What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Snively65 said:
Good game summary, 34. And, as I posted on the game thread, I think that UNH was lucky to get the win, as Bentley played pretty much even up with time in the offensive zone, SOG, and obviously goals. Special teams made all the difference, as UNH converted two of their first three PPs, with all three of those Bentley penalties being ticky-tack calls, in my opinion. Call me a homer if you like, but I have been rooting for UNH since hockey games were played at Batchelder Rink in the 1950s, before many of you were born. I am as bummed at the state of UNH hockey as the rest of you, but sadly do not see much to get excited about a 5-4 win over Bentley, although the Falcons are a much better team than most of you think. The Falcons have many of the same difficiencies as the Cats, but part of that comes from playing with fewer scolies in a "cost containment" league. But, that is slowly changing, and for the moment the additional OOC games that HEA teams play provides a wonderful opportunity for the Bentley's and AIC's in Div 1. Fortunately, I will not be facing any more conflicts the rest of this season, or maybe any season, and the only way that either UNH or Bentley will make the NCAAs this season is by winning their respective conference tourneys. And, should UNH make the NCAAs this season, with any luck they will not face the AHC autoseed in a regional. :-)
Click to expand...

Yo, hate to tell ya but Bentley has got a long way to go Prof! No PP and resort to Goon hockey to even things up. All points to a hockey team poorly coached and poorly constructed. Oh, and using "scollies" as an excuse doesn't cut it. Just ask Yale and Union how to get around that dilemma. Bently is lucky UNH didn't put double up figures up on them! Get real!
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Donald Trumph said:
Yo, hate to tell ya but Bentley has got a long way to go Prof! No PP and resort to Goon hockey to even things up. All points to a hockey team poorly coached and poorly constructed. Oh, and using "scollies" as an excuse doesn't cut it. Just ask Yale and Union how to get around that dilemma. Bently is lucky UNH didn't put double up figures up on them! Get real!
Click to expand...

Yo, seriously did you even watch the game?? Falcons and Cats have the exact same talent and deficiencies. a couple of offensive players and a serious lack D. They are an even match and if they played 10 this year they would each win 5. Goon Hockey???? what, the 5'4" forward or the 5'11" dmen who can't win battles, can't clear pucks, can't clear the crease, can't hit an outlet and wouldn't even begin to know how to push, shove, slash, hack or hold??? fortunately i dont have a dog in this fight as i am just a junkie, but you seriously need a reality check.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Ronnieb said:
Yo, seriously did you even watch the game?? Falcons and Cats have the exact same talent and deficiencies. a couple of offensive players and a serious lack D. They are an even match and if they played 10 this year they would each win 5. Goon Hockey???? what, the 5'4" forward or the 5'11" dmen who can't win battles, can't clear pucks, can't clear the crease, can't hit an outlet and wouldn't even begin to know how to push, shove, slash, hack or hold??? fortunately i dont have a dog in this fight as i am just a junkie, but you seriously need a reality check.
Click to expand...

Yo, I saw the game! Did you? I saw Hill get dropped with a cheap shot and Poturalski and others get dropped away from the puck and no call. Do you know anything about hockey? Bentley doesn't have any talent evidenced by their anemic PP!
 
Donald Trumph said:
Yo, I saw the game! Did you? I saw Hill get dropped with a cheap shot and Poturalski and others get dropped away from the puck and no call. Do you know anything about hockey? Bentley doesn't have any talent evidenced by their anemic PP!
Click to expand...

Uh, maybe you should look up national PP stats then get back to me on that one genius.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Ronnieb said:
Uh, maybe you should look up national PP stats then get back to me on that one genius.
Click to expand...

Yo, stats are for chumps! The only stat that matters are "w's" bro!
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

wildcatdc said:
FWIW, our schedule to date has not been as "easy" (really a stretch to use this word, as NOTHING is a given for us anymore) as we may have thought coming into the season. BC, Merrimack, Saint Lawrence, Clarkson and RPI all PWR playoff teams, with the UMass Amholes not that far out of consideration. Took care of the alleged cupcakes (AIC, Bentley), though not decisively, which is a concern. MSU remains a head-scratcher for me, in general. Just nice to have a win with our T31 PWR cohort, Union!

This weekend will be interesting as Maine has finally found the win column, but against true cupcakes.
Click to expand...

