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

[Snively65]

Well looked who just.checked into the game!

Three saves on Bruins 2-minutes of PP. Too bad about Jarry’s injury, but cool that CdS got into FF (Frozen Fenway, if not Frozen Four).

 

[Darius]

Are you suggesting the group stays in charge 2023-24 when their contracts expire, and then you think a change, or are you suggesting group is removed at season end?

I think that if there is a head coaching change, it will happen after all existing contracts and extensions have expired. My understanding, mostly from this thread, is that Coach Souza was under contract until the end of this season. He was given a one year extension and is now under contract until the end of next season. If that is correct, the soonest I think there will be a change is spring 2024.

Again, I do not think a change is guaranteed, but I feel it is more likely than I did two months ago.

 

[Felger]

Muszelik has always been about potential - I imagine he arrived with much hype, simply because he came from the NTDP, more than any on-ice success he's actually exhibited (stats below). At this stage in his career, its unfair to expect him to produce any more than the team in front of him allows, with hopes of development in the future...

https://www.eliteprospects.com/playe...tyler-muszelik

The WJC Camp - his second - solidifies what has been discussed at length in those circles (if anyone follows the tournament or the U20 US age group). Dylan Silverstein is out of hockey, presently, for personal reasons, and Kaiden Mbereko has always been given much more favor than Muszelik or any other in the 2003 or 2004 birth years. Mbereko is small, and flatly mediocre, to the point he lost the 2022 Summer WJC for team USA and has been benched in favor of 17 year old Trey Augustine in the 2023 Winter edition of the tournament.

Its simply been a rough couple of birth years for USA goaltenders (likely the reason TM has reached the heights he has, but perhaps a source of misplaced expectation)...

Muszelik still has time, but he didn't necessarily hit his stride with the NTDP, and has been overvalued as a result of a poor birth year for American goalies. He's going to have a tough time finding it behind a UNH team that struggles to create possession and has seen the entirety of the talent it does have suffer regression...

Goalies are a reflection of their team. Teams a reflection of their coaching.

"Lights out at fat camp a jellybean is steak tartare." - Charlie Harper

 

[Chuck Murray]

Perhaps I am reading too much into this post. But it feels like you are criticizing the 18 year old goalie who, though overhyped is still just a kid. While at the same time playing the violin for an assistant coach who has been around for two decades, has only been part of two winning teams in that time, and is pulling down six figures that ought to be able to pay the mortgage.

First of all, yes, I'm criticizing the 18 year old goalie. FWIW as an 18 year old, I don't think you're legally a "kid" anymore. You are a scholarship goalie, this is a competitive scenario, and to the extent that you're being compensated with said D-1 scholarship and some other goalie isn't, it's your first (very tentative) step into the real world. Some guys can handle that, others can't. UNH's last two highly touted goalies seem to have fallen into the latter bucket. We get to ask questions and explore whether that's just bad luck OR if something else is at play. But please make no mistake, if you're expecting me to give the 18 year old scholarship goalie a "kid" pass, I'm not biting. FWIW I have experience in coaching a HS age goalie (yup another sport) who is currently playing D-1, and I know what she's gone through to get a foothold at a similar age/stage of development. Not easy, but not insurmountable. And I know she would cringe at the excuses being made here for Muszelik.

Now, back to Conklin. I don't think I've given him a pass, not even close. Even mentioning the Binnington thing while Ty was coaching in the St. Louis organization, that wasn't a favorable nod. I think 'Ref's initial inquiry into his role was totally fair, and I tried to put some meat on those bones, for better or worse. The fact is, Conklin is a volunteer assistant, so this is not his full-time job, and at best it's his 1-A priority along with the full-time job. I'm going to post a couple of links next on the occasion of Conklin's hire, and would ask that you read closely and listen to the embedded video of MS7 in the 2019 preseason, and let me know what you think:

Ty Conklin Returns to UNH as Goaltending Development Coach - University of New Hampshire Athletics (unhwildcats.com)

UNH Legend Ty Conklin Brings Experience, Knowledge To New Role With Wildcats - NESN.com

Here are a few of my observations, and you are free to agree or disagree ... first, we never hear from Conklin himself. In fact, I'm not sure if we've ever heard from Conklin during his second tenure with UNH. I've seen maybe two-three home games since he was hired, and Ty wasn't behind the bench at any of them. Likewise, it would be fairly unusual for him to travel with the team to road games. I'd welcome any insight anyone might have as to how often he is around at practices during the week.

