UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread (Part 2)

[GoUNH]

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

Would UNH back in, or another team back out. Or maybe perhaps the 16 teams to get in all earned their slot.

 

[e.cat]

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

Ref. Your sentiments nailed it for me. The here and now is what it is. What it is, what it is as my not so "PC" kids say. Boy has Mr. Pesce stepped up. Love his game now. Goumas, Willows, how about Speelman? Love it Anyway, like Chuck says, just win baby! Don't forget the SOG's though Chuck

Snively65, I can't believe you were there for the first games played at lively Snively and the Whitt too. That's awesome! I'm having some difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that you were teaching at UNH during the Snively days. That puts you around the same age as, IDK, Walter Peterson!??

 

[HockeyRef]

Ref. Your sentiments nailed it for me. The here and now is what it is. What it is, what it is as my not so "PC" kids say. Boy has Mr. Pesce stepped up. Love his game now. Goumas, Willows, how about Speelman? Love it Anyway, like Chuck says, just win baby! Don't forget the SOG's though Chuck

Snively65, I can't believe you were there for the first games played at lively Snively and the Whitt too. That's awesome! I'm having some difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that you were teaching at UNH during the Snively days. That puts you around the same age as, IDK, Walter Peterson!??

Totally remiss for not mentioning Speelman; he's also had a great year! Many have contributed and here's to future contributions in the post season! Here we go 'Cats!

 

[wildcatfan_GoNH]

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

I know there is still hockey to play this season for the wildcats but are any of you fans somewhat worried about our scoring abilities for next season. As of right now I see us losing 4 possibly 5 of our top 6 scorers (27, 21, 5, 6, (12?)) I know we have a boatload of recruits coming in next year, and I know 4 of them are very talented forwards who put up tons of points (Foegele, Eiserman McNicholas, Poturalski) but Kelleher led the US18 team in scoring last year playing D1 teams like, our best in the country at the time UNH Wildcats, and hasn't done much for us this year as a Freshman. Im worried our offense might struggle next year. Thoughts?

 

[wildcatdc]

A few confessions here ... first, while I understand and appreciate all the time and thought that everyone is putting into figuring out where UNH stands vis-a-vis qualification for the NCAA tourney, I honestly can't bring myself to root against other teams/programs who lie just ahead of UNH in the PWR, just so UNH can (again - as they did recently with HE QF home ice) "back into" a slot in that tourney. I mean ... Yale?? As in, "Defending D-1 Champions Yale"??? Should the defending champions be denied a shot at defending their D-1 title because some formula puts UNH only the slightest tick ahead of them? I dunno, that seems a bit squirrely to me.

And maybe I'd feel differently if UNH was more than a borderline-above-.500 team, and had a legitimately strong argument to qualify for the tourney. Honestly, they don't. I'm not criticizing anyone for how you folks may be approaching things - hey, above all else, we all should be fans on our own terms - but from my little corner of the world, if UNH doesn't make it to Boston OR even makes it to Boston but ends up falling short of an at-large NCAA bid, then c'est la vie. That's the expected consequences of being a mediocre .500 team over the better part of a five (5) month season.

Just win the QF's, let's have a good time in Boston, and if the 'Cats can break form and keep winning, we're all happy.

God, I knew we were more alike than different!!! 150% in your corner here, Chuck.

EDIT: BTW, felt the same way about football - was slightly embarrassed that we made it into the expanded "top 20" playoffs. But rode the wave, knowing that the hay-huckers from NDSU were on the horizon. Still, was fun up until just after the pick-6 in the Thunderdome.

 

[Snively65]

Snively65, I can't believe you were there for the first games played at lively Snively and the Whitt too. That's awesome! I'm having some difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that you were teaching at UNH during the Snively days. That puts you around the same age as, IDK, Walter Peterson!??

A grade school friend and I were collecting pucks in the spring as they melted out of the snow banks surrounding the old Batchelder outdoor rink. My mistake was selling my pucks back to the Athletic Deot for a buck each, unlike my friend who is still selling his on EBay for $70+ each.

Lake Whitt was under construction and the hockey teams playing in Manchvegas during my first teaching sabbatical at UNH in 1995. But, I was too busy teaching to take daily photos of the construction as I did for Snively in 1965. Oh, but for the fancy free days of youth.

Wally Peterson was pres when I was an undergrad and Cornell and BU ruled ECAC.

