UNH Offseason Thread

[Trillium]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

Recruiting. I'm gonna rant for a bit....

Okay, this is bothering me the most. Coach Mac came from the men's program with a reputation as a stellar recruiter. He finds hidden gems along with the bigger names.

So why all of a sudden can't UNH seem to land a big name? I know, big name recruits aren't everything, and I would much prefer a strong, deep team than one like BC that totally relied upon Schaus and Stack (no offense to Thunstrom).

But this is several years in a row when a historic, perennial power is apparently not even in the running for big name recruits.

On the men's side, information has been far more public about recent losses of high profile recruits. Keith Yandle. Kolamatis. Matt White. Ryan Bourque. Cam Reid.

With the exception of Kolamatis (at least I never heard anything), they were all attributed at least in part to admissions problems. Yandle was denied admission to both UNH and Maine. Bourque came from a prep with a bad reputation, to say the least of his brother's issues at BU. White and Reid were denied admission.

Now UNH is a far better school than the BCers would have people believe, and getting stronger every year. But why the sudden drop off in high profile recruits?

As for the women, in the past year I've heard stories/rumors of big name recruits being interested in UNH, only to inexplicably drop them suddenly. I've heard stories about Poulin and Schelling. I've heard UNH mentioned as part of Agosta-gate. I've heard that Kessel was initially interested in UNH, although I've also heard an alternate explanation for that. Nicole Paniccia, a well regarded goalie recruit for next year (from what I gather), was initially listed as a UNH commit...even read an article about it. Suddenly she was removed from the commit list, changed to UConn, and admission/academics was the rumored reason.

So it would seem that the women are suffering from the same admissions problems that the men are having.

I've heard the suggestion that perhaps admission originally gave the men some leeway, but were burned by players such as Garrett Stafford and Joe Charlebois, who both were academically ineligible for part of their senior seasons.

Perhaps the same root cause is there for the women, given Wedster being academically ineligible for a semester?

Thoughts?

As an outside observer, personally I'm having a lot of trouble buying the logic that Admissions must be the biggest--if not only--explanation for a decline in top end recruits whether on the men's or women's side.

To me it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense on its own; there must be other factors at play. It kinda sounds like a ready excuse:

A look at USN&WR indicates the SAT range at the 25th percentile for all UNH students, not just athletes, was 1010. So 1/4 of the students in the school, (presumably most/all of those being athletes) was even lower. Yet the average SAT score for all American students is 1050. So even assuming a more recent initiative to suddenly raise the bar academically--and/or giving "less of a break" to athletes in the admissions process than previously--, this should still not be much of a barrier to attracting athletes who are still even just academically average.

While there are certainly easier schools to get into, for the most part those are not securing scads of high profile recruits at the moment either. The players you covet and UNH is now missing out on are pretty much all ending up at schools with even stricter overall academic admissions criteria.

 

[Trillium]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

Upside potential in comparison to Lavoie, if I understood you correctly?

Yes. Sorry I wasn't too clear. I realized that afterwards.

 

[freak]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

This has been discussed a lot on the men's board, and while according to the rankings UNH is not a top tier school, the university has been making big strides lately to improve academically. Anecdotally, there have been many stories about students being admitted to what most would consider academically superior schools, while being denied admission to UNH.

As far as hockey goes, however, I'm talking specifically about admissions not giving the team the usual leeway it might with athletes.

As I said, it has been suggested that perhaps admissions felt they were burned by high profile academic issues on the men's side with Stafford and Charlebois. Stafford was an "A" who missed the first semester iirc, and Charlebois was a senior captain who missed the 2nd semester and NCAAs.

On the women's side, Wedster missed a semester due to academic ineligibility, and as I recall, Wright-Ward left school for her entire soph year due to academic issues. In the turnover between Kay and Mac, there were many recruits/players who suddenly disappeared, and at least for a few of them, I recall academics being an issue.

So while admissions as a whole at UNH are certainly not exceptionally stringent, it's not out of the question that the hockey teams are not being given the usual leeway as a result of past problems.

 

[Trillium]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

This has been discussed a lot on the men's board, and while according to the rankings UNH is not a top tier school, the university has been making big strides lately to improve academically. Anecdotally, there have been many stories about students being admitted to what most would consider academically superior schools, while being denied admission to UNH.

As far as hockey goes, however, I'm talking specifically about admissions not giving the team the usual leeway it might with athletes.

As I said, it has been suggested that perhaps admissions felt they were burned by high profile academic issues on the men's side with Stafford and Charlebois. Stafford was an "A" who missed the first semester iirc, and Charlebois was a senior captain who missed the 2nd semester and NCAAs.