Now isn't that interesting how that all turned out, this 'easy' schedule which would've been maybe 2, 3 years ago with an intact/experienced D (including goalie here). Was just looking at PWR today and noted just how many teams we've already played that we'd LOVE to take their spot and had the shot to beat too but... Oh well...This weekend is huge on the HE front not to mention we just wanna beat the crap out of Maine. Ooops that's harsh but just saying. Those are 4 big points that we could surely use seeing how we left a couple on the table v UMass. I also said at one point last night 'we need to catch a break' and I echo your comment that nothing is 'easy' for the Wildcats. Oh, and I relish that Union win too....;)
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

I think The Donald is trying to bring back the good ol' days of the Skating Mother Teresa's singlehandedly.

Can hardly wait until we play UVM, and the doppelganger for pinko Uncle Bernie drops by for a chat ...
 
Chuck Murray said:
I think The Donald is trying to bring back the good ol' days of the Skating Mother Teresa's singlehandedly.

Can hardly wait until we play UVM, and the doppelganger for pinko Uncle Bernie drops by for a chat ...
Click to expand...

UNH and Bentley would have been duking it out for SMT championship, if stupid HEA refs had not interfered. :-)
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

My fill in the blank answers are Chris Miller and no one. While Miller has not lit up the stats sheet, he has that young fire that so many have had to start their career. He has not been afraid to go into the corners and back checks. As for someone to step up, I think it is a lack of talent that has been recruited and an inability to coach players to be better.

Breaking up the first line to experiment with a Nazarian or Eiserman would be a sign of throwing in the towel. The only thing that is working, and if you are still playing for March you can not take Correale off that line. Of the "checking line", Gaudreault is the only one who has the talent to play on a 2nd line, maybe with a couple young guys. MacDonald because of his "C" will not be a scratch if healthy and should take the Pat Foley position on the 4th line and play sparingly. Smith has to be the odd man out, not a captain or alternate so he should have to work his way back into the line up.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

It's been about a month since I bashed the defensive capacity (or lack thereof) of this team. So, decided to watch and record the Bentley game on BIN, looking for signs of improvement over the past month. Well, as gut-checks go, this was generally a brutal fail.

Looking closely at each goal...

Goal 1
Uncontested, unscreened 5-hole backhand slider from the crease. Essentially, this was a 1-on-5 event. Weak pursuit of eventual goal-scorer in the corner by #7 (gave a little "ole" stab and got burned). No help; flat-footed, disinterested backcheck reach by #17.

Goal 2
Uncontested, unscreened backhander for mid-slot. Set up by fortuitous bounce from face-off scrum. #18 loses man out of faceoff. Poke check attempt by #13(?) Granted, backhanders are as tough to read as they are to predict shot projection. Goalie positioning could have been better, but that's probably being a little too picky...

Goal 3
Pathetic, uncontested, back-door bulls-eye. #27 completely abandons his man to step up on an outside double-team. No support, Tirone is hung out to dry; he should have been screaming "back-door! back-door!" (Probably was...) We have a lot of these goals in my 45+ Sunday night men's beer league...

Goal 4
3-on-2 goal, uncontested, unscreened from high-slot. Tirone got a piece, probably chest or under arm. Very weak gap control by #15; gives up way too much real estate; step-up on that guy!! Token backcheck effort as 2 forwards coast into the zone, the other going to the bench (tho he was too deep in offensive end to make a difference anyway...)

So...no doubt in my head 3 of 4 goals were the result of poor defense and/or goaltending; giving a "get-out-of-jail-fee" card on Goal 2.

Bottom line -- nothing has changed/improved in the month of November. Sure, a few players and pairings have been shuffled but this is absolutely a personnel issue. Can these guys be "coached-up"? Maybe a little over time. Who's to blame? Who cares, you got what you got...and there's more of same result coming our way, for this year at least.

Where can this take them? I'm guessing (boldly) they can still pull off a .500 season; get a good bounce or three, play a couple games "out of their minds", catch a team with key injuries, etc... Biggest immediate impact is getting Clark back in net. That alone might get you back 1 goal from the current 4 G/GM against average. If scoring pace is maintained at ~4 G/GM, you win more than you lose, maybe even pull off a run like last year.

Anybody see this differently?
 
bakchk20 said:
It's been about a month since I bashed the defensive capacity (or lack thereof) of this team. So, decided to watch and record the Bentley game on BIN, looking for signs of improvement over the past month. Well, as gut-checks go, this was generally a brutal fail.

Looking closely at each goal...

