UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

There once was a poster named Clark Hislop Cox
Who cried because his program is on the rocks
He loves Whistlin Dickie U.
Even though he coaches like poo
Which is what comes out of his mouth when he talks.

 

[WILD E WOLVERINE]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

It will never happen unless the team is suddenly a Frozen Four contender every year again. Then the bandwagon will fill up.

I've said it before, but hockey has become a social event at UNH. The students are not there to support the team; they are there to BE SEEN at hockey.

Take these self-described "Best Fans" face painters for example. Where were they vs Vermont? Yeah, Spring Break started that Saturday, so obviously we can't expect such great fans to show up. I also didn't see these guys either night in Albany.

There WAS a group on Saturday in Albany who yelled at the Hosers for not being supportive enough. This is a group I've never seen at the Whitt, except for one guy who shows up to Club Hockey games, screams "YOU SUCK" for a period and then leaves. Aside from the fact that they were absent on Friday, when RIT scored their 5th goal, these guys went RACING for the exits.

I usually stand at the top of the student section behind the band. I can't count how often I see kids show up halfway through the 1st and walk down the section expecting to find seats. That last pregame beer was more important than showing up in a timely manner to get seats.

I can't count how many times I've seen students leave in the middle of the 2nd period, or in the 2nd intermission, telling friends that they have to get to a party or "play Rut."

Students these days are more interested in making an appearance and killing time until parties start on Fridays and Saturdays. They're more interested in cursing and being vulgar in public because they think it's funny....er, I mean exercising their 1st Amendment rights. Yeah, that's the ticket.

I'm hoping things change, and I have some ideas I'd like to try for next year, but I'm not counting on the student section unless the team becomes dominant again and/or it becomes "popular" to be seen as part of a particular cheering section.

When did this happen? I was at UNH in the early 90's - we would wait outside for hours in the freezing cold to get into Snivley and grab seats behind the bench - especially against Maine, walsh, kariya, et al. Certainly was nothing about being seen then. Heck we even had to drive all the way to Manchester on year. Was this a Whit development?

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

More Tips for new members of the True UNH Fan Forum:

If you'd like to practice using the "ignore" function, search for any post by the multiple personality calling himself "Nick" and "Carmine." Disclaimer: This is not a clinical diagnosis; merely using a layperson's description.

 

[DaveDan]

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.

Slasher, you care to give a bit more detailed assessment of B.Butler's skill package ?? I suspect noteworthy news to you is prolly anyone with BC on his/her shirt picking their nose.

Here is a "Fair" Butler assessment, from Kyle Woodlief, formerly the Predators lead scout, looking at all collegiate free agents:

8. Bobby Butler/RW — New Hampshire, 6-0/185, April 26, 1987 (Sr.)

A smart two-way winger who does an honest day's work in his own zone and plays the penalty kill. Shows good vision in the offensive zone and works well away from the puck to create space for his accurate shot. Has accomplished most of his impressive offensive production by finding holes and being in the right place at the right time. Doesn't have dynamic physical tools and his skating is average.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

There once was a person who liked Cox, Hislop, and Clark,
Judging from his posts, he is always in the dark
It wasn't a rumor
That he has no humor
With all his crying, we need to build an ark.

 

[Slasher7]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

There once was a person who like Cox, Hislop, and Clark,
Judging from his posts, he is always in the dark
It wasn't a rumor
That he has no humor
With all his crying, we need to build an ark.

awesome

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Here is a "Fair" Butler assessment, from Kyle Woodlief looking at all collegiate free agents:

8. Bobby Butler/RW — New Hampshire, 6-0/185, April 26, 1987 (Sr.)

A smart two-way winger who does an honest day's work in his own zone and plays the penalty kill. Shows good vision in the offensive zone and works well away from the puck to create space for his accurate shot. Has accomplished most of his impressive offensive production by finding holes and being in the right place at the right time. Doesn't have dynamic physical tools and his skating is average.

Not a huge fan of Woodlief/RLR, but that last line is what really concerns me and why I would be surprised to see him do much beyond the A. Anything can happen, though.

