Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
At least Umile used his time out this time. Baby steps, I guess.
At least Umile used his time out this time. Baby steps, I guess.
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UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
- Thread starter C-H-C
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TigerFan86-87
R!!!!...I!!!!!...T!!!!!!
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Actually, Rochester is 3.5 to 4 hours from Albany (depending which side of town you're coming from/going to).
My guess is that was a student. Give them a little break... They've just had a couple years to get into the D-I game and we haven't been exposed to very many nation-wide teams/conferences at home. D-I college hockey fan development in Rochester and on the RIT campus is still in its infancy.
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
That's like saying "Let's wait and see how much this stock goes up before I buy it."
That's the whole point of SCOUTING. You have to be able to recognize talent BEFORE others do. Clearly the Senators (and several other teams) thought that he had POTENTIAL that would allow him to develop into a good NHL player. There was much talk during the Olympics about how the Canadian team picked all of the BEST players and the U.S. team chose "role players." It was an interesting contrast in style. The problem with the Bruins is that they have ALL role players, and the role is, "we can't score."
That's like saying "Let's wait and see how much this stock goes up before I buy it."
That's the whole point of SCOUTING. You have to be able to recognize talent BEFORE others do. Clearly the Senators (and several other teams) thought that he had POTENTIAL that would allow him to develop into a good NHL player. There was much talk during the Olympics about how the Canadian team picked all of the BEST players and the U.S. team chose "role players." It was an interesting contrast in style. The problem with the Bruins is that they have ALL role players, and the role is, "we can't score."
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Give RIT credit, they knocked off Denver, who was ranked much higher than UNH all season long, just the day before. That DeMichel is a hell of a goaltender and surely some of those who voted for Miami's Cody Reichard over RIT defenseman Dan Ringwald are second-guessing that decision. As for Umile, if UNH ever did let him go, undoubtedly many programs would jump at the chance to acquire a coach with his track record, and their fans would be stoked to have him. He's not only a good coach, he's also a class act who contributes more than just wins to the UNH community.
As for next season, I predict we'll be seeing Phil DeSimone wearing the "C" for the Wildcats. He has been a vocal leader ever since he was a freshman, energizing and inspiring his teammates, and when they talk about him, one can tell the respect is clearly there. Also, I wouldn't be shocked if he and Thompson don't exactly duplicate their performances of this season without Butler. No question Butler makes the players around him better, he's been doing it at every level he has played at. He was a solid contributor without them; they weren't until they were with him. They very well might prove me wrong, I just don't think that line with Mike Sislo at RW has the same effect. He's a player for sure but he's no Butler. Also, I would be surprised, but not shocked, if the team can achieve the same success next year. They are losing their leading scorer, their second-line center and co-captain, and their starting goalie, who was overshadowed by his teammates but quietly put together one of the best goaltending careers in UNH history. Much of their success will hinge on whether Matt DiGirolamo can play at even close to Foster's level. Both Foster and Kevin Regan did it before him, sitting behind the top guy for two years before carving their niches, so he might be the next UNH goalie to do so, but right now it's an unknown. And they don't have any big recruits coming in. All that being said, don't be surprised if Blake Kessel bails -he played at an All-American level this year and was probably college hockey's best defenseman besides Wisconsin's Brendan Smith. He might feel that this team was his best chance to win a national championship, and with this season being over and him putting up the numbers he has, that he's ready to move onto the next level. He is an Islanders draft pick.
However, if he stays, the team is really young and has their best hockey ahead of them If they can get back to this level of success, it will be a testament to the coaching of Umile. Again it would be surprising but not altogether shocking -this year's team was picked to finish fourth in Hockey East before the season started. Umile has done it before. It's just an unknown and it seems that the odds are stacked against them. I also predict that either this coming fall or next, John Henrion will have a breakout season. That also could be a difference-maker in the team's success.
Give RIT credit, they knocked off Denver, who was ranked much higher than UNH all season long, just the day before. That DeMichel is a hell of a goaltender and surely some of those who voted for Miami's Cody Reichard over RIT defenseman Dan Ringwald are second-guessing that decision. As for Umile, if UNH ever did let him go, undoubtedly many programs would jump at the chance to acquire a coach with his track record, and their fans would be stoked to have him. He's not only a good coach, he's also a class act who contributes more than just wins to the UNH community.
