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UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
- Thread starter Chuck Murray
- Start date
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Darius
Go 'cats!
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
Last night the 'cats had the look of a team that has accepted its destiny. They need to recall from the past 2 seasons that down the stretch any HEA team can win or lose to any other, secure a 5 - 8 seed, win the 1st 2 rounds and advance to the Garden.
Our video screen kicks the crap out out of NU's. Not even close. The signs hanging from the Matthews balcony are classics. No PC policing going on down there.
DD's younger brother? Quite the sniper if last night is his norm. Were we not interested in him and vice versa after Danny's UNH experience?
Last night the 'cats had the look of a team that has accepted its destiny. They need to recall from the past 2 seasons that down the stretch any HEA team can win or lose to any other, secure a 5 - 8 seed, win the 1st 2 rounds and advance to the Garden.
Our video screen kicks the crap out out of NU's. Not even close. The signs hanging from the Matthews balcony are classics. No PC policing going on down there.
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DD's cousin - he's a good player, leads the WMU power-play and penalty kill and his two goals last night were bar-down snipes. I would imagine that the DD situation made recruiting his cousin an unlikely scenario for both sides. I don't have any insight to what - if anything - was communicated between SD and UNH, but I do know he'd really help right now...
Also, I don't believe SD took a single penalty last night!
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Great for Dan! Magness (DU) is awesome, youll enjoy it. World Arena (CC) is pretty sterile. Although that may have something to do with CC scoring just twice and being shut-out three times in the four games I've caught there this year.
It could be worse...
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Hey Darius I do believe you hit the proverbial nail on the head about the 'Cats looking like they have accepted their lot in D1 hockey. They need to watch the film the "Legend of Bagger Vance"
And pay particular attention to the scene in the woods towards the end...
Agree on the signs very interesting. We could use some of that spirit at the 'Whitt..
Speaking of Danny Dries, he had a good freshman year at UNH, the year that I attended the FF at the Pepsi Center, with the expectation that our Cats would be there, but for NICC blocking the way two weeks earlier in the Springs. :-(
My brother, who is in Lakewood, attended the UNH at CC and DU games in October 2012, which were bizarre goal-scoring festivals, if nothing else.
CC appears to be the current UMO of the WCHA.
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I was there as well in 2012. Denver game was ridiculous. CDS gets pulled after 3 goals in the first nine minutes. We start to slowly draw our way back in, but are down 4-2 after two. Then we explode for 4 in the 3rd, mainly coming in the later minutes of the game, to win. I was sitting next to the tunnel and will admit getting a little carried away and high-fiving players coming off the ice. I'm generally not "that guy", but man that was a super game to watch.
Speaking of tunnels and getting carried away, I wonder if Coach Madigan will get, ahem, MAD AGAIN at the Whitt and threaten a few students tonight.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
I hope the students bring the fish round to his side of the arena and drop it on his head this time.
I hope the students bring the fish round to his side of the arena and drop it on his head this time.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
Wow ... no commentary after this one. They've apparently broken us, at long last.
The silence, as they say, is deafening.
Wow ... no commentary after this one. They've apparently broken us, at long last.
The silence, as they say, is deafening.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
I'll break the silence....if nothing more, this will likely be my last post.
IMHO, this team is on a fast track to the Hockey East cellar,folks....along with UMass-Amherst. I cannot see them picking up any more points over the next three weeks or more. This was a MUST WIN weekend, they knew it, the coaches knew it, and they failed to show it on the ice. There is absolutely no way in he11 they are going to be able to stop the caliber of teams that they have coming up in their schedule, barring any sort of a miracle. I don't know if it's talent or if it's players finally get tired of Umile's system, but it seems that they have run out of options to stop this quickly-sinking ship.
I don't want to call out individual players. As a whole, I think that they're a great group of kids who have an obvious love and passion for this sport. For whatever reason, the wind has been absolutely sucked out of their sails and Umile and Co. have run out of answers.
I wish that I could glean some positives out of this team, but I can't at this point. I really hope that they can figure this thing out...but my gut feeling says otherwise. I'm outta here.....
I'll break the silence....if nothing more, this will likely be my last post.
IMHO, this team is on a fast track to the Hockey East cellar,folks....along with UMass-Amherst. I cannot see them picking up any more points over the next three weeks or more. This was a MUST WIN weekend, they knew it, the coaches knew it, and they failed to show it on the ice. There is absolutely no way in he11 they are going to be able to stop the caliber of teams that they have coming up in their schedule, barring any sort of a miracle. I don't know if it's talent or if it's players finally get tired of Umile's system, but it seems that they have run out of options to stop this quickly-sinking ship.
