UNH Off Season Thread 2011

[Nifty16]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

That's an awful non-con schedule. No more making fun of Maine or Northeastern

edit:
on the schedules thread, the RPI schedule is posted:
http://www.rpiathletics.com/documents/2011/1/28/1112MHKYOrderForm.pdf
and there's no mention of New Hampshire and its a full 34 game schedule (2 non-con games are confirmed but not scheduled vs Union and Bentley), so I'm not sure where that leaves us. still, that's a weeeeeeak schedule and could hurt UNH if they don't win all or at least the majority of them. They won't have the advantage of a strong OOC schedule to boost the PWR...

It might be one of the weakest ones I have seen in a long time, will make games against the top HE mean even more in the pairwise. Would like to see them going back to doing some sort of tourney around Christmas to get them going for teh 2nd half of the year.

 

[pgv]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Meaning the 4x4 regional system, or the hosting system? I hadn't heard anything, would be interested in learning more about this! That would explain the delay as it seems like we know regional sites years in advance...

I have no concrete info, just seems there's more talk than usual. I've heard mentions on a couple of chats and think I heard on a tv broadcast that the NCAA is at least looking at doing something different. Couple that with the fact that they haven't even solicited bids beyond next year (was reported in TNH) and I figure they're at least looking at their options.

Perhaps its just wishful thinking on my part. I hate the four regional setup. College hockey aint basketball, and I think that the current system actually yields inferior matchups. I've always been a fan of two regionals, and even the most ardent supporter of the four regions have to admit that at least in terms of attendance they have fallen short of the old system.

 

[GoUNH]

Would like to see them going back to doing some sort of tourney around Christmas to get them going for teh 2nd half of the year.

Absolutely agree. The 3 week rest period is a momentum killer. I still have nightmares about the Cornell game at the Whit last year.

 

[UNHFan1]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Not trying to change the subject, but I'm a little jealous of those season ticket prices.

That's an awful non-con schedule. No more making fun of Maine or Northeastern

edit:
on the schedules thread, the RPI schedule is posted:
http://www.rpiathletics.com/documents/2011/1/28/1112MHKYOrderForm.pdf
and there's no mention of New Hampshire and its a full 34 game schedule (2 non-con games are confirmed but not scheduled vs Union and Bentley), so I'm not sure where that leaves us. still, that's a weeeeeeak schedule and could hurt UNH if they don't win all or at least the majority of them. They won't have the advantage of a strong OOC schedule to boost the PWR...

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Jacob Micflikier shows Paul Thompson a thing or two - scoring 2 goals during Thompson's first game in the AHL. Thompson did have an assist:
http://theahl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1008449

 

[jml42691]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

...Couple that with the fact that they haven't even solicited bids beyond next year (was reported in TNH) and I figure they're at least looking at their options...

Also in that article the Deputy A.D. Steve Metcalf (who serves as UNH's tournament director) is quoted as saying that UNH is fully prepared to place bids for 2013, 2015 and and every odd year after that as soon as the NCAA begins to accept bids for those years. I too however would like to see a change in the tournament design, not sure exactly how I feel it should be done but I don't feel the current setup reflects well upon college hockey.

 

[pgv]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

I too however would like to see a change in the tournament design, not sure exactly how I feel it should be done but I don't feel the current setup reflects well upon college hockey.

As much as I don't like the current system, there is no easy way to fix it. (See the dozen page thread on the subject.) So I fear that the NCAA might just stick with it for lack of a better option.

 

[UNH09]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

As much as I don't like the current system, there is no easy way to fix it. (See the dozen page thread on the subject.) So I fear that the NCAA might just stick with it for lack of a better option.

The NCAA is facing problems in both basketball and hockey with regional attendance. I really think that some of their seeding rules need to go to keep teams closer to home, if attendance is really a factor. Sending Boston College out to St. Louis and bringing Miami to Manchester solely happened for seeding reasons, I think both schools would have been more successful in attendance had the conference rules been disregarded. UNH, BC and Merrimack in Manchester would have helped a ton, and Miami in St. Louis certainly would have helped. Hockey isn't a big enough sport to really avoid conference matchups anyway, what is the difference between a first round and second round conference matchup at this point anyway?

(I know I'm going to get killed for this post)

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

The NCAA is facing problems in both basketball and hockey with regional attendance. I really think that some of their seeding rules need to go to keep teams closer to home, if attendance is really a factor. Sending Boston College out to St. Louis and bringing Miami to Manchester solely happened for seeding reasons, I think both schools would have been more successful in attendance had the conference rules been disregarded. UNH, BC and Merrimack in Manchester would have helped a ton, and Miami in St. Louis certainly would have helped. Hockey isn't a big enough sport to really avoid conference matchups anyway, what is the difference between a first round and second round conference matchup at this point anyway?

