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UNH Recruits: 2012-2018

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Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Dan, you referred to MV as a top recruit, referenced his numbers at Malden Catholic and then went on to compare his stats to that of Sean Collins and Steve Saviano---insinuating they are comparable. I told you then, and I will tell you now---hes not anywhere near the same caliber of player.

Okay - this is simply not true. I said I liked him more than Jamie Hill and Kyle Smith, among others in a 2012 class that I think is very average at the F position. I never compared him to any player at the level of Sean Collins or Steve Saviano and I never referenced his numbers at MC. As a matter of fact, our argument devolved into a debate of recent recruits vs. previous recruits. I maintained that the earlier classes were far more productive as college players - why would I turn around and make a claim like that about MV/Collins/Saviano. Someone else may have said that or you may have perceived that, but I never thought or said anything of the sort...

I understand your argument in regards to managing of recruits---but i will tell you the same thing I told you then---the staff was relieved to see him go as they knew they made a mistake giving him a 75% scholorship. If they had a preference I assure you they would have had it work out just as it did. So in that sense it is nothing like Cam Reid or Joey L.

Maybe MV never makes a real impact at the DI level - I don't know, who does, but UNH obviously thought he would after a year in JRs and then were happy to push him to decommit? Thats crappy evaluation at best. Another recruiting mishap in a long-line of them and a real problem. Thats always been my argument.
 
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Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Maybe MV never makes a real impact at the DI level - I don't know, who does, but UNH obviously thought he would after a year in JRs and then were happy to push him to decommit? Thats crappy evaluation at best. Another recruiting mishap in a long-line of them and a real problem. Thats always been my argument.

Or maybe not?? According to Hokydad, he's still got multiple offers from schools FAR superior to UNH; so many so that he's overwhelmed and has some serious soul searching to do :rolleyes:
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Or maybe not?? According to Hokydad, he's still got multiple offers from schools FAR superior to UNH; so many so that he's overwhelmed and has some serious soul searching to do :rolleyes:

easy big guy....

it is a marathon and not a sprint.
very difficult to get a deal late in season for same year and get cash. he had 4/5 offers, including 2 teams in Frozen Four.
After coming home, talking to his advisor and realizing that a full, healthy year in USHL would be best thing and would allow other schools a chance to hop in mix, he agreed. Was never opposed to it but was more interested in playing that fall. After looking at it and seeing what his role would be on ushl team next year, decided to go back. Smart move.

30 points as a rookie in USHL is by no means sub par. 15 points in last 22 games is not to shabby, especially when they were in playoff hunt.Very good and history shows second year players do very well. New coach, new system and had a very good second half.

Now that he has signed up for another year, 4 more Hockey East schools have jumped in the mix, along with the 4/5 who already made offers. He clearly was confident or he would not have walked away from UNH without another deal. Says something about his convictions to his beliefs.

The least of your worries is him playing D 1 at a top school.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Fair enough, but still don't see why he wouldn't take an offer if he had them already on the table for this year?
 
Fair enough, but still don't see why he wouldn't take an offer if he had them already on the table for this year?

Same reason a kid would walk away fromUNH without another deal in hand... wants Hockey East and as much money as possible to help out his family. Had a 95% deal from a frozen four team and said no thanks

Several HE teams have money for next season and are making offers as we speak
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Hokydad is going to rush here to tell you all that Vecchione is under strong consideration for a Frozen Four-caliber club and will frame his discussion in the sense that he is going to be better off at a better school. Of course, he's talking about Union. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Same reason a kid would walk away fromUNH without another deal in hand... wants Hockey East and as much money as possible to help out his family. Had a 95% deal from a frozen four team and said no thanks

Predictable.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Let it play out and dont waste your time worrying about it
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

To be fair, I will admit that MV did pick up his scoring pace over the 2nd half of the year to a more respectable pace.
 
To be fair, I will admit that MV did pick up his scoring pace over the 2nd half of the year to a more respectable pace.