I don't want to call out individual players. As a whole, I think that they're a great group of kids who have an obvious love and passion for this sport. For whatever reason, the wind has been absolutely sucked out of their sails and Umile and Co. have run out of answers.
I wish that I could glean some positives out of this team, but I can't at this point. I really hope that they can figure this thing out...but my gut feeling says otherwise. I'm outta here.....
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
"UNH Gets Smoked At Home In 6-2 Loss To Northeastern"
By Parker Wheeler
"UNH Gets Smoked At Home In 6-2 Loss To Northeastern"
By Parker Wheeler
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
Good god - they are even worse in person! Those of you who head to the Whitt week after week have my sympathies.
The defense is as brutal as advertised. Tonight NU forwards were able to do whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted in the offensive zone. UNH defensemen looked so tentative retrieving pucks in the corner, almost scared, and took forever to make breakout decisions. They consistently failed to pick up Huskies in front of the net. NU often had multiple forwards just camped in front seemingly unnoticed. The forward backcheck was non-existent. Northeastern consistently found the trailer high in the slot and all alone, while UNH forwards coasted into the zone ten feet behind the play. Would like to see Chanter play more. Maybe he'd be just as much a liability, but I'd bet his mistakes would at least be aggressive mistakes and I'm certain he'd at least attempt to be physical in front of the net...
It certainly is not the best environment for goaltending success, that being said, the goalie needs to make a save ONE TIME - of his three second period saves, at least two came while he flailed around the crease and happened to get hit by the puck (once directly in the face). He's small, out of control most of the time, leaves so much net to shoot at and I can't recall him making a big save when the team really needed it all season. I'm sure he'd look better behind a more consistent defense, but perhaps the defense would be more consistent and less tentative or mistake prone if they had the confidence that their goalie would EVER bail them out. All year, he has consistently given up back-to-back goals, goals immediately following UNH scores, etc. Always at the worst time. Six goals on 20 shots against tonight...
Loved and hated the five-forward power-play. I love it, because there is NO WAY that was Umile's idea which shows me that Souza does have some freedom to make key decisions. I hate it because, ***!? It was a matter of time before they were beat for a SHG and it wasn't a matter of MUCH time at all. I don't see the reasoning at all for playing both Gaudreault AND Nazarian at the points, when Cleland has been very good on the PP point. Put Nazarian on the second unit in Smith's spot, alongside McNicholas and Vela.
Same-old with the 'first' line - Gaudreault and Smith are so slow, Miller is too small to be the guy winning battles for pucks and yet, so much ice time. Eiserman, Nazarian and Vela were a combined -10. Woof. Salvaggio, McNicholas and Hill were consistently short-shifted but I thought they played pretty well 5x5. Poturalski and Kelleher were smothered - shadowed and hit or roughed up at every opportunity. That's going to be the blueprint from here on out, so one of the other lines NEEDS to step up and provide some breathing room or the lines need to be jumbled up...
Good god - they are even worse in person! Those of you who head to the Whitt week after week have my sympathies.
The defense is as brutal as advertised. Tonight NU forwards were able to do whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted in the offensive zone. UNH defensemen looked so tentative retrieving pucks in the corner, almost scared, and took forever to make breakout decisions. They consistently failed to pick up Huskies in front of the net. NU often had multiple forwards just camped in front seemingly unnoticed. The forward backcheck was non-existent. Northeastern consistently found the trailer high in the slot and all alone, while UNH forwards coasted into the zone ten feet behind the play. Would like to see Chanter play more. Maybe he'd be just as much a liability, but I'd bet his mistakes would at least be aggressive mistakes and I'm certain he'd at least attempt to be physical in front of the net...
It certainly is not the best environment for goaltending success, that being said, the goalie needs to make a save ONE TIME - of his three second period saves, at least two came while he flailed around the crease and happened to get hit by the puck (once directly in the face). He's small, out of control most of the time, leaves so much net to shoot at and I can't recall him making a big save when the team really needed it all season. I'm sure he'd look better behind a more consistent defense, but perhaps the defense would be more consistent and less tentative or mistake prone if they had the confidence that their goalie would EVER bail them out. All year, he has consistently given up back-to-back goals, goals immediately following UNH scores, etc. Always at the worst time. Six goals on 20 shots against tonight...
Loved and hated the five-forward power-play. I love it, because there is NO WAY that was Umile's idea which shows me that Souza does have some freedom to make key decisions. I hate it because, ***!? It was a matter of time before they were beat for a SHG and it wasn't a matter of MUCH time at all. I don't see the reasoning at all for playing both Gaudreault AND Nazarian at the points, when Cleland has been very good on the PP point. Put Nazarian on the second unit in Smith's spot, alongside McNicholas and Vela.
