UNH Men's Hockey 2022 Off Season Thread- Goodbye Lake Whitt!

[Whalers]

I saw that Merrimack just signed a high scoring 17 year old from Toronto. Only 5'9" but had 108 points last year in the GTHL and will move up to the OJHL this year. Hmmm...... sounds familiar, like deja vu all over again. How come we cant get players like this? Oh wait, we used to, back when we had a solid pipeline into Toronto AND recruiters willing to battle there. One of those 5'9" players (not Johnny Rogers) ended up with 219 points at UNH. Were them the days.

 

[Chuck Murray]

I saw that Merrimack just signed a high scoring 17 year old from Toronto. Only 5'9" but had 108 points last year in the GTHL and will move up to the OJHL this year. Hmmm...... sounds familiar, like deja vu all over again. How come we cant get players like this? Oh wait, we used to, back when we had a solid pipeline into Toronto AND recruiters willing to battle there. One of those 5'9" players (not Johnny Rogers) ended up with 219 points at UNH. Were them the days.

Darren Haydar isn't going to be walking through that door anytime soon, sadly.

UNH's rich vein of recruiting in British Columbia also largely dried up when McCloskey left.

Nowadays UNH gets everyone's leftovers, a couple of Swedes, and flawed/borderline prospects.

Anyone even approaching a legit top-tier prospect commits to UNH at age 16 (Placeholder U - "come & get me"), seemingly to get the attention of the rest of the hockey world, and more often than not ends up somewhere else. It's like the whole "safety school" concept taken out onto the ice. It might even work for UNH too ... if only MS7 could generate on-ice success to compel the would-be recruits to actually follow up on their years-ago commitments, knowing there are meaningful games to be played at UNH. That hasn't happened. And I have a hard time blaming kids for changing their minds. So ...

 

[NCAA watcher]

On the media poll, they have several tiers, with us in the 9-11 grouping (as I also see it)

Mike Machnik @MikeMachnikCHN 2022-23 @hockey_east

Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
=======================
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
=======================
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
======================
8. Merrimack 51
======================
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21

With kids hitting campus now, let's see where we are in HE
1.BU
2.NU
3.U.Mass
4.U.Conn
5.BC
6.Providence
7.U.Mass-Lowell
8.Merrimack
9.U.N.H.
10.Maine
11.Vermont

 

[Dan]

Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
=======================
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
=======================
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
======================
8. Merrimack 51
======================
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21

If ALL goes well UNH can perhaps jump Vermont, maybe Merrimack? Hard to see this team being better than BC/Lowell or any one else in Hockey East this season. If they cannot score, and struggle to possess the puck in the offensive zone, it's not so hard to see them jumped by rival Maine...

It's an absolute shame what has been allowed to happen to UNH Hockey.

 

[Chuck Murray]

On the media poll, they have several tiers, with us in the 9-11 grouping (as I also see it)

Mike Machnik @MikeMachnikCHN 2022-23 @hockey_east

Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
=======================
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
=======================
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
======================
8. Merrimack 51
======================
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21

BC will move up several notches, and both Providence and UConn are slightly overrated here. Lowell almost always seems to exceed expectations. I think Merrimack falling back a bit from last season is a good call. Anyone who thinks Ben Barr is going to be taking UMaine to a second last place finish in a row isn't paying attention. This year's UMaine team will be the surprise of HEA, as was Merrimack last season. And yes, either UNH (sadly my pick) or UVM will be ending up in the HEA cellar this time around. Bring on the rebuild, please ...

 

[Scott]

If ALL goes well UNH can perhaps jump Vermont, maybe Merrimack? Hard to see this team being better than BC/Lowell or any one else in Hockey East this season. If they cannot score, and struggle to possess the puck in the offensive zone, it's not so hard to see them jumped by rival Maine...

It's an absolute shame what has been allowed to happen to UNH Hockey.

AD Rich, I hope that you are reading this. Come March 2023, if this team isn't singing a different tune, please make this your JOB #1 and make the necessary changes. Thank you.

Signed,

A 30+ year season ticket holder

 

[d.gerry]

AD Rich, I hope that you are reading this. Come March 2023, if this team isn't singing a different tune, please make this your JOB #1 and make the necessary changes. Thank you.

Signed,

A 30+ year season ticket holder

I'm with Scott here, but not as patient! I feel AD Rich needs to address this sooner, rather than later. Please begin a top down rebuild immediately. It is a complete shame what has been allowed to happen to a once proud program.

Signed,

A 27 year season ticket holder.

 

[Dan]

Hockey East Media Day today - Stevenson (at least) is representing UNH, so that's a good sign he'll be in a leadership position this season (Assuming this hasn't been announced already? I can't claim to be too caught up in anticipation for this season...). The Wildcats were picked 9th in the Coaches' Poll (UNH Women equally as neglected in the 8th spot)...