He was hurt twice beg of last year

Will have good summer of training and very good 2nd season

can list dozens who had half half his pts first year
and lit up 2nd season.



new coach, much more open system. Also remember
 
easy big guy....

it is a marathon and not a sprint.
very difficult to get a deal late in season for same year and get cash. he had 4/5 offers, including 2 teams in Frozen Four.
After coming home, talking to his advisor and realizing that a full, healthy year in USHL would be best thing and would allow other schools a chance to hop in mix, he agreed. Was never opposed to it but was more interested in playing that fall. After looking at it and seeing what his role would be on ushl team next year, decided to go back. Smart move. P

30 points as a rookie in USHL is by no means sub par. 15 points in last 22 games is not to shabby, especially when they were in playoff hunt.Very good and history shows second year players do very well. New coach, new system and had a very good second half.

Now that he has signed up for another year, 4 more Hockey East schools have jumped in the mix, along with the 4/5 who already made offers. He clearly was confident or he would not have walked away from UNH without another deal. Says something about his convictions to his beliefs.

The least of your worries is him playing D 1 at a top school.

Yea but, this contradicts what you previously stated. You are not a credible source.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Hokydad,

You stated numerous times throughout the winter that MV had offers from superior schools in Hockey East---offers that were as good or better than the one he had at UNH (75%). If this was in fact true, why would he not take any of them?

UNH asked him to play another year of juniors because they felt he was not ready to contribute at the D1level. If all along he felt this was the right decision he would not have decommitted. Yes, UNH originally felt he would be ready for the 2012-2013 season, but after evaluating him during his time in the USHL they realized this was not the case and they were honest with him and moved him back another year. If MV would have been producing and they felt he could help them win games next season they would have brought him in.

Bottom line is MV felt he was ready to play college hockey NEXT season. He felt if he decommitted another school would offer him. That did not happen. You want to know why? Because UNH was right in their assessment and he needed another year of juniors. If a hockey east school superior to UNH offered him the 75% or better why would he not take it? Bottom line is that you lied. You are no longer credible because now everyone knows you lie.

And remember when I told you fitzgerald was playing in the EJHL next season? I told you I spoke to his father and he told me this----and you called me a liar and told me hed be playing for MC next season? I remember that---guess where hes playing next season---Valley Junior Warriors. He is doing this because the Catholic Conference is not good enough for him to continue to develop.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Oh, and dont use the "it was late in the season and schools didnt have money" as an excuse. If MV was good enough to help a Hockey East team win games they would have offered him. BC had an offer on the table all season long for Alex Kerfoot. BU just moved Sam Kurker up when the Polesello money became available. I assure you, if BU felt MV was good enough to play there why would they not have offered him? Polesello is a better prospect than MV and he already has full scholorship offers from Hockey East schools for next season. Bottom line is MV is not a "top recruit"...he needs another year. He should have listened to UNH. If he had hed be in the exact same position hes in right now, only difference is that hed had a 75% scholorship to a top program.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Interesting that you end up by stating that Hokeydad is lying. In your post you acknowledge that UNH promised MV that he could come in this year, but then changed its mind. Where I come from, when you promise somebody something, and then go back on that promise, it is not honorable. It doesn't matter that UNH was "honest" (and interesting term) with MV last year saying they were changing their prior promise. The ends do not justify the means.
You seem to goad that MV has no other offers as being proof that UNH was "right." You seem to overlook that MV took offense that UNH was dishonest with him, and decided that he did not want to play for dishonest -- I can respect that he made a principled stand not to play for coaches he can't trust, even if it does mean he still has to spend another year in the USHL. MV had offers from Union, but apparently has chosen to go back another year. I don't think anyone contends he is Gaudreau who everyone would snatch up no matter how late in the year UNH cut him loose. (we see even Jon Gilies had limited options -- I suppose he too was "honest" with NU in breaking his commitment for greener pastures). But he is a talented kid, and far better than 3 of the forwards UNH is bringing in -- the only difference being that he has not "aged out" of the USHL while the others have. I have no doubt if UNH had been "honest" with him starting in September, and if he were not very selective, he would be in college this year. Heck, even Laleggia was too late to get a gig in 2010, and went to 2011.