On the women's side, Wedster missed a semester due to academic ineligibility, and as I recall, Wright-Ward left school for her entire soph year due to academic issues. In the turnover between Kay and Mac, there were many recruits/players who suddenly disappeared, and at least for a few of them, I recall academics being an issue.

So while admissions as a whole at UNH are certainly not exceptionally stringent, it's not out of the question that the hockey teams are not being given the usual leeway as a result of past problems.

It is completely understandable with that kind of track record that much less leeway would now be given until equilibrium is re-established. And I also agree you will always hear of many cases of individual students denied admission at one school only to secure admission to the school with generally toughter admission standards, because of multiple decision criteria.

Neither changes the fact though that UNH should still not be particularly handcuffed by Admissions barriers relative to most of the competition, given its overall student profile.

 

[freak]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

I'm certainly not implying that UNH is now requiring Ivy level academics of the hockey team.

I'm just trying to make sense of this sudden drought, particularly in light of Mac's reputation. And as the drought seems to coincide with the public admission/academic issues with high profile recruits on the men's side, it seemed to be a reasonable assumption.

I'm not blaming it all on admissions; as I said, the stories I heard involving Poulin, Kessel, and Schelling had nothing to do with that.

While I don't expect UNH to land every big fish, it's odd that they don't seem to be in it for ANY.

 

[binnyrus]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

I wish UNH all the luck in the world next season, I hope they do better than expected (at the present time). I want to see UMD v UNH again in the FF. . . I owe a beer and would like to make good on that.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

I wish UNH all the luck in the world next season, I hope they do better than expected (at the present time). I want to see UMD v UNH again in the FF. . . I owe a beer and would like to make good on that.

Indeed. I am parched

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

No offense binnyrus, but after 3 straight years of having the Bulldogs get the better of us, I would take ANYONE else in the free world over playing you guys a fourth year! The best thing to come out of those years is my getting to know your Senator Klobachur, who like Shaheen, Collins and Snowe is a great representative of their respective states....when she told me her story of the Bulldogs visit to the White House, you can imagine her pride! Nice Lady.

 

[ARM]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

The best thing to come out of those years is my getting to know your Senator Klobachur, who like Shaheen, Collins and Snowe is a great representative of their respective states....when she told me her story of the Bulldogs visit to the White House, you can imagine her pride! Nice Lady.

I hope that the next time Senator Klobuchar gets to visit the White House with a women's hockey team, that team plays their games closer to her birthplace.

 

[DC78-82]

2010 - 2011 Schedule

2010 - 2011 Schedule

Sat Oct. 2 at Connecticut * 1:00 PM
Fri Oct. 8 at Syracuse 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 9 at Colgate 4:00 PM
Fri Oct. 15 at Rensselaer 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 16 at Union 4:00 PM
Fri Oct. 22 Clarkson 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 23 St. Lawrence 5:00 PM
Fri Oct. 29 Niagara 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 30 Niagara 2:00 PM
Sat Nov. 6 Vermont * 5:00 PM
Sun Nov. 7 at Boston U. * 4:00 PM
Sat Nov. 13 Connecticut * 2:00 PM
Sun Nov. 14 at Connecticut * 1:00 PM
Tue Nov. 23 at Maine * at Lewiston, Maine 7:30 PM
Sun Nov. 28 Boston College * 2:00 PM
Wed Dec. 1 Northeastern * 7:00 PM
Sat Dec. 4 at Providence * 1:00 PM
Thu Dec. 9 Harvard 7:00 PM
Sat Dec. 11 Dartmouth 2:00 PM
Sun Jan. 9 Northeastern * 2:00 PM
Fri Jan. 14 Providence * 7:00 PM
Sat Jan. 15 at Providence * 7:00 PM
Tue Jan. 18 at Quinnipiac 7:00 PM
Sun Jan. 23 at Northeastern * TBA
Sat Jan. 29 Maine * 2:00 PM
Sun Jan. 30 Maine * 2:00 PM
Thu Feb. 3 at Boston U. * 7:00 PM
Sat Feb. 5 Boston U. * 2:00 PM
Fri Feb. 11 at Vermont * 7:00 PM
Sat Feb. 12 at Vermont * 4:00 PM
Sat Feb. 19 at Boston College * 2:00 PM
Sun Feb. 20 Boston College * 2:00 PM
Home games in bold.
* = Conference games.

 

[CanHockGuy]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

Mild schedule...Someone played their cards right.

 

[Trillium]

Re: 2010 - 2011 Schedule

Re: 2010 - 2011 Schedule

Sat Oct. 2 at Connecticut * 1:00 PM
Fri Oct. 8 at Syracuse 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 9 at Colgate 4:00 PM
Fri Oct. 15 at Rensselaer 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 16 at Union 4:00 PM
Fri Oct. 22 Clarkson 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 23 St. Lawrence 5:00 PM
Fri Oct. 29 Niagara 7:00 PM
Sat Oct. 30 Niagara 2:00 PM
........
etc
.