--

Devlin - Blaisdell - Cronin
Dunlap - Sardarian - Cafarelli
Margel - Stevenson - Skrastins
LeClerc - Lovett - Gendron/Winters
Hankinson - Sweeney - Black

Gagne - Reid
Carfagna - Huard
Babbage - Eriksson
Jensen - DaVita
Penney

Muszelik / Fessenden
Foreman
Gaughan


If the team gets good goaltending from Muszelik than they could be pretty good from the blueline back - this honestly might be the most talented/exciting defensive group since the days of Pesce, VanRiemsdyk, Knodel, Agosta, Hardowa, Kostolansky. Outside of the two future NHLers on that corp the rest of the group might have been a bit of a surprise over the course of their UNH careers relative to their on paper expectations. The current group is probably a deeper group based on expectation...

But what does UNH get from its forwards this season? How much did promising freshmen seasons from Devlin and Cronin depend on their more talented upperclass counterparts (Pierson, Ward, Engaras)? Can they take a step forward needing to be the drivers of the offense themselves? Blaisdell has struggled to play up to expectations at both NoDak and UNH. The rest of the group is entirely comprised of inexperience and yet-to-produce options...

I would be surprised if there aren't struggles to score this season - at least from the forward group (how much can the D be expected to drive overall offense?)...

My biggest concern is puck possession in the offensive zone - allowing the D to mobilize, catch a breather and not spend all 60 minutes under siege in their own end.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Hockey East Media Day today - Stevenson (at least) is representing UNH, so that's a good sign he'll be in a leadership position this season (Assuming this hasn't been announced already? I can't claim to be too caught up in anticipation for this season...). The Wildcats were picked 9th in the Coaches' Poll (UNH Women equally as neglected in the 8th spot)...

Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Northeastern (7)	105
2.	Boston University (1)	94
3.	Massachusetts (3)	93
4.	Providence	76
T-5.	Boston College	71
T-5.	UMass Lowell	71
7.	UConn	70
8.	Merrimack	44
9.	New Hampshire	37
10.	Vermont	29
11.	Maine	26

[TD="bgcolor: #003882, colspan: 3, align: center"]Hockey East 2022-23 Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll[/TD]

Can't say I blame them, but also, this group, as you go on to say, is unknown up front. 16 points for Cronin and Devlin, and then 10 for Stevenson, 8 for Blaisdell and 7 for Cafarelli are the career highs. Given the past "knowns" and the limitations that encompassed, I prefer a re-deal of the deck. Basically the whiffs on the 2020 and 2019 classes is why there's 7 newcomers on the forward lines.

--

Devlin - Blaisdell - Cronin
Dunlap - Sardarian - Cafarelli
Margel - Stevenson - Skrastins
LeClerc - Lovett - Gendron/Winters
Hankinson - Sweeney - Black

Gagne - Reid
Carfagna - Huard
Babbage - Eriksson
Jensen - DaVita
Penney

Muszelik / Fessenden
Foreman
Gaughan

Not bad guesses. They're all sort of in the same boat, and you can as easily make a case for Leclerc on #2. Heck, since you have him at the #6 D spot, maybe try Eriksson up front, because I have to think they have a role for DaVita.

If the team gets good goaltending from Muszelik than they could be pretty good from the blueline back - this honestly might be the most talented/exciting defensive group since the days of Pesce, VanRiemsdyk, Knodel, Agosta, Hardowa, Kostolansky. Outside of the two future NHLers on that corp the rest of the group might have been a bit of a surprise over the course of their UNH careers relative to their on paper expectations. The current group is probably a deeper group based on expectation...

Agree. Muszelik is the wildcard, as freshmen goalies are hard to predict. Remember Trent Cavicchi, a similarly highly touted NHL pick who took three years to approach starting?

But what does UNH get from its forwards this season? How much did promising freshmen seasons from Devlin and Cronin depend on their more talented upperclass counterparts (Pierson, Ward, Engaras)?

I'd say Cronin's track record is stronger on that front, but your point is entirely proper -- riding shotgun is different than being the lead.

I would be surprised if there aren't struggles to score this season - at least from the forward group (how much can the D be expected to drive overall offense?)...

My biggest concern is puck possession in the offensive zone - allowing the D to mobilize, catch a breather and not spend all 60 minutes under siege in their own end.

Basically, in 34 games, they'll need at least 85 goals to be competitive.
The last years have been 76, 60 (23 games), 91, 90, 88, 124

They may not get there in 2022-23, so another 9-11 spot season is in the offing. But it will be more fun to "play the kids" and maybe the cupboard will have some groceries for the Chef come 2023-24. Where we are in March 2023 will be interesting.

 

[HockeyRef]

Usually the Captain goes to the Hockey East Media Day...at least, that's been the norm from what I gather. Haven't seen any verification of that. As per the team we know we need to find scoring and I think that there is potential there. Lots of 'unknowns'...guess we'll find out! Not surprised at the ranking/poll.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Well, the Ricky Santos 3.0 Era seems to be off to a nice start across the street!

