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

[Dan]

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"??

3. The raw materials just aren't there

Mainly, this. Still, it would be nice to see the roster managed in a way that maximized the talent that does exist or the roster implored to play with the defensive effort and attention to detail needed to make up for their lack of 'raw material'....

The entire roster, needs to pick up the defensive effort (effort requiring zero skill) and - if Clark is out long term - Tirone needs to put on his big boy pads, bury whatever mental adversity he is dealing with and start making stops. Its now or never.

 

[sonar]

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"??

Maybe they bring Robinson in early .... it seems to have worked well last year

 

[Snively65]

Maybe they bring Robinson in early .... it seems to have worked well last year

But, he is only 18 and still in high school (?), is my understanding. Plus, apparently he also is injured. :-(

 

[Chuck Murray]

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"??

Maybe they bring Robinson in early .... it seems to have worked well last year

Thought about that myself, until I realized that would burn one of Robinson's years, and we'd still be looking at the Tirone/Clark/Robinson logjam for the next two seasons, leaving Robinson only 2018/2019 to be the undisputed starter after Tirone (and Clark) move on. At least this way, keeping him in juniors this year keeps alive his prospect of 2 years as the probable starter.

 

[bomberhockey]

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?

It was shocking how easy Bentley gained entry into the defensive zone and not just on odd man rushes. The defense had to give up some gap if theyre not getting help from an effective back check, way too many d zone breakdowns and some soft goals. They were better while on PK in the d zone. Only saw it once, maybe missed some things.

 

[Snively65]

It was shocking how easy Bentley gained entry into the defensive zone and not just on odd man rushes. The defense had to give up some gap if theyre not getting help from an effective back check, way too many d zone breakdowns and some soft goals. They were better while on PK in the d zone. Only saw it once, maybe missed some things.

Shocking indeed. Bentley was only able to get one by AIC tonight, but that was enough for a match up between two of the top four SMTs; UNH at eighth overall in SMT.

 

[HockeyRef]

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"??

Clip from Frotenacs with Warren F...teddy bear mishap!

https://www.facebook.com/ESPN/posts/1134496543263767

 

[Felger]

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"??

Thought about that myself, until I realized that would burn one of Robinson's years, and we'd still be looking at the Tirone/Clark/Robinson logjam for the next two seasons, leaving Robinson only 2018/2019 to be the undisputed starter after Tirone (and Clark) move on. At least this way, keeping him in juniors this year keeps alive his prospect of 2 years as the probable starter.

My thinking was a bit different. My theory is that if Clark's injury is serious, which it seems it might be, then perhaps he should think about leaving now and get in residence somewhere else for second semester. That way he might only have to miss the first semester next season (if I understand transfer regs correctly...which I might not.) It seems that its just not meant to be for him here.

As far as Robinson goes, I know its not realistic for him to come in here this season. However I wouldn't let eligibility be an issue, since I doubt he stays all four years.

 

[Chuck Murray]

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 thinking was a bit different. My theory is that if Clark's injury is serious, which it seems it might be, then perhaps he should think about leaving now and get in residence somewhere else for second semester. That way he might only have to miss the first semester next season (if I understand transfer regs correctly...which I might not.) It seems that its just not meant to be for him here.

As far as Robinson goes, I know its not realistic for him to come in here this season. However I wouldn't let eligibility be an issue, since I doubt he stays all four years.

Very interesting analysis, Felger. Certainly would clear the logjam in goal that is looming for the next two seasons.

 

[Felger]

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"??

Very interesting analysis, Felger. Certainly would clear the logjam in goal that is looming for the next two seasons.

Not so much thinking about the alleged "logjam" as much as I am looking at it from Clark's perspective.

For whatever reason, its just not working out here. Thrown to the wolves, thrown under the bus. Then he gets hurt. Perhaps nobody's fault, just not working. If he does have a torn labrum (and I read it on the internet, so it has to be true,) then he could be looking at an extended period of down time. Something at least quasi-serious is up. He hasn't dressed since Halloween. He is going to be 23 in March. Do you really want to waste another year of your life if you did end up transferring? I know he probably doesn't have what it takes (i.e. not quick enough) to make it to the next level, but he has size and is a prototypical goalie. I'm sure he doesn't want to play two games in two years.

As far as the logjam goes, I will reiterate what I posted last year. Isn't it possible that the coaching staff thought that neither Clark nor Tirone were the answer, which is why they recruited Robinson in the first place?

 

[Greg Ambrose]

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"??

Very interesting analysis, Felger. Certainly would clear the logjam in goal that is looming for the next two seasons.

Yeah, but if Tirone got hurt, then it would be Jamie Regan plus a kid from the club team in goal.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

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"??

As far as the logjam goes, I will reiterate what I posted last year. Isn't it possible that the coaching staff thought that neither Clark nor Tirone were the answer, which is why they recruited Robinson in the first place?

Now that's a perceptive post.

 

[HockeyRef]

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"??

Not so much thinking about the alleged "logjam" as much as I am looking at it from Clark's perspective.

