA’s early signing period ends Wednesday and the UNH coaching staff acquired its needs – and then some – by nabbing five top recruits. Also signing letters of intent were forwards Tom Nolan (Springfield, Mass.) and Eric Boguniecki (West Haven, Conn.), defenseman Dean Woodman (Mississauga, Ontario) and goaltender Brian Larochelle (Manchester, N.H.). Murray is expected to contribute immediately next season. Murray visited the UNH campus Nov. 6-7 and witnessed UNH’s 4-4 tie with Air Force and the first period of UNH’s 6-3 win the next night over the Falcons before departing for a flight home. Murray said he was impressed with UNH’s style of play and the atmosphere inside Snively Arena. “It was pretty wild,” he said. “I really enjoyed it.” Notre Dame is the former school of current UNH sophomore Eric Flinton. “Tim Murray is doing very well for us,” Hounds head coach Dave Kenney said. “He is an excellent, excellent hockey player. He is an extremely strong skater. He sees the ice very, very well. Overall he’s a skilled player.” He is going to be an impact player,” Kenney added. Kenney said National Hockey League scouts are very high on Murray. Murray said he’s not worried about where he might be selected in the next amateur draft. “I’ve heard a little bit but I’m not concerned about it,” Murray said.

The $18 million Snively Arena upgrade was first reported in June 17, 1993 Concord Monitor

 

[NCAA watcher]

I would also note that these articles written by Barry Scanlon were new real-time recruiting news. Barry Scanlon didn't just stumble on this news. That undoubtedly reflected and was a product of McCloskey's enthusiasm for sharing recruiting information with the press, to build and reinforce the excitement.

 

[Potluck]

'Watcher: Glad you're back posting. My recollection is that the hockey program collapsed in the 80s because Charlie Holt didn't change with the times. After the Holt retirement, the program was set back probably for 2 years in all respects due to Kullen's illness. Kullen got things jump started by bringing in Winnes, Plavsic, Flanagan, Amodeo, Dean, Scott Morrow and Mitrovic. I know Sean Coady really helped out during this phase in Ontario. Then Kullen suddenly passed away. Kullen was no less ambitious than Umile.

I think the discussion in the last few posts today is about ambition. The only lapse in ambition I saw from UNH hockey was at the end of Umile's run. Like Holt, Umile just let the program grow stale. The college hockey world has changed so much since the 80s and 90s. There's an arms race going on and UNH has no money to really compete. I am fine with listing Souza as a problem, but he's not THE problem. Lack of institutional commitment has been the killer for the past 10 years.

When Kullen and Umile started bringing in blue chip players, Parker was coachining in an aging and outdated Walter Brown Arena and "back of the room" amenities at at colleges including BC's Conte consisted of standard hockey locker rooms with individual no frills lockers with hooks and bench seating. In other worlds, hustle and sweat went a long way in recruiting. The Serino recruitment of Boggie story is great. Those days are looooooooong gone.

In the era of advisors and competing facilities, blood sweat and tears is merely charming but not decisive. Just look at the way the Bruins use BC as a farm team.

 

[Potluck]

I'll just follow up by saying when Umile stepped down, a new generation of UNH hockey began. But UNH did nothing. There should have been a major evaluation of the program with any eye on ensuring it was keeping up with the times. Such things often cost money, which likely is the reason UNH did nothing. The descent continued.

UNH needs do to a full scale evaluation of the hockey program from top to bottom. As I mentioned, that should have been done in 2015. All questions must be on the table.

 

[Jellsville USA]

From the BC fan page (should I stay or should I go?):

Move Conmy to the fourth line. He is basically just here for the PP (a very good weapon on the PP). He has 2 points, both PPGs and he skates on a line with two supremely talented guys in Hagens and Teddy Stiga. This line generally doesn't do much most nights 5 on 5 (Hagens goal vs RPI was just as a PP expired) and is probably the worst first line I've ever seen at BC. To have only two points right now is telling and plenty of a sample size. Hagens should be dominating and he really isn't. Not sure if Jellvik is ever going to come back but when he does, you shuffle the lines around big time. That obviously is a concern IMO as we saw last year there was inability and disinterest by the staff to find viable line combos and their fate was sealed the minute the lineup card was submitted in Manchester after the Northeastern debacle.

 

[d.gerry]

From the BC fan page (should I stay or should I go?):

Move Conmy to the fourth line. He is basically just here for the PP (a very good weapon on the PP). He has 2 points, both PPGs and he skates on a line with two supremely talented guys in Hagens and Teddy Stiga. This line generally doesn't do much most nights 5 on 5 (Hagens goal vs RPI was just as a PP expired) and is probably the worst first line I've ever seen at BC. To have only two points right now is telling and plenty of a sample size. Hagens should be dominating and he really isn't. Not sure if Jellvik is ever going to come back but when he does, you shuffle the lines around big time. That obviously is a concern IMO as we saw last year there was inability and disinterest by the staff to find viable line combos and their fate was sealed the minute the lineup card was submitted in Manchester after the Northeastern debacle.

Conmy is now a small fish in a big pond.

 

[JB]

When Kullen and Umile started bringing in blue chip players, Parker was coachining in an aging and outdated Walter Brown Arena and "back of the room" amenities at at colleges including BC's Conte consisted of standard hockey locker rooms with individual no frills lockers with hooks and bench seating. In other worlds, hustle and sweat went a long way in recruiting. The Serino recruitment of Boggie story is great. Those days are looooooooong gone.

This is the place we disagree. Barr at Maine and Ferschweiler at Western Michigan have in the last couple years showed that work hard at recruiting you can get the talent to come in and now they are both getting the upgrades. All the pretty upgrades in the world wont fix the problem behind the bench.

UNH needs to go get a competent coach that is going to drive recruiting.