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UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
- Thread starter C-H-C
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e.cat
Seasoned Veteran
Its on Fox Sports 173 on TWC. NOT Sure what channel for Comcast.
e.cat
Seasoned Veteran
Its on a Maine local channel too. The Maine thread has info on the channel. I dont remember which one.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
Wow what an atmosphere here at the Alfond! Obviously a different environment "Not in Kansas Anymore" Energetic fan section hot band etc. Great seat center ice. "Casey De Sieve" banner turn about is fair play I guess! Welp almost game time Let's Goooo 'Cats!
Wow what an atmosphere here at the Alfond! Obviously a different environment "Not in Kansas Anymore" Energetic fan section hot band etc. Great seat center ice. "Casey De Sieve" banner turn about is fair play I guess! Welp almost game time Let's Goooo 'Cats!
Great fans there. It's lots of fun to catch a game at Alfond.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
It's been a blast so far! Sitting right behind the penalty box am seeing a lot of UNH players
. Hot tempers at the end of the second...Willows no doubt who knew? 
Maybe the chewed popcorn spitters have graduated.
Sounds like another great game between these two arch rivals.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
Well, no big surprise as Maine takes care of business at home with the 4-2 win. Sloppy 3rd period play by the 'Cats (highlighted by Sorkin's giveaway leading to the game winning goal) pretty much did them in. Were it not for some key saves by DeSmith the score could have been a lot worse.
Sounds like Goumas got hurt too? Radio announcer said that he was holding his shoulder when he skated to the team bench?
Well, no big surprise as Maine takes care of business at home with the 4-2 win. Sloppy 3rd period play by the 'Cats (highlighted by Sorkin's giveaway leading to the game winning goal) pretty much did them in. Were it not for some key saves by DeSmith the score could have been a lot worse.
Sounds like Goumas got hurt too? Radio announcer said that he was holding his shoulder when he skated to the team bench?
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Welp looks like the 4-2 prediction was correct
I'll let you hockey pros dissect it...j
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Agree it could've been more with the 3rd but Goimas had a tough go of it all night he did finish the game tho.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
Well that loss drops us to 6th. The good news is that the remaining 8 games (5 are home) are against 4 of the 5 teams below us. So it should go without saying that we really should win those games. Winning 8 games in a row with this teams inconsistency/ injuries may be a little too much to ask for though but we can get 13-14 points. Then we'll need to get some help to get a bye. Most likely from Maine(2 points ahead) Northeastern(5 points ahead but we have 2 games in hand) or Providence(3 pts. ahead, 1 game in hand and they have 1 game vs. BC and 2 @Maine). One of them will need to lose a few games. And if Maine's road woes continue with four games away from Alfond left I still like our chances to get a bye. It will be interesting to see how Providence and Northeastern can finish as well. Home ice is doable but a stretch. It also helps teams chasing us (UVM & ND who are close) have a tough remaining schedule. But it all starts with the Cats winning games they need to/ should win. Trying to be optimistic here....
Well that loss drops us to 6th. The good news is that the remaining 8 games (5 are home) are against 4 of the 5 teams below us. So it should go without saying that we really should win those games. Winning 8 games in a row with this teams inconsistency/ injuries may be a little too much to ask for though but we can get 13-14 points. Then we'll need to get some help to get a bye. Most likely from Maine(2 points ahead) Northeastern(5 points ahead but we have 2 games in hand) or Providence(3 pts. ahead, 1 game in hand and they have 1 game vs. BC and 2 @Maine). One of them will need to lose a few games. And if Maine's road woes continue with four games away from Alfond left I still like our chances to get a bye. It will be interesting to see how Providence and Northeastern can finish as well. Home ice is doable but a stretch. It also helps teams chasing us (UVM & ND who are close) have a tough remaining schedule. But it all starts with the Cats winning games they need to/ should win. Trying to be optimistic here....
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
I cringed when Sorkin taunted the fans following his second period goal...the hockey gods have a way of evening that stuff out.