As for next season, I predict we'll be seeing Phil DeSimone wearing the "C" for the Wildcats. He has been a vocal leader ever since he was a freshman, energizing and inspiring his teammates, and when they talk about him, one can tell the respect is clearly there. Also, I wouldn't be shocked if he and Thompson don't exactly duplicate their performances of this season without Butler. No question Butler makes the players around him better, he's been doing it at every level he has played at. He was a solid contributor without them; they weren't until they were with him. They very well might prove me wrong, I just don't think that line with Mike Sislo at RW has the same effect. He's a player for sure but he's no Butler. Also, I would be surprised, but not shocked, if the team can achieve the same success next year. They are losing their leading scorer, their second-line center and co-captain, and their starting goalie, who was overshadowed by his teammates but quietly put together one of the best goaltending careers in UNH history. Much of their success will hinge on whether Matt DiGirolamo can play at even close to Foster's level. Both Foster and Kevin Regan did it before him, sitting behind the top guy for two years before carving their niches, so he might be the next UNH goalie to do so, but right now it's an unknown. And they don't have any big recruits coming in. All that being said, don't be surprised if Blake Kessel bails -he played at an All-American level this year and was probably college hockey's best defenseman besides Wisconsin's Brendan Smith. He might feel that this team was his best chance to win a national championship, and with this season being over and him putting up the numbers he has, that he's ready to move onto the next level. He is an Islanders draft pick.
However, if he stays, the team is really young and has their best hockey ahead of them If they can get back to this level of success, it will be a testament to the coaching of Umile. Again it would be surprising but not altogether shocking -this year's team was picked to finish fourth in Hockey East before the season started. Umile has done it before. It's just an unknown and it seems that the odds are stacked against them. I also predict that either this coming fall or next, John Henrion will have a breakout season. That also could be a difference-maker in the team's success.
snively
New member
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Thank you, C-H-C. It's amazing to me how, every year, we tell ourselves at the outset not to expect much because our player talent pool is modest (presumably the coaching staff's fault, due to deficient recruiting?).
Then, post-season, we tell ourselves how the coaches have let us down because we've somehow massively under-performed, relative to our prodigious capabilities:
Thank you, C-H-C. It's amazing to me how, every year, we tell ourselves at the outset not to expect much because our player talent pool is modest (presumably the coaching staff's fault, due to deficient recruiting?).
Then, post-season, we tell ourselves how the coaches have let us down because we've somehow massively under-performed, relative to our prodigious capabilities:
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irishfan85
New member
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
I loved Bobby Butler as a college player, but would be shocked beyond belief if he is ever a goal scorer in the NHL. Furthermore, I'd be shocked if he plays more than 25 games ever in the NHL. I see his future in the AHL, which is great and better than most people could ever dream.
I loved Bobby Butler as a college player, but would be shocked beyond belief if he is ever a goal scorer in the NHL. Furthermore, I'd be shocked if he plays more than 25 games ever in the NHL. I see his future in the AHL, which is great and better than most people could ever dream.
