Let's remember that MC is ONLY in the tournament because of an historic performance by their goalie (most saves in a non-OT Hockey East final). They are the 15th seed. The NCAA tries to maintain seeding integrity (1 vs 16, 2 vs 15 etc) while considering possible attendance concerns. No. Dakota is in this region, so that addresses the attendance concern (unless Merrimack wins and they'd play the wiiner of PC vs QU. THAT would make for a pretty small crown out in Sioux Falls for the final).So Mc gets rewarded for winning the Hockey East tournament and gets sent packing to Sioux Falls! That's freaking ridiculous
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UNH- How Far West Do We Go?
- Thread starter norbert
- Start date
TheGrouchyCat
Litter Box of Bad Ideas
So Mc gets rewarded for winning the Hockey East tournament and gets sent packing to Sioux Falls! That's freaking ridiculous
Why?
I have to disagree here. I looked back at how UNH and MC have performed since 2018-2019 - the year both MS7 and Borek started as HCs.
Here is how they finished each season.
| UNH | MC | Year |
| 18-19 | 8 | 11 |
| 19-20 | 9 | 10 |
| 20-21 | 10 | 8 |
| 21-22 | 9 | 6 |
| 22-23 | 10 | 2 |
| 23-24 | 6 | 10 |
| 24-25 | 10 | 8 |
| 25-26 | 10 | 8 |
In totality, UNH averages out as a 9 seed across this range, while MC is at 7.88 (lets round up to 8). If you look at the post COVID years though (since 21-22). UNH still averages as a 9 seed, while MC improved to 6.98 (lets say 7 seed).
UNH has never finished higher than a 6 seed (in 23-24, where they technically tied as the 5) while MC finished 2 in 22-23, and in 21-22 they were 6, but tied for 4.
Also during this time, MC has 2 NCAA tournament appears, 2 appearances at the Garden, and 1 HE championship. UNH has 0 across this same time span. Heck... just looking at hosting a 1st round HE game, MC has done this 5 times, UNH only twice...
I looked a bit deeper at recruiting. Just looking at NHL draft picks (not the best way to assess recruiting success, but I think a decent surrogate).
| UNH | MC |
| MacDonald (5th round) | Emerson (6th round) |
| MacPherson (6th round) | Hoskin (4th round) |
| Plandowski (5th round) | Nordberg (2nd round) |
Both teams have 3 NHL draft picks this year. Nonetheless, MC has a 2nd and a 4th round pick, while UNH has two 5s and a 6. Again, I'd give the edge to MC.
All I'm trying to say: this isn't the "same old" Merrimack team that consistently finished 10-11 (or 12 when ND was around). Yes they aren't in the same echelon as BC, BU, etc. with regard to overall talent, budget, etc. Still... I don't think this is a once in 30 year thing for MC moving forward. As JB mentioned, two Garden visits in the last few years is something we all would be clamoring for. They almost won it in 22-23 as that was an OT loss in the championship game to BU.
If UNH wants to stay as a "budget friendly" hockey program, I think MC is a decent model to follow. Once we start winning I imagine more money will start to flow in. I wouldn't be surprised if the same won't happen for MC after this year as well...
Darius
Go 'cats!
Good stuff. I’d rather be Merrimack than UNH right now. Last night was part of a “once every 30 year run to win the league tourney” however. Lundgren is being compared to Chris Terreri on another thread and I thought that as well while viewing last night. UCONN led third period SOGs 22-7 and probably had another 22 blocked. The Whitcomb, Murtagh, Gardula line not scoring was borderline miraculous. Missing an empty net and still winning… serious positive juju.
I rooted for the Warriors all weekend and will in the tournament. I’m happy for Borek. He put together a team, has them playing well with confidence. Good for him.
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Agreed. And on a closer look, there is not a big difference in records of the eight #2 and #3 seeds and it looks like the Committee made an effort to maximize attendance, which I think is import’ant for the regionals.
Carmine Scarpaglia
My bad.
The reward for winning Hockey East was to get invited to the national tournament. #15 seed plays #2 seed, it's not that hard to figure out.So Mc gets rewarded for winning the Hockey East tournament and gets sent packing to Sioux Falls! That's freaking ridiculous
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Justin Gill was also a draft pick, 5th round by the Islanders in 2023
unofan
Well-known member
The committee went with a pure S-curve except for swapping #11 Cornell and #12 Wisconsin to avoid the Dartmouth-Cornell matchup on the 6-11 line.
Which is fine, but they literally didn't make a single effort to maximize attendance.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
I'm compelled to point out that while Plandowski was indeed a 5th round pick a few years ago (DRW), the Wings long ago relinquished his draft rights, and to the best of my knowledge never offered him a pro contract. Keep in mind as well, this is not an uncommon fate for 5th round draft picks (or 4th, 6th, etc.).
Not all draft picks are created equal. And once you get past the second round, there's quite a bit of educated guesswork and general projections involved ...
JB
Desk Chair Coach
Chuck this is the place that of what we see of MS7, he is the weakest. What little we hear from him I can only imagine his pitch.There's a glistening nugget of insight shining through in your post that bears repeating. Dan has been consistent for years in preaching on this issue.
Recruit - I don't see a weight room in the Whitt.
MS7 - yeah, I mean, it's tough, we are working to fix that, and right now you got go to another building so we schedule time for that, it is over there
As opposed to something like:
New Coach - we use the Jerry Azumah performance center just across the street. Jerry was an NFL player and recently it had a $2M upgrade. We have a fantastic strength and conditioning program, there are lounges and study spaces there too. It is an excellent place to meet other athletes on campus, we have a gymnastics team. We do schedule times so the hockey team has run of the space and it is a great team building activity.
(I am not a salesman and still you can see the positive pitch)
2013hockeyfan
Active member
One thing of note re: Tortorella’s role as dir. of ops…I noticed in one of the team pictures he was in skates, which I don’t think is standard for the person in that role, suggesting to me he may take on more of a coaching role than the title suggests.
I suspect, without any direct knowledge, that the school and department had budgeted for a director of ops for the program and, rather than battle the school for the additional funding to add a coach or replace the director of ops role with a coach, which I assume would be paid more, they asked Torts if he’d want to do a blended role of both as he gets ready for retirement.
I suspect, without any direct knowledge, that the school and department had budgeted for a director of ops for the program and, rather than battle the school for the additional funding to add a coach or replace the director of ops role with a coach, which I assume would be paid more, they asked Torts if he’d want to do a blended role of both as he gets ready for retirement.