In the end, this leaves an incredibly sour taste, in which UNH seems to have been dishonest with the kid. And given UNH's dubious or convenient assesment of whether Laleggia, Thrush, Sorkin etc. are ready it seems to show that UNH values age more than talent. I think Sorkin and Thush showed that they are "ready" a year earlier than UNH thought, and Laleggia and Downing showed that they were "more than ready" when deferred an extra year. An interesting view that UNH is more confident in having a junior coach develop the player in his 18-19 year season rather than bringing him to UNH to learn under Umile and the staff.

Edit: We see this ocassionally even with BC. The only difference being that York probably is happy things have worked out for Tiefenwerth rather than crowing that BC was right about him because he only ended up at U.Mass.

edit 2: "the only difference" further being that York has won a couple of championships;) and even then values getting talent on campus to teach them during a freshman year (see Destry Straight) rather than sending kids out to the USHL until they are 20.

Nice post... Dover is a joke.

End of story, UNH lied and kid walked. The lie wasn't, "play another year in USHL"
Give him credit for standing behind his beliefs/convictions.

Had 4+ offers for 2012. Has decided he will go following year. Smart move, no hurry to get there...
2/4 far superior programs, schools and total package. It is a marathon
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Interesting that you end up by stating that Hokeydad is lying. In your post you acknowledge that UNH promised MV that he could come in this year, but then changed its mind. Where I come from, when you promise somebody something, and then go back on that promise, it is not honorable. It doesn't matter that UNH was "honest" (and interesting term) with MV last year saying they were changing their prior promise. The ends do not justify the means.
You seem to goad that MV has no other offers as being proof that UNH was "right." You seem to overlook that MV took offense that UNH was dishonest with him, and decided that he did not want to play for dishonest -- I can respect that he made a principled stand not to play for coaches he can't trust, even if it does mean he still has to spend another year in the USHL. MV had offers from Union, but apparently has chosen to go back another year. I don't think anyone contends he is Gaudreau who everyone would snatch up no matter how late in the year UNH cut him loose. (we see even Jon Gilies had limited options -- I suppose he too was "honest" with NU in breaking his commitment for greener pastures). But he is a talented kid, and far better than 3 of the forwards UNH is bringing in -- the only difference being that he has not "aged out" of the USHL while the others have. I have no doubt if UNH had been "honest" with him starting in September, and if he were not very selective, he would be in college this year. Heck, even Laleggia was too late to get a gig in 2010, and went to 2011.

In the end, this leaves an incredibly sour taste, in which UNH seems to have been dishonest with the kid. And given UNH's dubious or convenient assesment of whether Laleggia, Thrush, Sorkin etc. are ready it seems to show that UNH values age more than talent. I think Sorkin and Thush showed that they are "ready" a year earlier than UNH thought, and Laleggia and Downing showed that they were "more than ready" when deferred an extra year. An interesting view that UNH is more confident in having a junior coach develop the player in his 18-19 year season rather than bringing him to UNH to learn under Umile and the staff.

Edit: We see this ocassionally even with BC. The only difference being that York probably is happy things have worked out for Tiefenwerth rather than crowing that BC was right about him because he only ended up at U.Mass.

edit 2: "the only difference" further being that York has won a couple of championships;) and even then values getting talent on campus to teach them during a freshman year (see Destry Straight) rather than sending kids out to the USHL until they are 20.

