UNH- How Far West Do We Go?

[Robert Balin]

The one thing after five games into the season that's surprising to me is UNH is only averaging 1.6 goals a game which won't win you many games unless you have an elephant as your goalie.. Hopefully they can figure this out and right the ship..Happy Sunday to all.

 

[Felger]

"The Case of the Missing Whale" continues for another week. Saw him looking morose with his mask on at the end of the bench last night ...

Mid-November against a truly dreadful RPI team would seem like a good landing spot, except it is on a FRIDAY

 

[TwoStep93]

Chauvette reminds me of a slightly taller Danny Tirone ... not quite there with DT numbers-wise, but an athletic goalie who is fun to watch. I can absolutely see why he is getting the nod regularly, but as we learned last season, eventually that can become a burden. And looking at the second half of the schedule ... if we don't see Whale before the break, I seriously doubt we'll see him afterwards (barring injury, etc.).

Always entertaining when the NESN crew arrives, and the ball-washers among them stump for our still-unproven (or just mediocre?) head coach.

"The Case of the Missing Whale" continues for another week. Saw him looking morose with his mask on at the end of the bench last night ...

I feel that a good number of losses last season came on an account of poor goaltending - so personally I feel pretty good about seeing someone new/competent in net, until proven otherwise. I don’t disagree however that it would be good for Whale to get some reps in!

 

[HockeyRef]

The boys battled hard last night. The game could have truly gone either way.

Well it was great they seemed to hold their own...but couldn't generate any real chances until the midway/end of the 2nd...mostly perimeter shots. Same result second game st MSU...
Mind you...was watching from home. Seemed KC kept them in the game. Still...That's 2 games we've managed to play 2 ranked teams and done that with one W. Listening to Rand after the game he said he was looking forward to a decent week of practice...glad to 'pick up the W and get out of here' . Haven't read any comments from MS7 as I dont subscribe to the UL and didnt see any reporting from Alex Hall on X

Update: Alex Hall did indeed do an article on our Wildcats start..having trouble pasting it..
ATW what was your assessment?

 

[Snively65]

The one thing after five games into the season that's surprising to me is UNH is only averaging 1.6 goals a game which won't win you many games unless you have an elephant as your goalie.. Hopefully they can figure this out and right the ship..Happy Sunday to all.

No elephant but we have a whale sitting on the pine (or plastic?).

 

[Chuck Murray]

Looking at the schedule before the season, a 2-3-0 start probably would have induced a lot of "big deals" and "what, me worry?" responses. That it included an upset win over MSU in the season opener, and a loss to Scotty B's Warriors, when arguably the opposite was more likely ... well, UNH is pretty much where many of us would have expected them to be at this point of the season. No "Champions of October" sadly, but a respectable/unsurprising start regardless.

That's actually the good news (I think).

I think the next two months hold the key to where this season ends for our Wildcats ... November/December's schedule looks a whole lot tamer than the final January/February-plus stretch, so if UNH can get some traction before the end of the year, and gird themselves for a respectable, competitive final two months, everything is still within reach. Working against that is the fact that these players are still very much learning how to play together, so the "gel" factor could be delayed until they find themselves in the midst of the meat of the conference schedule, when their collective lack of experience could come home to roost.

Long and short, if UNH isn't comfortably over .500 (let's say by 4-5 games over) when Colgate leaves town after New Year's 2026, with a week off before the HEA schedule gets into full gear with Northeastern in mid-January, they are gonna have their work cut out for them seeding-wise for the HEA Tourney, and getting deep into the league tourney is probably UNH's best shot at getting into the national tourney. The idea that UNH can afford to slog around at around .500 and then wake up in January and go on a long winning run just isn't supported, either by the 2026 schedule outlook or by the program's typical "arc of history". I'd love to be proven wrong, but that would go against just SO many well-established tendencies we've seen over and over again over the last decade or so.

And if they somehow get into 2026 at or below .500 ... watch out, it's another dent in the program's chances for a return to even modest competitiveness.

