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

[NCAA watcher]

UNH need a lot of things to become relevant again. The rink is older and there is no dedicated hockey workout facility. That won’t compete in todays highly competitive recruiting wars. Top players want top end facilities to help advance them to the next level. UNH doesn’t have that.

We're not looking at "highly competitive" recruiting wars. We're looking at winning middle recruiting wars. And not to sound too snarky, even though we UNh fans are all salty now, but does the dedicated workout facility have to be attached to the rink, because U.Conn (currently atop HE and with a top 10 NHL pick on the roster) may have a good workout facility, but it is 20 miles away from their "rink" in Hartford.
I also hope someday UNH can compete against the likes of Northeastern ("Matthews Arena turned one hundred years old on April 16, 2010."), or the 1972 as the Providence Civic Center, replete with new lipstick, but again, I'm not snarky to visitors.

 

[HockeyRef]

UNH need a lot of things to become relevant again. The rink is older and there is no dedicated hockey workout facility. That won’t compete in todays highly competitive recruiting wars. Top players want top end facilities to help advance them to the next level. UNH doesn’t have that.

...And there are people here who would argue your point...citing the football teams "dungeon" for example. The whitt is not a terrible place to see a game...Ive been to a few places that are a lot more dated and they seem to field decent teams? Dan can speak to this..

This is what our coach is working on...getting the money that schools like BU has no problem in finding or funding.
Im all for improving these things...but when we get our butts handed to us in Lawlor arena I am not so convinced that facilities are the be all...end all.

Top players ...lets see if they all start to flock to Sacred Heart in the next couple of years (I know zip about their program?) with their brand new arena then Ill be completely on board.

UNH's issues do not lie entirely on these things obvIously and if we do have a coaching change in 2024 (or sooner) will the next guy be clamoring for these things?

One last thing...how do you think current players feel when their HC who..btw..brought them in...is sending the message he would be winning if he only had a weight room but for now..these are the best skaters I can field?

Harrumph!!

 

[Darius]

There has been progress made, but expectations also need to be realistic...Making it to the knockout round in a World Cup is nothing to sneeze at.

The WC is arguably the most difficult team tournament to win. Heck, qualifying is hard. Ask Italy.

The younger US generations now have easy access to watching the best soccer leagues in the world, and that's probably the best development I've seen in the last decade. Media coverage is slowly gaining, but still behind the Big Four sports here. You'll know the US has cracked it with soccer when someday you have the Felger & Mazz-type talk shows dealing with the sport regularly, and not just every four years, here & there.

For sure. Today's 30 something fans know the strengths, weaknesses, club teams, etc. of the US MNT and other teams' players. Listening to guest Taylor Wellman on Felger & Mazz is gold for the casual fan.

The USMNT has more truly home-grown players than ever before.

Many playing in Europe, some in the top leagues which is huge when it comes to competing internationally against other teams with the same level of players.

It will take time, and there will be setbacks (heck, Germany and Mexico, among others, were out before the knockout rounds). I'll probably not make it long enough to see the Men win, but with the competition in North America next time, and with a very good young team coming through, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the US make it to the WC Semifinals in 2026. And THAT would be off the hook exciting. JMHO.

As one of the youngest teams in the WC the US looked to this WC to gain experience for a largely intact team in four years which should be plenty of time to practice marking opposing players. Ugh.

And as I type this... France. Damn.

 

[Darius]

Like I said didn't see all the game but still hard to believe we are going to the Christmas break without a W in HE. The BU announcers seemed pretty generous with their compliments...If someone could come up with an objective view of the weekend (esp tonight) I'd appreciate it. Worried we'd get blown out tonight so glad that didn't happen.

Pitying us is a trend. :-(

 

[Darius]

I'd imagine the betting value would lay with ASU & Union. They're 'middle of the road' teams - UNH is presently far behind 'middle of the road'...

I wouldn't put much stock in ASU being 1-3-0 in its last four against national #1 & #2. They need wins and UNH presents a wonderful opportunity to get right, regardless of travel. Union is 6-8-1 overall, but 5-1-0 at home.

UNH is 0 -3 vs. AZ ST, lost twice last year by a combined 10 - 2. We beat Union twice in the first two games of the season last year. The early OOC ECAC wins sound eerily familiar.

 

[HockeyRef]

UNH is 0 -3 vs. AZ ST, lost twice last year by a combined 10 - 2. We beat Union twice in the first two games of the season last year. The early OOC ECAC wins sound eerily familiar.