Ok, since returning to Hockey East in the capacity of Hockey East Analyst I tend to look over the fan forum from time to time to get a feel for the issues around the league from a fans perspective. My eyes usually tend to gaze more so at the UNH threads as it is my alma mater and I have deep ties to the program—and I also have a strong interest in the team. For those out there who do not know who I am I played at UNH from 2003-2007, captaining the team as a senior. I now work for NESN as the Hockey East Analyst, along with Chris Warner I put up all the content on ushr.com and finally I am the recruiting coordinator and asst. coach at Milton Academy. I believe that over the course of the last 4 years I have watched more or as much hockey as any DI coach or NHL scout—I am constantly in the rinks. I have seen just about every UNH recruit with the exception of a couple in western Canada. I remain close to the program and speak with the staff on a very regular basis. There have been numerous occasions throughout the year where I have wanted to post, but felt it was not my place and would not be professional. Having said that, I felt that if I were to post, I would not hide behind a handle, Id do it under my name so everyone associated would know exactly who I was and what my thoughts were.

NCAA Watcher—your post really aggravates me and could not be further from the truth. You are accusing the UNH coaching staff of lying to a player and being dishonest in how the Mike Vecchione situation was handled. Dick Umile has never been dishonest with a player and never will be. Having gone through the recruiting process as a player and having seen numerous kids go through the process I can tell you one thing—the only thing that is ever “promised” to a player is what they will receive in terms of scholarship money and the fact that they will start with a stall in the locker room—nothing else is promised—NOTHING. The year a player is to arrive, how much a player will play and what role the player has are all moving variables and never guaranteed. Any player, Mike Vecchione included, is given a timeline in terms of when the staff plans to bring them in. This does not mean it is a done deal by any means. Any recruit has expectations that they must meet if they would like to come in as scheduled. The player in question was told to go to the USHL and when he proved to be a top player in the league he would come into UNH. He had the opportunity to do so this season—and at one point it was thought he would become a top player in only 1 season in the USHL. That was not the case—he was not a top player in the league this season and was then asked to play another year. This is not uncommon.

You state that the recruit in question is better than 3 forwards UNH is bringing in next season. I do not agree with your assessment, but I am not here to argue that… My question is how can you say that? Have you seen all of UNH’s recruits play? Are you qualified to make that decision? Or are you just making that statement by reading stats and comments online? Scott Borek and Jim Tortorella are two of the best talent evaluators in the country with years of experience and ARE in fact qualified. If UNH felt he could help them win more so than someone else, they would have pushed someone else back or they would have brought them all in at once. Fact is they felt what was best for his development was to play a year in the USHL as opposed to being one of 17 forwards at UNH and rarely—if at all—getting into the lineup. I can tell you from experience there is nothing fun or encouraging about sitting in the stands and watching your team play.

You say that Jerry York just brings players in early, even if they are not prepared and would rather develop them in house as opposed to having them play juniors—and you use Destry Straight as the example and essentially compare that situation to that of Mike Vecchione. Here is the difference, Destry Straight played in 43 of the teams 44 games and most of the time played with Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. Destry Straight put up 67 points in 59 games in the BCHL as a 17 year old—this is very impressive. His numbers did in fact tail off a bit in his final year of juniors, and he probably could have used another year. Having said that, by the time BC realized this there was not a better player in the country BC could have brought in opposed to Straight. Also, straight was going to play—he was going to get better because he was in the lineup. BC did not have 12 better forwards than him. Was he ready to step in and play top 6 minutes? No, but he was certainly good enough to be in the lineup every night. Mike Vecchione is far different. UNH has 12 forwards who are better for next season, or at least more prepared to be in the lineup. Mike Vecchione would have struggled to play 10 games. Mike Vecchione put up 30 points as an 18 year old in the USHL vs. Straights 67 points as a 17 year old—there is no comparison here. If you are questioning whether or not it is better to have a kid in the USHL playing top 6 minutes, PP, PK, etc or to be in college and be a healthy scratch on a nightly basis than you know nothing of this game.