Second, and this is in the second item ... Souza admits “It was a little bit of a recruiting process in bringing him back”, and in the video he does touch on that briefly. Neither explanation makes it sound like Conklin was raring to go and chomping at the bit, and rather (to me) it feels like a guy who wants to do a solid for a friend and former teammate. That "solid" may consist of stapling Conklin's NHL resume onto their staff, which otherwise consists of 3 nondescript career minor leaguers, with a combined 101 games and 3 goals (all Guiliano's) in the NHL.

During Conklin's coaching tenure, we've seen Robinson plateau as a decent D-1 goalie who never fulfilled his NHL draft choice status, and is now playing goon league hockey in Alabama ... Ty Taylor, another NHL draftee who failed at the D-1 level, and is now plying his trade in Scotland ... and now we have Muszelik, a 3rd NHL draftee, whose freshman year stats almost identically mirror those of (gulp) Taylor.

If this is the kind of coaching and development MS7 had in mind when he brought Conklin into the fold ... I'm speechless ... unless Conklin is there as the figurehead only for PR purposes to attract goalie prospects? I mean, he didn't move the needle with Robinson or Taylor, and now Souza has trusted him with Muszelik anyway?!? Unless of course, Conklin is just around when he can be, and lets UNH make use of his name?

It would be nice to have some insight into Conklin's actual involvement with the program, and my standing offer for total anonymity for first person sourced insight stands as always. My point though - initially and in this rehash - is that Conklin is here because of Souza, and if MS7 didn't think Conklin was living up to his side of the bargain, he could simply thank him for his time the next time they get together for a round at Wentworth By The Sea or Abenaqui, and bring back Brian Foster, "Captain Video" or someone altogether new. But he hasn't, so ...

I completely agree with the last line of your post, but think the new broom has to sweep clean. Players (plural) aren't good enough, coaches (plural) aren't good enough.

The last line of the post - All reasons why a clean start is absolutely necessary, and the sooner the better, for ALL concerned - was absolutely meant to apply to coaches AND players alike. I didn't capitalize ALL accidentally, it was meant for final all-encompassing emphasis.

 

[Snively65]

First of all, yes, I'm criticizing the 18 year old goalie. FWIW as an 18 year old, I don't think you're legally a "kid" anymore. You are a scholarship goalie, this is a competitive scenario, and to the extent that you're being compensated with said D-1 scholarship and some other goalie isn't, it's your first (very tentative) step into the real world. Some guys can handle that, others can't. UNH's last two highly touted goalies seem to have fallen into the latter bucket. We get to ask questions and explore whether that's just bad luck OR if something else is at play. But please make no mistake, if you're expecting me to give the 18 year old scholarship goalie a "kid" pass, I'm not biting. FWIW I have experience in coaching a HS age goalie (yup another sport) who is currently playing D-1, and I know what she's gone through to get a foothold at a similar age/stage of development. Not easy, but not insurmountable. And I know she would cringe at the excuses being made here for Muszelik.

Now, back to Conklin. I don't think I've given him a pass, not even close. Even mentioning the Binnington thing while Ty was coaching in the St. Louis organization, that wasn't a favorable nod. I think 'Ref's initial inquiry into his role was totally fair, and I tried to put some meat on those bones, for better or worse. The fact is, Conklin is a volunteer assistant, so this is not his full-time job, and at best it's his 1-A priority along with the full-time job. I'm going to post a couple of links next on the occasion of Conklin's hire, and would ask that you read closely and listen to the embedded video of MS7 in the 2019 preseason, and let me know what you think:

Ty Conklin Returns to UNH as Goaltending Development Coach - University of New Hampshire Athletics (unhwildcats.com)

UNH Legend Ty Conklin Brings Experience, Knowledge To New Role With Wildcats - NESN.com

Here are a few of my observations, and you are free to agree or disagree ... first, we never hear from Conklin himself. In fact, I'm not sure if we've ever heard from Conklin during his second tenure with UNH. I've seen maybe two-three home games since he was hired, and Ty wasn't behind the bench at any of them. Likewise, it would be fairly unusual for him to travel with the team to road games. I'd welcome any insight anyone might have as to how often he is around at practices during the week.