 

[Snively65]

A few confessions here ... first, while I understand and appreciate all the time and thought that everyone is putting into figuring out where UNH stands vis-a-vis qualification for the NCAA tourney, I honestly can't bring myself to root against other teams/programs who lie just ahead of UNH in the PWR, just so UNH can (again - as they did recently with HE QF home ice) "back into" a slot in that tourney. I mean ... Yale?? As in, "Defending D-1 Champions Yale"??? Should the defending champions be denied a shot at defending their D-1 title because some formula puts UNH only the slightest tick ahead of them? I dunno, that seems a bit squirrely to me.

And maybe I'd feel differently if UNH was more than a borderline-above-.500 team, and had a legitimately strong argument to qualify for the tourney. Honestly, they don't. I'm not criticizing anyone for how you folks may be approaching things - hey, above all else, we all should be fans on our own terms - but from my little corner of the world, if UNH doesn't make it to Boston OR even makes it to Boston but ends up falling short of an at-large NCAA bid, then c'est la vie. That's the expected consequences of being a mediocre .500 team over the better part of a five (5) month season.

Just win the QF's, let's have a good time in Boston, and if the 'Cats can break form and keep winning, we're all happy.

Nah. None of these bubble teams are more deserving than UNH, except maybe Duluth, which finished 2nd in SOS. UNH dropped to 4th in SOS over the last two weekends against BU and Mac. But, most of the bubble teams played incredibly wimpy schedules. Michigan 15th in SOS, Colgate 16th, NU 22nd, Cornell 28th, Lowell 30th (yeah, I know, they beat us twice, but we won SOG both nights), PC 33rd, Yale 39th (how embarrassing for the reigning NC), Quinnipiac 40th (how even more embarrassing for the reigning NC runner up), Ferris State 43rd (who?), and Minnesota State a horrific 44th (and yet they are a front runner for a conference autobid; what a joke).

UNH lost eight games to the top 7 PWR teams in Div 1, six to the top 3, and only got blown out in one of them. Lot of tough losses there. The Cats were easily the best 0.500 team in the country, I think.

 

[HockeyRef]

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

Nah. None of these bubble teams are more deserving than UNH, except maybe Duluth, which finished 2nd in SOS. UNH dropped to 4th in SOS over the last two weekends against BU and Mac. But, most of the bubble teams played incredibly wimpy schedules. Michigan 15th in SOS, Colgate 16th, NU 22nd, Cornell 28th, Lowell 30th (yeah, I know, they beat us twice, but we won SOG both nights), PC 33rd, Yale 39th (how embarrassing for the reigning NC), Quinnipiac 40th (how even more embarrassing for the reigning NC runner up), Ferris State 43rd (who?), and Minnesota State a horrific 44th (and yet they are a front runner for a conference autobid; what a joke).

UNH lost eight games to the top 7 PWR teams in Div 1, six to the top 3, and only got blown out in one of them. Lot of tough losses there. The Cats were easily the best 0.500 team in the country, I think.

Well no truer words were ever spoken about that tough schedule; I was thinking about that the other day...sometimes teams who play tough schedules come out ahead in the end! Good points Snively...

 

[HockeyRef]

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

I know there is still hockey to play this season for the wildcats but are any of you fans somewhat worried about our scoring abilities for next season. As of right now I see us losing 4 possibly 5 of our top 6 scorers (27, 21, 5, 6, (12?)) I know we have a boatload of recruits coming in next year, and I know 4 of them are very talented forwards who put up tons of points (Foegele, Eiserman McNicholas, Poturalski) but Kelleher led the US18 team in scoring last year playing D1 teams like, our best in the country at the time UNH Wildcats, and hasn't done much for us this year as a Freshman. Im worried our offense might struggle next year. Thoughts?

That is a concern depending on who returns...HATE seeing #6 in your list btw but one must accept that reality when / if it arrives! Was talking to someone about our recruits and they mentioned what a great class we had this season. Not bagging those guys and I surely hope they develop as we are going to need them. Kelleher shows some very good stuff and it has been an adjustment for him in D1. Foegele has to come in and I hope he can make an immediate impact as some freshmen have proven they can! Chanter looks worthy too! Hopefully Pesce returns as he can score and you already know my feeling about #6 returning. Willows and Downing will be the main focus I'd think. Yeah, we will miss Goumas and his playmaking for sure (and all of this Senior class) I imagine every team feels this way with their Seniors departing. Chuck has alluded to a rebuilding year, we'll see I guess.

