UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

HR, you mentioned Furgele and his potential upside. I'm not sure I'm seeing it, beyond being the steady right-handed partner on the 2nd or 3rd pairing. If he's playing 1st paring time, then that speaks to the lack of quality elsewhere. He probably has upside as a 2nd pairing guy on a decent team, but on a team challenging for national titles, he is strictly a 3rd pairing guy. UNH has had similar (relatively small) defensemen in the last 10-15 years, including old favorites like Mick Mounsey, Mike Lubesnick and Brad Flashians (probably Flashians being the best of that group). I'm not looking to run the kid down in any way, as he's clearly been the one from among last season's frosh class to have earned Coach Umile's trust the earliest. But when you have players of that caliber as your front-line guys ... it tends to say more about the quality (or lack thereof) of the rest of the d-crew than it does about the player himself.

But if UNH is going to have realistic hopes/expectations for improvement and success for the remainder of this season into next season, it's going to come from guys like Furgele, Boyd, Marks, Dawson etc. who get coached up to play at a level not originally anticipated or projected. If you can get that from him and another couple of guys, next year's backline starts to look a lot more stable and reliable. I think Cleland is benefitting from being a 2nd pairing guy who is being asked to log #1 time, and but for his injury issues, Maller should probably be on the same course (but so far isn't). It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out over the next 90+ days ...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Yeah, yeah, yeah; but no one here will admit that the Cats were lucky to get those 2 points against Bentley.

I know you're joshing (I think/hope?) ... but I don't think Bentley could have drawn up a better time to play UNH, which was in the midst of a 6 game winless streak. The fact that the game was so close spoke to UNH's lack of confidence, at least as much as it did to Bentley playing with "house money". If there's a rematch at the JAR next season, UNH may hit Bentley for double-figures in that one.

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Season ticket holders could opt out of buying tickets for Manchester. We didn't buy because of possible holiday commitments. Good thing we didn't.

Greg and Hockey Ref

I picked up my Manchester tickets over a month ago. The Verizon game was included in my adult season tickets (UNH related) for 307 dollars and 165 dollars for my great nieces and nephews. I was not offered the opt out option. They had them at the ticket office to pick up at any time. I will ask them Monday if they will be mailing or will have at will call at the Verizon. They will be closed for the week plus from 12/24-1/4 other than games on campus.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

OK here comes the part where I go off on a tangent about off-ice issues. You have been warned ... avert your eyes, and save yourself a couple of minutes of otherwise productive time in your life ...

[rant]

... so last night, I'm watching the Dartmouth-UNH game on WBIN-TV, and certainly I'm enjoying the way things are playing out on the ice. Early lead, never closer to a 2 goal game after about the midway mark in the first period, low stress/high enjoyment factors, etc.

I'm not sure when I first noticed this ... but it was probably after the second time they ran the ad, which was a reminder to the viewers that "You're in Monarchs Country", and even more so that the Monarchs (who were most recently sighted competing in the ECHL, after their Calder Cup AHL team left for the West Coast last June) were "Still the Kings of New Hampshire Hockey". I think the (very basic) ad ran at least three (3) times total during the length of the broadcast of the UNH game. The basic details were put out there on how your family could get tickets to the Monarchs' games. No mention was made regarding the downgrade of the quality of the on-ice product, but you were certainly left with the impression that the well-branded Monarchs franchise was doing business as usual. Right in the middle of your top two in-state competitors' game against each other. Certainly a sign that someone in Manchester is paying attention, and doing their job in publicizing their product to not only one but TWO of your biggest in-state competitors' target audiences. Bravo, well done.

I'm almost positive that there was nothing during the broadcast touting Dartmouth Hockey and ticket sales ... but Dartmouth being Ivy Dartmouth, they don't care, and the school's endowment will do just fine, thank you.

But UNH ... well, maybe I missed something, but I don't recall seeing anything advertised during the contest - on NH's 2nd most watched TV outlet on prime time Friday evening, in the midst of a UNH Hockey game - providing any information about how to get tickets to see UNH Hockey, season tickets, promotions ... nothing. I'm going to speculate just a wee bit here and guess that costs of TV ads for that station's demographics and ratings are hardly onerous. And if they're carrying your game anyway, *maybe* you even have a little leverage to get an ad on for free or at a reduced rate as a quid pro quo.