Second, and this is in the second item ... Souza admits “It was a little bit of a recruiting process in bringing him back”, and in the video he does touch on that briefly. Neither explanation makes it sound like Conklin was raring to go and chomping at the bit, and rather (to me) it feels like a guy who wants to do a solid for a friend and former teammate. That "solid" may consist of stapling Conklin's NHL resume onto their staff, which otherwise consists of 3 nondescript career minor leaguers, with a combined 101 games and 3 goals (all Guiliano's) in the NHL.

During Conklin's coaching tenure, we've seen Robinson plateau as a decent D-1 goalie who never fulfilled his NHL draft choice status, and is now playing goon league hockey in Alabama ... Ty Taylor, another NHL draftee who failed at the D-1 level, and is now plying his trade in Scotland ... and now we have Muszelik, a 3rd NHL draftee, whose freshman year stats almost identically mirror those of (gulp) Taylor.

If this is the kind of coaching and development MS7 had in mind when he brought Conklin into the fold ... I'm speechless ... unless Conklin is there as the figurehead only for PR purposes to attract goalie prospects? I mean, he didn't move the needle with Robinson or Taylor, and now Souza has trusted him with Muszelik anyway?!? Unless of course, Conklin is just around when he can be, and lets UNH make use of his name?

It would be nice to have some insight into Conklin's actual involvement with the program, and my standing offer for total anonymity for first person sourced insight stands as always. My point though - initially and in this rehash - is that Conklin is here because of Souza, and if MS7 didn't think Conklin was living up to his side of the bargain, he could simply thank him for his time the next time they get together for a round at Wentworth By The Sea or Abenaqui, and bring back Brian Foster, "Captain Video" or someone altogether new. But he hasn't, so ...



The last line of the post - All reasons why a clean start is absolutely necessary, and the sooner the better, for ALL concerned - was absolutely meant to apply to coaches AND players alike. I didn't capitalize ALL accidentally, it was meant for final all-encompassing emphasis.

FWIIW Department: at a Whitt game I attended the first year that Conklin was “hired” I noticed a small table and empty chair with Ty’s name attached along the railing in the southwest corner (toward the train / ice cream station) on the mezzanine (or whatever it is called), but no Ty on the several times that I walked by hoping to have him sign my program to sell on EBay.

 

[Chuck Murray]

FWIIW Department: at a Whitt game I attended the first year that Conklin was “hired” I noticed a small table and empty chair with Ty’s name attached along the railing in the southwest corner (toward the train / ice cream station) on the mezzanine (or whatever it is called), but no Ty on the several times that I walked by hoping to have him sign my program to sell on EBay.

Thanks for sharing, Snives. Hoping others can chime in with their observations/experiences on the topic. There's that old adage out there about how "you get what you pay for", and this may/may not be applicable here??

 

[HockeyRef]

Thanks for sharing, Snives. Hoping others can chime in with their observations/experiences on the topic. There's that old adage out there about how "you get what you pay for", and this may/may not be applicable here??

lol now we have a 'where is Conklin' thing (like 'where's waldo) going on so when I go to the 'Whitt this Sunday, I'm looking for him. I have seen him at the 'Whitt before; it was pointed out to me who he was but that was I believe last season? He was standing near 101 where he had a good view of Mike Robinson as I recall...

So here's what I think, Wednesdays have traditionally been a presser day for Souza/UNH hockey. I don't know who from the media/press actually attend because I've seen nothing reported about them (they USED to be filmed and you could watch them) The only person to give out notes about them has been UNH Journo Andrew Gardner. Perhaps this could be a question...how much involvement does Ty Conklin have with UNH goal tenders? But that won't happen and even if it did, we the people who still attend games, travel to dangerous places like Schenectady to see them play, would not hear about that. There's less and less reporting going on about UNH hockey, and I'm about to end my subscription to the UL as Alex Hall really hasn't written much about this debacle (or at all). Maybe he's tried to get an interview...I dunno.

I'd have a lot more respect for Mike Souza if he'd allow more media coverage. Sure, its not easy when your team is losing etc...but at least, it would show he's not hiding behind it either. And I do have empathy for him; this obviously hasn't worked out the way he planned (I can still hear him say "UNH will win the National Championship" at a FOH gathering...yes, he did say this...) and I was really hopeful for him.

 

[d.gerry]

I'd have a lot more respect for Mike Souza if he'd allow more media coverage. Sure, its not easy when your team is losing etc...but at least, it would show he's not hiding behind it either.