I cringed when Sorkin taunted the fans following his second period goal...the hockey gods have a way of evening that stuff out.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
"UNH Loses 4-2, Splits Weekend Series with Maine"
Updated to include video of Casey DeSmith stopping Devin Shore breakaway late in the 3rd period.
"UNH Loses 4-2, Splits Weekend Series with Maine"
Updated to include video of Casey DeSmith stopping Devin Shore breakaway late in the 3rd period.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
So I know there's been some talk about the lack of finishers on the team and it got me thinking. And maybe you guys have already discussed this before but do you know that UNH does not have a drafted forward on their team? The previous two seasons it was only Greg Burke, who didn't play much last year b/c of an injury. I was kind of surprised by that so I did some digging (and let me know if I'm wrong but I think it's accurate) and I had to go back to the 1979-80 team to find another instance where UNH did not have a forward on the team who was drafted. Although after that season 2 current players got drafted (Brickley & Jay Miller). Now I understand having drafted players isn't the be all, end all and it's really not a big deal UNH doesn't have one this year(At least it shouldn't necessarily be). And I'm not trying to make a huge deal/ complain about the simple fact that there aren't any drafted forwards but it does kind of speak to the teams that have been put out recently. Now being drafted doesn't always mean the player will work out in college. Just consider Greg Burke who only put up 24 points in his first 3 years. And there are also great college players who never even get drafted (Krog is a big one that comes to mind. Why wasn't he drafted?? Nuts.). I get that. And you can still have a good team without draft picks (Ferris St.: 0 total & Union: 0 forwards). Now on the other spectrum draftees don't guarantee success (CC: 5, BU: 7, Harvard: 8). But it definitely helps. If you look at that top level of competition in college hockey (BC, Mich., Minni., North Dak.) they all have a lot of draft picks and to a certain degree it is indicative of just how good they are.
Now I remember when UNH would have 5-10 draftees. Easy. Those were the days. Now this all kinda ties in with what NCAA Watcher has posted before, that current UNH players were not top scorers in the USHL. Now I'm just wondering why UNH isn't getting that top echelon of talent anymore. I know there's a lot of reasons. There is a lot of parity in college hockey now. There are a lot of good teams today that weren't always in the past. It's not just the perennial powerhouses that dominate(which I think is great for college hockey and hockey in gen.). Although those teams are still good there are a lot of other real good teams. Just look at the success of the ECAC recently. Basically college hockey is just getting way more competitive and recruiting must be a challenge. Competing with other college teams and major juniors. And having kids committing at such young ages poses challenges. Sometimes they just don't pan out/ develop like teams think they will.
Anyway, all teams have to deal with the same challenges and those "national powerhouses" are still getting those great players. Sometimes one team has 10-15 that are drafted(Minni is just unfair with the Minn. pipeline of talent). Just why is it then that UNH isn't getting that talent anymore? I feel like there's plenty of good players to go around, UNH is a good school and has a good hockey history but UNH is missing out....
Look at the production this year vs. talented teams...
Overall: 14-13-1
___________Record____Avg. Goal For______Avg. Goal Against________Dif._____
Vs. top 10 : 1-7-1 **********1.666********************3******************-1.333
Vs. 11-20 : 5-5-0**********3.2 (+1.6)*****************2.8 (-0.2)************+0.04
vs. NR : 8-1-0**********4.444(+1.2)****************1.77(-1.1)************+2.674
Last two weekends they have averaged 1.75 GPG. 2 goals in two games vs. #6 Union and 5 goals in 2 games vs. #20 Maine.