 

[e.cat]

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

Snively65. Now I get it. You were a kid when Snively was under construction and teaching when The Whitt was under construction. So you were a "townie." Thats cool Anyway, I also remember the Cornell and BU days also and I remember Harvard skating into Snively and kicking our butts in the ECAC playoffs one year when UNH was a higher seed.

BTW, I agree with your SOS assertion as well but SOG rules!

 

[Felger]

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

This must have been Snively's favorite song back in the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvChjHcABPA

 

[Greg Ambrose]

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

Snively65. Now I get it. You were a kid when Snively was under construction and teaching when The Whitt was under construction. So you were a "townie." Thats cool Anyway, I also remember the Cornell and BU days also and I remember Harvard skating into Snively and kicking our butts in the ECAC playoffs one year when UNH was a higher seed.

BTW, I agree with your SOS assertion as well but SOG rules!

The Harvard victory was in the 1976 ECAC quarterfinals. UNH was seeded 3rd, Harvard 6th. Lost because of a couple of goals by Kevin Carr from Arlington. That's back in the day when UNH had no idea how to win a home playoff game. After going on the road and beating Penn in '72 (Umile's year), they lost on the road in '73, lost the famous OT game to RPI in '74 (C-H-C), lost on the road in '75 and then lost to Harvard in '76. UNH was pretty good offensively, and they had Cap Raeder in goal for at least a couple of these years, but they could not find a way to win. They finally broke through in '77, beating Brown in OT on a Dave Lumley shot from the point that was going 10 feet wide but it deflected off a Brown skate and into the net. That started a six year run where they made the FF three times and won their only ECAC tournament title ('79).

If people are frustrated now with the fortunes of the Wildcats, think of what it was like back in the '70's when UNH, year in and year out, was one of the more talented teams in the country and couldn't even advance let alone win the whole thing.

 

[Chuck Murray]

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

UNH lost eight games to the top 7 PWR teams in Div 1, six to the top 3, and only got blown out in one of them. Lot of tough losses there. The Cats were easily the best 0.500 team in the country, I think.

Losses are losses, no matter how you dress 'em up. And .500 teams really have no business in the D-1 national tourney.

Now if they win the QF's and get a win or two in Boston, they're clearly better than a .500 team, and we'll go from there.

You have your SOS, just like e.cat has SOG. Me? If UNH doesn't win at least 3 games, the 'Cats are SOL.

 

[HockeyRef]

The Harvard victory was in the 1976 ECAC quarterfinals. UNH was seeded 3rd, Harvard 6th. Lost because of a couple of goals by Kevin Carr from Arlington. That's back in the day when UNH had no idea how to win a home playoff game. After going on the road and beating Penn in '72 (Umile's year), they lost on the road in '73, lost the famous OT game to RPI in '74 (C-H-C), lost on the road in '75 and then lost to Harvard in '76. UNH was pretty good offensively, and they had Cap Raeder in goal for at least a couple of these years, but they could not find a way to win. They finally broke through in '77, beating Brown in OT on a Dave Lumley shot from the point that was going 10 feet wide but it deflected off a Brown skate and into the net. That started a six year run where they made the FF three times and won their only ECAC tournament title ('79).

If people are frustrated now with the fortunes of the Wildcats, think of what it was like back in the '70's when UNH, year in and year out, was one of the more talented teams in the country and couldn't even advance let alone win the whole thing.

Seems like the story for UNH teams finding the way to win those big games even way back when...but how many teams can say they've been to the Regionals as much? ( I know it's been a super long time since we've advanced past it ). It had to be refreshing to see a team like Yale do what they did last year; a team without a "B" in front of it (not to take away from BU/BC's success).. 'Course would love to see UNH with one of those banners....hey it could happen!

 

[Felger]

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

It's awesome to talk sweep on Friday in the papers but you've gotta show up.

Thought it was worth bringing that quote back up. Hearing the fans speaking about the pre-ordained sweep of NU and its impact on the PWR reminds me of those latter day Josh "Foot in Mouth" Cioccos discussing sweeping Vermont before that series a month ago. I think NU is probably the weakest team UNH could have drawn and think the 'Cats should win the series. But disrespecting your opponent and looking ahead is a sure way to see the season end earlier than any of us want it to.

Colgate, Minn State, Duluth, and Yale need to flame out early, which could happen.

And speaking of disrespecting other teams, Colgate and MSU have lost one game between them since February 1st. I don't expect either to win their respective league tourneys, but each are playing pretty well recently.