 

[JB]

Overall I thought UNH played better Saturday and lost. Friday night felt like watching 2 bad teams with no structure. Honestly the Friday game was dull.

Still concerned that they don't play good situational hockey (coaching problem). Example SH odd man rush, LeClerc took the shot from the wing board, completely missed the next puck went up the far side boards for a QU odd man rush the other way - save by KC. This is just one of many examples where, in this case, LeClerc needs to know that he can't take that shot and miss the net from that position on the ice. NOTE: LeClerc played a nice game I just happen to remember this example.

Also the power play (coaching problem) is painful. It is clear to EVERYONE that UNH is only really going for shots from up high. It mean UNH takes forever to pass the puck back and forth to get a not good lane to shoot. Then lets add in Winters in front of the next. I don't have stats on Winters in that position, maybe he is great, but he doesn't if the mold in my mind and honestly I think his skill with the puck would be better in a different spot on the ice. Newcombe or MacDonald seem a better fit around the net, both size and what I have seen of each handling it down low in tight spaces. I liked QU strategy, if UNH hugged the points they switched to setting up on the goal line looking to feed the puck across. I just question power play strategy both plays, seemingly only 1 and player mix, needs to be the right 5.

P.S. my bubble was rudely burst, I was (happily) thinking we only had this year of Souza left.... not this AND next... ugh... 2 years until more competent coaching

 

[Snively65]

Looking at the schedule before the season, a 2-3-0 start probably would have induced a lot of "big deals" and "what, me worry?" responses. That it included an upset win over MSU in the season opener, and a loss to Scotty B's Warriors, when arguably the opposite was more likely ... well, UNH is pretty much where many of us would have expected them to be at this point of the season. No "Champions of October" sadly, but a respectable/unsurprising start regardless.

That's actually the good news (I think).

I think the next two months hold the key to where this season ends for our Wildcats ... November/December's schedule looks a whole lot tamer than the final January/February-plus stretch, so if UNH can get some traction before the end of the year, and gird themselves for a respectable, competitive final two months, everything is still within reach. Working against that is the fact that these players are still very much learning how to play together, so the "gel" factor could be delayed until they find themselves in the midst of the meat of the conference schedule, when their collective lack of experience could come home to roost.

Long and short, if UNH isn't comfortably over .500 (let's say by 4-5 games over) when Colgate leaves town after New Year's 2026, with a week off before the HEA schedule gets into full gear with Northeastern in mid-January, they are gonna have their work cut out for them seeding-wise for the HEA Tourney, and getting deep into the league tourney is probably UNH's best shot at getting into the national tourney. The idea that UNH can afford to slog around at around .500 and then wake up in January and go on a long winning run just isn't supported, either by the 2026 schedule outlook or by the program's typical "arc of history". I'd love to be proven wrong, but that would go against just SO many well-established tendencies we've seen over and over again over the last decade or so.

And if they somehow get into 2026 at or below .500 ... watch out, it's another dent in the program's chances for a return to even modest competitiveness.

UNH needs to sweep UVM this coming weekend at the Whitt. Anything less this weekend means that we do not get to my predicted 20 wins.

 

[HockeyRef]

UNH needs to sweep UVM this coming weekend at the Whitt. Anything less this weekend means that we do not get to my predicted 20 wins.

Looking forward to seeing you!!

 

[Potluck]

Is there any information out there regarding the status of renovation work that will happen at the Whitt? Is it official that the funding is completed? When will the project begin?

The most valid complaint I've heard regarding the hockey program is the lack of PR. Zero promotion. There should be an updated website promoting and detailing the renovation with timelines. I'm sure Souza is promoting it to recruits but online info makes it more real.

Where in the world is the AD on this? Capital improvement projects are the pride and joy of sensible ADs. That's resume material.

 

[Potluck]

UNH needs to sweep UVM this coming weekend at the Whitt. Anything less this weekend means that we do not get to my predicted 20 wins.