As you mention we were 2-0 (after beating Union in our openers) going into that game. I'd have to look but I think we seem to be always '2 and 0) then it falls apart. I'm not very hopeful when I look at their (ASU) stats. Lots of guys who can score. We are relying on 2 freshman at the moment (and good for them...the bright spots!) who will be targeted and might not have the talent to play through it. Then what...

 

[Darius]

https://unhwildcats.com/sports/2016/5/26/mhoc-year-by-year-quick-look.aspx

On track to match the 1985-86 winning %. Worse % back in the 30s and 40s when playing ten games or fewer.

 

[Drew S.]

...And there are people here who would argue your point...citing the football teams "dungeon" for example. The whitt is not a terrible place to see a game...Ive been to a few places that are a lot more dated and they seem to field decent teams? Dan can speak to this..

This is what our coach is working on...getting the money that schools like BU has no problem in finding or funding.
Im all for improving these things...but when we get our butts handed to us in Lawlor arena I am not so convinced that facilities are the be all...end all.

Top players ...lets see if they all start to flock to Sacred Heart in the next couple of years (I know zip about their program?) with their brand new arena then Ill be completely on board.

UNH's issues do not lie entirely on these things obvIously and if we do have a coaching change in 2024 (or sooner) will the next guy be clamoring for these things?

One last thing...how do you think current players feel when their HC who..btw..brought them in...is sending the message he would be winning if he only had a weight room but for now..these are the best skaters I can field?

Harrumph!!

Merrimack was actually the last hockey east game I went to(when they beat Maine in the first round last spring.) They have two sheets now and updated workout facilities. It looks like they have added new academic buildings and housing too. I think for kids who visit both Merrimack comes across as much newer and nicer.

 

[ClOuD 9]

UNH need a lot of things to become relevant again. The rink is older and there is no dedicated hockey workout facility. That won’t compete in todays highly competitive recruiting wars. Top players want top end facilities to help advance them to the next level. UNH doesn’t have that.

Other than Agganis or Tsongas name a Hockey East rink it's behind?
The Alfond, Merrimack, Providence, Vermont? Northeastern, who play in a museum? UConn renting an oversized arena that was a laughing stock over 3 decades ago?
You could argue UMass or *MAYBE* BC, but those are basketball arenas that also host hockey imo and both are older than the Whitt if that's the criteria.
The Whitt could use some touches, for sure, but let's not pretend it's Messa Rink or Meehan Auditorium.
The biggest thing it could use is some asses in the seats to get some atmosphere back, if you look back to the "golden days" there were a lot of quotes about how it was the game day experience that helped sell a lot of then prospective recruits on playing there.

I do 100% take your point on workout facilities, though.

 

[NCAA watcher]

And don't even start on losing to Arizona State, with its 1,000 seat arena and low ceiling that flipped pucks hit every game.

Reminds me of every Shawn Walsh press conference, in which he would bitch and moan about how Alfond was a drag on recruiting and how no good recruits would pick Maine over the better facilities.....oh wait, I don't remember that

Or how dated Michigan state was for two decades, but Nightengale somehow has turned recruiting around in his first year with the exact same arena.

 

[HockeyRef]

Merrimack was actually the last hockey east game I went to(when they beat Maine in the first round last spring.) They have two sheets now and updated workout facilities. It looks like they have added new academic buildings and housing too. I think for kids who visit both Merrimack comes across as much newer and nicer.

Sure, MC is a great school; but I'll remember that the next time I have to walk through a puddle to get to my seat...That said, they are rocking it now and I never went to Lawlor before it was renovated with new seating, vid boards and whatever else they did... Good on them for putting in new stuff that is attracting prospects. Guess what else brings in prospects? WINNING GAMES. Now they have that going for them. We used to have that going for us but obviously times have changed...

Read in I think, on the NU board where it was said that MC could win the NC this season. I don't think UNH fans can survive that one...

 

[Darius]

"I didn't think I'd play a single game growing up as a kid, let alone 500." Congratulations Brett Pesce:

https://twitter.com/canesonbally/sta...W2RRxTHBT0A2tA

 

[HockeyRef]

"I didn't think I'd play a single game growing up as a kid, let alone 500." Congratulations Brett Pesce:

https://twitter.com/canesonbally/sta...W2RRxTHBT0A2tA

So happy for Brett! He is a top notch dman who has really done so well...now all he needs is his name on the Stanley to keep up with former dman TvR even if it means beating my Bruins...Appreciate you posting the positives...!

