UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

[bomberhockey]

Totally agree with your summation here felt Eiserman played a great game esp going after his own rebound and scoring. That open ice hit was esp sweet. That was the game the 'Cats didn't bring to the third. Glad too I guess we are playing 'Mack although the Thurs night game will make for an early Fri morning.

Did you stick around for the skate around? Players were in disbelief like the rest of us. Well onto the next. Oh and couldn't help but notice the hug (of sorts) between DU amd JM in the handshake line. Funny how the loss of that one kid really haunted (among other things) the 'Cats all season imo...

Assuming DU even met or knew JM?

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Assuming DU even met or knew JM?

yeah, who actually knows just appeared that they did have a 'moment' (for lack of a better term). I've seen DU have appreciation for players in the line, ones that stand out, before so this seemed kind of the norm from my observations. 'Course...just a perception. It was interesting too to watch him (JM) play this weekend. He and Vela were not on the most kindest of terms we noted! Good player; hope we can be fortunate to land a decent D as well.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

oh my...haha! Next thing you know, there'll be a horses head (uhoh, that horse) in someone's bed...

If I was Luce, I'd be springing for double the usual security, at least 'til the end of the MBPBEGAM round.

 

[SteveS.]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I was leaving the Whitt tonight .... and another rather elderly man shuffled slowly by me and said ... "What has happened to UNH Men and Women's hockey?"
We briefly made eye contact even though he really didn't seem to be talking to me.
It was one of the saddest moments of my 46 year season ticket holder experience.

I fully realize that it is just hockey and I certainly have experienced sadder events/happening in my 76 years .... but .... well just but ..........

I like you have followed UNH since the late 60's, grew up a Snivley rat. Watched Umile play. So sad, they need new leadership maybe even a clean slate I hate to say.

 

[SteveS.]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Ralph!!! I know it was a different time but Ralph was truly a special player. The first time I ever heard his name was in, I think, 1974. My wife worked with a woman whose son played for Archbishop Williams and she kept talking about this kid whose stick, she said, had a magnet for the puck. That kid was Ralph Cox. When he was a high school senior, I remember going to see Archies play Stoneham (captained by another UNHer, Paul Surdam) in the old Garden. Archies won, they had a fantastic team, but Ralph was the center point. By that time I knew he was going to UNH and I wondered how he would fit in. UNH already had Hislop, Cox, Lumley and this freshman from Billerica Bob Miller. Needless to say he fit in nicely. A lot of Ralph Cox memories while he was at UNH. But two stand out. One was in the wildest ECAC semis and finals ever in 1977 (10-9 win over Cornell, 8-6 loss to BU in the final). One goal stands out because it happened right in front of me. He comes down the right wing, takes a pass from Miller and in one motion fires a wrist shot, top corner by the frozen goalie. Another was his senior year. UNH is playing Clarkson at the infamous Walker Arena. Clarkson (I think Jerry York was an assistant there then) had tremendous offensive teams. UNH falls behind in the first period, but Ralph scores one. He scores another in the second, then takes the game over in the third, scoring two more to seal the win. Just a great player.

Although I knew he had broken an ankle leading up to the Olympic tryouts, and I am sure it hampered his abilities on the ice, he was the leading scorer on the team throughout most of their tour of Europe and North America. It was pretty much acknowledged that Herb Brooks favored the western college players, particularly those he coached at Minnesota, over the eastern ones. There were only five eastern guys on the roster, the four from BU (Silk, O'Callaghan, Eruzione, Craig) and Ralph. I am pretty sure he would have added more to the team than some western guys who made it. And I am sure these arguments would have been given if the US had gotten trounced. But you can't argue with success. And the one thing that success gave us was the final, grudging acknowledgement by the NHL that US college players could play the game. I've gotten to know Ralph a bit since those days. The last time I saw him was at last years NCAA's in Boston. He was walking through the Garden concourse with Tim Burke and Gordie Clark. Should have taken a picture. But what you see in this video clip is the way Ralph is in person, always a gentleman.

Can you imagine if UNH had a kid like Bobby Miller again? He was so dominant, better than Krog imo.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Dan Winnik on the move again, to his sixth different NHL team.

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Steve S., do you know how many conversations I have had on that subject? I know that Chuck M, and Mike has brought this up in the past.....as we figure it, the decline of both programs began with the ascent of the football program....now as Sean Mac is a good friend I have nothing but awe and respect for what he has done the past 12 years, however if you look back at the discussions that both Umile and McCloskey had in regards to their issues with the new Admissions Director, and with Scarano becoming the new AD around that time, I think that one can question any coincidence.....IMHO

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Dan Winnik on the move again, to his sixth different NHL team.

Maybe this year he helps the 'Caps win a Cup...that is, if anyone can beat the 'Hawks...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Well, it's about to become official ... with the ascent of UNH Football and the recent but steady upticks with Coach Herrion's Men's Hoops program ... your UNH Men's Hockey program has arguably fallen to the bottom of the Men's sports' "relevance" pecking order. Kudos to the guys running those other two programs, no doubt. Just never thought I'd live long enough to see the order flipped like this.