Let's come back in a few years and revisit this topic. This is silly speculating about what he can and can't do. We'll know soon enough but it sure isn't easy breaking into the bigs and staying there.

 

[WildKitty]

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 delusional. I bet a lot of people thought Hemingway or one of those guys would dominate, too based on NCAA numbers.

fixed it for you...

Hemingway was good at sitting on the porch and knocking in the rebound. I will say, whenever we miss out on a prime rebound opportunity, I wonder where Brett is. Sitting on the front porch is no way to make it in the pros, and I know what you mean there.

As far as Butler is concerned, I think he is a different story. I'm not saying he'll necessarily be more successful Pro than Winnik or Hemi, but I think he's a different kind of player, and will gel in different ways.

Butler seemed to me, in his time at UNH, to be about the team as much as, if not more than, he was about himself - quite unlike Brett "Do You Know Who I Am" Hemingway or "Take-What-I-Want" Winnik. Team-oriented attitude and willingness, even eagerness, to play, will take Butler a long way. He will not have the scoring opportunities he's seen in Hockey East, but you may see his assists shoot up. I see a team player like Butler making the transition Pro fairly easily, if his club values a team player more than a superstar. I regret that I know so little about the NHL in general, and Ottowa specifically.

(For a comparison, I think of Jason Varitek - not the best hitter, better-than-average catcher, but INVALUABLE in the clubhouse. Maybe Butler will be the Varitek of Ottowa!)

My best wishes go with the Butler family, and with Bobby in the next step of his career.

 

[DaveDan]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Not a huge fan of Woodlief/RLR, but that last line is what really concerns me and why I would be surprised to see him do much beyond the A.

Ahem, Mr Nick, care to fess up and tell us whether u actually pay 3 beans and subscribe/read the Red Line Reports. Let me guess.....

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I'm starting a new thread and would enjoy hearing what some of the pro and con posters think....plus more of those that never comment on UNH threads before....

 

[chickod]

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?

Don't know why your're getting nasty (some "wretched" Bruins fan). And where is the assumption coming from that I want them to sign "every" free agent? I referred to the article about Bobby Butler and was surprised that he would make a comment that they "weren't interested." Even if they DIDN'T sign him, it's not like they have a plethora of goal-scoring talent on that team.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I was the reverse tv - Friday (had work commitments I couldn't change), game Saturday.

During the TV time outs I watched Umile coach. You could see him talking to the players. Lassonde and Borek also did some work with players during TV time outs. From that I could see them trying, it just wasn't showing up on the ice.

Why I don't know? But from hand motions you could see them trying to change things. It wasn't just rah, rah and go go yelling.

Coach Umile's decision to play McCarey-Hardowa-Henrion on a regular basis against Cornell was effective. They played the body effectively and did not make any mistakes. It also allowed the first three lines to keep fresh and maintain a half-a-step on Cornell. Conversely, his decision to play the fourth line hardly at all against RIT probably was a mistake, in retrospect. In the second and third periods, the overworked first three lines were either keeping pace with RIT or behind by a half-a-step.

Umile and his staff must have figured that RIT was a run-and-gun, average to small-sized team and UNH could beat them at their game. After RIT scored three quick goals, our horses couldn't recover.

 

[chickod]

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.

I believe the word is "delusional." Or don't they teach you how to spell at BC?

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

There once was a poster named Clark Hislop Cox
Who cried because his program is on the rocks
He loves Whistlin Dickie U.
Even though he coaches like poo
Which is what comes out of his mouth when he talks.

After reading that, I don't know why I ever bothered to even respond to you. I won't make that mistake again...

 

[mwade]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Syracuse Crunch are selling off old gameworn sweaters including a few ex-UNH kids. Super cheap ($150 and under - set price, not an auction starting price) - http://syracusecrunch.com/News/Detail/2793

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

fixed it for you...

Hemingway was good at sitting on the porch and knocking in the rebound. I will say, whenever we miss out on a prime rebound opportunity, I wonder where Brett is. Sitting on the front porch is no way to make it in the pros, and I know what you mean there.

As far as Butler is concerned, I think he is a different story. I'm not saying he'll necessarily be more successful Pro than Winnik or Hemi, but I think he's a different kind of player, and will gel in different ways.