I have an issue with you referring to the staff as dishonest and lacking integrity when you know nothing of the men they are. I would highly doubt you have ever met Mike Vecchione or know anything about the situation—certainly not enough to call Dick Umile a liar. I know with 100% certainty that his scholarship was never pulled. Dick Umile and the UNH staff have never pulled a players scholarship off the table. UNH felt what was best for Vecchione was to play another year of juniors, the kid did not agree and the two parties parted ways. I do find it interesting that he is playing another year of juniors anyway and now feels its best for his development. Again, I will reiterate—in the recruiting process the only two things that are PROMISED is the amount of scholarship you are to receive and that you will have a stall in the locker room when you arrive. You are given a timeline as to when you are expected to arrive, and to arrive ON TIME you have to meet certain expectations—no promises are made and I know with 100% certainty that no one on the UNH staff ever PROMISED him he would be brought in for the 2012-2013 season.

Cheers.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Interesting that you end up by stating that Hokeydad is lying. In your post you acknowledge that UNH promised MV that he could come in this year, but then changed its mind. Where I come from, when you promise somebody something, and then go back on that promise, it is not honorable. It doesn't matter that UNH was "honest" (and interesting term) with MV last year saying they were changing their prior promise. The ends do not justify the means.
You seem to goad that MV has no other offers as being proof that UNH was "right." You seem to overlook that MV took offense that UNH was dishonest with him, and decided that he did not want to play for dishonest -- I can respect that he made a principled stand not to play for coaches he can't trust, even if it does mean he still has to spend another year in the USHL. MV had offers from Union, but apparently has chosen to go back another year. I don't think anyone contends he is Gaudreau who everyone would snatch up no matter how late in the year UNH cut him loose. (we see even Jon Gilies had limited options -- I suppose he too was "honest" with NU in breaking his commitment for greener pastures). But he is a talented kid, and far better than 3 of the forwards UNH is bringing in -- the only difference being that he has not "aged out" of the USHL while the others have. I have no doubt if UNH had been "honest" with him starting in September, and if he were not very selective, he would be in college this year. Heck, even Laleggia was too late to get a gig in 2010, and went to 2011.

In the end, this leaves an incredibly sour taste, in which UNH seems to have been dishonest with the kid. And given UNH's dubious or convenient assesment of whether Laleggia, Thrush, Sorkin etc. are ready it seems to show that UNH values age more than talent. I think Sorkin and Thush showed that they are "ready" a year earlier than UNH thought, and Laleggia and Downing showed that they were "more than ready" when deferred an extra year. An interesting view that UNH is more confident in having a junior coach develop the player in his 18-19 year season rather than bringing him to UNH to learn under Umile and the staff.

Edit: We see this ocassionally even with BC. The only difference being that York probably is happy things have worked out for Tiefenwerth rather than crowing that BC was right about him because he only ended up at U.Mass.

edit 2: "the only difference" further being that York has won a couple of championships;) and even then values getting talent on campus to teach them during a freshman year (see Destry Straight) rather than sending kids out to the USHL until they are 20.

it was stated the offers were scholarship and hockey east, union is neither.
 
Ok, since returning to Hockey East in the capacity of Hockey East Analyst I tend to look over the fan forum from time to time to get a feel for the issues around the league from a fans perspective. My eyes usually tend to gaze more so at the UNH threads as it is my alma mater and I have deep ties to the program—and I also have a strong interest in the team. For those out there who do not know who I am I played at UNH from 2003-2007, captaining the team as a senior. I now work for NESN as the Hockey East Analyst, along with Chris Warner I put up all the content on ushr.com and finally I am the recruiting coordinator and asst. coach at Milton Academy. I believe that over the course of the last 4 years I have watched more or as much hockey as any DI coach or NHL scout—I am constantly in the rinks. I have seen just about every UNH recruit with the exception of a couple in western Canada. I remain close to the program and speak with the staff on a very regular basis. There have been numerous occasions throughout the year where I have wanted to post, but felt it was not my place and would not be professional. Having said that, I felt that if I were to post, I would not hide behind a handle, Id do it under my name so everyone associated would know exactly who I was and what my thoughts were.

