UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Hard to believe, but barring a 4 game winning streak to finish the regular season, and a HUGE break with other results in the league later this month ... this weekend's home game against BU is almost certainly going to be the last home game of the season.

Repeatedly missing out on hosting 2-3 HE QF tourney games in recent seasons (which used to be givens) has to hit the budget to the tune of a small six-figure sum annually, which can't be good.

 

[HockeyRef]

Hard to believe, but barring a 4 game winning streak to finish the regular season, and a HUGE break with other results in the league later this month ... this weekend's home game against BU is almost certainly going to be the last home game of the season.

Repeatedly missing out on hosting 2-3 HE QF tourney games in recent seasons (which used to be givens) has to hit the budget to the tune of a small six-figure sum annually, which can't be good.

Not to mention the cost to the school for the travelling the team is going to incur depending on where it all shakes out. AND the cost associated with lowered attendance over the years to boot. Anyway just bought my Tix to the away match up this weekend. Son lives in Boston area so we will make a day/ night of it...Good times!

 

[e.cat]

e.cat I don't think it's out of the question either! We've seen this team play well...I think it's possible and hope they rise to the occasion. Is it really a question of can't...or won't? Only they have the answer! Let's Go Cats!

Dunno either. A lot can happen. I think it starts with the BU series. Have fun in Boston. I think they sell beer at Agganis so don't get too rowdy. I'd hate to see you on TV get hauled out in handcuffs

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Dunno either. A lot can happen. I think it starts with the BU series. Have fun in Boston. I think they sell beer at Agganis so don't get too rowdy. I'd hate to see you on TV get hauled out in handcuffs

Who ME? My reputation must precede me..haha. Actually I had to laugh when I went to Maine my husband's parting words were "and please, don't get into any fights". I plan on being on my very best behavior...sitting right behind the team (UNH) so I guess I gotta behave myself...

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Hard to believe, but barring a 4 game winning streak to finish the regular season, and a HUGE break with other results in the league later this month ... this weekend's home game against BU is almost certainly going to be the last home game of the season.

Repeatedly missing out on hosting 2-3 HE QF tourney games in recent seasons (which used to be givens) has to hit the budget to the tune of a small six-figure sum annually, which can't be good.

Chuck, I might be wrong here but if UNH misses out on the bye and falls to the bottom six, I think they have enough to finish 6-8 and host the single elimination. Of course, that might take a four game winning streak. I'd like to think that can happen but, based on what I saw this past weekend, it's hard to fathom how it would be done. However, I will say that BU is gawd awful. Merrimack the same. So it's all up to UNH, isn't it?

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Hard to believe, but barring a 4 game winning streak to finish the regular season, and a HUGE break with other results in the league later this month ... this weekend's home game against BU is almost certainly going to be the last home game of the season.

Repeatedly missing out on hosting 2-3 HE QF tourney games in recent seasons (which used to be givens) has to hit the budget to the tune of a small six-figure sum annually, which can't be good.

Doesn't Hockey East set the prices and get the gate on all HE tourney games, even the QFs played on campus sites? I believe that is the case. Have to imagine the cost to open up the arenas and pay the security staff and everyone else working the event probably leaves little profit from the concessions revenue, which I would think the school would keep. God knows this discussion has been had many times. I feel like we'e concluded the league gets the gate.

Also, related to a below post, I wouldn't be surprised if the league reimburses the hotel and travel expenses that go on the road during the tournament.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

I watched the game last night too. I was hoping for a NU win just upset the apple cart on BC's "trophy season" run but not mean't to be. NU put up a good fight though. That kid Hayes for BC is special.

Maybe rooting for BC to fail in the "trophy season" is as futile as expecting UNH to win anything of substance under Umile?

Remember that time you told us you were so happy to go to Colorado Springs with Colorado College instead of going to Worcester with Minnesota and Miami in 2008? Ah that was a classic. As was the time in 2010 that BC let UNH win the RS title by settling for a tie and a higher PWR.

take your one uptick in the pairwise and go home. thanks for playing though

CLASSIC! I know most BC fans that were around for those moments would love another one of your "blessings" to the Eagles. Thanks in advance.

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

The first 2 rounds are best of 3 at higher seed. It is not a single play in game in first round. Nick is correct in his assertion that Hockey East gets all of the money for playoffs but processing fees and concessions. I am not certain about league paying for away game travel, but it makes sense given the league office receives the ticket revenue for all including Garden semi-finals and finals.

Where is the 2014 Hockey East tournament played?

Round 1 - Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9 at home site of higher seed
Round 2 - Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16 at home site of higher seed
Round 3 and 4 - Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 at TD Garden in Boston, MA


How many teams make the tournament?

All 11 conference teams make the playoffs. This produces 3 first round matchups with 5 byes.


What is the likely seeding for the tournament?

Check out our standings page for detailed information
Hockey East Standings


What is the format of the Hockey East tournament?

Round 1 and 2 : Best 2 out 3 played at the home site of the higher seed
Round 3 and 4 : Single elimination game played on neutral ice
Teams are seeded after each round

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

The first 2 rounds are best of 3 at higher seed. It is not a single play in game in first round.

edit - That's interesting. I've seen releases say single elim for the first round.

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Maybe rooting for BC to fail in the "trophy season" is as futile as expecting UNH to win anything of substance under Umile?

It's nothing personal Nick. Rooting for you guys is like rooting for the Yankees(which would be hard to do anyway since I'm a Red Sox fan) back in the day when they won the World series every other year it seemed like. When you guys become also rans like the rest of us mere mortals then I'll think about it! Until then I'll be rooting for the underdogs.