Yet all I can remember seeing is the silly ad where Gnarlz has a UNH affiliated bank/ATM card, can't operate the ATM keypad because of his oversized paw, gets some help from a co-ed, and gives her his scarf as a token of gratitude. Yeah, that one, seemingly it's been on forever. But in the meantime, your recently-demoted goon hockey competition is poaching your target audience, and basically claiming to still be the same product. Classic bait & switch is bad enough ... but to be doing it unopposed to the fans of your biggest competition for the hearts (and wallets) of the target hockey market ... unforgiveable.

And I'm not blaming the Monarchs here. They're competing, and they're battling to overcome the well-publicized (locally) departure of their former AHL team. And with UNH still struggling to sell tickets, yet handed this opportunity of a generation to take back the market share they basically (very passively) allowed to leave for "Monarchs Country" about 15 years ago now ... their response is ... uh, nothing.

Aren't there people being paid very good money in Durham to promote UNH Hockey tickets (or Football, Hoops, etc.)?

If so, I'm thinking last night on WBIN-TV would have been a pretty embarrassing experience for them.

Or maybe I just missed that part where UNH's endowment went Ivy on us, and they're fat and happy too?

Just saying ...

[/rant]

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Anyone at the game last night catch the GK switch? You'd think they would announce it so the crowd could've acknowledge Tirone or did I miss something!!!?

 

[norbert1075]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Q for UNH season tix holders have you received your Verizon tix yet?

I got my tickets a few weeks ago and they were the same as they have been for a long time. I finally got ****ed off enough that I have been paying full price for all tickets and called to move them. To my surprise they moved me to tickets that are similar to what I have at the Whit, which should have been done a long time ago. Only so many game I can watch through a screen.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

HR, you mentioned Furgele and his potential upside. I'm not sure I'm seeing it, beyond being the steady right-handed partner on the 2nd or 3rd pairing. If he's playing 1st paring time, then that speaks to the lack of quality elsewhere. He probably has upside as a 2nd pairing guy on a decent team, but on a team challenging for national titles, he is strictly a 3rd pairing guy. UNH has had similar (relatively small) defensemen in the last 10-15 years, including old favorites like Mick Mounsey, Mike Lubesnick and Brad Flashians (probably Flashians being the best of that group). I'm not looking to run the kid down in any way, as he's clearly been the one from among last season's frosh class to have earned Coach Umile's trust the earliest. But when you have players of that caliber as your front-line guys ... it tends to say more about the quality (or lack thereof) of the rest of the d-crew than it does about the player himself.

But if UNH is going to have realistic hopes/expectations for improvement and success for the remainder of this season into next season, it's going to come from guys like Furgele, Boyd, Marks, Dawson etc. who get coached up to play at a level not originally anticipated or projected. If you can get that from him and another couple of guys, next year's backline starts to look a lot more stable and reliable. I think Cleland is benefitting from being a 2nd pairing guy who is being asked to log #1 time, and but for his injury issues, Maller should probably be on the same course (but so far isn't). It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out over the next 90+ days ...

I just see him as a player that IS going to improve, he works hard and I saw some good stuff from him last night. Offensively believe he had 2 assists? Like you said; that's the core of the D for now, and next season. While we had the typical UNH lapses in the Dzone, I'm thinking / expecting even, that it gets better. We'll see and I think it will be, interesting!

 

[Red Hockey]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Here's a puzzling thing for me. Dartmouth's head coach, Bob Gaudet, was an outstanding goalie for the school back in the late 70's. As we know, Dave Lassonde, also a former goalie who recruited several good ones to UNH, is an assistant. Someone told me before the game last night that Dartmouth was ranked something 55th nationally in team defense. I was a bit skeptical given the pedigree of these coaches. I guess I was wrong. Defense was particularly porous and the goaltending, at least the starter, was even worse. Kind of surprised.