 

[deltabravo62]

Just got my "invoice" for my non renewed season tickets. Apparently the "pay us by July or lose your seats" thing didn't have any actual backbone to it. I can't say they didn't reach out but its a bit late in the game to try to win over those on the fence and the ones who gave up their seasons by just sending a note with a bill. The note said nothing about the team, the arena construction, or anything that would answer the questions of the people on the fence. I guess the best I can say is "they tried".

I am already committed to not renewing this season for other opportunities, I hope in the near future I am compelled to get back in the commitment. However, I can say if I was still indecisive based on things like seat views and the state of the team in general this would not push me to renewal.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Just got my "invoice" for my non renewed season tickets. Apparently the "pay us by July or lose your seats" thing didn't have any actual backbone to it. I can't say they didn't reach out but its a bit late in the game to try to win over those on the fence and the ones who gave up their seasons by just sending a note with a bill. The note said nothing about the team, the arena construction, or anything that would answer the questions of the people on the fence. I guess the best I can say is "they tried".

On a scale of 1 to 10 (low to high), based on your description, their "effort" barely scraped a 1 ...

 

[Nifty16]

Just got my "invoice" for my non renewed season tickets. Apparently the "pay us by July or lose your seats" thing didn't have any actual backbone to it. I can't say they didn't reach out but its a bit late in the game to try to win over those on the fence and the ones who gave up their seasons by just sending a note with a bill. The note said nothing about the team, the arena construction, or anything that would answer the questions of the people on the fence. I guess the best I can say is "they tried".

I am already committed to not renewing this season for other opportunities, I hope in the near future I am compelled to get back in the commitment. However, I can say if I was still indecisive based on things like seat views and the state of the team in general this would not push me to renewal.

I was the opposite. I am renewing and had to reach out to them to pay for them as there was nothing in the website on how to pay for them , put my deposit down last year and no follow up from them. Sent an email basically asking if they wanted my money and was told to call the box office after about 5 calls finally got someone to pay for them. If I hadn’t reached out would they ever follow up on it?

 

[Dan]

Im up to five phone calls and an email from Denver seeking whether or not I want to re-purchase season tickets (and I haven't lived in the city for two seasons now). I've also received emails from CC and Air Force about season & single-game tickets despite only attending a handful of CC games and one Air Force contest...

 

[HockeyRef]

Not trying to defend UNH ticketing poor job of reaching out as it is in its present state...not good. That said I think they have just hired someone to take over this kind of thing. Plus a new AD on board. Also being someone who is heavy into the online thing I see alot more advertising there (like for single game tickets).

Looking forward to hearing how things look to thise going to the Sept 24th practice. Will be heading to Cali for a vacation so am going to miss it.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Not trying to defend UNH ticketing poor job of reaching out as it is in its present state...not good. That said I think they have just hired someone to take over this kind of thing. Plus a new AD on board. Also being someone who is heavy into the online thing I see alot more advertising there (like for single game tickets).

As it stands now, it's easy (and accurate) to lay the blame for the institutional apathy across wide swathes of UNH Athletics at the foot of the former AD. It didn't happen overnight, and it won't get fixed overnight, either. But as a baseline, expecting someone from the ticketing staff to call your customers to make them feel valued and appreciated shouldn't be a big ask. And it may be the easiest fix a new AD can do while she otherwise takes stock of the various teams/coaches in the overall program for bigger decisions next Spring (or sooner).

If the new AD wants to make a splash and convince some of us early doubters she isn't just a glorified compliance attorney, with no sense of what creates successful programs/coaches, and is willing to get hands-on down in the trenches, this should be low-hanging fruit. Otherwise, UNH probably shouldn't have bothered switching out one apathetic blinkered paper-pusher for another. And that goes double for Dean Dean and his vaunted committee. It's show time, folks. JMHO.

 

[msprice]

I have not renewed my season tickets after having them since 1995 and have only received the couple of generic reminder emails. Guess they don't think they'll miss me.

 

[NCAA watcher]

I'm looking forward to seeing Sardarian. His offensive skills are so unique, as he seems to operate on a swivel, with his top half at different angles than his skating base, so he can slither through areas.

 

[After the Whistle]

Watcher, while I agree with your take on Sardarian, his numbers were far from spectacular this year. Is your feeling that this was influenced to his major adjustment to moving here? I remember reading CHC’s announcement and being thrilled. No talk from anyone on Skrastinis. Incredible numbers, all be it is from the NAHL. Would like to think that that league has given HE some strong players as of late, and LeClerc has equally strong numbers from the same league.
Dunlap has the best numbers from a USHL recruit in recent years. Add a couple of good D recruits and some intriguing transfers and this feels like an improved year is coming to Durham. Young and inexperienced, but really nice additions.