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

[Snively65]

So pretty much you are saying that if the playoffs were right now our Bruins would stand a chance?

Oh, I hope so. The Bruins have depth in all three areas, forwards, blue line, and net, and for now are fairly healthy. And their first and second line centers are likely looking at their last chance for another SC so the motivation should be there for them. Would rather have Pesce and TvR instead of a couple of their blue liners, but JvR would probably not make their third line right now. Craig Smith placed on waivers on Sunday but no one picked him by 2 pm Monday, so still a Bruin, at least for a few more hours.

 

[Snively65]

DeSmith in goal, with Pesce and TvR would make for a solid backline that could contend for an NHL playoff slot on average. But JvR and Foegele as your forwards - and we'll plug in Tim Stutzle for old time's sake - probably aren't playoff quality NHL players at this stage of their respective careers. Poturalski and Crookshank may be the closest of remaining UNH folks in the AHL - Poturalski plays for the "Coachella Valley Firebirds", which I guess is a Seattle afffiliate? - and Max Gildon looks to have become injury-prone since he left UNH in '20. Can't visualize any of the current UNH roster threatening for an on-ice NHL career anytime soon. Mike Robinson has surfaced, however, as 3rd string goalie for the "Huntsville Havoc" in the SPHL, presumably holding down a roster slot for former Alabama-Huntsville/current UNH goalie David Fessenden next season.

CDS putting together a decent NHL career as a back up goalie, now with 107 games, 2.69 GAA, 0.915 SV%, and a 47-34-12 record. Still a long way to catch up with Ty Conklin, but already second best UNH NHL goalie by a lot.

 

[Snively65]

From here on out, BvR shall be referred to on these hallowed UNH thread pages as Shemp van Riemsdyk.

Although frankly speaking, this comparison may be a wee bit unfair to the underrated Shemp. I suppose we could always go with Curly Joe van Riesmdyk instead ...

So which vR is Moe and which is Curly or Larry?

 

[Chuck Murray]

So which vR is Moe and which is Curly or Larry?

As you know, Larry (Fine) was not actually one of the three actual real-life Howard brothers, so he's out IMO.

After that, it probably doesn't matter if JvR or TvR is "Moe" or "Curly". But the youngest is definitely SvR. ;-)

 

[Snively65]

As you know, Larry (Fine) was not actually one of the three actual real-life Howard brothers, so he's out IMO.

After that, it probably doesn't matter if JvR or TvR is "Moe" or "Curly". But the youngest is definitely SvR. ;-)

Well, some alum needs to be Larry Fine. How about Eddy Caron?

 

[Chuck Murray]

Well, some alum needs to be Larry Fine. How about Eddy Caron?

Whatever works for you, works for me Snives. FWIW I didn't need to expand Stooge-dom to either JvR or TvR, both were more than serviceable players for UNH, but playing along with your proposed "Holiday Family Reunion with the vR's" theme, I just decided that in comparison to the two very prominent (and successful) other brothers, BvR was the "Shemp" forgotten afterthought type (which I still think is a little unfair to Shemp).

But if you consider Larry Fine the "glue guy" who kept the Stooge operation together, with two stronger identities at opposite ends, I'm not sure "Leadfoot" Eddie Caron fits that bill? Maybe Stevie Moses (who is one of the few who played at UNH with both) would have been "Larry"? Again, not sure he's the fit for that personality ... OR maybe the assistant coach who did lots of the hard work recruiting to keep the ship afloat, and has since moved on to his own current successful gig elsewhere?? Trying to remember that guy's name, dammit ...

-------------------------

File this under "More Ways to Forget About/Overlook UNH Hockey Rather Than Rip 'Em a New One" ... today's Roger Brown holiday column in the UL is one of those "Santa's List" things that fill space during the slow holiday sports season. He pumps Ricky Santos' tires for UNH Football (and deservedly so), but there is no mention of Coach Hubbard's continued excellence in the "other" football (somewhat understandable, big picture) ...

... and for UNH Hockey?? Any mention of a new coach, or new players, or new anything??? Nope. And worse yet, clearly Roger isn't paying very close attention, because this is what's on his list for them (us):

• The UNH men’s hockey team in the NCAA Regionals in Manchester.

The regionals are scheduled to be played at SNHU Arena in 2023 and 2025. We’d take either year.