With Michigan Tech getting into the NCAA's this year, Dartmouth has the longest streak of not being in the tournament (1980). I doubt that changes anytime soon as long as Gaudet is there, but he's not the only cause of the apparent stagnancy of that program. And as we saw with Yale a few years ago, Ivy League isn't an excuse to stay mediocre, although only half of the 6 programs seem to take that to heart right now.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Looks like Foegele made a good career decision. Was playing 3rd and 4th line at UNH, but now averaging a point a game in the OHL, playing first line.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=175316

 

[Nifty16]

Q for UNH season tix holders have you received your Verizon tix yet?

I got mine in the mail on Friday

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Looks like Foegele made a good career decision. Was playing 3rd and 4th line at UNH, but now averaging a point a game in the OHL, playing first line.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=175316

Thanks for sharing!!! Looks like he's found his niche. I've been following his exploits on Twitter; am glad he's doing well. The other night I did think how much I missed his play but let's not kid ourselves; players like him (and, guys like Pots are short lived on our ice. Hope he continues to thrive...

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Or maybe I just missed that part where UNH's endowment went Ivy on us, and they're fat and happy too?

Not ivy, but doing quite well.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Anyone at the game last night catch the GK switch? You'd think they would announce it so the crowd could've acknowledge Tirone or did I miss something!!!?

Not me. I did not hear announcements for either goal tender change. Pretty easy to anticipate Dartmouth's. 4 goals on 5 shots, I believe.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Not me. I did not hear announcements for either goal tender change. Pretty easy to anticipate Dartmouth's. 4 goals on 5 shots, I believe.

Yeah we knew they made a change happened right in front of our section! Just thinking it would've been nice to make that announcement; think the crowd would've given DT some props..They (UNH) must've done it during a media time out and we didn't notice as it was on the opposite end of the ice at that point. Well whatever..life at the 'whit I guess.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

I got my tickets a few weeks ago and they were the same as they have been for a long time. I finally got ****ed off enough that I have been paying full price for all tickets and called to move them. To my surprise they moved me to tickets that are similar to what I have at the Whit, which should have been done a long time ago. Only so many game I can watch through a screen.

Thanks for the info...did you call the 'Whitt box office for this change? Last year we hated our seats and ended up moving on our 'own'. Anyhoo, crisis averted, tix came in the mail over the weekend. See you 'Cat fans there? (and we are going to Portland as well)

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

With Michigan Tech getting into the NCAA's this year, Dartmouth has the longest streak of not being in the tournament (1980). I doubt that changes anytime soon as long as Gaudet is there, but he's not the only cause of the apparent stagnancy of that program. And as we saw with Yale a few years ago, Ivy League isn't an excuse to stay mediocre, although only half of the 6 programs seem to take that to heart right now.

Shocking! I didn't realize Dartmouth has gone so long without an appearance. Great rink, great school. I know the locals like to go to the games. I remember going to games up there, since I'm from the area, and the place would be packed back in the seventies.

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Yeah we knew they made a change happened right in front of our section! Just thinking it would've been nice to make that announcement; think the crowd would've given DT some props..They (UNH) must've done it during a media time out and we didn't notice as it was on the opposite end of the ice at that point. Well whatever..life at the 'whit I guess.

I didn't know DT was replaced either. So he kept his GA at 2.0 for the game. Thats good. He is playing a lot better of late. That 50 save Maine game was huge for him.

 

[Red Hockey]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Shocking! I didn't realize Dartmouth has gone so long without an appearance. Great rink, great school. I know the locals like to go to the games. I remember going to games up there, since I'm from the area, and the place would be packed back in the seventies.

Thompson Arena was still new and the teams at that time were pretty good. There's a lot of history in that program but much of it is before Thompson Arena was finished (40 years ago in fact); and I guess my opinion is a little sour since my team hasn't exactly had great trips up there in the last 15 years.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Tied with UVM and UMass for 7th in HEA, 1 point behind Merrimack, but three games in hand over those three teams; also 1 point ahead of UConn with four games in hand. What's not to like? Got those other teams right where we want 'em.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations

Tied with UVM and UMass for 7th in HEA, 1 point behind Merrimack, but three games in hand over those three teams; also 1 point ahead of UConn with four games in hand. What's not to like? Got those other teams right where we want 'em.

That's the spirit Snively65!! I like the way you think...and hopefully after the break we have more of our guys back from injury that can contribute..hopefully we escape the Maine games unscathed...and, unbeaten of course.