UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

[Umileated]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Now, certainly the entire team has slacked on defense over the last half+ of the season, but it just doesn't seem like DeSmith is the guy who can steal us a game when it matters. He is highly dependent upon the defensive play in front of him, which as has been noted, has been sub-par since November.

I'll say the same thing a bit more nicely. DeSmith has the potential to be a great goalie on another team. He's noticeably terrified about having the puck behind the net - it's why he's so quick to go back and clear it himself. We got to see it with that UMO wrap-around this weekend. His greatest strength is glove side, in my opinion. A team whose defensive strategy is to push the attackers to the boards and out of the diamond is the wrong team for him. A rink that's Olympic width with quick NHL corners is the wrong sheet for him. I'm not offering criticism for either of those components, they just produce a mismatch with his strengths.

 

[NUCC93]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

I completely disagree...are you just trying to stir people up??

Have you seen anything out of this team that would indicate they will?

I've been a UNH fan for over 20 years and it's "I am Henry VIII I am" year after year.

Norwich lost three to Babson in the regular season but beat 'em when it counted, so anything is possible, but UNH doesn't look like a team that deserves to be playing in the Garden, or in the NCAAs for that matter. I hope they prove me wrong.

 

[billb]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Early in the season I read an article telling of UNH's sub-par record last year and also of the auspicious start with which the team had begun this year, pointing to in all likelihood another twenty win season for Mr. Umile. Since the article I believe the team has garnered seven wins, had the #1 ranking bullseye on their backs, and gone into another season-ending tailspin. This is very disappointing to all UNH fans, but the big puzzle to me is why anyone is surprised?
The big constant is still there.
Congratulations to UMass Lowell. They have always had a great program with outstanding coaches and players. It is nice to see someone new with the trophy.

 

[Nifty16]

I do! I think we'll lose in 2 to Providence this coming weekend. The Friar's will take the Conference championship, and muster into Manchester with a 4 seed. Both teams will win the first round, and then we'll get to lose to Providence again.

Well glad I don't have to watch the game because the game is played on the Internet these days and not on the ice might as well just let the people in the crowd who yell at everything and make fools of themselves and not let the players on the ice decide the game

 

[Piels25]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

First post in a long time from this guy....here goes.

While I appreciate the game reviews from C-H-C, I think they have to be taken with a grain of salt as they are clearly taken through "blue-colored" glasses if you will. Having been at both games Friday and Saturday, I don't think the 'Cats played nearly as well on Friday as the blog would indicate, and much of their poor defensive zone play that they got away with vs. NU at Matthews came back to bite them on Saturday vs. Merrimack.

UNH was bad all weekend, borderline awful, in their own defensive zone....witness the 47 shots that NU had Friday night. Many of those were a result of UNH defensemen trying to do too much with the puck individually, not making the easy pass, or just failing to clear. Some credit goes to the NU forecheck, but UNH shot themselves in the foot many times. While Merrimack did not have nearly as many shots on Saturday, it was a similar story. Case in point - late in the 1st period Goumas has plenty of time to make a breakout pass up the left wing or clear the puck, instead takes too much time, gets his pocket picked, and takes a bad hooking call as a result. Merrimack did not capitalize on that PP, but that turnover and penalty was the Wildcats weekend in a nutshell.

As I said, UNH was able to make up for the poor defensive play on Friday with some timely goals and a strong effort from DeSmith, but they did not dominate NU, and it was clearly the opposite on Saturday. I can't fault DeSmith for the loss as the UNH defense just hung him out too many times. Lack of scoring has suddenly become a problem for the Wildcats, as Darien pointed out - too many chances went begging on Saturday, and if they can't right the ship defensively they are going to need a lot of 4, 5, and 6 goal games down the stretch.

I know it's just two games, but I didn't like what I saw this weekend. Back-to-back home losses (at the Whitt) against Providence and Merrimack just doesn't sit well, especially at this point of the season. Hope to see them bounce back this weekend with a home-and-home against Merrimack and pray they're not looking ahead to Boston College the following weekend at Chestnut Hill.

I think Freak just put some hard numbers to what many of us have been saying for a while - team was playing far better at both ends of the ice in the first half of the season. Post above is taken from early February after a less-than-impressive win at NU followed by a loss at home the next night to Merrimack....the writing on the wall has been there for the last month and a half.

 

[catsfan]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Well glad I don't have to watch the game because the game is played on the Internet these days and not on the ice

??? If you don't want to see predictions or discussions of teams one would suggest that you stay off of the major college hockey Fan Forum on the internet.

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Not at all. Providence and Lowell are the two teams to watch in this tournament. Providence stumped us to the tune of 0-2-1 this season, and that was back when the cats were trying to win a game.