Take a few minutes to pause and think how far Hockey has had to fall - and especially how far Hoops has had to rise - to make this all a reality. At this rate, I wonder how long before Hoops is playing at least some selected home games back across the street, sharing time with the U's (former) flagship program ...

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Nice memories Greg! I could add just a few to those but yes Ralph was amazing....scored 4 5-goal games his senior year! But he also played with Miller and Bob Francis as his line mates, who both fed him the puck like a pitching machine throws in a cage! Granted he knew what to do with it......as for his Olympic chances, Ralph used to get hives every time he went over into the defensive side of the red line,(exaggeration...☺)he was not known for his back checking and that was what burned him with Brooks....I spoke with Burke last week, and we discussed, in regards to my post above, UNH wasn't the program it should be....his point was how can a recruit come to Boston to look at BC, BU, Lowell, maybe PC and not visit UNH! Voted best campus for winter's beauty, forget how it looks in the Fall, why wouldn't a kid want to come play here? That's the question....How is it that question isn't answered with purpose!

 

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Steve S., do you know how many conversations I have had on that subject? I know that Chuck M, and Mike has brought this up in the past.....as we figure it, the decline of both programs began with the ascent of the football program....now as Sean Mac is a good friend I have nothing but awe and respect for what he has done the past 12 years, however if you look back at the discussions that both Umile and McCloskey had in regards to their issues with the new Admissions Director, and with Scarano becoming the new AD around that time, I think that one can question any coincidence.....IMHO

Scarano hired during the Summer of 2000, Football starting the 12 consecutive NCAA bids with the 2004 season, the current Director Of Admissions I believe was hired in 2003. I know from being involved with the Friends of Men's Hoop that there were Admissions issues at the tail end of Phil Rowe's tenure and many during the Herrion tenure. Multiple kids who were admitted at other America East schools and even one to West Point who were not accepted by UNH!! You can ask Mac if he had any issues. For hockey to get "blindsided" by admission issues like with the defenseman now at UConn last year makes me wonder if the hockey coaches were talking with their peers? At least for basketball, the standards were reality multiple years ago.

 

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Well, it's about to become official ... with the ascent of UNH Football and the recent but steady upticks with Coach Herrion's Men's Hoops program ... your UNH Men's Hockey program has arguably fallen to the bottom of the Men's sports' "relevance" pecking order. Kudos to the guys running those other two programs, no doubt. Just never thought I'd live long enough to see the order flipped like this.

Take a few minutes to pause and think how far Hockey has had to fall - and especially how far Hoops has had to rise - to make this all a reality. At this rate, I wonder how long before Hoops is playing at least some selected home games back across the street, sharing time with the U's (former) flagship program ...

And this whole time hockey has had far superior facilities to both football and basketball as well as a tremendous tradition and fan support especially compared to basketball. MBB on the other hand has been arguably one of the worst long time D-I programs in the land. While they haven't been D-I since day one so they don't get mentioned as one of the five schools that has never made the NCAA Tournament, they are next in line in the list of schools not making the NCAAs. Actually, they've never even played in a league championship game, have never won 20 games in a season. This season is the tenth winning season since WWII and the third time UNH has had back to back winning seasons since WWII. With everyone returning next year except one, a transfer becoming eligible and three recruits coming in, next season should be a historic one for UNH MBB.

I readily admit that I'm more of a football and basketball guy, but I am first and foremost a UNH guy. And I see no reason why football, basketball and hockey can't all be successful. I'm also an older guy who recalls football and hockey being fairly equal until the Whitt opened and hockey popularity soared while some poor decisions were made that really hurt football but have now been overcome. There are cross over fans and both programs have fans who prefer one sport over the other. But with what 130K living alumni and all the residents of Southern NH, both programs can draw well without impacting the other. I know weekends with a home hockey and basketball game are more likely to get me to Durham. And I've attended quite a few Friday night hockey games home and away when coming to Durham for a Saturday football game.

I feel terrible that hockey has fallen so far and like you Chuck, I never thought I'd see two consecutive seasons where hoop won more games than hockey. But IMHO the reasons for the fall in hockey are all within the hockey realm and the success in football and now basketball should be celebrated. I'm not sure there is still a basketball floor for the Whitt. Wouldn't the NH high school tournament be played there if a court was available?

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I'm not the authority on who was and wasn't invited but my info comes from those I mentioned earlier....also you might check with C-H-C, for he will have he whole of those whose jackets were never even opened by Admissions! I appreciate the timeline as it seems to fit quit well with the events....

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Only recently has UNH men's hockey had issues with filling the Whitt.....last year, or maybe the year before, we had both Michigan and Notre Dame come for a visit and neither were sold out! And if I'm not wrong, there was a ticket deal running of 4 tix and 4 hot dogs for $44! Seriously, we still don't sell out! As an aside, UNH will be hosting the women's Frozen Four this year.......does anyone on this men's side of the forum know that? It was never even mention by Athletics until after mid January! I live on the Seacoast and you'd never know that the best collegiate women skater's will be competing here come 3 weeks from now!!