Same-old with the 'first' line - Gaudreault and Smith are so slow, Miller is too small to be the guy winning battles for pucks and yet, so much ice time. Eiserman, Nazarian and Vela were a combined -10. Woof. Salvaggio, McNicholas and Hill were consistently short-shifted but I thought they played pretty well 5x5. Poturalski and Kelleher were smothered - shadowed and hit or roughed up at every opportunity. That's going to be the blueprint from here on out, so one of the other lines NEEDS to step up and provide some breathing room or the lines need to be jumbled up...
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
There's a clear lack of talent - at least developed talent (some of the underclassmen have promise, but just aren't ready to carry a DI club) - but it takes no talent to man up in front of the net or back check. Its 100% on the coaches to hold them accountable and they haven't gotten through. Goalie is struggling, but they have no alternative. Forward line combinations and ice time are still baffling. The coaching has been awful. I agree, first round on the road...
BTW - remember when Michigan State dismantled this team in East Lansing? Sparty 1-14-1 since...
There's a clear lack of talent - at least developed talent (some of the underclassmen have promise, but just aren't ready to carry a DI club) - but it takes no talent to man up in front of the net or back check. Its 100% on the coaches to hold them accountable and they haven't gotten through. Goalie is struggling, but they have no alternative. Forward line combinations and ice time are still baffling. The coaching has been awful. I agree, first round on the road...
BTW - remember when Michigan State dismantled this team in East Lansing? Sparty 1-14-1 since...
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HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
Well believe it or not I wasn't going to post about this game and horrendous weekend so I'll be brief. Pretty much what has been said by Dan and Scott do sum up the obvious shortcomings of the team. Brutal weekend all the way around here's hoping they get the wheels back on the bus. Like I said...these were statement games. The task was at hand and wasn't fulfilled. Onto ND...
Well believe it or not I wasn't going to post about this game and horrendous weekend so I'll be brief. Pretty much what has been said by Dan and Scott do sum up the obvious shortcomings of the team. Brutal weekend all the way around here's hoping they get the wheels back on the bus. Like I said...these were statement games. The task was at hand and wasn't fulfilled. Onto ND...
Or, rather, NICC onto UNH?
Positives: Poturalski still leads in goals and Kelleher in assists, being chased by three from AHC.
Negatives: Tirone has dropped off charts in all categories; team now 39th in PWR, only ahead of UConn and UMO from HEA; team now sixth worst in goals against.
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
I lived through Holt's final 84-85 season, where they had top end talent (Steve Leach, James Richmond), but weak depth after that on forward, and five freshmen defensemen: Mark Babcock, Jeff Cournoyer, Kevin Schrader, Mike Roth and Greg Boudreau and a pathetic upperclassman (Peter Wotton).
The next season was Kullen's first, and he continued to suffer as now sophomore D just were not up to par.
By 87-88 he had cut all of them except walk-on Boudreau. Replaced with two NHLers Adrien Plavsic, Kevin Dean, a All-Hockey East kid (Dave McIntire) and a pretty decent local kid from Berwick (Grassie).
They were the foundation that carried Umile to the 1992 HE playoff success.
That's what typically happens with coaching changes and the new guy having free reign, even if he recruited some of them. Given where we are, with many of Borek's good recruits leaving, and many of Borek's weak recruits (I see about four who are likely to be roster fillers) not having options elsewhere, so still "committed," this will be a five to six year rebuild unless there are some harsh decisions made. It would be nice to have the new boss able to make those.
I lived through Holt's final 84-85 season, where they had top end talent (Steve Leach, James Richmond), but weak depth after that on forward, and five freshmen defensemen: Mark Babcock, Jeff Cournoyer, Kevin Schrader, Mike Roth and Greg Boudreau and a pathetic upperclassman (Peter Wotton).
The next season was Kullen's first, and he continued to suffer as now sophomore D just were not up to par.
By 87-88 he had cut all of them except walk-on Boudreau. Replaced with two NHLers Adrien Plavsic, Kevin Dean, a All-Hockey East kid (Dave McIntire) and a pretty decent local kid from Berwick (Grassie).
They were the foundation that carried Umile to the 1992 HE playoff success.
That's what typically happens with coaching changes and the new guy having free reign, even if he recruited some of them. Given where we are, with many of Borek's good recruits leaving, and many of Borek's weak recruits (I see about four who are likely to be roster fillers) not having options elsewhere, so still "committed," this will be a five to six year rebuild unless there are some harsh decisions made. It would be nice to have the new boss able to make those.
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HockeyRef
Well-known member
Another positive TyK keeps pace with Century Club. Marcus Vela 3 goals over the weekend. These are the things I'm keeping track of at this point..
HockeyRef
Well-known member
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