Even if he did make himself more available to the media, I wonder what the interest would be? Umile used to do a weekly radio show (not his show, he was a guest), but not sure that even happens anymore.

 

[HockeyRef]

Even if he did make himself more available to the media, I wonder what the interest would be? Umile used to do a weekly radio show (not his show, he was a guest), but not sure that even happens anymore.

He doesn't need to do a weekly gig just oh, I dunno, allow the public to listen to these weekly pressers he seems to have, or has had,or, whatever. That was the best part of the FOH...having the coach, didn't have to be the HC, meet up with the fans after games now and then.

Now, there's nothing, nada, zilch unless I am missing something. When I get more news from The New Hampshire (UNH newspaper) than the general media 'giants' of this state I think that's pretty pathetic. And I get your point; how much interest would there be? Like Chuck has pointed out, why HASN'T there been any major media inquiry into the state of the program...PSU gets more press. And as an alum I was psyched to see they were ranked in the top 15 gotta get to a game...

 

[After the Whistle]

I am reasonably sure that Ty has been to most, if not all home games. As for away games I am not the best source. If this position is in fact unpaid, you can bet he would have trouble getting to practices and away games. Think family here!
As for our last volunteer coach he was at every game, and went down to the locker room between periods. I saw him at many away games as I was at most. But harder to confirm because of my sight lines to the tunnels at away sites. As for attending practices???? But I have always shuttered as many would denounce his presence, calling him the video coach or something. while I always felt, man he sure is visible for a volunteer and why is he always here with our goalie.
As for Lassonde, yes he was great, as a recruiter, goal and defensive coach but he was a FULL TIME coach, one of our allowed 3.
i am certainly not slamming Ty but something is definitely missing, and our goaltending is not what is needed to win in D1.

 

[Snively65]

I am reasonably sure that Ty has been to most, if not all home games. As for away games I am not the best source. If this position is in fact unpaid, you can bet he would have trouble getting to practices and away games. Think family here!
As for our last volunteer coach he was at every game, and went down to the locker room between periods. I saw him at many away games as I was at most. But harder to confirm because of my sight lines to the tunnels at away sites. As for attending practices???? But I have always shuttered as many would denounce his presence, calling him the video coach or something. while I always felt, man he sure is visible for a volunteer and why is he always here with our goalie.
As for Lassonde, yes he was great, as a recruiter, goal and defensive coach but he was a FULL TIME coach, one of our allowed 3.
i am certainly not slamming Ty but something is definitely missing, and our goaltending is not what is needed to win in D1.

BC has three listed asst/assoc coaches, Ayers, Buckley, and Orpik. Are all three paid?

 

[Chuck Murray]

BC has three listed asst/assoc coaches, Ayers, Buckley, and Orpik. Are all three paid?

If they are, it's illegal per the NCAA. My guess is Orpik is there on his own dime, after a fairly long NHL career (like Ty).

 

[RossiRules]

If they are, it's illegal per the NCAA. My guess is Orpik is there on his own dime, after a fairly long NHL career (like Ty).

Correct, the university can't pay beyond that number based on current NCAA rules but they can volunteer or a deep pocketed alumni association may pay any coach a stipend as they see fit from donations they receive. A 2 billion + endowment and deep pocketed alums can pull it off. It's completely legit.

 

[Chuck Murray]

He doesn't need to do a weekly gig just oh, I dunno, allow the public to listen to these weekly pressers he seems to have, or has had,or, whatever. That was the best part of the FOH...having the coach, didn't have to be the HC, meet up with the fans after games now and then.

Now, there's nothing, nada, zilch unless I am missing something. When I get more news from The New Hampshire (UNH newspaper) than the general media 'giants' of this state I think that's pretty pathetic. And I get your point; how much interest would there be? Like Chuck has pointed out, why HASN'T there been any major media inquiry into the state of the program...PSU gets more press. And as an alum I was psyched to see they were ranked in the top 15 gotta get to a game...

Check out today's Union Leader blurb, dedicated mostly to the St. Anselm Women's team. Very nice story deserving of its own coverage, but still just passing "coverage" of the sh!t$how on display in Durham ... shocker!!!

 

[Dan]

...a deep pocketed alumni association may pay any coach a stipend as they see fit from donations they receive. A 2 billion + endowment and deep pocketed alums can pull it off. It's completely legit.