(I know I'm going to get killed for this post)

I'm not going to kill you, but you can't have a reprise of the Hockey East finals one week later. I agree that the system has to be tweaked, but more along the lines of really determining who deserves to be a #1 seed and, by extension, who doesn't belong in the final 16. I really had no problem with any of the 16 teams who made it (even RPI) this year, but I had a real problem with Yale being a #1 seed. An OT win vs. auto bid Air Force, then a thrashing by UMD (the 4th or 5th best team in the WCHA) says to me that the Yalies don't belong, despite being extolled by Barry Melrose. Union, with their 33% PP (but 0-9 vs UMD), was another one. It's not so much that they made the tournament, but how they were seeded that bothered me. Neither team was worthy IMO.

As far as how to work the regionals, I go back to the days when the top two teams in ECAC and the top two in the WCHA got to the FF. It wasn't until the mid-70's that CCHA teams were allowed to get a bid. I can't remember which school it was, but one year they had 30+ wins during the regular season and were not in the NCAA's. In the 80's the tournament expanded to 8 teams, with the quarterfinals played at home rinks (this is how UNH got to the FF in '82, by beating Michigan St. at Snively). This format lasted into the early '90's when they finally went to off campus sites. I think that first there were two regionals with four teams apiece (UNH played in one at Providence in '92), then four regionals with 3 teams (UNH in '99 had a first round bye), then in the early '00's the tournament was expanded to 16 teams with no automatic byes (UNH in Worcester in '03).

There is no way they can expand the tournament yet again. And I don't think that they will go back to on-campus sites for the round of 16 and 8, even though it would increase the likelihood of sellouts. Instead, I think that the NCAA has to become more judicious as to where the regionals are held and what teams are seeded into each one. Eastern teams in the east, Western teams in the west except for the bottom four I would think. Even then, not sure if attendance would be much better than it is now. I guess not fool proof answer.

 

[Nifty16]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/mice/2010-11/releases/2011040343vpv2

Sislo signs with the Devils to report to Albany. Congrats Mike

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/mice/2010-11/releases/2011040343vpv2

Sislo signs with the Devils to report to Albany. Congrats Mike

Good luck to a mature captain who helped his teammates exceed preseason expectations.
Last summer, Mike Sislo participated in the Chicago Blackhawks' Development (Prospects) Camp and he ended up signing with the New Jersey Devils' organization.
Paul Thompson played in the Penguins' Development Camp and signed with them.

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

(I know I'm going to get killed for this post)

Why? I think a lot of people agree with you. I certainly do and have been saying it for two weeks! I'm sure the economy has a lot to do with this, and I understand these arrangements are made in advance, but putting a regional where there is NO interest in college hockey is ludicrous no matter WHO the teams are...

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

A rumor mill has Coaches Lassonde and Borek in contention for the Providence head coaching job. I hope David Lassonde remains at UNH. His recruiting and teaching abilities are the primary reason UNH has had a consecutive string of outstanding goalies (Conklin, Ayers, Regan, Foster, DiGirolamo). He also is responsible for coaching the defense which was solid this season.

IMO, Scott Borek has done a very good job recruiting and coaching the offense. He deserves another chance to be a Division 1 head coach. If he is awarded this promotion, UNH will need to find a recruiter who is at least as accomplished as Borek has been. This could be an opportunity to hire an heir apparent to Coach Umile when he retires.

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Had some spare time to tool around with boxscores this afternoon.

UNH Hockey at the Verizon Wireless Arena

Riverstone Cup
12-13-01 UNH 6 Dartmouth 3 Attendance: 10,053
1-15-03 UNH 1 Dartmouth 1 Attendance: 10,104
1-13-04 UNH 5 Dartmouth 0 Attendance: 10,104
1-12-05 Dartmouth 9 UNH 8 Attendance: 9,405
1-14-06 UNH 5 Dartmouth 4 Attendance: 7,018
1-13-07 UNH 4 Dartmouth 2 Attendance: 9,640
1-19-08 Dartmouth 5 UNH 3 Attendance: 8,654
1-17-09 UNH 6 Dartmouth 4 Attendance: 8,001
1-16-10 UNH 5 Dartmouth 2 Attendance: 7,573
1-15-11 Dartmouth 5 UNH 4 Attendance: 7,704
Record: 6-3-1 | Average Attendance: 8,826

Hockey East games
2-1-03 UNH 4 Maine 2 Attendance: 10,104
11-12-03 UNH 2 BC 2 Attendance: 10,104
11-5-04 UNH 4 BU 3 Attendance: 9,075
11-1-05 BC 3 UNH 2 Attendance: 8,411
2-2-07 Maine 4 UNH 2 Attendance: 10,104
2-7-09 Maine 1 UNH 0 Attendance: 8,811
Record: 2-3-1 | Average Attendance: 9,435

Regular Season (total)
Record: 8-6-2 | Average Attendance: 9,054

NCAA Tournament
3-27-04 Michigan 4 UNH 1 Attendance: 10,104
3-24-07 Miami 2 UNH 1 Attendance: 9,015
3-28-09 UNH 6 North Dakota 5 Attendance: 6,883
3-29-09 BU 2 UNH 1 Attendance: 7,863
3-26-11 UNH 3 Miami 1 Attendance: 7,608
3-27-11 Notre Dame 2 UNH 1 Attendance: 5,906
Record: 2-4-0 | Average Attendance: 7,897

All Games Total
Record: 10-10-2 | Average Attendance: 8,738

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Had some spare time to tool around with boxscores this afternoon.