Goal 1
Uncontested, unscreened 5-hole backhand slider from the crease. Essentially, this was a 1-on-5 event. Weak pursuit of eventual goal-scorer in the corner by #7 (gave a little "ole" stab and got burned). No help; flat-footed, disinterested backcheck reach by #17.

Goal 2
Uncontested, unscreened backhander for mid-slot. Set up by fortuitous bounce from face-off scrum. #18 loses man out of faceoff. Poke check attempt by #13(?) Granted, backhanders are as tough to read as they are to predict shot projection. Goalie positioning could have been better, but that's probably being a little too picky...

Goal 3
Pathetic, uncontested, back-door bulls-eye. #27 completely abandons his man to step up on an outside double-team. No support, Tirone is hung out to dry; he should have been screaming "back-door! back-door!" (Probably was...) We have a lot of these goals in my 45+ Sunday night men's beer league...

Goal 4
3-on-2 goal, uncontested, unscreened from high-slot. Tirone got a piece, probably chest or under arm. Very weak gap control by #15; gives up way too much real estate; step-up on that guy!! Token backcheck effort as 2 forwards coast into the zone, the other going to the bench (tho he was too deep in offensive end to make a difference anyway...)

So...no doubt in my head 3 of 4 goals were the result of poor defense and/or goaltending; giving a "get-out-of-jail-fee" card on Goal 2.

Bottom line -- nothing has changed/improved in the month of November. Sure, a few players and pairings have been shuffled but this is absolutely a personnel issue. Can these guys be "coached-up"? Maybe a little over time. Who's to blame? Who cares, you got what you got...and there's more of same result coming our way, for this year at least.

Where can this take them? I'm guessing (boldly) they can still pull off a .500 season; get a good bounce or three, play a couple games "out of their minds", catch a team with key injuries, etc... Biggest immediate impact is getting Clark back in net. That alone might get you back 1 goal from the current 4 G/GM against average. If scoring pace is maintained at ~4 G/GM, you win more than you lose, maybe even pull off a run like last year.

Anybody see this differently?
Click to expand...

Great analysis. Question for you... Our HC-in-waiting has been with us all year. So, with 10+ games worth of data with which to work, can we draw one of the following conclusions?

1. DU stills controls the tactical coaching, and MS has little impact
2. MS has an opportunity to make an impact, but hasn't worked to date
3. The raw materials just aren't there
4. The raw materials need seasoning before we see material change

Or is it none of the above, or a combo?
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Excellent, right on the money posts about the team and it's defensive struggles...surely, surely our coaching staff watches tape of these games and can at least, point them out to the players involved. Whether or not these kids can be 'coached up' or are even 'coachable' in the first place is the question. I like to believe the former rather than the latter. Like I said hubby notices this stuff and he just cannot understand HOW people are left uncovered the way they are, esp. 'back door' as you point out. Easiest goal in the world to score it seems and it happens to US...alot.

Glad we can stop complaining so much (am speaking for myself) about this; I mean...we know what we have. Will it get better? Can it get better? Agree with the possibility of a .500 season; just like last year. Still want to be as supportive as possible but honestly, I enjoy games more now that I have what I believe, an objective view of the team we have. It's a bonus to pick up a win and sure would like more. Who wouldn't?

Last year I met and still talk to one of the parents of an incoming Frosh who's son is one of our best players ;) and she said "give them 2 years...when he's a jr, they will be a team to reckon with" or something to that effect. This mother was very disappointed with Bentley because in her view, we should've 'whooped' them. (her words) I agree. I'd like to think that UNH does pretty well considering the parity in college hockey and the high recruiting stakes out there. Doubt if I'm switching teams any time soon! Still think we are NOT playing our best hockey that we are capable of playing. Time will tell.
 
Last edited:
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

This is a great post, with one *slight* flaw. Personal accountability. I'll make it easier for everyone else: :)

bakchk20 said:
It's been about a month since I bashed the defensive capacity (or lack thereof) of this team. So, decided to watch and record the Bentley game on BIN, looking for signs of improvement over the past month. Well, as gut-checks go, this was generally a brutal fail.

Looking closely at each goal...

Goal 1
Uncontested, unscreened 5-hole backhand slider from the crease. Essentially, this was a 1-on-5 event. Weak pursuit of eventual goal-scorer in the corner by #7 (Quast) (gave a little "ole" stab and got burned). No help; flat-footed, disinterested backcheck reach by #17 (Vela).