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
To the "Fire Dick Umile" crowd...although you may say that I, as a BU fan, have NO credibility here, I DO understand your frustration. Yes, we have five National Championships. But my point is that every year we DON'T make the NCAAs, the "fire Parker" sentiment starts. You wouldn't believe how many times I heard "He should have quit when we won last year and gone out a winner." I would imagine it is the same EVERYWHERE. BC is on an incredible decade-long run right now, so you won't here it there, but there was a time when they couldn't beat us. They went 50 years (1949) without winning a National Championship. In that time, BU won four (1971, 1972, 1978, 1995). It is tough right now to see BC dominate (even the games we won, they dominated - see "Frozen Fenway" where we hung on for the last 30 minutes and Millan stood on his head), but it goes in cycles. If we don't get that ridiculous comeback last year, it's 15 years since the last one and still counting. I think whoever mentioned the "law of averages" is probably right. Hockey is touch because each goal is magnified. You can get ten points down in basketball and it's nothing. You give up ONE bad goal in hockey and it can kill you. If you don't hit the pipe last year you probably beat BU and get to the Frozen Four. Is that Umile's fault? Denver has gone one and out three years in a row. It's not much consolation, but it's HARD to get to the FF. You need a hot goalie, puck luck and the right draw. In 2005 we were #1 in the country and had to play BC in the Regional in Worcester, after we had beaten them FOUR CONSECUTIVE TIMES. They cleaned our clock and we went home. I'd rather be a contender every year than finish in out of the playoffs all the time. Before I jump on the "fire [insert coach's name here] bandwagon," I say to myself, "But the next guy could be WORSE." What if we drop to a second division team and make the playoffs once every ten years, like Merrimack? Do I want to risk the high-profile status of the program and gamble on someone who is untested? It's tempting, for sure, because someone has to be a scapegoat. I KNOW how frustrated you are! This year we would play one great game followed by one stinker - all year. That's why we ended up one game over .500 - there's a reason for that. We weren't consistent. Is that the coach? If you want to fire Umile after the RIT game, did you want to coronate him after the Cornell game - a game most picked Cornell to win? It's a cliche, yes, but the coach can't play the game. As far as them being "unprepared" or not "making adjustments," how do you know he didn't try? What I saw was a team that was flat and unwilling to commit to body-checking and goal prevention. They didn't hit ANYBODY all night. They couldn't get the puck out of their own end and their timing was way off. The coach can't control any of those things. All I know is, in every BU/UNH game for the past two years, UNH has COMPLETELY outskated BU. Let's face it - it's easy to SAY that they should have been pumped up more, but it's also easy to have a letdown against a team with whom you have no history and don't know much about. It's easy to SAY that "well, you can't take them lightly - they beat Denver." But to get the players to buy into that and truly believe it is a different story, because in the back of their heads, they're saying, "It's RIT." Don't you think that Denver said the same thing? Are we going to try to say that RIT is BETTER than Denver? It's hockey - you have to bring it every night, because being the "better" team doesn not guarantee victory. Here's hoping that Umile stays and you guys break through and get the NC soon!
To the "Fire Dick Umile" crowd...although you may say that I, as a BU fan, have NO credibility here, I DO understand your frustration. Yes, we have five National Championships. But my point is that every year we DON'T make the NCAAs, the "fire Parker" sentiment starts. You wouldn't believe how many times I heard "He should have quit when we won last year and gone out a winner." I would imagine it is the same EVERYWHERE. BC is on an incredible decade-long run right now, so you won't here it there, but there was a time when they couldn't beat us. They went 50 years (1949) without winning a National Championship. In that time, BU won four (1971, 1972, 1978, 1995). It is tough right now to see BC dominate (even the games we won, they dominated - see "Frozen Fenway" where we hung on for the last 30 minutes and Millan stood on his head), but it goes in cycles. If we don't get that ridiculous comeback last year, it's 15 years since the last one and still counting. I think whoever mentioned the "law of averages" is probably right. Hockey is touch because each goal is magnified. You can get ten points down in basketball and it's nothing. You give up ONE bad goal in hockey and it can kill you. If you don't hit the pipe last year you probably beat BU and get to the Frozen Four. Is that Umile's fault? Denver has gone one and out three years in a row. It's not much consolation, but it's HARD to get to the FF. You need a hot goalie, puck luck and the right draw. In 2005 we were #1 in the country and had to play BC in the Regional in Worcester, after we had beaten them FOUR CONSECUTIVE TIMES. They cleaned our clock and we went home. I'd rather be a contender every year than finish in out of the playoffs all the time. Before I jump on the "fire [insert coach's name here] bandwagon," I say to myself, "But the next guy could be WORSE." What if we drop to a second division team and make the playoffs once every ten years, like Merrimack? Do I want to risk the high-profile status of the program and gamble on someone who is untested? It's tempting, for sure, because someone has to be a scapegoat. I KNOW how frustrated you are! This year we would play one great game followed by one stinker - all year. That's why we ended up one game over .500 - there's a reason for that. We weren't consistent. Is that the coach? If you want to fire Umile after the RIT game, did you want to coronate him after the Cornell game - a game most picked Cornell to win? It's a cliche, yes, but the coach can't play the game. As far as them being "unprepared" or not "making adjustments," how do you know he didn't try? What I saw was a team that was flat and unwilling to commit to body-checking and goal prevention. They didn't hit ANYBODY all night. They couldn't get the puck out of their own end and their timing was way off. The coach can't control any of those things. All I know is, in every BU/UNH game for the past two years, UNH has COMPLETELY outskated BU. Let's face it - it's easy to SAY that they should have been pumped up more, but it's also easy to have a letdown against a team with whom you have no history and don't know much about. It's easy to SAY that "well, you can't take them lightly - they beat Denver." But to get the players to buy into that and truly believe it is a different story, because in the back of their heads, they're saying, "It's RIT." Don't you think that Denver said the same thing? Are we going to try to say that RIT is BETTER than Denver? It's hockey - you have to bring it every night, because being the "better" team doesn not guarantee victory. Here's hoping that Umile stays and you guys break through and get the NC soon!