You predicted 20 wins? God bless you. You are a very loyal fan.

 

[Snively65]

Overall I thought UNH played better Saturday and lost. Friday night felt like watching 2 bad teams with no structure. Honestly the Friday game was dull.

Still concerned that they don't play good situational hockey (coaching problem). Example SH odd man rush, LeClerc took the shot from the wing board, completely missed the next puck went up the far side boards for a QU odd man rush the other way - save by KC. This is just one of many examples where, in this case, LeClerc needs to know that he can't take that shot and miss the net from that position on the ice. NOTE: LeClerc played a nice game I just happen to remember this example.

Also the power play (coaching problem) is painful. It is clear to EVERYONE that UNH is only really going for shots from up high. It mean UNH takes forever to pass the puck back and forth to get a not good lane to shoot. Then lets add in Winters in front of the next. I don't have stats on Winters in that position, maybe he is great, but he doesn't if the mold in my mind and honestly I think his skill with the puck would be better in a different spot on the ice. Newcombe or MacDonald seem a better fit around the net, both size and what I have seen of each handling it down low in tight spaces. I liked QU strategy, if UNH hugged the points they switched to setting up on the goal line looking to feed the puck across. I just question power play strategy both plays, seemingly only 1 and player mix, needs to be the right 5.

P.S. my bubble was rudely burst, I was (happily) thinking we only had this year of Souza left.... not this AND next... ugh... 2 years until more competent coaching

I do not think that Souza will be going anywhere if the Whitt is selling out games with the likes of Quinnipiac, no matter the team’s W-L-T record or lack of postseason presence.

 

[norbert]

Is there any information out there regarding the status of renovation work that will happen at the Whitt? Is it official that the funding is completed? When will the project begin?

The most valid complaint I've heard regarding the hockey program is the lack of PR. Zero promotion. There should be an updated website promoting and detailing the renovation with timelines. I'm sure Souza is promoting it to recruits but online info makes it more real.

Where in the world is the AD on this? Capital improvement projects are the pride and joy of sensible ADs. That's resume material.

This is the only information UNH has and it is well outdated. There has been zero communication and that is one thing that I feel STHs struggle with. This has been promised for years and mums the word.

PM PROJECT TITLEAccountableProject CodeProject Number:Whittemore Center - Arena - Expansion2- IN DESIGNGEUTHER, MARK E SI07-30-2025: Construction Manager will develop a DD Estimate, due 8-11. To keep the schedule Design Team will proceed into Schematic Design.Design Firm: LaVallee Brensinger Architec Contractor: Contractor Name: Suffolk

 

[Darius]

The one thing after five games into the season that's surprising to me is UNH is only averaging 1.6 goals a game which won't win you many games unless you have an elephant as your goalie.. Hopefully they can figure this out and right the ship..Happy Sunday to all.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

 

[HockeyRef]

Is there any information out there regarding the status of renovation work that will happen at the Whitt? Is it official that the funding is completed? When will the project begin?

The most valid complaint I've heard regarding the hockey program is the lack of PR. Zero promotion. There should be an updated website promoting and detailing the renovation with timelines. I'm sure Souza is promoting it to recruits but online info makes it more real.

Where in the world is the AD on this? Capital improvement projects are the pride and joy of sensible ADs. That's resume material.

Perhaps using games to promote whats going on like they did when they were fishing for donations (messages between periods on the 'tron).

Lack of communication has been my major complaint...since the MS7 era started. No pressers (or st least none for the gen public) very few info sessions that go beyond what's the teams favorite movies...that stuff is fine and thats not on the players. Of course those of us in FOH got decent exposure to what was going on but that's never coming back but an example of how info was once doled out.

And yeah the AD has definitely done less promoting of teams at least on the socials from when she started..it is her responsibility if you ask me. Now as a ST holder we do get emails about the basics. But if you want any meat and potatoes forget it...