Don't forget to post this is the separate Schedules thread too DC.

 

[freak]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

Wow.....that's a lot of road games to start the year.

 

[UNHKazooMonkey]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

I'm certainly not implying that UNH is now requiring Ivy level academics of the hockey team.

I'm just trying to make sense of this sudden drought, particularly in light of Mac's reputation. And as the drought seems to coincide with the public admission/academic issues with high profile recruits on the men's side, it seemed to be a reasonable assumption.

I'm not blaming it all on admissions; as I said, the stories I heard involving Poulin, Kessel, and Schelling had nothing to do with that.

While I don't expect UNH to land every big fish, it's odd that they don't seem to be in it for ANY.

I'd rather have a "team", than one or two "superstars" that can distract the team from reaching their goals. That's not a comment on the three you mentioned, just a random statement.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

I'd rather have a "team", than one or two "superstars" that can distract the team from reaching their goals. That's not a comment on the three you mentioned, just a random statement.

I agree - UNH has always attracted great players, but more than that, great people. And great coaches. I think BU will be the force in our league going into the season, but we have (and will have more in Sept) some incredibly talented hockey players who enter a legacy that every Senior Class leaves. We are WILDCATS!

 

[Travelingman]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

With BU grabbing the likes of Poulin, getting Wakefield on a transfer and Ward coming in to play for a year, on paper they should set records, win another Hockey East Tourney and make a Frozen Four appearance. That is if they have great goaltending. UNH will be in a rebuilding mode for the next year or two.

What UNH needs is to land more players like the Paton's, Faber's,Bellamy's, Garland's and a darn good goalie. UNH has a lot of pride and tradition. Players that played come back to coach, Mac was on the men's side and came to the women's program where he has made his mark. There is no bigger hockey school in the east, and a beautiful campus to boot. Girls seem to travel in packs and/or go where they think that they can win a National Championship. If UNH lands a great forward a great defenseman and a great goalie they will contend.

A winning TEAM always consists of a few superstars. It is how you bring the entire team together that makes them a TEAM. That is up to the staff and players. If you have a star player that only cares about themselves, they will eventually have to change or move on. If not the TEAM will never be a TEAM. IMO UNH is a perfect example of TEAM. Year in and year out they find ways to win. In order for that to continue, yes they need to land superstars.....but the superstars with character that care only about the team. Right now the biggest piece of the puzzle will be the next goaltender to wear the Blue and White.

 

[Trillium]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

A winning TEAM always consists of a few superstars. It is how you bring the entire team together that makes them a TEAM. That is up to the staff and players. If you have a star player that only cares about themselves, they will eventually have to change or move on. If not the TEAM will never be a TEAM. IMO UNH is a perfect example of TEAM. Year in and year out they find ways to win. In order for that to continue, yes they need to land superstars.....but the superstars with character that care only about the team. Right now the biggest piece of the puzzle will be the next goaltender to wear the Blue and White.

Ontario has often been a prime source of goaltending talent in recent years contributing to upgrades in overall team performance (eg. Kessler, Hosier, Vanderbliek, Mazzotta, Vigilante, Jamieson, etc) Accordingly, at this month's HC Conditioning Camp, 12/21 of the goalie invitees were from Ontario.

Goaltending talent in Ontario was unusually both strong and deep in the graduating class who will be entering college this fall. Top end Ontario tenders were snapped up this year by Ohio State, UConn, Clarkson, Minnesota State and Syracuse. The best known goalies from elsewhere committed to Wisconsin, Brown, Vermont, BU and RMU.

Suprisingly, quite a few top Ontario goalies, including one invited to the Team Canada camp, did not find D1 spots for 10-11 and committed to Canadian schools.

Now obviously the situation may well be different in the US, but the next graduating "crop" appears to be comparatively much less strong and deep from Canada, especially from Ontario.

Hopefully for school's in need of goaltenders, that's not also the case elsewhere, or competition for the available top goaltending talent will be much more intense than usual.

The biggest Canadian names available for the 11-12 class based on HC invites would be MacDonald and Frank from the Maritimes, Ryplanski and Trautman from out West, and Piper and Makela from Ontario. I would also put Binnington from Ontario and Desjardins from Quebec among the same group.

 

[RStarr]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

UNH has always attracted...great coaches

debatable.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

debatable.

Is there any coaching staff you're satisfied with?

 

[OneTimer]

Re: UNH Offseason Thread

When are they going to announce the hiring of Jamie Wood?