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UNH Men’s Hockey 22-23: the start of something new, or more of the same?

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d.gerry said:
Guess I just don't have confidence NU can actually get it done; can't tell you why other than a gut feeling. I'm surprised you have UNH as high as you do! As much as we want change, I'd be surprised to see Souza get the boot anytime soon. Even if he does, I think other programs are positioned better than us for long term success. So my complete list is:

1) UConn - it seems they have the most "resources" along with the will to do what it takes.
2) UML - Could be convinced to swap with NU
3) NU - just don't believe in them right now.
4) UNH - the longer Souza remains the longer the wait will be, and the lower we could fall.
5) VT - even socialists deserve a chance!
6) MC - c'mon it's freaking Merrymack! ;)
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As UNH fans, we definitely can spot a wobbly post-season program when we see one, I guess; I just don't see how a team that's played in one (1) league title game - and lost it - can be viewed as more likely than NU, which has at least been knocking on the door for a few years now, and as a result playing in (and winning several) "big games" in the process. We may not consider the Beanpot a "big game" from where we are, but when you're playing in front of 15,000 fans with recognizable hardware on the line, and against high profile opponents like BU and BC, that counts more to me than UConn beating Union and UMaine at The Mall before Thanksgiving.

Even if Luce wasn't in charge, I'd still be strongly cautioning against the premature coronation of UConn. Granted, I had a similar take on UMass a few years ago, but (1) Carvel and Barr turned that program around WAY more quickly, and (2) Barr had done the trick as lead recruiter at three different (nondescript) schools that won a D-1 title, whereas Luce won at one long-established school with a prior D-1 title winner HC leading the program. So, Missouri.
 
Chuck Murray said:
As UNH fans, we definitely can spot a wobbly post-season program when we see one, I guess; I just don't see how a team that's played in one (1) league title game - and lost it - can be viewed as more likely than NU, which has at least been knocking on the door for a few years now, and as a result playing in (and winning several) "big games" in the process. We may not consider the Beanpot a "big game" from where we are, but when you're playing in front of 15,000 fans with recognizable hardware on the line, and against high profile opponents like BU and BC, that counts more to me than UConn beating Union and UMaine at The Mall before Thanksgiving.

Even if Luce wasn't in charge, I'd still be strongly cautioning against the premature coronation of UConn. Granted, I had a similar take on UMass a few years ago, but (1) Carvel and Barr turned that program around WAY more quickly, and (2) Barr had done the trick as lead recruiter at three different (nondescript) schools that won a D-1 title, whereas Luce won at one long-established school with a prior D-1 title winner HC leading the program. So, Missouri.
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I see where you’re coming from with NU, but knocking on the door and busting it down are two different things. As for UConn, this year’s results have little bearing on my choice. It’s more of a choice based on institutional commitment and a availability resources. I believe they have the desire and money to take the program to the next level. Time will tell, and maybe NU will get it done soon, but if I had Mattress Mack money I’m putting it on UConn.
 
Chuck Murray said:
With some time to kill between games and discussions of the blatantly obvious need for new leadership with UNH Men's Hockey, here is the very compelling story of Henry Boucha and his trials and tribulations in and around hockey.

Look for interesting bits and cameos including the likes of future Dead Wing and HHOF member Vaclav Nedomansky, UMichigan coaching legend Red Berenson, and of course AIC's only NHL player to date, Dave "The Assailant" Forbes, who was involved in one of the most highly-charged incidents in the NHL of that era while skating as a spare parts winger for the Bruins. The lead-up to the featured incident, and the aftermath of the incident itself is on the video (WARNING - graphic blood spurtage). Something the video also touches on briefly was a '70 stick-swinging incident between Forbes (at AIC) and a Northeastern player during the "College Hockey Dark Ages" (CHDA). There is also vintage footage of the '72 Olympics when the US surprisingly took Silver, and of Boucha's time in the WHA. See-through boards and dashers feature here more than once.

The first (only?) NHL player to wear a headband while with the Wings, Boucha's career was star-crossed to put it mildly. In the aftermath of the Forbes incident, I'd forgotten that several of Forbes' B's teammates threatened to boycott the NHL All-Star Game if Clarence Campbell didn't lift or lessen the 10 game suspension (severe back then, a pittance nowadays - see Bertuzzi, Todd). And in the "everything goes" climate of the Flyers' Era of goon hockey, eventually Boucha became the "bad guy", and Forbes became the sympathetic character. I can vouch for that slant, as I was still a wide-eyed B's fan due to Bobby Orr still being with the team in what would turn out to be the latter stages of his way-too-short career, and the Cusick/Pierson slant - some folks forget, but they were not too far behind Johnny Most as uber homers - was definitively a Forbes-friendly take.

Anyway, I found this a compelling and inspiring piece on a long-forgotten but landmark incident, and its impact on the two players who clashed and saw their promising careers also come to a premature end as a result ...
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An interesting follow up on Dave Forbes is that in ~1999-2000 he was lead plaintiff for the NHL Players Association in the Alan Eagleson corruption scandal.
 
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d.gerry said:
I see where you're coming from with NU, but knocking on the door and busting it down are two different things.
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Agreed. Using your format, UConn just took its first two steps on the long walkway leading up to that door, no?

d.gerry said:
As for UConn, this year's results have little bearing on my choice. It's more of a choice based on institutional commitment and a availability resources. I believe they have the desire and money to take the program to the next level. Time will tell, and maybe NU will get it done soon, but if I had Mattress Mack money I'm putting it on UConn.
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Just as UNH is (or at least has been historically) a "hockey school", UConn is a "basketball school" in a hoops-crazy state. UConn Football made some noises and pretenses about being a big deal when they first moved up to D-1, then hired a "name" head coach. In short, they've been crap and still are, and probably should be back at D-1AA or whatever UNH, UMaine and URI play in. Same with UConn in Hockey. Their new arena is going to top out with a few dozen more seats of capacity than Lawler Rink at Merrimack, in next-to-last in Hockey East. If that's an indicator of the school's "commitment" of money/resources, I'm unimpressed. Sounds kinda like Rentschler Field with an ice sheet. Yippee.