Just look at this production compared to team defense. Against 1-10 teams the GAA is 3 (Not bad since BC, Minni, Union(0 forwards drafted) are 1-3 in team offense averaging over 3.5 GPG) and against teams 11-20 the GAA is 2.8. So the defense is pretty consistent among top 20 teams. Now on the flip side... the offense is averaging 1.66 GPG against teams 1-10(Only QU and Lowell have GAA under 2 as a point of reference). Then they make a big jump to 3.2 against teams 11-20. So the offense is just not producing against the top teams in the country. I think that's indicative of the type of team UNH is(11-20). I think they're better then their record suggests but not a top 10 team. Now I don't know what's changed or what they need to do to get the players they were getting 10 years ago. But until they do, they will just be a 11-20 team and may make the tournament one year and not the next... I don't want to be satisfied just making the tournament...
Now the good news is that it looks like this short 'draftee drought' is going to end next year. Because it looks like Eiserman and Foegele will be drafted in the spring and will join UNH next year. And it sounds like there could be a couple other real good forwards/ scorers coming in next year as well. Here's hoping UNH can continue to get those types of players and get back to the glory days.
Wow. sorry for the essay guys. Looks like I pulled a Chuck (No offense Chuck. I like your posts). I was just surprised UNH doesn't have a current forward already drafted and that snapped a 30+ year streak so I thought I'd share. UNH could certainly still develop players and have real good teams without having drafted players but drafted players or not the production needs to go up somehow against good teams because putting 9 up against UMass just isn't as good as putting 9 up against BC...
But the last time UNH had two drafted forwards on their team (2010-11: DeSimone & Burke) they went to the Garden. Not saying that's the reason why since Burke only had 3 points all year. Still need a good all around team and production from a variety of people but just trying to think positive!!
That's next year though... We still got this year and we still have a good team. So with a strong finish we could still get to the Garden. Cats just need to take care of business down the stretch here!
So I know there's been some talk about the lack of finishers on the team and it got me thinking. And maybe you guys have already discussed this before but do you know that UNH does not have a drafted forward on their team? The previous two seasons it was only Greg Burke, who didn't play much last year b/c of an injury. I was kind of surprised by that so I did some digging (and let me know if I'm wrong but I think it's accurate) and I had to go back to the 1979-80 team to find another instance where UNH did not have a forward on the team who was drafted. Although after that season 2 current players got drafted (Brickley & Jay Miller). Now I understand having drafted players isn't the be all, end all and it's really not a big deal UNH doesn't have one this year(At least it shouldn't necessarily be). And I'm not trying to make a huge deal/ complain about the simple fact that there aren't any drafted forwards but it does kind of speak to the teams that have been put out recently. Now being drafted doesn't always mean the player will work out in college. Just consider Greg Burke who only put up 24 points in his first 3 years. And there are also great college players who never even get drafted (Krog is a big one that comes to mind. Why wasn't he drafted?? Nuts.). I get that. And you can still have a good team without draft picks (Ferris St.: 0 total & Union: 0 forwards). Now on the other spectrum draftees don't guarantee success (CC: 5, BU: 7, Harvard: 8). But it definitely helps. If you look at that top level of competition in college hockey (BC, Mich., Minni., North Dak.) they all have a lot of draft picks and to a certain degree it is indicative of just how good they are.
Now I remember when UNH would have 5-10 draftees. Easy. Those were the days. Now this all kinda ties in with what NCAA Watcher has posted before, that current UNH players were not top scorers in the USHL. Now I'm just wondering why UNH isn't getting that top echelon of talent anymore. I know there's a lot of reasons. There is a lot of parity in college hockey now. There are a lot of good teams today that weren't always in the past. It's not just the perennial powerhouses that dominate(which I think is great for college hockey and hockey in gen.). Although those teams are still good there are a lot of other real good teams. Just look at the success of the ECAC recently. Basically college hockey is just getting way more competitive and recruiting must be a challenge. Competing with other college teams and major juniors. And having kids committing at such young ages poses challenges. Sometimes they just don't pan out/ develop like teams think they will.
Anyway, all teams have to deal with the same challenges and those "national powerhouses" are still getting those great players. Sometimes one team has 10-15 that are drafted(Minni is just unfair with the Minn. pipeline of talent). Just why is it then that UNH isn't getting that talent anymore? I feel like there's plenty of good players to go around, UNH is a good school and has a good hockey history but UNH is missing out....