Goal 2
Uncontested, unscreened backhander for mid-slot. Set up by fortuitous bounce from face-off scrum. #18 (Poturalski) loses man out of faceoff. Poke check attempt by #13 (Correale?). Granted, backhanders are as tough to read as they are to predict shot projection. Goalie positioning could have been better, but that's probably being a little too picky...

Goal 3
Pathetic, uncontested, back-door bulls-eye. #27 (Dawson) completely abandons his man to step up on an outside double-team. No support, Tirone is hung out to dry; he should have been screaming "back-door! back-door!" (Probably was...) We have a lot of these goals in my 45+ Sunday night men's beer league...

Goal 4
3-on-2 goal, uncontested, unscreened from high-slot. Tirone got a piece, probably chest or under arm. Very weak gap control by #15 (Boyd); gives up way too much real estate; step-up on that guy!! Token backcheck effort as 2 forwards coast into the zone, the other going to the bench (tho he was too deep in offensive end to make a difference anyway...)

So...no doubt in my head 3 of 4 goals were the result of poor defense and/or goaltending; giving a "get-out-of-jail-fee" card on Goal 2.

Bottom line -- nothing has changed/improved in the month of November. Sure, a few players and pairings have been shuffled but this is absolutely a personnel issue. Can these guys be "coached-up"? Maybe a little over time. Who's to blame? Who cares, you got what you got...and there's more of same result coming our way, for this year at least.

Where can this take them? I'm guessing (boldly) they can still pull off a .500 season; get a good bounce or three, play a couple games "out of their minds", catch a team with key injuries, etc... Biggest immediate impact is getting Clark back in net. That alone might get you back 1 goal from the current 4 G/GM against average. If scoring pace is maintained at ~4 G/GM, you win more than you lose, maybe even pull off a run like last year.

Anybody see this differently?
Click to expand...

The overriding factors I've seen (admittedly all TV and on-line video so far) are the overall tendency to play a "soft" game. One of the endearing qualities of the team that finished up last season was that they weren't afraid to get dirt under their fingernails, so to speak.

This team does not have enough quality players and experienced depth to even think about playing "soft", but nevertheless they are doing it more often than not, and the proof is in the pudding. 4-6-3 record with a tendency to let the other guys get the big goals late in games. And if I'm hearing things correctly - now from a multitude of sources - I don't think Clark is coming back any time soon. :(

I'd like to think a run-and-gun team led by the first line could make for an interesting Spring ... but here's the problem with that. Once you get past the make-believe first round of the HE *playoffs* :rolleyes: - assuming even that happens - you eventually run up against better, more experienced teams, with better coaching and the ability to actually match up whomever they choose to against your three man *team*. And when they hold that bunch even, they kill you with their depth, and your season is over before you get to Boston. :(

The only way it ends differently is if the defense improves immeasurably, the goalie stays healthy (we may now be an injury away from Jamie Regan and some unknown kid currently skating with the JV's finishing up the season in goal for UNH), and the young forwards mature enough to form a viable second line with scoring teeth, while ALL four forward lines start to play effective two-way hockey.

Let's see how December plays out, but like the original poster here, I am not filled with confidence. Usually a 5-4 UNH win over BU is a good thing ... but when the "B" stands for "Bentley" and not "Boston" ... then not so much.
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Oh and I wanted to say that at the BU game (Chuck's term :) ) hubby said "look at Coach giving it to (I won't say)" big time as he missed that defensive assignment (one of the guys Chuck highlighted for us) which led to one of the early goals. He (DU) was NOT happy and I'll bet that defenseman at least intellectually, understands. ;)
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

HockeyRef said:
Oh and I wanted to say that at the BU game (Chuck's term :) ) hubby said "look at Coach giving it to (I won't say)" big time as he missed that defensive assignment (one of the guys Chuck highlighted for us) which led to one of the early goals. He (DU) was NOT happy and I'll bet that defenseman at least intellectually, understands. ;)
Click to expand...

Well, that narrows it down to between a frosh and someone who should know better by now ...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part One) - Return of the "Champions of December"??

Chuck Murray said:
Well, that narrows it down to between a frosh and someone who should know better by now ...
Click to expand...

No matter...and yes, they would know better....I do believe the next shift things improved... ;) Honestly I pull for two things each game: that we continue to put up some great goals (and we have scored some GREAT ones!!) and the D can play a consistent game. When we do both of things we are in charge / can play with I think we have showed that in the BC and Union games. (til the third for the BC game). This weekend have great expectations that those things are clicking all 60.. Onward 'Cats!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top