IMO putting money on anything UConn that doesn't involve a round bouncy ball, you might as well light it on fire ...
 
Chuck Murray said:
Agreed. Using your format, UConn just took its first two steps on the long walkway leading up to that door, no?
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Yes, I'd say last season and the results thus far this year are steps in the right direction. I'm not saying they win it all this year (very, very unlikely) or even next year, but I'd say within five years. That's still sooner than the remaining hopefuls, excepting MAYBE the previously discussed other Huskies.

Chuck Murray said:
Their new arena is going to top out with a few dozen more seats of capacity than Lawler Rink at Merrimack, in next-to-last in Hockey East. If that's an indicator of the school's "commitment" of money/resources, I'm unimpressed. Sounds kinda like Rentschler Field with an ice sheet. Yippee.
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Yup, 2,600 seats is small for D-I hockey however, I'd rather go to a full "small" arena when compared to the half empty (at best) Whit. When the Whit does manage a decent crowd its full of a bunch of yelling and screaming pre-teens whose parents were give free tickets from the school chorus, youth hockey, or some other program invited to "fill" the Whit. Forget the Whit, and many of the larger arenas (even at competitive programs) also are suffering from empty seats. Despite the small size of UConn's new arena, $70 million is still a pretty large investment in the program.
 
d.gerry said:
Yes, I'd say last season and the results thus far this year are steps in the right direction. I'm not saying they win it all this year (very, very unlikely) or even next year, but I'd say within five years. That's still sooner than the remaining hopefuls, excepting MAYBE the previously discussed other Huskies.



Yup, 2,600 seats is small for D-I hockey however, I'd rather go to a full "small" arena when compared to the half empty (at best) Whit. When the Whit does manage a decent crowd its full of a bunch of yelling and screaming pre-teens whose parents were give free tickets from the school chorus, youth hockey, or some other program invited to "fill" the Whit. Forget the Whit, and many of the larger arenas (even at competitive programs) also are suffering from empty seats. Despite the small size of UConn's new arena, $70 million is still a pretty large investment in the program.
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What he said all day! The reason it’s not bigger is because the state likes “big draw” UConn games in Hartford, and UConn is a state University. It was a very successful negotiation. Playing in front of 3,000 fired up student fans in a 2,800 person facility is way better than playing in a 6,000 person facility with 1,000 fans. But let Chuck be Chuck, Cav pissed in his Cheerios at some point and he’ll never get over it.

My last time at the Whit, the fans were filing out early due to a beat down by UConn. February 2020 I believe. Absolute beat down.
 
d.gerry said:
...in all honesty UConn endured years of beat downs, so every dog has their day I guess.
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The Whit--and Snively before it--were houses of horror for the real Huskies. Way too many long trips back to Boston over too many years with tails tucked between legs.
 
After the Whistle said:
Anyone one else concerned about 4 games in 8 days? We will need our goalies to play well! This years schedule is not the best
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Isn't 4 games in 8 days pretty much the routine for most of the season? You play Friday/Saturday, then the next Friday/Saturday, that's 4 games in 9 days, no?? So if you plug the second Saturday game into the Tuesday in between, shouldn't UNH at least theoretically be sharper, playing with a 3 day interval between Games 2 and 3, and then again between Games 3 and 4? I don't see any reason for concern, and I certainly don't think we need to give the team another lame excuse for underperforming. This is a stretch where a decent UNH team should expect at least a 2-1-1 stretch, but as it stands, most of us would take 1-2-1 if we were offered it - as long as the win and tie were against UVM, no??
 
Chuck - The more I read these continued rationalizations for poor performance the more impressed I am with the clip of Coach Barr you shared the other day. Although it seems that even some Maine fans were put off by it....
 
After the Whistle said:
Earlier I noted 4 games in 8 days. Yes I misspoke and should have said 3 games
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I think you were fine with four games in eight days. Or, three games in five days. It will be the more traditional four games in nine days (two weekends) to begin December. I am predicting 0-3-1 over next four games, but at least that is another point.

Looking to Holy Cross for our next win, which if we get, we should lobby to have HC join HEA as twelfth team.
 
Snively65 said:
I think you were fine with four games in eight days. Or, three games in five days. It will be the more traditional four games in nine days (two weekends) to begin December. I am predicting 0-3-1 over next four games, but at least that is another point.

Looking to Holy Cross for our next win, which if we get, we should lobby to have HC join HEA as twelfth team.
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I think/hope UNH will do better than that this coming weekend? It will be interesting if their 'new offensive system' and the return of Blaisdell will make a difference. I think we split up there in hippie land...
 
HockeyRef said:
I think/hope UNH will do better than that this coming weekend? It will be interesting if their 'new offensive system' and the return of Blaisdell will make a difference. I think we split up there in hippie land...
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UNH 3-5-2 in their last 10 games at the Gutt, but most of those games were when Sneddon was HC of Catamounts, whose fans are more excited about their new HC than we are about our old HC.
 
So...10 games into the season the staff is scrapping and replacing their offensive systems? And, furthermore, they announce it to UVM and the world?

--

In other (HR approved) news, Miami U Field Hockey reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season - winning a game for the fourth time in those six seasons. They will now face Northwestern (the lone team to beat the RedHawks since in the team's last eight outings). Shockingly, the wagon that is Maine Field Hockey did not qualify for the event...
 
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