Way to go Rog, clearly you've got your finger on the pulse of the UNH Men's Hockey program, yeesh ... <rolleyes emoji>

 

[Snively65]

Whatever works for you, works for me Snives. FWIW I didn't need to expand Stooge-dom to either JvR or TvR, both were more than serviceable players for UNH, but playing along with your proposed "Holiday Family Reunion with the vR's" theme, I just decided that in comparison to the two very prominent (and successful) other brothers, BvR was the "Shemp" forgotten afterthought type (which I still think is a little unfair to Shemp).

But if you consider Larry Fine the "glue guy" who kept the Stooge operation together, with two stronger identities at opposite ends, I'm not sure "Leadfoot" Eddie Caron fits that bill? Maybe Stevie Moses (who is one of the few who played at UNH with both) would have been "Larry"? Again, not sure he's the fit for that personality ... OR maybe the assistant coach who did lots of the hard work recruiting to keep the ship afloat, and has since moved on to his own current successful gig elsewhere?? Trying to remember that guy's name, dammit ...

-------------------------

File this under "More Ways to Forget About/Overlook UNH Hockey Rather Than Rip 'Em a New One" ... today's Roger Brown holiday column in the UL is one of those "Santa's List" things that fill space during the slow holiday sports season. He pumps Ricky Santos' tires for UNH Football (and deservedly so), but there is no mention of Coach Hubbard's continued excellence in the "other" football (somewhat understandable, big picture) ...

... and for UNH Hockey?? Any mention of a new coach, or new players, or new anything??? Nope. And worse yet, clearly Roger isn't paying very close attention, because this is what's on his list for them (us):

• The UNH men’s hockey team in the NCAA Regionals in Manchester.

The regionals are scheduled to be played at SNHU Arena in 2023 and 2025. We’d take either year.

Way to go Rog, clearly you've got your finger on the pulse of the UNH Men's Hockey program, yeesh ... <rolleyes emoji>

Agreed, Steve “High and Wide” Moses would be a good choice as a “glue guy” for the vR’s. And Ed Caron would be the “anti-glue guy” even if he had been still around for the vR days, based on his Grover Clevelandesque tenure in Durham. Mr. High and Wide playing in his 12th season overseas, the past three years in Switzerland. Good for him. Came up just 2 points short of the three-digit RN in his four years at UNH.

 

[Felger]

Agreed, Steve “High and Wide” Moses would be a good choice as a “glue guy” for the vR’s. And Ed Caron would be the “anti-glue guy” even if he had been still around for the vR days, based on his Grover Clevelandesque tenure in Durham. Mr. High and Wide playing in his 12th season overseas, the past three years in Switzerland. Good for him. Came up just 2 points short of the three-digit RN in his four years at UNH.

Grover Cleveland reference....priceless!!!

As far as Moses goes, perhaps if UNH scheduled more games against Alabama Huntsville he could have hit the century mark.

 

[Darius]

Walking into the Whitt early in Stevie’s freshman year I remarked to a UNH hockey acquaintance that Moses was quickly on track to be a very good player. Without missing a beat she replied, “Yeah if we can get Jesus we’ll be pretty good”.

Seems like a good time to share my favorite Stooges quote. “If at first you don’t succeed, keep on sucking ‘til you do succeed”.

Back to current UNH content. UNH women’s hockey and other teams “Welcome” tweet to recognize incoming players who commit to the U. I don’t recall men’s hockey doing that. Hoping someone can tell me they do, but if not it is bothersome.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all.

 

[Snively65]

Grover Cleveland reference....priceless!!!

As far as Moses goes, perhaps if UNH scheduled more games against Alabama Huntsville he could have hit the century mark.

For sure. And Nick Sorkin, too, who got five assists to High and Wide’s four goals in that 9-1 shellacking of Fessenden’s old team at the Whitt on 26 November 2011, and also finished his four years at UNH with 98 points. Even one more game against Huntsville probably would have put those two over 100 points to join Kevin Goumas who got four assists in that game.

 

[HockeyRef]

Walking into the Whitt early in Stevie’s freshman year I remarked to a UNH hockey acquaintance that Moses was quickly on track to be a very good player. Without missing a beat she replied, “Yeah if we can get Jesus we’ll be pretty good”.

Seems like a good time to share my favorite Stooges quote. “If at first you don’t succeed, keep on sucking ‘til you do succeed”.

Back to current UNH content. UNH women’s hockey and other teams “Welcome” tweet to recognize incoming players who commit to the U. I don’t recall men’s hockey doing that. Hoping someone can tell me they do, but if not it is bothersome.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all.

Have never seen UNH hockey's Twitter announce any commits...usually it's the player themselves..CHCs reporting (unless I missed something but dint think so).