 

[HockeyRef]

Nice article today on Cy LeClerc in the UL...he's doing a great job on the dot being 29th in the nation currently. Scoring goals as well. Nice to see a local kid doing well with the 'Cats! Snively I think you and I are in the minority on how important face off wins are, but in the other article about Friday nights game it's mentioned that the BU goal came off a lost face off. So there you have it...ha!

Yep, Cy is da man on da dot!

 

[Nifty16]

Nice article today on Cy LeClerc in the UL...he's doing a great job on the dot being 29th in the nation currently. Scoring goals as well. Nice to see a local kid doing well with the 'Cats! Snively I think you and I are in the minority on how important face off wins are, but in the other article about Friday nights game it's mentioned that the BU goal came off a lost face off. So there you have it...ha!

Yep, Cy is da man on da dot!

can’t wait to see what he can do with some real coaching next year

 

[HockeyRef]

can’t wait to see what he can do with some real coaching next year

Next year? You mean in the 2024-2025 season and that's IF...we don't lose him (not sure how the portal thing works he'll be a soph next season) and that's IF...we get a new coach. Anyway..hope he continues to flourish but I do worry about what has happened to some players past their freshman year who show some promise; trying to be positive!! I'm waiting on Colton Huard to start scoring some goals/as well as the rest of them...

 

[Nifty16]

Next year? You mean in the 2024-2025 season and that's IF...we don't lose him (not sure how the portal thing works he'll be a soph next season) and that's IF...we get a new coach. Anyway..hope he continues to flourish but I do worry about what has happened to some players past their freshman year who show some promise; trying to be positive!! I'm waiting on Colton Huard to start scoring some goals/as well as the rest of them...

I am not giving up hope that there is a change next season. If not then going from history with Souza I don’t see a leap forward, haven’t seen it yet with anyone. Can’t afford to lose another freshman classes growth for the lack of player development from this coaching staff

 

[Snively65]

Cy LeClerc on pace to be only the tenth Cats freshman in the Millennium to score double-digit goals.

1. who was the last?

2. who was the first?

3. who were the only two in the same year?

4. who scored the most?

5. why so few (open-ended essay question)?

Tweeeeet! Channeling Whistlin’ Dick. Time’s up!

1. Our last frosh double-digit goal scorer was Angus Crookshank with 10 in 2018/19.

2. First of the Millennium was Sean Collins with 20 goals in 2001/02.

3. Only two in the same year were James van Riemsdyk and Danny Dries with 11 goals each in 2007/08.

4. The aforementioned Sean Collins and Patrick Grasso 15 years later in 2016/17 scored 20 goals as frosh.

5. Why so few? The others not noted above were Andrew Poturalski with 14 in 2014/15, Grayson Downing with 10 in 2011/12, Trevor Smith with 10 in 2005/06, and Jacob MicFlikier with 11 in 2003/04. Have at it!

 

[Snively65]

I am not giving up hope that there is a change next season. If not then going from history with Souza I don’t see a leap forward, haven’t seen it yet with anyone. Can’t afford to lose another freshman classes growth for the lack of player development from this coaching staff

If we can recruit just 1350 additional fans to buy $20 tickets (on average) for each of the remaining nine home games, that would generate a surplus of $243k to cover the buyout for the 2023/24 season. We would need assurance from the admin that the $243k surplus would be used for the purpose that it is intended.

 

[HockeyRef]

Tweeeeet! Channeling Whistlin’ Dick. Time’s up!

1. Our last frosh double-digit goal scorer was Angus Crookshank with 10 in 2018/19.

2. First of the Millennium was Sean Collins with 20 goals in 2001/02.

3. Only two in the same year were James van Riemsdyk and Danny Dries with 11 goals each in 2007/08.

4. The aforementioned Sean Collins and Patrick Grasso 15 years later in 2016/17 scored 20 goals as frosh.

5. Why so few? The others not noted above were Andrew Poturalski with 14 in 2014/15, Grayson Downing with 10 in 2011/12, Trevor Smith with 10 in 2005/06, and Jacob MicFlikier with 11 in 2003/04. Have at it!

I had a few of these names on my answer but then I realized there has to be alot more so deleted the post. From your list I think I had Potsy, Angus, Downing...