I'm not convinced. Everyone acts like they ran away with the league. And let's see how well these "high powered" squads do if someone gets a two-goal lead on them...

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

I understand what you're saying Greg but even back from 74, how does a Coach motivate an athlete that doesn't know how to "get up" for a big game. Everyone always said that Coach Holt was always being out coached by Cleary or Johnson because he couldn't get his players motivated...
so a team with 11 future NHL players not winning the NC are correct? Disappointed yes but they were picked 4th in HE and in essence ended up there...all I'm saying is that I thoroughly enjoyed this season and continue to do so....
Although I must admit I agree with Umileated's forecast above....

 

[IrishWildcat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

??? If you don't want to see predictions or discussions of teams one would suggest that you stay off of the major college hockey Fan Forum on the internet.

I think what he was getting at is recruiting. It seems that the teams that have the greatest "reach," rather than the ones with the best actual coaching (in terms of improving a player's skill level) are going to be winning games/championships.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

But the coaching staff and the players have to know that the fan base is not happy. More than once Umile has told me, after some poor performances, that we (meaning the coaching staff) are as unhappy as the fans. The difference is that the coaches can have some impact over performance, the fans no. The meltdown (and that is the only way to describe it) over the last three months does not appear to have been addressed at any time. At least that is how it looked on the ice.

See, I'm fascinated by this small morsel of insight. I know Coach Umile isn't in the business of plumbing the depths of his coaching philosophy with the media, or anyone else to make sure the fans of his program have this "transparent" insight into how he runs things with his team. I get that. But I do wonder (and clearly I've got a lot of company on this) how he can see this stuff happening over and over again, and not find a way to adjust and improve? It WAS happening back in the late '90's/early '00's, and I still give him TONS of credit for that. The simple fact is, players come and go, and four years out from '03, you lose "institutional knowledge" from your players on how to respond in the REALLY BIG games. But the "institutional knowledge" from your head coach should still be there, and then it's Coach Umile's job to make sure future players benefit from his experience, no?

As some of you folks know, the primary reason I've disappeared from the boards for the better part of the last decade is because I've been coaching a different sport, hundreds of games, all ages right up to varsity high school athletes, and over a dozen of them have gone on to play at the next level (there will be no pros due to the sport). Those teams have ranged from winning their last game of the postseason (AND losing the same game) to winning zero (0) games in a season. The insight I've gained doing it has given me more respect for Coach Umile than I had before I started out. But regardless of how things turn out, any coach has to do some sort of post-season self-analysis after a season is done. What's working, what isn't, and how can I change the latter to be a better coach, etc.?

It MUST be killing Coach Umile to keep running into the same wall, over and over. He can't still be doing the job for monetary reasons, although I'm sure it's a nice fall-back. He's been well-paid for 23 years now, and I'm guessing his retirement benefits (when the time comes - clearly it will be his call, and just as clearly I think he's earned that right, at least as things now stand) will be pretty sweet. So right now, at this stage of his career, we are probably talking about a single-minded Captain Ahab who is still in search of the elusive white whale (admit it - I know you guys miss this stuff ). And he also knows time is no longer on his side.

I guess one thing that puzzles me, and I know I've mentioned this before, is why Coach Umile's teams are not more aggressive, and sometimes border on the verge of being "soft"? I never had the privilege of seeing Umile play 40+ years ago in those pre C-H-C days, but all reports I've ever heard from those who did see him play was that he was a talented player who also played with a physical edge. You would think that someone with that kind of playing mindset would place more value in seeking out more players with those same characteristics? The UNH teams that did win the league hardware in '02 and '03 had more of that that any of the teams before OR since under Coach Umile. It seems like some of the younger kids this year (Pesce, Correale and Gaudreault) are going back in that direction, and if so, I think (hope?) that's a good sign. We can only hope this year's UNH post-season at least has some success, the players (and perhaps the coaches?) learn some important lessons, and in doing so Coach Umile gets things pointed back in the right direction for the future.

Nothing would make me happier than to see UNH finally get over this and win it all. And it really would be nice to see Coach Umile still on board to enjoy it.

Look, I had no illusions that UNH was on the cusp of winning a the national championship this year. But I did think that they were more than capable of garnering either or both the regular season and playoff titles. That they failed to gain the first when it was basically handed to them and, in all likelihood, are not going to have a chance to obtain the second, is disappointing. Am I "Crestfallen"? No. Disappointed? Yes.

Put me down for all of that. Roll on with the postseason now ...

 

[billb]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Maybe this will start a trend.
Jackie Parker is stepping down after 40 years at BU.
He always was a classy, intelligent coach.