Look at the production this year vs. talented teams...
Overall: 14-13-1
___________Record____Avg. Goal For______Avg. Goal Against________Dif._____
Vs. top 10 : 1-7-1 **********1.666********************3******************-1.333
Vs. 11-20 : 5-5-0**********3.2 (+1.6)*****************2.8 (-0.2)************+0.04
vs. NR : 8-1-0**********4.444(+1.2)****************1.77(-1.1)************+2.674
Last two weekends they have averaged 1.75 GPG. 2 goals in two games vs. #6 Union and 5 goals in 2 games vs. #20 Maine.
Just look at this production compared to team defense. Against 1-10 teams the GAA is 3 (Not bad since BC, Minni, Union(0 forwards drafted) are 1-3 in team offense averaging over 3.5 GPG) and against teams 11-20 the GAA is 2.8. So the defense is pretty consistent among top 20 teams. Now on the flip side... the offense is averaging 1.66 GPG against teams 1-10(Only QU and Lowell have GAA under 2 as a point of reference). Then they make a big jump to 3.2 against teams 11-20. So the offense is just not producing against the top teams in the country. I think that's indicative of the type of team UNH is(11-20). I think they're better then their record suggests but not a top 10 team. Now I don't know what's changed or what they need to do to get the players they were getting 10 years ago. But until they do, they will just be a 11-20 team and may make the tournament one year and not the next... I don't want to be satisfied just making the tournament...
Now the good news is that it looks like this short 'draftee drought' is going to end next year. Because it looks like Eiserman and Foegele will be drafted in the spring and will join UNH next year. And it sounds like there could be a couple other real good forwards/ scorers coming in next year as well. Here's hoping UNH can continue to get those types of players and get back to the glory days.
Wow. sorry for the essay guys. Looks like I pulled a Chuck (No offense Chuck. I like your posts). I was just surprised UNH doesn't have a current forward already drafted and that snapped a 30+ year streak so I thought I'd share. UNH could certainly still develop players and have real good teams without having drafted players but drafted players or not the production needs to go up somehow against good teams because putting 9 up against UMass just isn't as good as putting 9 up against BC...
But the last time UNH had two drafted forwards on their team (2010-11: DeSimone & Burke) they went to the Garden. Not saying that's the reason why since Burke only had 3 points all year. Still need a good all around team and production from a variety of people but just trying to think positive!!
That's next year though... We still got this year and we still have a good team. So with a strong finish we could still get to the Garden. Cats just need to take care of business down the stretch here!
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
That's next year though... We still got this year and we still have a good team. So with a strong finish we could still get to the Garden. Cats just need to take care of business down the stretch here![/QUOTE]
Hi Ryan, that was a great post and I am sure that the veteran UNH peeps on this board can give you much better insight as to why we haven't recruited that 'sniper' player or have had any of our forwards drafted much better than I can...
But what DOES interest this newbie hockey fanatic is your last comment which I think has been obvious as the season has gone on...taking care of business when it really counts. Of course every game counts...and they have said they are quite aware of that in the pressers. Today's Foster's story speaks volumes about our inability to just close it out when it matters. I applaud Capt. Eric K on his candidness when he speaks about the teams struggles with this. He says in this article that they 'weren't ready for the intensity of playing in the Alfond'. I'm bewildered by this; they HAD to know that Maine would bring it and it's not like Maine was playing out of their minds..but they DID...when they had to. Sure their barn is quite the electric place and it lives up to what I heard about it going in...if it weren't so far away I'd love to go back to future 'Cats v Maine games up there. That being said, my husband has grumbled about how the 'Cats don't bring their A game every night...hockey east bloggers say "I can't figure out UNH". Welp...its been the case this year and what they have in front of them is not a herculean task to get to the Garden but it can become one if they don't bring it and take care of business down the stretch, as you say. Maybe it's the chemistry of this team?? Please understand I know this sounds negative and make no mistake I'm a huge fan of the team. Heck, I can even skate
. But the 'Cats are at a crossroads and will either rise to the occasion or not. Either way it's a learning curve for the new guys on the team (loved Kelleher's comments about waiting all his life to play in these games...we need more of this!!) but the vets know what the story is. I am quite aware of our injury situation; but all is not lost. At least, I hope it's not. We CAN get to the Garden...and with Notre Dame coming to town we can show what we are truly made of...if we choose to and will decide not to settle...Anyway, looking forward to other comments about your great post Ryan..for me, I continue to learn...Let's Go 'Cats!!!
