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UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

RockTheWhit said:
I never stated that to be the case and it most definitely was not insinuated. My point about not doing anything out of conference was that it put them in a terrible position to start the year, and despite winning the Hockey East regular season, they needed to do a lot of scoreboard watching during league championship weekend. With the experience of this year's team, they'll be able to skate with (or at least near) Miami and Michigan, the only question mark is goaltending.
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I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. I was agreeing with you on the OOC games and noting that their situation last year in that regard was about as bad as possible. My point about the team not thinking about the Wisconsin game was more to your post about wanting an early season "easy" game for Digi to build some confidence. I don't think playing tough OOC games, even if they turn out like Wisco last year, is going to wreck the kid's confidence. It's possible it could shake him, but it's such a long season that by March, he'll have had plenty of time to build that confidence back and forget about an early season hardships.

Nick Papagiorgio said:
On the golf course?
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Yes, but later in the month, when the weather's a little better for it around here. Closer to May.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

FiveHole12 said:
I think he's actually coming out of the closet... BC fan. :p
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Yep. Only, I'm hiding it by calling them UNH...? :confused: ;)

Actually, I've just stopped caring about/listening to the endless chorus of "UNH is never going to win". I don't see the point, and I don't see the harm in believing in my team.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Honest question... how is the UNH offense going to be? I know they always lose top scorers and continue to replicate good offensive numbers year after year but I don't know... I look at this roster and I don't see them playing in April at all. And I'd love to see them win the big one in my lifetime. But I don't see it.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Nick Papagiorgio said:
Honest question... how is the UNH offense going to be? I know they always lose top scorers and continue to replicate good offensive numbers year after year but I don't know... I look at this roster and I don't see them playing in April at all. And I'd love to see them win the big one in my lifetime. But I don't see it.
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While the offense isn't exactly stacked with Atkinson, Kreider, Hayes etc, they will be fine. They only lost two forwards last year (albeit big ones in Butler and Leblanc), but there is plenty of room for guys in the sophomore and junior classes to step up. Desimone, Sislo and Thompson should carry the load at the top, with Henrion, Burke and Moses also stepping up to contribute. Don't expect too much production from the freshmen forwards, however, as that class looks like the weakest class since 2002.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Nick Papagiorgio said:
Honest question... how is the UNH offense going to be? I know they always lose top scorers and continue to replicate good offensive numbers year after year but I don't know... I look at this roster and I don't see them playing in April at all. And I'd love to see them win the big one in my lifetime. But I don't see it.
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Honest question - honest answer.
Historically, the key to UNH consistently generating offense and points has been the pretty good (but not great) forwards who stay all four years. These tend to be the guys who were good enough to excel in junior hockey but not good enough to be drafted by NHL teams. A partial list includes:
Matt Fornataro
Mike Radja
Jacob Micflikier
Jerry Pollastrone
Bobby Butler
By the time they make it to their senior year, they improve enough to be offered entry level contracts in the pros.

If UNH is to generate sufficient offense this year (which I think they will) it will be because this type of player on the current squad will put up good numbers. That means guys like Mike Sislo, Paul Thompson, and Stevie Moses, all of whom were invited to participate in NHL Developmental Camps this summer. Others that fit this mold are John Henrion, Dalton Speelman, and Nick Sorkin. Add these players to the upperclassmen, who have been drafted by NHL teams - Phil DeSimone, Greg Burke, and Blake Kessel - and you've got another competitive team.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

New corners at the Whitt, left side of the student section:

61100_717439638161_11009089_40805858_3961449_n.jpg


That is diamond plate covering the gap to where the old sheet extended.

Sorry Gib... No sign of photog holes, although I've not walked the arena yet.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

freak said:
New corners at the Whitt, left side of the student section:

61100_717439638161_11009089_40805858_3961449_n.jpg


That is diamond plate covering the gap to where the old sheet extended.

Sorry Gib... No sign of photog holes, although I've not walked the arena yet.
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Is the glass seamless on the sides? Also are those blue dashers?
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

Gibber said:
Is the glass seamless on the sides? Also are those blue dashers?
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Gib you can see where the glass turns to seamless. It's once the corner is over. And blue dashers makes way more sense than red.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

I skated at the Whit yesterday; I took pictures from ice level of the new corners (along with the new ice surface, boards, etc) but they didn't come out -- I'll try again next open skate tomorrow.

The corners are 'regulation-NHL' corners, according to the blueprints, and it is a noticeable change from the soft, sweeping angles of before. It's an interesting combination, with the ice obviously still being so wide, but with the tight corners. This will force UNH to play more physically in the corners than ever before at home, I think, but this should translate to hopefully better play away from the Whit. Also, I was told the goal line was moved back; there's less room between the boards and the goal line. That'll be interesting, as it'll open up play in front of the net, but again will force more contact behind the net. Looking forward to watching the UNH Defense in the 1st and 3rd, as my seats are right down on the goal line opposite the student section.

Gibber: didn't see any photography spots, but will check more closely tomorrow morning.

The lights have all been updated. And perhaps most importantly, for the first time in something like 6 or 7 years, the Whittemore Center is 100% mold free.:)

Open skate was interesting, as well, because they're still working in there . . . skating around construction workers, the glass, their tools . . . made for an interesting first day back on skates in 6 months!
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

In other news, anybody here attending the "Colonial Clash" down at Gilette Stadium? Tickets are selling at a fairly steady clip; UNH is doing a good job of pushing the $10 student tickets and $5 fan bus -- everytime I go to the Whit / Hamel, there's another kid buying a block of tickets. Glad I bought mine early; sitting on the 40 yard line, 8 rows deep.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2010 off-season thread

unhpuckfan2001 said:
In other news, anybody here attending the "Colonial Clash" down at Gilette Stadium? Tickets are selling at a fairly steady clip; UNH is doing a good job of pushing the $10 student tickets and $5 fan bus -- everytime I go to the Whit / Hamel, there's another kid buying a block of tickets. Glad I bought mine early; sitting on the 40 yard line, 8 rows deep.
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Contemplating leaving at the half in order to make it back to Durham in time for face off.
 
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