 

[snively]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

"but even back from 74, how does a Coach motivate an athlete that doesn't know how to "get up" for a big game. Everyone always said that Coach Holt was always being out coached by Cleary or Johnson because he couldn't get his players motivated... ""

I agree with you roofer that that assertion was BS -- in fact even more so with Charlie Holt's big games in those 1970s.

In 1974 -- single game first round elimination format then -- Cap Raeder, though injured, insisted on starting (so motivated, no?) before having to be pulled in large part because of that injury. Fighting back from a huge hole, Cliff Cox, Jamie Hislop and Gordie Clark scored three goals during a single two minute 4 on 4 -- so no sluffing off there. They lost in OT when RPI scored on Dan Magnarelli -- a freshman with virtually zero playing time that season.

In 1977, they first beat Brown with a Dave Lumley goal in OT, then came back to tie Cornell in the semis with a late goal. They then went on to win 10-9 (!) in double overtime. Next night they lost a close game to BU in the finals in an era when the Terriers were as good as any team in the country. Three huge efforts.

Finally, in 1979 they won the final, beating Dartmouth 3-2 -- again with a late goal. Number 17, Bobby Gould, scored the game winner at 17:17 of the third period They obviously didn't mail in the effort there.

So those are three monster big games in which the 'Cats were anything but unmotivated. It really is a player by player, squad by squad thing, Herb Brooks notwithstanding. You see this all the time in other sports as well.

 

[BobF]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Your broader point I agree with roofer, and I too would Holt's 1970s big games to support it (single game elimination first round playoffs back then).
Finally, in 1979 they won the Hockey East championship, beating Dartmouth 3-2 -- again with a late goal (number #17, Bobby Gould, scored the game winner at 17:17 of the third period). They obviously didn't mail in the effort there.

Methinks you want to edit the championship they won as Hockey East did not exist at this time.

 

[snively]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

Sorry my bad -- it was of course the ECACs. I think I was hoarse for a week. 1979's was their first league title of any sort.

And to give you some idea of how good the BU team was that they lost that '77 final to (close game, remember), they were NCAA champs a year later, with a record of 30-2

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

As we sat in the locker room after that loss, as BU files past our door to their locker room, one of their player's yelled, " yea, *#~%* you, Year of the Cat!", which was the #1 song of that year from Al Stewart.....the things we remember.

 

[e.cat]

Btw, nice shout out e.cat!

Thanks. Only true hockey fans would appreciate that.

I appreciate your historical perspective. I graduated in '73.

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

As we sat in the locker room after that loss, as BU files past our door to their locker room, one of their player's yelled, " yea, *#~%* you, Year of the Cat!", which was the #1 song of that year from Al Stewart.....the things we remember.

That's pretty funny, I was sitting in the 2nd balcony that night with my "YEAR OF THE CAT" banner

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

I don't think it is not getting up for games or even an effort problem. I think it comes down to 3 things 1) system, 2) poor situational awareness and 3) as a subset of #2 dumb plays. I separate 2 and 3 as I see them differently but they are both based on same problem dumb plays.

1) SYSTEM - UNH clearly doesn't practice or play a system of hockey that can win tight games. It is almost as if "dirty" goals don't count. I think that is why they seem to have a harder time scoring goals in a scrum in front of the net. It just feels like UNH is worse than any other teams at getting there sticks on pucks and getting them in the net. Additionally some teams (BU always seems able) to lift the puck in close to get it under the cross bar and hard for the goalie especially with the butterfly to just take away.

The second system issue is in panic throwing the puck around the boards in the D-zone. The puck moves so fast the other D-man or winger can't get to it before the teams D-man. See everybody knows this and are ready for it. UNH looked earlier in the year to be coming up the "center" of the ice in the D zone on a fairly regular basis to not be so predictable and yet at the end of the year they have reverted to up the boards which pins them in zone.

2) SITUATIONAL AWARENESS - UNH never seems to understand who is on the ice. You take chances against the other teams forth you wouldn't against there first. An example from the Maine game is on Diamonds 2nd goal, when UNH got out of position on the boards by the Maine bench. In this case UNH is leading and there is no need to be overly aggressive, just play smart.

Or fundamentally understanding you cannot lose a clean defensive zone draw, and in that case a tie up is not a problem. Maine scored goals off clean faceoff wins when the shot back through the mass of players can get by a screened goalie or tipped.