That's next year though... We still got this year and we still have a good team. So with a strong finish we could still get to the Garden. Cats just need to take care of business down the stretch here![/QUOTE]
Hi Ryan, that was a great post and I am sure that the veteran UNH peeps on this board can give you much better insight as to why we haven't recruited that 'sniper' player or have had any of our forwards drafted much better than I can...
But what DOES interest this newbie hockey fanatic is your last comment which I think has been obvious as the season has gone on...taking care of business when it really counts. Of course every game counts...and they have said they are quite aware of that in the pressers. Today's Foster's story speaks volumes about our inability to just close it out when it matters. I applaud Capt. Eric K on his candidness when he speaks about the teams struggles with this. He says in this article that they 'weren't ready for the intensity of playing in the Alfond'. I'm bewildered by this; they HAD to know that Maine would bring it and it's not like Maine was playing out of their minds..but they DID...when they had to. Sure their barn is quite the electric place and it lives up to what I heard about it going in...if it weren't so far away I'd love to go back to future 'Cats v Maine games up there. That being said, my husband has grumbled about how the 'Cats don't bring their A game every night...hockey east bloggers say "I can't figure out UNH". Welp...its been the case this year and what they have in front of them is not a herculean task to get to the Garden but it can become one if they don't bring it and take care of business down the stretch, as you say. Maybe it's the chemistry of this team?? Please understand I know this sounds negative and make no mistake I'm a huge fan of the team. Heck, I can even skate
. But the 'Cats are at a crossroads and will either rise to the occasion or not. Either way it's a learning curve for the new guys on the team (loved Kelleher's comments about waiting all his life to play in these games...we need more of this!!) but the vets know what the story is. I am quite aware of our injury situation; but all is not lost. At least, I hope it's not. We CAN get to the Garden...and with Notre Dame coming to town we can show what we are truly made of...if we choose to and will decide not to settle...Anyway, looking forward to other comments about your great post Ryan..for me, I continue to learn...Let's Go 'Cats!!!
Last edited:
jcarter7669
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
http://www.uscho.com/2009/07/23/unh-gets-two-years-probation-for-recruiting-violations/
That's next year though... We still got this year and we still have a good team. So with a strong finish we could still get to the Garden. Cats just need to take care of business down the stretch here![/QUOTE]
Hi Ryan, that was a great post and I am sure that the veteran UNH peeps on this board can give you much better insight as to why we haven't recruited that 'sniper' player or have had any of our forwards drafted much better than I can...
http://www.uscho.com/2009/07/23/unh-gets-two-years-probation-for-recruiting-violations/
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH Wildcats 2013-14 Season Thread
Oh. Wow. Like I said...I continue to learn. There is obviously a lot in the mix when players decide where they are playing. Am I correct that we have a great in coming class for next season? I'm sure admissions has a lot to do with the puzzle thought I read that was a frustration Dave Lassonde had. But I'm sure Yale doesn't recruit guys who are going there for basket weaving 101...
Oh. Wow. Like I said...I continue to learn. There is obviously a lot in the mix when players decide where they are playing. Am I correct that we have a great in coming class for next season? I'm sure admissions has a lot to do with the puzzle thought I read that was a frustration Dave Lassonde had. But I'm sure Yale doesn't recruit guys who are going there for basket weaving 101...
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