UNH Hockey at the Verizon Wireless Arena

12-13-01 UNH 6 Dartmouth 3 Attendance: 10,053

3-27-11 Notre Dame 2 UNH 1 Attendance: 5,906

What you are saying is the bloom is off the rose.

Look at the "waiting" list for season tickets and the samething shows up. At this point I think the price has exceeded market demand. It is no longer a good deal and although the hockey is good the fan base has great expectations realistic or not.

This is a classic case. Lower the price increase the demand and fill the building. Potentially drive excitement in to building - probably want to do something on the text-toy to tell people when and how to cheer.

 

[Nifty16]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

A rumor mill has Coaches Lassonde and Borek in contention for the Providence head coaching job. I hope David Lassonde remains at UNH. His recruiting and teaching abilities are the primary reason UNH has had a consecutive string of outstanding goalies (Conklin, Ayers, Regan, Foster, DiGirolamo). He also is responsible for coaching the defense which was solid this season.

IMO, Scott Borek has done a very good job recruiting and coaching the offense. He deserves another chance to be a Division 1 head coach. If he is awarded this promotion, UNH will need to find a recruiter who is at least as accomplished as Borek has been. This could be an opportunity to hire an heir apparent to Coach Umile when he retires.

I agree I would hate to see Lassonde go, think he has been under the radar for years in the teams success and can’t argue with the way he has developed goalies. He would be a huge lost. Of the 2 think Borek is the more replaceable one. He has done a good job in find the young guys and helping them develop over there years at UNH. But like you said this could be a good way to get a young guy in who could be the next head guy and maybe has some strong ties to the USHL or National Program. Would be interesting to see who they would go after, a former UNH guy and if so who?

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

What you are saying is the bloom is off the rose.

Look at the "waiting" list for season tickets and the samething shows up. At this point I think the price has exceeded market demand. It is no longer a good deal and although the hockey is good the fan base has great expectations realistic or not.

This is a classic case. Lower the price increase the demand and fill the building.

I actually had no motive, I was just interested to see all the numbers (especially our record) and after putting them together thought others might find it useful. I do agree with your assessment though, but not necessarily the two games you used to demonstrate it - keep in mind the price disparity between the Riverstone and the Regionals, the latter of which is set by the NCAA.

Even still, it is worth noting that until they started pushing the $10 meal deals (hot dog, drink, & corner balcony ticket) close to the game that the Riverstone was more expensive than a Monarchs game (also excludes $5 student ticket [balcony]):
UNH: $25 lower bowl, $23 balcony
Monarchs: $23 neutral zone, $21 inside the blue lines anywhere except the first row ($23), $16 anywhere in the balcony
[if I've got my Monarchs prices right]

Potentially drive excitement in to building - probably want to do something on the text-toy to tell people when and how to cheer.

I'm usually pretty critical of using the scoreboard to prompt cheers, etc but I will say that for the first few years during league games, and maybe the Riverstone in years when UNH was the "host" - I honestly don't remember now, they would occasionally play clips during TV breaks or stoppages to keep or get the crowd in to it, i.e. the end of Gene Hackman's locker room speech + slow clap from "Hoosiers" and it worked pretty well. The easiest way to give the Riverstone more of a college feel and some excitement (and pad the attendance numbers) would be to schedule it when the kids aren't on break.

If I get around to it I'll try and run some Whitt attendances from the past 10 or so years, I've long suspected (but haven't had the time to prove) that '09-'10 might have had the lowest attendance numbers of the 2000's.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Some more scheduling info:

UMASS
-------------------------
FRI 11/04 @ New Hampshire
FRI 02/24 New Hampshire
SAT 02/25 New Hampshire

Bertagna also announced the final weekend schedules for Hockey East in a press release a few weeks ago and it stated that UNH would finish the season with 2 at Maine, so it looks like a crazy finish on the road next year...

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

I do agree with your assessment though, but not necessarily the two games you used to demonstrate it - keep in mind the price disparity between the Riverstone and the Regionals, the latter of which is set by the NCAA.

I was being more general than those two games. Mine was more a general commentary on UNH hockey and how the prices (for any game) is now beyond what the market will handle. Look this year how UNH ran packages during student break at very low prices and still the building didn't fill. I seem to recall an economics class where this would be a case of pricing exceeding market elasticity but it has been a long time since that class, so I could be "mis-remembering" it.

 

[UNH8]

Re: UNH Off Season Thread 2011

Hey fellow Wildcat fans. Is anyone making the trek out to St. Paul for the Frozen Four? If so, please PM me. Looking for some fellow UNH fans to hang out with out in Minnesota on Thursday and Saturday. I have a few friends who attend Minnesota but they are in class on Friday. That day I was thinking of going on a booze cruise on Lake Minnetonka or taking a party bus up to Eveleth (US Hockey Hall of Fame). PM me if you are interested.

-Tyson