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Get real. The stock could also go down. Ottawa bought the stock in Butler. Chiarelli did not like it or think it will translate at the next level (UNH scoring studs like Krog, Haydar, or even BCer Marty Reasoner for that matter aren't exactly lighting it up in the NHL) or maybe even had what he evaluated as better options to go after. The GMs all have different evaluations of the kid. We have no idea what he's going to do. But it is silly to condemn a GM for not going after someone that they may have evaluated and not liked. Goal scoring is a problem now, but do you think Butler was going to end up in Boston right now if they signed him? IMO doubtful. Or will they sign Colborne and get him here first or call up someone more likely to help from Providence? IMO probably, esp with Colborne. Will they address the other needs for offense in the offseason? IMO probably.
I find it highly unlikely Ottawa beat Boston to this kid with him being from Mass and playing in NH or that Boston simply missed him.
While hindsight is 20/20, perhaps after he lights it up in the NHL it would be a good time to say "AHA" to Chiarelli. Until then, it seems foolish.
Get real. The stock could also go down. Ottawa bought the stock in Butler. Chiarelli did not like it or think it will translate at the next level (UNH scoring studs like Krog, Haydar, or even BCer Marty Reasoner for that matter aren't exactly lighting it up in the NHL) or maybe even had what he evaluated as better options to go after. The GMs all have different evaluations of the kid. We have no idea what he's going to do. But it is silly to condemn a GM for not going after someone that they may have evaluated and not liked. Goal scoring is a problem now, but do you think Butler was going to end up in Boston right now if they signed him? IMO doubtful. Or will they sign Colborne and get him here first or call up someone more likely to help from Providence? IMO probably, esp with Colborne. Will they address the other needs for offense in the offseason? IMO probably.
I find it highly unlikely Ottawa beat Boston to this kid with him being from Mass and playing in NH or that Boston simply missed him.
While hindsight is 20/20, perhaps after he lights it up in the NHL it would be a good time to say "AHA" to Chiarelli. Until then, it seems foolish.
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Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
But that's the point...hindsight is 20/20. If you don't take a chance once in awhile, you will never improve (unless of course you think that this Bruins team is just wonderfully constituted and strikes fear in the hearts of other NHL teams....)
But that's the point...hindsight is 20/20. If you don't take a chance once in awhile, you will never improve (unless of course you think that this Bruins team is just wonderfully constituted and strikes fear in the hearts of other NHL teams....)
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Sorry. I'm long-winded. But that's my last comment on the Umile topic.
Sorry. I'm long-winded. But that's my last comment on the Umile topic.
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Welcome adash1411 to the True UNH Fan Forum.
The only requirement for membership is that you invest your time and money, at least once per season, to attend a game at the Whit and cheer for the Wildcats. We make exceptions for those who live great distances from Durham and are unable to attend every year, provided they participate in the occasional Scores Update thread (Snively is Chairman of that branch of the True UNH Fan Forum
). Those who care about the success of the UNH hockey program but haven't attended an actual game since the "heady" years from the late 1990's to 2003 are in danger of having their membership lapse. Membership does not require that you approve of everything the coaches, players, or athletic department does. Quite the contrary! Critical observations, constructive criticism, and debates about game and recruiting strategy are encouraged.
Welcome adash1411 to the True UNH Fan Forum.
The only requirement for membership is that you invest your time and money, at least once per season, to attend a game at the Whit and cheer for the Wildcats. We make exceptions for those who live great distances from Durham and are unable to attend every year, provided they participate in the occasional Scores Update thread (Snively is Chairman of that branch of the True UNH Fan Forum
). Those who care about the success of the UNH hockey program but haven't attended an actual game since the "heady" years from the late 1990's to 2003 are in danger of having their membership lapse. Membership does not require that you approve of everything the coaches, players, or athletic department does. Quite the contrary! Critical observations, constructive criticism, and debates about game and recruiting strategy are encouraged.
billb
New member
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Something ironic. Early in the year UNH played Miami and Wisco. The poor showings were what led many of us to think the season would be mediocre. Turns out both those teams are going to the Frozen Four. UNH had a pretty good year. One small trophy.