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

For hockey to get "blindsided" by admission issues like with the defenseman now at UConn last year makes me wonder if the hockey coaches were talking with their peers? At least for basketball, the standards were reality multiple years ago.

I don't know, Umile strikes me as the kind of guy who could get blindsided by the same issue at admissions over and over and over. Make sure all the i's are dotted and t's crossed on his contract, though.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I cannot find the earlier discussion on Umile vs York winning percentage with three games remaining in the regular season, but as Chuck predicted, York pulled ahead of Umile, 0.6202 to 0.6190 over those three games. If Umile does not win a game against Mac this coming weekend, he will be stuck at 570 wins, and need 15 in each of the next two seasons to reach the magical 600, a highly unlikely prospect now, I think.

 

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

I don't know, Umile strikes me as the kind of guy who could get blindsided by the same issue at admissions over and over and over. Make sure all the i's are dotted and t's crossed on his contract, though.

Go back through all the available quotes, statements, interview results, newspaper accounts, coaches corner ....... and find one statement that reflects admission of negligence on the HC's part .... if nothing else it would be "refreshing."

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Chuck,

I admire your loyalty to UNH sports but we are talking about a Div !-AA football program and America East basketball. I am a season ticket holder for all three sports and though I am disappointed with the current hockey season, I know there are more loyal fans of hockey than we have ever had for football or basketball. This is when we are the worst team we have had in the past 20-25 years and they still sell way more tickets. UNH football had approximately 200-400 season ticket holders when we were reaching the semi-finals of Div 1-AA. Our base for football is low except for homecoming and very few are there for football. We made the playoffs yet again in football but we lost to a second tier team at home. I am waiting to see the turnout with the new stands and the track separating the fans from the field. I do not think they will sell out games asking the prices they have speculated. I am thrilled our BBall team has won more than they lost the past few years and it was great to see 1000+ at Albany game. I hope they make the NCAA's but they probably would not be a favorite if they played in Division 2. I am proud of my alma mater's turnaround but we are not talking about similar competition (I hope we beat BC in basketball soon). Gymnastics has better turnout than most other sports and we are very good and ranked nationally every year.

I guess the other team's will overtake hockey when they have forums for football and basketball and the general haters will spend more time there due to their fall from grace. I want all teams to succeed at UNH and looking at the competition and the consistent excellence, our UNH hockey program has and will likely always have the biggest and most loyal following at UNH.

Our hockey team is in the best league in the country and has been one of the better teams most years. I will admit the loss to Ct on Saturday night was the most disheartening in many years. My predictions were far less than accurate about our seniors this year and the second half of our hockey season was a disaster. We have the talent to play with BU, BC, Providence and Lowell and we had a harder time playing the weaker teams. The die-hard season ticket-holders in our section (the only one with every seat sold) were livid and many did state this is as low as it can get. As bad as it is right now, men's hockey is still the number one team at UNH. The turnaround will come over the next few years and the memory of losing the close games this year will be a driving force for the returning players.

You can rest assured that Hockey is number one and will be number one as it has been since the 70’s. If we put UNH in the AHA or Division 3 hockey, they would be far better than football is in Div 1-AA and basketball is in America East. I am proud of football and basketball’s accomplishments, but this is like the Manchester Monarchs ECHL vs ACHL vs NHL. Hockey is in the SEC of hockey and you cannot say that for our other teams. I am sure it will be a brutal offseason on the boards. Rest assured that there is talent on the way.

 

[UML Puck Hawk]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

(I hope we beat BC in basketball soon)

Lowell did this year as a third year member of America East

I guess the other team's will overtake hockey when they have forums for football and basketball and the general haters will spend more time there due to their fall from grace.

Basketball Forum, where up until about the midway point of last year they were looking to fire Herrion

Just having fun, your points all seem valid from this outsider's point of view

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Three) - Living in Interesting Times

Thank you UNH1932 for putting some perspective on the 3 sports (and, the gymnastics/swimming/diving teams who do very well...not to mention Field Hockey which play in D1 as well) not being the same as far as competition goes. My husband is quick to put this out when we discuss the hockey team woes. You have hit on many relevant points while not discounting how tough this season has been, particularly for those of you who have been with the team for many, many years. HE is arguably the most competitive conference in D1 hockey, nothing personal to everyone else and not to discount the 2 NC's that came from the ECAC's in the past 3 seasons.

That being said like you, I (and I am sure many others) look forward to the day of being highly competitive AND relevant in the national scene again, and sooner than later. You are so right in that we showed this season that we could indeed play with anyone, but couldn't find the consistency and ok it's been pointed out just didn't have the horses (oh oh, that horse again ) especially in the D.

Here's to brighter days ahead, but it won't be overnight. I'm not trading in my ST anytime soon, and will travel to 'Mack hoping we scrape out something in this first round. Personally am already looking forward to next season...hope the admin at the U realizes just how loyal the fans have been over the years....