Butler seemed to me, in his time at UNH, to be about the team as much as, if not more than, he was about himself - quite unlike Brett "Do You Know Who I Am" Hemingway or "Take-What-I-Want" Winnik. Team-oriented attitude and willingness, even eagerness, to play, will take Butler a long way. He will not have the scoring opportunities he's seen in Hockey East, but you may see his assists shoot up. I see a team player like Butler making the transition Pro fairly easily, if his club values a team player more than a superstar. I regret that I know so little about the NHL in general, and Ottowa specifically.

(For a comparison, I think of Jason Varitek - not the best hitter, better-than-average catcher, but INVALUABLE in the clubhouse. Maybe Butler will be the Varitek of Ottowa!)

My best wishes go with the Butler family, and with Bobby in the next step of his career.

I think Butler is a "cup of coffee with an NHL team" type of guy. Even the best UNH players over the years (Krog, Haydar, etc) never really did much in the NHL on a regular basis. I'd love to see him do well, but realistically he'll be a career minor leaguer.

 

[irishfan85]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

This is a very serious question to the UNH fans who dislike Umile. Who would you hire to come in and take the job, replacing Umile?

Enrico Blasi isn't coming, nor is Dean Blais, Jeff Jackson, Jack Parker, or Jerry York. There are some great up and coming young coaches like Sneddon, Leaman at Union, Appert at RPI and Gadowski at Princeton. Would any of those young guys go to UNH? I don't know.

Would Joe Marsh leave St. Lawrence to return to his alma mater? Possibly, but he seems to love SLU and he has built that program to a great level. As much as I respect Coach Marsh, he hasn't won a national title even though he has had some good teams.

However, all of this is a mute conversation. Coach Umile isn't going anywhere.

 

[Got 6 Want More]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

This is a very serious question to the UNH fans who dislike Umile. Who would you hire to come in and take the job, replacing Umile?

Enrico Blasi isn't coming, nor is Dean Blais, Jeff Jackson, Jack Parker, or Jerry York. There are some great up and coming young coaches like Sneddon, Leaman at Union, Appert at RPI and Gadowski at Princeton. Would any of those young guys go to UNH? I don't know.

Would Joe Marsh leave St. Lawrence to return to his alma mater? Possibly, but he seems to love SLU and he has built that program to a great level. As much as I respect Coach Marsh, he hasn't won a national title even though he has had some good teams.

However, all of this is a mute conversation. Coach Umile isn't going anywhere.

Joe Marsh is quoted in a recent St. Lawrence Magazine saying: "and this is the reason I now know I will never coach anywhere else!"

I do think he has built some great candidates though such as Chris Wells or Bob Prier. Other guys that would deserve a look is Don Vaughan at Colgate or maybe even Monarchs Head Coach and former Clarkson Coach Mark Morris.

I'll believe until I die, Marsh did build the best team in the country in 1988 and fell short in OT. That he did that without scholarships, or even a storied tradition is nothing short of amazing.

York is in his mid-60's....he'll never coach anywhere but BC.

This is really the point, who is out there that is better than Umile who offers a better chance than Umile of winning at title? That is a pretty empty hat to pick names from!

 

[Onion Man]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I'll believe until I die

Any chance this happens soon?

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I think Butler is a "cup of coffee with an NHL team" type of guy. Even the best UNH players over the years (Krog, Haydar, etc) never really did much in the NHL on a regular basis. I'd love to see him do well, but realistically he'll be a career minor leaguer.

I don't know what will happen with Butler. However I think he has a better chance of sticking in the NHL than some high point scoring UNH players before him. The biggest difference I will simply put as "coaches kid", from day one at UNH he did all the little things right playing both ways. The other bonus is he is bigger than those other guys. That IMO will give him a chance to stick on an NHL team on a 3rd or 4th line. He has a scoring touch but was also a good two way forward.

It is telling to me a team like Penguins were interested. They have Kunitz from Ferris State. By NCAA numbers Chris had a much better scoring touch from day one, however teams score fewer goals today than the early 2000's.