Remember that time you told us you were so happy to go to Colorado Springs with Colorado College instead of going to Worcester with Minnesota and Miami in 2008? Ah that was a classic. As was the time in 2010 that BC let UNH win the RS title by settling for a tie and a higher PWR.

No. I don't remember what I had for dinner last night. Sounds like you need to let it go though. You'll feel better if you do

CLASSIC! I know most BC fans that were around for those moments would love another one of your "blessings" to the Eagles. Thanks in advance.

God bless! Nobody else will

BTW. I think it's time for you to change locations.

 

[blackbear80]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

edit - That's interesting. I've seen releases say single elim for the first round.

I think it's single elimination. Early releases had the qualifiers best of 3, but the latest press release I could find is here:
http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1314/201309/sep24sch.php

"The top 5 teams in the league standings will get a first round bye, while teams 6 through 11 will faceoff in a single-game playoff on March 7 and 8 at the sites of the higher seeds (No. 6 hosting No. 11, No. 7 hosting No. 10 and No. 8 hosting No. 9.) "

Hockey East has not done a good job getting this info out.

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

According to USCHO, the first round is single elimination.

http://www.uscho.com/hockey-east-playoffs/

BlackBear80 is correct, the league has done a terrible job making people aware of the playoff structure this year.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Chuck, I might be wrong here but if UNH misses out on the bye and falls to the bottom six, I think they have enough to finish 6-8 and host the single elimination. Of course, that might take a four game winning streak. I'd like to think that can happen but, based on what I saw this past weekend, it's hard to fathom how it would be done. However, I will say that BU is gawd awful. Merrimack the same. So it's all up to UNH, isn't it?

I think you are right about teams 6-8 hosting a single-elimination playoff game. That's what they've been saying on NESN broadcasts for weeks now, anyway. It's hard to see UNH dropping to #9, so there you go.

So I guess UNH has a pretty good chance of hosting one more game after BU this weekend. Although IF UNH were to finish as the #5 seed, the BU game would indeed be the last home game, but at least they'd avoid the single-elimination preliminary round. So I'm assuming Friday night will be Senior Night at The Whitt.

I'll apologize for bringing up the "red herring" of the added revenues to the school for hosting the QF's. I recall this has come up in the past, and the consensus was the league takes the ticket revenue for those games. Still, I hate seeing those games hosted elsewhere, but that's part of the new reality at Complacency U, I suppose.

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Doesn't Hockey East set the prices and get the gate on all HE tourney games, even the QFs played on campus sites?

The games are 'league events' (this is why opposing bands are allowed) but I don't believe they set the ticket prices. IIRC in 2012 Maine dropped the price to something like $10 to get people in the building as kids were on break, meanwhile I paid $25 for my ticket at BU.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

At the beginning of this season, I called Matt Willows the "Dustin Pedroia of the UNH Wildcats" - because of his size relative to his competitors, the way he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and always hustles.

Here is what he said about the weekend sweep by Vermont:

“I thought we prepared well during the week, but obviously we weren’t ready to go (against Vermont). “(On Friday in a 5-2 loss) we came out flat and finished flat. Tonight (Saturday) we came out flat and finished strong, but it was too late.

Everyone in this league is good. Every night you’ve got to come out and play. If you don’t come out to play you’re going to get rolled on no matter where you are.

You’ve got to come out and give it everything you’ve got and play to 100 percent of your game. We didn’t."

This young man would look good with a 'C' on his jersey next season.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

At the beginning of this season, I called Matt Willows the "Dustin Pedroia of the UNH Wildcats" - because of his size relative to his competitors, the way he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and always hustles.

Here is what he said about the weekend sweep by Vermont:



This young man would look good with a 'C' on his jersey next season.

Like others on this board, I really enjoy watching Mattie Willows! He's always 'in the thick of things' and he hustles. Who determines the captain of a team, and the alternate captains? I was thinking about this very same thing; Willows, Pesce, TvR (assuming they are back), DeSmith..all great Seniors... I love your Dustin Pedroia analogy!

 

[UNHhockey29]

So I'm assuming Friday night will be Senior Night at The Whitt.(

The last game of the regular season is always senior night


Also I have paid different prices at different qtr final sites the past 3 years

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Chuck, I might be wrong here but if UNH misses out on the bye and falls to the bottom six, I think they have enough to finish 6-8 and host the single elimination. Of course, that might take a four game winning streak. I'd like to think that can happen but, based on what I saw this past weekend, it's hard to fathom how it would be done. However, I will say that BU is gawd awful. Merrimack the same. So it's all up to UNH, isn't it?

If UNH at least splits each series, so earns 4 more points to reach 20, then they are guaranteed at least 8th to host the play-in game, no matter what BU and Mac do with their other remaining games, and as long as Notre Dame does not run the table (2 at PC, H/H with BU, 1 at BC). Sigh.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Like others on this board, I really enjoy watching Mattie Willows! He's always 'in the thick of things' and he hustles. Who determines the captain of a team, and the alternate captains? I was thinking about this very same thing; Willows, Pesce, TvR (assuming they are back), DeSmith..all great Seniors... I love your Dustin Pedroia analogy!

I don't pretend to know the dynamics of the UNH locker room, but I'd be surprised to see Pesce designated next year with a captaincy, as he'd only be a junior. I'm on board with Willows (if selected) and TvR (if he returns). Never been a huge fan of goalies as captains, but DeSmith would likely at least warrant consideration as a 4 year starter. Other potential options might include Downing, Thrush, or even Agosta as a potential longshot if he returns for another year.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

Check out post #175 in the Pairwise thread started by Priceless; we still have a shot at an at-large NCAA bid!