3) JUST DUMB PLAYS - My current whipping boy is Hardowa. He has had a series of really dumb plays spanning back 2 months. Some have bit UNH some have been narrowly avoided. Most are errors at the blueline and as of late they are getting worse. Hardowa has over played the offensive blue line leading to break aways and goals by Maine and Vermont in just the last 3 weeks. Sometimes it is better to play safe than to over play particularly in a tight or playoff type game. Also against Maine a dumb play at the offensive blue line lead to a 3 on 1 that somehow didn't score. Hardowa had the puck and was breaking up the Maine bench side; UNH line changed in process and had a 4 on 4 heading in at the blueline. Hardowa decided to pass toward the center ice just after crossing the blueline the pass was parallel to the blue line. Maine tips it to center ice and is breaking the other way. Dumb situational hockey, if you can see 3 other white shirts with you that means one back, that puck has to keep moving deeper into the zone even if a dump in.

Sometimes aggressive blue line play is needed, when behind or on the power play, or when a forward is very high in the offensive zone to cover. But when leading by 2 goals in a playoff game, fall back and play smart.

The players have to execute all 3 but the coaches have to get these issues into the player’s heads. As a team you have to get smarter all year not dumber. UNH has a history of these 3 issues and the coaching is what is consistent. That is what this staff needs to figure out how to fix. Early in the year UNH was doing all the little things right = smart hockey, but the longer the season goes the dumber they get.

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

I don't think it is not getting up for games or even an effort problem. I think it comes down to 3 things 1) system, 2) poor situational awareness and 3) as a subset of #2 dumb plays. I separate 2 and 3 as I see them differently but they are both based on same problem dumb plays.

1) SYSTEM - UNH clearly doesn't practice or play a system of hockey that can win tight games. It is almost as if "dirty" goals don't count. I think that is why they seem to have a harder time scoring goals in a scrum in front of the net. It just feels like UNH is worse than any other teams at getting there sticks on pucks and getting them in the net. Additionally some teams (BU always seems able) to lift the puck in close to get it under the cross bar and hard for the goalie especially with the butterfly to just take away.

The second system issue is in panic throwing the puck around the boards in the D-zone. The puck moves so fast the other D-man or winger can't get to it before the teams D-man. See everybody knows this and are ready for it. UNH looked earlier in the year to be coming up the "center" of the ice in the D zone on a fairly regular basis to not be so predictable and yet at the end of the year they have reverted to up the boards which pins them in zone.

2) SITUATIONAL AWARENESS - UNH never seems to understand who is on the ice. You take chances against the other teams forth you wouldn't against there first. An example from the Maine game is on Diamonds 2nd goal, when UNH got out of position on the boards by the Maine bench. In this case UNH is leading and there is no need to be overly aggressive, just play smart.

Or fundamentally understanding you cannot lose a clean defensive zone draw, and in that case a tie up is not a problem. Maine scored goals off clean faceoff wins when the shot back through the mass of players can get by a screened goalie or tipped.

3) JUST DUMB PLAYS - My current whipping boy is Hardowa. He has had a series of really dumb plays spanning back 2 months. Some have bit UNH some have been narrowly avoided. Most are errors at the blueline and as of late they are getting worse. Hardowa has over played the offensive blue line leading to break aways and goals by Maine and Vermont in just the last 3 weeks. Sometimes it is better to play safe than to over play particularly in a tight or playoff type game. Also against Maine a dumb play at the offensive blue line lead to a 3 on 1 that somehow didn't score. Hardowa had the puck and was breaking up the Maine bench side; UNH line changed in process and had a 4 on 4 heading in at the blueline. Hardowa decided to pass toward the center ice just after crossing the blueline the pass was parallel to the blue line. Maine tips it to center ice and is breaking the other way. Dumb situational hockey, if you can see 3 other white shirts with you that means one back, that puck has to keep moving deeper into the zone even if a dump in.

Sometimes aggressive blue line play is needed, when behind or on the power play, or when a forward is very high in the offensive zone to cover. But when leading by 2 goals in a playoff game, fall back and play smart.

The players have to execute all 3 but the coaches have to get these issues into the player’s heads. As a team you have to get smarter all year not dumber. UNH has a history of these 3 issues and the coaching is what is consistent. That is what this staff needs to figure out how to fix. Early in the year UNH was doing all the little things right = smart hockey, but the longer the season goes the dumber they get.

Good analysis JB. The only thing I would add is that DeSmith needs to step up and make some saves in key situations. Truth be told that tie Saturday is on him IMHO There have been some glaring softies IMO

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2012-2013 Season Thread

I agree e.cat, Saturday is on DeSmith....Maine had to have Friday and they took it...UNH needed Saturday, had a 3-1 lead and wimped out....I'll save DeSmith on the 2nd Diamond goal. All a defenseman had to do was close on the brat and hit him instead of giving him time and room to go across the zone!
So now we play on the small ice surface, same as Manchester, and win a few.....no biggie!