Bottom line, focus on the task at hand, what you can do, and the reasonable goal that Chuck has set.

 

[goblue]

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

The Harvard victory was in the 1976 ECAC quarterfinals. UNH was seeded 3rd, Harvard 6th. Lost because of a couple of goals by Kevin Carr from Arlington. That's back in the day when UNH had no idea how to win a home playoff game. After going on the road and beating Penn in '72 (Umile's year), they lost on the road in '73, lost the famous OT game to RPI in '74 (C-H-C), lost on the road in '75 and then lost to Harvard in '76. UNH was pretty good offensively, and they had Cap Raeder in goal for at least a couple of these years, but they could not find a way to win. They finally broke through in '77, beating Brown in OT on a Dave Lumley shot from the point that was going 10 feet wide but it deflected off a Brown skate and into the net. That started a six year run where they made the FF three times and won their only ECAC tournament title ('79).

If people are frustrated now with the fortunes of the Wildcats, think of what it was like back in the '70's when UNH, year in and year out, was one of the more talented teams in the country and couldn't even advance let alone win the whole thing.

Wasn't that loss to RPI the one when Cap Raeder, otherwise a very solid goalie, let in a fluke shot from at least center ice -- maybe even the RPI blue line? I was there in the 70's, attended every home game, and experienced the ups and downs. My insufficient memory banks allow me to recall very few specifics about individual games, but I do remember that ugly goal.

 

[Felger]

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

Wasn't that loss to RPI the one when Cap Raeder, otherwise a very solid goalie, let in a fluke shot from at least center ice -- maybe even the RPI blue line? I was there in the 70's, attended every home game, and experienced the ups and downs. My insufficient memory banks allow me to recall very few specifics about individual games, but I do remember that ugly goal.

Greg was referring to the quarterfinal game where an injured Raeder gave it a go but allowed 4 first period goals before UNH tied it up on the first shift of the second period. They ultimately lost in OT.

Pretty sure that game was 40 years ago this past Wednesday, thought for sure someone would point that out on here.

 

[C-H-C]

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

Greg was referring to the quarterfinal game where an injured Raeder gave it a go but allowed 4 first period goals before UNH tied it up on the first shift of the second period. They ultimately lost in OT.

Pretty sure that game was 40 years ago this past Wednesday, thought for sure someone would point that out on here.

Yes, Cap Raeder - who was named an All-American at the end of that '73-'74 season - was injured prior to the quarterfinal game against RPI. A bit of trivia - Raeder went on to play for the Hartford Whalers in the old World Hockey Association and was teammates with Gordie Howe.

40 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUEHAUJsKDE

 

[unh1982]

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

Remember the brown playoff game 1977 I think .My brothers were already enrolled at UNH , my family lived in Providence so as a thirteen year old was rooting for Brown. We took in a Brown hockey player by the name of bill Gilligan who went on to become ( still ) the number one scorer in Brown history. Anyways UNH ended his career in ot 4-3 On a shot from Dave Lumley. What I remember the most was the atmosphere, never seen anything like it. The noise at snively was ear popping.Back than the 3000 were practically all students squished together like fish. That's when I decided I wanted to attend . To this day still have yet to hear noise of that decibel.

 

[e.cat]

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

The Harvard victory was in the 1976 ECAC quarterfinals. UNH was seeded 3rd, Harvard 6th. Lost because of a couple of goals by Kevin Carr from Arlington. That's back in the day when UNH had no idea how to win a home playoff game. After going on the road and beating Penn in '72 (Umile's year), they lost on the road in '73, lost the famous OT game to RPI in '74 (C-H-C), lost on the road in '75 and then lost to Harvard in '76. UNH was pretty good offensively, and they had Cap Raeder in goal for at least a couple of these years, but they could not find a way to win. They finally broke through in '77, beating Brown in OT on a Dave Lumley shot from the point that was going 10 feet wide but it deflected off a Brown skate and into the net. That started a six year run where they made the FF three times and won their only ECAC tournament title ('79).

If people are frustrated now with the fortunes of the Wildcats, think of what it was like back in the '70's when UNH, year in and year out, was one of the more talented teams in the country and couldn't even advance let alone win the whole thing.

That was it! Thanks Greg. I remember being ******ed after that loss so I think I filed that memory in the circular file Anyway, as a sidebar, I was a salesman for General Mills during those years on the northshore and used to run into Cap Raeder's father all the time because he worked for a competitor, General Foods. He was a nice guy and I enjoyed our hockey conversations