NCAA Watcher—your post really aggravates me and could not be further from the truth. You are accusing the UNH coaching staff of lying to a player and being dishonest in how the Mike Vecchione situation was handled. Dick Umile has never been dishonest with a player and never will be. Having gone through the recruiting process as a player and having seen numerous kids go through the process I can tell you one thing—the only thing that is ever “promised” to a player is what they will receive in terms of scholarship money and the fact that they will start with a stall in the locker room—nothing else is promised—NOTHING. The year a player is to arrive, how much a player will play and what role the player has are all moving variables and never guaranteed. Any player, Mike Vecchione included, is given a timeline in terms of when the staff plans to bring them in. This does not mean it is a done deal by any means. Any recruit has expectations that they must meet if they would like to come in as scheduled. The player in question was told to go to the USHL and when he proved to be a top player in the league he would come into UNH. He had the opportunity to do so this season—and at one point it was thought he would become a top player in only 1 season in the USHL. That was not the case—he was not a top player in the league this season and was then asked to play another year. This is not uncommon.

You state that the recruit in question is better than 3 forwards UNH is bringing in next season. I do not agree with your assessment, but I am not here to argue that… My question is how can you say that? Have you seen all of UNH’s recruits play? Are you qualified to make that decision? Or are you just making that statement by reading stats and comments online? Scott Borek and Jim Tortorella are two of the best talent evaluators in the country with years of experience and ARE in fact qualified. If UNH felt he could help them win more so than someone else, they would have pushed someone else back or they would have brought them all in at once. Fact is they felt what was best for his development was to play a year in the USHL as opposed to being one of 17 forwards at UNH and rarely—if at all—getting into the lineup. I can tell you from experience there is nothing fun or encouraging about sitting in the stands and watching your team play.

You say that Jerry York just brings players in early, even if they are not prepared and would rather develop them in house as opposed to having them play juniors—and you use Destry Straight as the example and essentially compare that situation to that of Mike Vecchione. Here is the difference, Destry Straight played in 43 of the teams 44 games and most of the time played with Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. Destry Straight put up 67 points in 59 games in the BCHL as a 17 year old—this is very impressive. His numbers did in fact tail off a bit in his final year of juniors, and he probably could have used another year. Having said that, by the time BC realized this there was not a better player in the country BC could have brought in opposed to Straight. Also, straight was going to play—he was going to get better because he was in the lineup. BC did not have 12 better forwards than him. Was he ready to step in and play top 6 minutes? No, but he was certainly good enough to be in the lineup every night. Mike Vecchione is far different. UNH has 12 forwards who are better for next season, or at least more prepared to be in the lineup. Mike Vecchione would have struggled to play 10 games. Mike Vecchione put up 30 points as an 18 year old in the USHL vs. Straights 67 points as a 17 year old—there is no comparison here. If you are questioning whether or not it is better to have a kid in the USHL playing top 6 minutes, PP, PK, etc or to be in college and be a healthy scratch on a nightly basis than you know nothing of this game.

I have an issue with you referring to the staff as dishonest and lacking integrity when you know nothing of the men they are. I would highly doubt you have ever met Mike Vecchione or know anything about the situation—certainly not enough to call Dick Umile a liar. I know with 100% certainty that his scholarship was never pulled. Dick Umile and the UNH staff have never pulled a players scholarship off the table. UNH felt what was best for Vecchione was to play another year of juniors, the kid did not agree and the two parties parted ways. I do find it interesting that he is playing another year of juniors anyway and now feels its best for his development. Again, I will reiterate—in the recruiting process the only two things that are PROMISED is the amount of scholarship you are to receive and that you will have a stall in the locker room when you arrive. You are given a timeline as to when you are expected to arrive, and to arrive ON TIME you have to meet certain expectations—no promises are made and I know with 100% certainty that no one on the UNH staff ever PROMISED him he would be brought in for the 2012-2013 season.

Cheers.

Phenomenal post. Thank you.
 
Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

Re: UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

end result, old news. Everyone moved on and water under the bridge. Hope it works out for both parties... I am sure it will
 
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