For whatever reason, its just not working out here. Thrown to the wolves, thrown under the bus. Then he gets hurt. Perhaps nobody's fault, just not working. If he does have a torn labrum (and I read it on the internet, so it has to be true,) then he could be looking at an extended period of down time. Something at least quasi-serious is up. He hasn't dressed since Halloween. He is going to be 23 in March. Do you really want to waste another year of your life if you did end up transferring? I know he probably doesn't have what it takes (i.e. not quick enough) to make it to the next level, but he has size and is a prototypical goalie. I'm sure he doesn't want to play two games in two years.

As far as the logjam goes, I will reiterate what I posted last year. Isn't it possible that the coaching staff thought that neither Clark nor Tirone were the answer, which is why they recruited Robinson in the first place?

Agree a most perceptive post. Of course this 'log jam' wouldn't have happened it...(fill in the blank). But that's water over the proverbial dam now isn't it? I feel so bad for AC...he gets his chance again, and now this. And unless they can find a way to rehab him, he most likely faces surgery and that's prob. pretty much it for this season from what I've read about his injury. Anyway from what I gathered from a few peeps in the 'know' (FWIW dept) pretty much he was slated to be DT's back up when DT came which would've been this season. Who knows but he brought much needed stability to that position at Union which was sorely needed. I wish him the best and hope he's able to find good stuff because the guy worked hard over the summer; he deserves it. Needed to be in much sooner this season too. On another note seems the 'Cats just can't catch a break. Sweeping this weekend would be a step in that direction! Go 'Cats!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Goalie "logjam" revisited - retrospective & prospective

Goalie "logjam" revisited - retrospective & prospective

Yeah, but if Tirone got hurt, then it would be Jamie Regan plus a kid from the club team in goal.

Actually, I think I said that yesterday - not sure if that's in this thread or in the recruits thread. Definitely a concern. But to some degree, we may already have lived through that situation, not quite knowing it ... I'll get to that shortly.

Backing out a couple of years' time to when most of these goalies were still recruits ... CDS was the long-term starter, and the plan was obviously that he'd be the starter last season, which would have been his senior season. Originally, the second string guy was to have been Clark. Tirone was to have matriculated this season after CDS graduated, leaving him and Clark as the top two. Events since certainly tell us Tirone was almost certainly going to be the #1, and Clark the #2.

Regan was always going to be the emergency #3 guy. He is done after this season (I believe). Robinson is still on his way here for next season, when both Clark AND Tirone will be juniors eligibility-wise. Basically, the plan appears to have been all along for Clark - after a single season as primary back-up - to spend the end of his UNH career as the #3 guy, or basically a souped-up Jamie Regan. Then of course, CDS had his issues, and everything else changed in the short run.

Points of interest I draw from some of this, with the benefit of hindsight:

* Last season, UNH basically played the 2014 portion of their schedule with two (2) #3 emergency goalies - Regan AND Clark. Which in turn explains why Tirone basically got ALL of the time once he came in early;
* Clark had the opportunity of a lifetime drop into his lap last Fall to establish himself as a legit #1 D-1 goalie, but failing to so do, he arguably showed himself to be a pretty decent #2 guy;
* But being a "pretty decent #2 guy" behind an established #1 - PLUS with the "next" #1 (NHL draft pick) on his way to Durham in time for Clark's junior year - still pretty much leaves him as the emergency #3;
* Tirone's decision to basically "drop" a half-season of eligibility last season may also have been in part fueled by his need to try to establish himself as the #1 guy before Robinson eats into his time too much;
* Robinson also arguably benefits from Tirone's decision to accelerate last season, as he projects to at least two seasons as the top guy (discounting the possibility he may leave early);
* The next two seasons will be very interesting, with the current #1 (who looks like a 4 year D-1 player) vying with the NEXT #1 (perhaps a 2-3 year D-1 player?) for playing time. It wouldn't surprise me to see this turn out to be the first time in a long time UNH will be using a legitimate goalie rotation;
* Assuming Clark stays put ... his career arc will be a unique one, where he starts out as the starter right out of the chute as a frosh, acquits himself pretty well (not great but hardly disastrous), and then gradually sinks back to #2 as a soph, and two years as the emergency #3 as a junior/senior;
* Had CDS not encountered his *issues*, most of this situation still would have had to be dealt with. Perhaps Clark never gets his chance, and slinks gradually into the background to become the "next Regan"? But the Tirone/Robinson contest for the #1 job would have been between a soph and a frosh, instead of a junior and a frosh. Which brings me finally to ...
* ... for SO many seasons, the UNH program worked its goalies into the program seemingly in two year segments which carried through most of the last decade, and in reality was going to continue at least through last season. Had that same pattern held, the successor to CDS should have been a frosh in CDS's junior season. That never happened, and but for CDS leaving school earlier than planned, they really didn't plan to have his successor in place behind him LAST season, either.

Others have mentioned this many times before, but it's here where the departure of Coach Lassonde really shows the value and stability he brought to the program during his tenure.

When the transfer of power at the top of the program finally does happen ... I'll ask (1) would the successor consider trying to bring Coach Ayers back into the UNH fold; and (2) if yes - does Ayers return?