Something ironic. Early in the year UNH played Miami and Wisco. The poor showings were what led many of us to think the season would be mediocre. Turns out both those teams are going to the Frozen Four. UNH had a pretty good year. One small trophy.
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
For a team I thought would strugle for home ice in hockey east (with the NCAA's in the not gona happen bin) they had a good year. One of Umile's better coaching jobs.
For a team I thought would strugle for home ice in hockey east (with the NCAA's in the not gona happen bin) they had a good year. One of Umile's better coaching jobs.
Nick Papagiorgio
Holding court
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
It IS the point!!!
You want him to sign every free agent out there and take a chance on all of them? Or do you think maybe he should evaluate the free agents, and try to sign the ones on the top of his list?
Taking a chance on every free agent sounds like a good idea. Or maybe just signing a guy he doesn't even like so he can "take a chance once in a while" to please some wretched Bruins fan.
Take a chance... great idea. Maybe we should send Chiarelli to Foxwoods to play some slots instead of having him sign evaluate and free agents.
It IS the point!!!
You want him to sign every free agent out there and take a chance on all of them? Or do you think maybe he should evaluate the free agents, and try to sign the ones on the top of his list?
Taking a chance on every free agent sounds like a good idea. Or maybe just signing a guy he doesn't even like so he can "take a chance once in a while" to please some wretched Bruins fan.
Take a chance... great idea. Maybe we should send Chiarelli to Foxwoods to play some slots instead of having him sign evaluate and free agents.
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Butler was a good collegiate player, but anyone who thinks he'll replicate those numbers in the NHL is dilusional. I bet a lot of people thought Hemingway or one of those guys would dominate, too based on NCAA numbers.
Butler was a good collegiate player, but anyone who thinks he'll replicate those numbers in the NHL is dilusional. I bet a lot of people thought Hemingway or one of those guys would dominate, too based on NCAA numbers.
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
Further Note to new members of the True UNH Fan Forum:
You'll find that their are several members of the True UNH Fan Forum - such as JB, Greg Ambrose, and theComicBookGuy - who are well-respected because they excel at constructive criticism (kind of the Simon Cowell's of the group).
If you become annoyed by the distracting drivel posted on our thread by "fans" of other teams who are obsessed with dumping on our coaches, players, or program, you'll find that the "ignore" function provided by USCHO automatically flushes it down the toilet for you.
Welcome adash1411 to the True UNH Fan Forum.
The only requirement for membership is that you invest your time and money, at least once per season, to attend a game at the Whit and cheer for the Wildcats. We make exceptions for those who live great distances from Durham and are unable to attend every year, provided they participate in the occasional Scores Update thread (Snively is Chairman of that branch of the True UNH Fan Forum
Further Note to new members of the True UNH Fan Forum:
You'll find that their are several members of the True UNH Fan Forum - such as JB, Greg Ambrose, and theComicBookGuy - who are well-respected because they excel at constructive criticism (kind of the Simon Cowell's of the group).
If you become annoyed by the distracting drivel posted on our thread by "fans" of other teams who are obsessed with dumping on our coaches, players, or program, you'll find that the "ignore" function provided by USCHO automatically flushes it down the toilet for you.
Got 6 Want More
New member
Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition
The conclusion is obvious. Bruins tried to hire SLU alum Ray Shero as their GM and didn't make him a good enough offer so he went to Pittsburgh (and the last two Stanley Cup Finals) and they hired a Harvard alum in Boston. The conclusion is the same now as it was then....they are too cheap to be successful!
Pittsburgh, by the way, was after him.
The conclusion is obvious. Bruins tried to hire SLU alum Ray Shero as their GM and didn't make him a good enough offer so he went to Pittsburgh (and the last two Stanley Cup Finals) and they hired a Harvard alum in Boston. The conclusion is the same now as it was then....they are too cheap to be successful!
Pittsburgh, by the way, was after him.
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