I DMd whomever takes care of their Twitter and said maybe they should change their pic as it's outdated. Still has Charlie Kellehers Era. EdIt! They have a new team pic up now...

They are pretty much game reporters and some basic PR here and there. At least thats my take on them.

Happy holidays to you as well!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Remember when JvR was the second overall draft pick in the NHL Draft over a decade ago?

UNH Men's Soccer just had one of its players drafted #3 overall in the MLS draft ... congrats Moise Bombito!!

https://www.seacoastonline.com/stor...-mls-superdraft-colorado-rapids/69747996007/?

 

[Snively65]

UNH no longer University of No Hardware as we won the Bottom Feeders NoWins tournament offshore from Isle Royale on Lake Superior over the weekend. Woo hoo! Had to go through Bentley and Wisco to win the tourney.

 

[Felger]

UNH no longer University of No Hardware as we won the Bottom Feeders NoWins tournament offshore from Isle Royale on Lake Superior over the weekend. Woo hoo! Had to go through Bentley and Wisco to win the tourney.

I think Hockey East should bring back the Governor's Cup this coming March to decide which team gets the 8th playoff spot.

 

[Chuck Murray]

I think Hockey East should bring back the Governor's Cup this coming March to decide which team gets the 8th playoff spot.

No kidding, Felgie. Wow. Substitute Flagship for Lowell and you've got a solid proposition there.

Anything to spare us from another round of MBPBEGAM foolishness ...

 

[HockeyRef]

UNH no longer University of No Hardware as we won the Bottom Feeders NoWins tournament offshore from Isle Royale on Lake Superior over the weekend. Woo hoo! Had to go through Bentley and Wisco to win the tourney.

Wow! Can't wait for the banner hanging ceremony!! Hope everyone who was affected by the most recent storm made out ok...we lost power for 3 days but still managed to have a nice Christmas...at other people's homes lol...

Call us crazy but we are off to Schenectady Fri for the Union weekend. Maybe our presence will guarantee at least a split (not that it matters that much but wins are wins at this stage of the game).

Hope we can find something to do Saturday as we wait for the game. At least they start at 4...Any suggestions Chuck?

 

[Snively65]

No kidding, Felgie. Wow. Substitute Flagship for Lowell and you've got a solid proposition there.

Anything to spare us from another round of MBPBEGAM foolishness ...

Whether Governor’s Cup or MBPBEGAM, UVM may be looking to distance itself from the HEA cellar with arrival of BCHL point-per-game scorer Massiminno Lombardi a semester early next month.

Current HEA records:
UVM (2-10-0)
UNH (0-11-1)

 

[Chuck Murray]

Call us crazy but we are off to Schenectady Fri for the Union weekend. Maybe our presence will guarantee at least a split (not that it matters that much but wins are wins at this stage of the game).

Hope we can find something to do Saturday as we wait for the game. At least they start at 4...Any suggestions Chuck?

So, I Bing'ed "fun things to do in Schenectady" 'Ref, and Option #2 was literally a graveyard (Vale). Swear to God.

Funniest thing of all is, I wasn't the least bit surprised ...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Whether Governor's Cup or MBPBEGAM, UVM may be looking to distance itself from the HEA cellar with arrival of BCHL point-per-game scorer Massiminno Lombardi a semester early next month.

Current HEA records:
UVM (2-10-0)
UNH (0-11-1)

As the self-proclaimed expert on all things Lombardi ... I wonder if the UVM kid is the older brother/cousin of Amadeus Lombardi (again, I'm not making any of this up), another Canadian kid who is a year younger than Massimo, roughly the same height/build, and just signed a pro deal with DRW earlier this month after being their 4th round pick last summer? Regardless, two kids with exceptional names, rooting for 'em both ...

Massimo Sarantos-Lombardi Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Amadeus Lombardi Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Red Wings sign Flint Firebirds center Amadeus Lombardi to entry-level contract - mlive.com

 

[DLG]

Wow! Can't wait for the banner hanging ceremony!! Hope everyone who was affected by the most recent storm made out ok...we lost power for 3 days but still managed to have a nice Christmas...at other people's homes lol...

Call us crazy but we are off to Schenectady Fri for the Union weekend. Maybe our presence will guarantee at least a split (not that it matters that much but wins are wins at this stage of the game).

Hope we can find something to do Saturday as we wait for the game. At least they start at 4...Any suggestions Chuck?

Saratoga about a half hour away is pretty interesting
nice downtown- could even go tob baths