d.gerry
Five for Fighting
Looking back at that unfortunate event, and you can say it was the beginning of the end right there. Who knows where he might have ended up.
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
UNH Men’s Hockey 22-23: the start of something new, or more of the same?
- Thread starter d.gerry
- Start date
- Status
Looking back at that unfortunate event, and you can say it was the beginning of the end right there. Who knows where he might have ended up.
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Yet Lowell continues to be a very competitive program, and Coach Bazin has posted winning records in 10 of his 11 seasons behind the Riverhawks bench.
Goes to show, if you can't make hay from the CSB listings and other "blue chippah" rankings, you can still succeed at this level IF you know how to, errrr ... coach.
Goes to show, if you can't make hay from the CSB listings and other "blue chippah" rankings, you can still succeed at this level IF you know how to, errrr ... coach.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Well, what do I know...zip.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
It really exposed the school's burgeoning "woke" presence being on par with so much of academia nationwide, plus the lack of support from so-called friends and colleagues was disgusting.
That whole situation knocked UNH down a few pegs in my estimation. If I'm being honest, they haven't yet recovered. Our eldest had already graduated by the time of the noted event(s), but our youngest was still enrolled and wouldn't graduate for another year or two. As it now stands, I've only been back in the building once for a trade show since the Wuhan Flu, so I'm probably closer to putting my UNH fandom on long-term ice than even I realize. Which would be a shame.
The Men's Soccer team got me to make a few trips across the street last Fall - we'll see about the rink soon enough, but my own coaching commitments are about to kick in shortly, so it may be a challenge to get up the motivation to see a rudderless last place team in a half-empty building in the middle of winter on a rare "conflict-free" game night, when other options exist.
It's hard to believe I've written this, but it's the plain unvarnished truth. It didn't have to be this way ...
Amen Chuck - sentiment succinctly conveyed. The whole hockey program downfall, men's and women, is beyond sad, but fully predictable. Come from nowhere (Div 2), build something with national prominence (Bjorkman, Holt), watch it fall flat (the dead mid 80's/early 90's), build it back to even greater heights (Umile AND McCloskey), pack on the LB's while stuffing your face , rest on your accolades while TRULY BELIEVING this will never go away. So textbook, that this MUST be in one of the WSBE/Paul business downfall case studies. If only the Admin would open the book up and see that they are looking in the mirror.
Time for the new AD to wake up the ghosts of the 2,000+ season ticket wait lists and dig in to "Do your job!".
d.gerry
Five for Fighting
Any evidence AD Allie even knows there is a problem within the program? Have we heard one word from her on a vision for UNH Hockey moving forward (other than some blah, blah, blah during her introduction speech)? I can't remember hearing anything of substance from her, and I have little confidence moving forward anything will change. She's probably sitting in her office setting up her compliance spreadsheets and trying to figure out what else can be outsourced (i.e. 50/50 raffle, electronic ticketing, parking attendants, etc.). If she really had any courage a move would have already been made.
Robert Balin
Member
I see Souza is staying on track as a Umile [last 5 years] clone,here's an example. Connor Sweeney, 28 games played 0 points and a -9. What happened to the kid from Latvia? hasn't played one game yet hurt? I'd say he could do no worst than a few of the kids in the lineup.
deltabravo62
Active member
If the complaint from the head coach is the lack of a compete level and there are no lineup changes on Friday it says a lot more about the coach than the players.
Darius
Go 'cats!
Agreed. Not saying that it is a good thing or a bad thing just that it is a thing.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
I remember reading an article somewhere with outgoing AD Marty S where he said "I still believe Mike Souza is the right person for the job" so I am sure that was the message Dr. Rich most likely received. I doubt seriously she is clueless to what the track record is regarding UNH hockey, and does anyone honestly believe she would come in (what, july/august) and fire the HC before the season started? Seriously? This isn't the NHL with all due respect where a coach gets fired for a 5 game losing streak. Has there been an incident (besides the McCloskey incident and that has been discussed) where a UNH coach has been dismissed prior to, or, mid season? Losing doesn't seem to be such a big deal at the U.
Listen, I am as fed up as the rest of you (well, you veterans have been fed up longer and I get that) but I am pretty sure, given the track record of coaches at UNH in other sports, and, including hockey, that Snively65 is correct; these are lifetime contracts. I believe UNH hockey could lose every game for the rest of the season and there will be no change in the HC or his assistants. I am not defending Dr. Rich I do not have enough info to know how she will ultimately do her job. Fans are speaking up on social media that UNH runs; and surely she is hearing it (if not have you sent in your email yet???)
And does anyone know where Souza's contract is at this point? I'm steeling myself to read that he's been extended 4 more years. Dont' think that's not going to happen? Don't kid yourself...