No, this is not legit. This is paying a fourth coach for coaching, which is expressly against NCAA rules. What IS allowable would be to pay volunteer coaches out of camp/clinic/instruction revenue - meaning any funds generated from on or off campus youth, prospect or professional camp instruction can be earmarked to pay volunteer coaches. In softball, for example, it is not uncommon for 'volunteers' to be paid quite well from program camps or regular private clinics/lessons run on campus. I am aware of a recent attempt, hypothetically, of course, to hire a 'volunteer' for a full-time position. But, she already made near equal money and wasn't interested in uprooting away from family for a few dollars more...

It has not been uncommon in recent season for low-major or mid-major HEAD COACHES to leave their positions to take 'volunteer' coaching positions at high-major contenders. They can be paid to instruct outside of the organization, but they cannot be paid to 'voluntarily' instruct the NCAA team they serve.

I don't know what UNH makes from running youth or prospect hockey camps - and I've never heard of them running a pro camp - or what they use those funds to pay for, but conceivably they could pay a goalie coach with that money.

 

[HockeyRef]

Check out today's Union Leader blurb, dedicated mostly to the St. Anselm Women's team. Very nice story deserving of its own coverage, but still just passing "coverage" of the ****$how on display in Durham ... shocker!!!

The last line of any sports story on Sunday..."meanwhile, in Durham, the UNH Wildcats men's hockey team lost another one". That's what they would consider coverage at this point....(eye roll)

 

[Chuck Murray]

I don't know what UNH makes from running prospect hockey camps - and I've never heard of them running a pro camp - or what they use those funds to pay for, but conceivably they could pay a goalie coach with that money.

With the overall dearth of PR surrounding UNH Hockey these days, query who would attend if they even had one?

Hockey Prospect Showcase | UNH Youth Programs (currently unavailable LOL)

Wildcat Hockey School | UNH Youth Programs

Girls Ice Hockey Camp | UNH Youth Programs

 

[Chuck Murray]

UNH Gameday ... the 'Cats travel down I-95 to take on the Friars. This place is absolutely electric in anticipation ...

... or not.

Friday UNH Fan Survey: other than college hockey (and borderline illegal things like La Cosa Nostra and strip clubs), what do you like most about your visits to Providence RI, or to the Ocean State in general?

 

[Snively65]

UNH Gameday ... the 'Cats travel down I-95 to take on the Friars. This place is absolutely electric in anticipation ...

... or not.

Friday UNH Fan Survey: other than college hockey (and borderline illegal things like La Cosa Nostra and strip clubs), what do you like most about your visits to Providence RI, or to the Ocean State in general?

Careful there; my mom grew up in Westerly, where my Scottish maternal grandfather was a stonecutter in the quarries.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Careful there; my mom grew up in Westerly, where my Scottish maternal grandfather was a stonecutter in the quarries.

Good to know, and thanks for sharing, Snives. Not sure I see much in the way of intersectionality between Scottish folks and La Cosa Nostra, other than those quarries I suppose (as in, one clan digs 'em, the other uses 'em for "storage" sometimes?), so I think we're in the clear here.

It's not like I'm going to go full scale Schenectady (or New Haven even) on today's topic. I kinda like the place (RI) actually, and I was hoping to get some positive discussion going on it in the pre-game.

Otherwise, we can always chat about the abject failure to date of our Eastern European recruits ... I mean, Sardarian, what's the deal, 16 games and virtually no impact on the scoresheet, other than 2 penalties and six (6) fruitless shots on goal?? He's wearing the coach's old number, did MS7 park the Zamboni on an old Native American burial ground, or what?!? I thought this kid was setting up as this year's next big UNH thing??

A few years ago, all I read on here was "We gotta expand the scope of recruiting, we can't win with locals and Melrose-Wakefield homies" and then we had the Japanese kid who eventually went to Bentley, the two Swedes (one of whom had his time here compressed due to issues I'm still not sure anyone knows about), and now the Russian and Latvian kids. So what have we seen since? The best goalie in the last 5 years was a NH kid, our top scorer this year lives about a 10 minute sleigh ride from Effingwoods, another starting D-man comes from the same NH town as the recent NH goalie, there is a Babson transfer, and finally our fourth top scorer is about a town or two away from the Melrose-Wakefield recruiting hub. Did I miss something, or did Richardson's Dairy become a top donor/sponsor for UNH Men's Hockey when we were busy roasting Alaska's finest Ty Conklin this week?!?!? And if nothing else, we're worse off now that we were then ...