Guess the question is how much are we really owed? Discuss.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Truth of the matter is, the AD has an Ivy background, and the Ivies aren't exactly known for their rampant support of competitive athletics. Our current AD is a self-proclaimed national expert on compliance issues. Whether the team wins or loses is secondary, and job actions to remove ineffective coaches are few and far between. I'll let your minds wander as to how a competent Men's Hoops coach - the best in UNH history, as meh as his record was - saw his contract run out, while the Men's and Women's Hockey coaches got renewed with worse records despite demonstrably inferior records to Herrion and far less resources.

Coach Hubbard update: NC State is 10W-2D-1L and ranked #3 in the latest coaches' D-1 poll. Another one to lay at the doorstep of the AD f/k/a SB ...

 

[Potluck]

Even if novice AD knows that trumpeting capital improvements and major donations makes it more likely other donors will be inspired to do the same. We're talking about the ABCs of fundraising and program building. I wonder if there's a snag that the public hasn't been told about.

This is a job for the media, not social media posters. Even The New Hampshire hockey writer can harp on this sort of thing. The AD and Souza clearly aren't forthcoming with season ticket emailers, which is another silly mistake. The writers really have a duty to get on this sort of thing. Back in the day, the Al Pikes and Barry Scanlons got on stuff such as this. If you bang on enough doors you'll get info.

The program has no future in Hockey East if it doesn't modernize.

 

[Snively65]

Perhaps using games to promote whats going on like they did when they were fishing for donations (messages between periods on the 'tron).

Lack of communication has been my major complaint...since the MS7 era started. No pressers (or st least none for the gen public) very few info sessions that go beyond what's the teams favorite movies...that stuff is fine and thats not on the players. Of course those of us in FOH got decent exposure to what was going on but that's never coming back but an example of how info was once doled out.

And yeah the AD has definitely done less promoting of teams at least on the socials from when she started..it is her responsibility if you ask me. Now as a ST holder we do get emails about the basics. But if you want any meat and potatoes forget it...

Guess the question is how much are we really owed? Discuss.

Just got an email from the UNH AD to alums today, with some selected quotes below about two new initiatives: 1) Granite State Collective, and 2) On to Victory Fund.

“Together these initiatives establish a unified, forward-looking strategy to advance Wildcat student-athletes through both Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and direct support.”

“1) NIL Athlete Tokns — officially licensed digital trading-card collectibles that give fans a distinctive way to connect with their favorite student-athletes”

“2) FanWall — a personalized “link-in-bio” platform for student-athletes to showcase achievements, centralize social media, and offer NIL Athlete Tokns for purchase”

 

[HockeyRef]

Just got an email from the UNH AD to alums today, with some selected quotes below about two new initiatives: 1) Granite State Collective, and 2) On to Victory Fund.

“Together these initiatives establish a unified, forward-looking strategy to advance Wildcat student-athletes through both Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and direct support.”

“1) NIL Athlete Tokns — officially licensed digital trading-card collectibles that give fans a distinctive way to connect with their favorite student-athletes”

“2) FanWall — a personalized “link-in-bio” platform for student-athletes to showcase achievements, centralize social media, and offer NIL Athlete Tokns for purchase”

Yeah just looked at that. That's all well and good for the players but I'm talking more about game to game coverage. I can listen to Ben Barr or Norm Bazin talk about their games if I wanted to. But we know this already. Thought Alex Halls article was excellent Sunday.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Even if novice AD knows that trumpeting capital improvements and major donations makes it more likely other donors will be inspired to do the same. We're talking about the ABCs of fundraising and program building. I wonder if there's a snag that the public hasn't been told about.

This is a job for the media, not social media posters. Even The New Hampshire hockey writer can harp on this sort of thing. The AD and Souza clearly aren't forthcoming with season ticket emailers, which is another silly mistake. The writers really have a duty to get on this sort of thing. Back in the day, the Al Pikes and Barry Scanlons got on stuff such as this. If you bang on enough doors you'll get info.

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.

The program has no future in Hockey East if it doesn't modernize.

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 ...