On another note UNH men's soccer looks to break back into the top 20 (have won 9 straight) as they battle UVM in Burlington Friday, and the women's team will most likely clinch (if they haven't already) the AE. And I'm sure the swim/dive team will have another successful run as they always have. And of course there's always football.
Listen, I am as fed up as the rest of you (well, you veterans have been fed up longer and I get that) but I am pretty sure, given the track record of coaches at UNH in other sports, and, including hockey, that Snively65 is correct; these are lifetime contracts. I believe UNH hockey could lose every game for the rest of the season and there will be no change in the HC or his assistants. I am not defending Dr. Rich I do not have enough info to know how she will ultimately do her job. Fans are speaking up on social media that UNH runs; and surely she is hearing it (if not have you sent in your email yet???)
And does anyone know where Souza's contract is at this point? I'm steeling myself to read that he's been extended 4 more years. Dont' think that's not going to happen? Don't kid yourself...
On another note UNH men's soccer looks to break back into the top 20 (have won 9 straight) as they battle UVM in Burlington Friday, and the women's team will most likely clinch (if they haven't already) the AE. And I'm sure the swim/dive team will have another successful run as they always have. And of course there's always football.
d.gerry
Five for Fighting
Therein lies the problem! It's not just losing, every program has its ups and downs, be it a few games, or a season. It's the way they have been losing on a consistent basis for years now that's the issue. The losing atmosphere here has allowed the program to become irrelevant, and that shouldn't be acceptable. If winning isn't a priority what's the point of competing. A life lesson on how to lose with dignity? A way to make friends for life? Winning is the ultimate goal and yes if AD Allie had courage she would have fired him before the season, or a least put him on a VERY short leash. It's not like Mike just took the reins, it's his fifth season as a head coach, and his overall tenure at UNH is pushing a DECADE! The coaching staff had able time to showcase their abilities, and it's apparent they are not a level able to produce a competitive winning D1 program. Something needs to change!
Darius
Go 'cats!
Correct, "a" not "the" priority. The current MI thread provides a glimpse into the alternate reality of how life could be.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Notes from the Wednesday presser / from Andrew Gardner, UNH journalist
UNH Hockey P/C Notes:
- K. Skrastins practiced yesterday and is progressing well, no other injuries to be aware of (answers question about this player)
- Lineup is still in the air for weekend -
N. Jenson has looked like the most efficient defenseman to Souza (HR agrees....Huard/Gagne have struggled it seems this season)
- Muszelik will still see his fair share of games
UNH Hockey P/C Notes:
- K. Skrastins practiced yesterday and is progressing well, no other injuries to be aware of (answers question about this player)
- Lineup is still in the air for weekend -
N. Jenson has looked like the most efficient defenseman to Souza (HR agrees....Huard/Gagne have struggled it seems this season)
- Muszelik will still see his fair share of games
HockeyRef
Well-known member
100% FACT! You are preaching to the choir
As to your point about the short leash, are you suggesting a 'win 10 games by Christmas break or...' kind of thing? We'll never know the ins and outs of things...or at least, that's what I gather. I was surprised to see the presser notes I posted.Some of my friends who were former regulars at the Whitt as I was for decades have moved onto soccer, and I attended my first UNH soccer game in many, many years last fall. But I could not get into all the embellishment, the shin-clutching and rolling over and over on the “tarmack” as if one had been shot, which I found nauseating. Ice hockey, at all levels, always has been my favorite spectator sport and I will watch on NESN+ this Saturday night.
d.gerry
Five for Fighting
100% FACT! You are preaching to the choir
10 wins by Christmas break (ending with a sweep of the two ASU games) seems a low bar to set, but yeah I could accept that. Next goal would be to make it past the first round of the Hockey East playoffs AND a winning record to end the season. Again, not that high of a bar, but IMO would be “acceptable”. Anything less should require a change.
After the Whistle
Member
Well it has certainly been a couple of disappointing weeks. And none of the threads”issues “ have been improved upon but let’s get on more realistic footing. Do you really think any new AD is going to put an entrenched HC on report this early. And we certainly aren’t going to know the if and when should it happen. Most complaints have merit but the horse is dead. It was also very disheartening to see anyone disparage CHC and the recruiting thread. Yes it is upbeat but it is also that kids welcome to UNH. Should it include the night he caught an edge and the other team scored? I so appreciate all the information that is included and would like to know were else we would get this in a up to date comprehensive place?
I am Sure that the video comes from his team and is exactly what we want to see. To call it “Pravda-esk” is totally unfair.
I am Sure that the video comes from his team and is exactly what we want to see. To call it “Pravda-esk” is totally unfair.
Agreed, entirely. CHC has been here since before our heyday and is still providing us hope, year in and year out. I applaud his dedication and endurance, especially during the past decade of downturns.
- Status