 

[HockeyRef]

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 I'll ask here rather than copy your post... Are you thinking Ayers is a good fit for UNH? And I don't mean that in a duh kind of way with him being an alum...Gosh so much could happen the next couple of years that to speculate who could be a decent asst coach is fascinating. Speaking of Dave Lassonde while I didn't know him I have heard he was an excellent coach and recruiter. Also heard that many felt him leaving UNH spoke volumes but that's just a few people talking and I'm not trying to open a can of beans...

 

[Chuck Murray]

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 I'll ask here rather than copy your post... Are you thinking Ayers is a good fit for UNH? And I don't mean that in a duh kind of way with him being an alum...Gosh so much could happen the next couple of years that to speculate who could be a decent asst coach is fascinating. Speaking of Dave Lassonde while I didn't know him I have heard he was an excellent coach and recruiter. Also heard that many felt him leaving UNH spoke volumes but that's just a few people talking and I'm not trying to open a can of beans...

I'd love to see Ayers come back to coach in Durham, but he's doing OK now, I hear. I'd also like to see if Souza and Stewart can/will co-exist. If we're destined to give the "Coach Umile legacy tour" a run-out, we might as well go whole-hog on it. Bring along Pat Foley as a volunteer assistant to round things out while we're at it. At least these guys would all have a good handle on the UNH landscape, and would be motivated to do well for the ol' alma mater. Clearly the "national search for an experienced successor" was not part of the rider on Coach Umile's lifetime deal, so hey ho, let's see how it goes ...

Now if it turns out that some/all of these guys are lousy coaches and/or recruiters ...

 

[HockeyRef]

I'd love to see Ayers come back to coach in Durham, but he's doing OK now, I hear. I'd also like to see if Souza and Stewart can/will co-exist. If we're destined to give the "Coach Umile legacy tour" a run-out, we might as well go whole-hog on it. Bring along Pat Foley as a volunteer assistant to round things out while we're at it. At least these guys would all have a good handle on the UNH landscape, and would be motivated to do well for the ol' alma mater. Clearly the "national search for an experienced successor" was not part of the rider on Coach Umile's lifetime deal, so hey ho, let's see how it goes ...

Now if it turns out that some/all of these guys are lousy coaches and/or recruiters ...

Is that 'legacy tour' anything like the Tom Brady Revenge tour?!?

 

[Snively65]

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"??

As far as Robinson goes, I know its not realistic for him to come in here this season. However I wouldn't let eligibility be an issue, since I doubt he stays all four years.

How many Div 1 goalies do not stay all four years? I know that Robinson is drafted by the Sharks, but unless something happens to Martin Jones, would not the Sharks want Robinson to get in all four years at UNH before moving up?

 

[sonar]

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"??

If we're destined to give the "Coach Umile legacy tour" a run-out, we might as well go whole-hog on it.

"In sports, championships often define a person's legacy."
Don Yaeger

 

[Dan]

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"??

The planned schedule for UNH goaltender's was as follows:

2014-15
SR - DeSmith
JR -
SO -
FR - Clark

2016-15
SR -
JR -
SO - Clark
FR - Tirone

2016-17
SR -
JR - Clark
SO - Tirone
FR -

2017-18
SR - Clark
JR - Tirone
SO -
FR - Robinson

The first wrench in the plan was DeSmith's incident, which forced Clark and Tirone into the same class. The plan was for Clark to back-up DeSmith as a freshman and compete with Tirone for the next three seasons. The expectation was that Tirone would prevail as the first option between the pipes, but Clark was not recruited as a career third-string goalie. The drop off from Clark to UNH third string goalies of the past and present (i.e. Reagan, Manke, Scott, Collins, etc) is HUGE. Clark was always expected to be one of UNH's two competitive goalies.

However, when a NH native and top goaltending recruit, who is coached privately by UNH's own goalie coach and at the prep level by a former UNH defenseman you don't let that kid get away. So UNH decided to deviate from its normal pattern and have a roster with three scholarship goalies in 2017-18. As this article states, Robinson was supposed to come that season, not next season, likely to begin as a backup to the upperclassmen (as is the case with any UNH player regardless of talent). If colleges could go back to mandatory freshmen redshirts, Umile would undoubtedly lead the charge...

http://www.fearthefin.com/2015/6/27...ck-as-mclellan-compensation-draft-goalie-mike

The second wrench in the plan was Robinson's development and getting drafted as highly as he did - as Watcher has explained regarding both Vela and Robinson, being drafted expedites the clock towards free-agency and puts the onus on UNH get the draft pick into school ASAP or risk losing the player to either early departure or another school/MJ (as now the Sharks have a say). As a result, Robinson ends up in the 2016-17 class and a log jam is born...

I'd expect UNH is looking for two goalies in 2018-19, a scholarship goalie with #1 potential and a third-string walk on, and another scholarship goalie in 2019-20. If Robinson did leave early (its to early to speculate either way) we'd end up seeing more accelerations.

As with any other position on the team, I don't care who minds the net as long as its the best option for the team/program to win games. If UNH continues to make playing time decisions based simply on who is older or who was expected to play a certain role, I doubt I'll make it (as in live through it) to the next goalie on the list, whoever that might be...