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

[Snively65]

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

And, we hang on for the win; great performance by DT, with 42 saves.

 

[HockeyRef]

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

Sweet win 'Catttsssss!!!!!

 

[Snively65]

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

And, the refs finally called a penalty against UML for spearing at the end of the game; game misconduct, ha, ha, ha. UML took cheap shots against the UNH players the entire game, which the refs pretty much let go. Just like last night at Conte?

Chuck's thesis on SOG was certainly supported by the game at Tsongas tonight.

 

[Snively65]

The second period was better than the first, but not great. The third period was definitely a much better effort, in terms of possession, clearing pucks and avoiding turnovers. We've talked a lot about the defensive deficiencies on this team, but the one thing they are doing tonight is really battling. They've blocked almost 30 shots (27 at last count) and won nearly all of the battles in front of the net for rebounds. That's how they have to play every night, if they want to sneak up to sixth-place...

Regardless of how they played tonight, if you told me they'd drop a one-goal game at BC and steal a win in Lowell I would have taken it in a heart beat. Hopefully, they can carry some confidence into next weekend. The Vermont series will make or break their hopes for first-round home ice. They need to split in the worst case scenario and I'm hoping they can take at least three points...

Lowell took the Poturalski harassment to another level tonight, taking shot after shot at him in the face-off circle. There was one instance where Poturalski skated to the dot and then took three consecutive crosschecks from a River Hawk before the Lowell player was thrown out of the circle. Another sequence saw a UML center cross check Poturalski and get thrown out of the face-off, only for the winger to come to the dot and immediately knock Poturalski to the ice...

Exactly! Umile needs to file a protest with the HEA; the refs tonight were horrendous, and about as one-sided as I have ever seen in a college hockey game. Simply shameful.

 

[Dan]

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

Connecticut and Merrimack are heading to overtime. If the Huskies lose or tie, UNH will sit in a tie for sixth place...

 

[theprofromdover]

And, the refs finally called a penalty against UML for spearing at the end of the game; game misconduct, ha, ha, ha. UML took cheap shots against the UNH the entire game, which the refs pretty much let go. Just like last night at Boston College. -)

The SMTs are alive and well.

 

[HockeyRef]

And, we hang on for the win; great performance by DT, with 42 saves.

Sure was!!! We were right behind the net he was incredible! 'Cats persevered through a lot tonight wicked proud of 'em !!!!
Ps and that goal by Nazarian....oh my.

 

[Dan]

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

Hello all

There are 18 scholarships and most of the money is allocated to top 6 forwards, top 4 defensemen and top goalies. When you have 28 student athletes and 18 scholarships, most can see that teams like UNH search for diamonds in the rough to fill out their roster. BC, BU, Providence and Notre Dame have academic scholarships (UNH does as well but very limited) and upper middle class players families can afford the difference. You need all types and only elite teams can have more than half the players being NHL draft picks.

We never had that many NHL picks (even when there were 9 rounds) and our academic admissions is tougher than most (BC and Notre Dame have reasonably high admissions standards for athletes as well). We have several non-scholarship athletes playing at UNH. I am proud that we do not pull scholarships for those we recruit. I think it is sleazy to ask for a commitment from a student athlete and then renege on that promise when their projected skills are wanting. If you want to be like BC, BU and Northeastern, that is fine but I would rather take the high road to win.

UNH has committed some very good players with 2 year scholarships through the years (the scholarship is for the last 2 years most of the time) who have been integral parts of our team. We probably have 6 full scholarship athletes 8 three year scholarship athletes and 12 two year scholarship athletes with the rest being non-scholarshp athletes or walk-ons.

I wish we had 6 just like Andrew Poturalski and Trevor Van Riemsdyk. We are not as good as I would like them to be but other than Michigan State and Northeastern series, they have truly come to play and have been in almost every game. I am happier with one goal losses or 2 goals with empty-netter than blowouts. We have the talent at forward and in goal to beat anyone and be competitive with the top teams in the country.

I agree 100% on the recruiting ethics - as a recruiter your job is to identify the players who can make your program a winner. If they don't turn out, that's on you as the recruiter and you need to eat your mistakes. If you're a head coach who turns recruiting over to an assistant and the prospects don't turn out, that's on you as a head coach for neglecting the most important part of your job. Ideally, if you work hard and have an eye for talent, you end up with few prospects who don't live up to expectations and it doesn't hurt to honor your agreement with one or two kids. Kids decommit often these days, but as the adult in the situation coaches need to be held to higher standards. I'm willing to ride out the next couple of years, hopeful that UNH can get its recruiting back on track from here on out. But that's the key, getting back on track ASAP so that its only the next couple of years...

I disagree with your statement that UNH has always had to round out its roster with diamonds in the rough or lesser talents. Nobody made the claim that UNH had to settle for recruits when Brian McCloskey was here. In his final season as an assistant UNH's forward group consisted of the following players:

Darren Haydar (219 points), Sean Collins (173), Colin Hemingway (147), Lanny Gare (142), Preston Callendar (140), Steve Saviano (117), Justin Aikins (103), Jim Abbott (94), Nathan Martz (82), Josh Prudden (73). That's ten forwards who turned out to be top-six NCAA talents. That team also included David Busch who scored 32 points as senior, high-profile misses in Eddie Caron and Travis Banga (who were recruited with the expectation they'd be top-six forwards at some point) and Patrick Foley. That team also had four very good to elite puck-moving defensemen in Garrett Stafford, Tyson Teplitsky, Mick Mounsey and Kevin Truelson, as well as Tim Horst, Robbie Barker and Mike Lubesnick who all developed into top four caliber defensemen.

As recently as Paul Thompson's freshman season, the forward group was:

Bobby Butler (121 points), Matt Fornataro (118), Mike Radja (117), Mike Sislo (116) Paul Thompson (112), Phil Desimone (109), Danny Dries (98 - 49 in two seasons at UNH), Jerry Bag-o-Donuts (97), Peter Leblanc (85), JVR (74 - in two seasons). The team also had a very sound and mobile defense led by Craig Switzer and Brad Flaishans and Kevin Regan and Brian Foster in goal.

It is only a recent development that UNH lacks and can't recruit depth - at both forward and defense - to Durham. At some point, the lead recruiters stopped believing that UNH was a destination and issues with facilities, academics, academic money, weight rooms, score boards and university prestige started popping up. They stopped getting into battles (spare a few) for top prospects, because they didn't think they could compete. Add some critical recruiting mistakes and here we are...

The one thing Mike Souza and Glen Stewart MUST do is honestly believe in UNH. The school has everything it needs to recruit top talent, build a roster with great depth and compete with BC, BU, ND, etc., but if you don't believe it as an assistant, you certainly can't sell it. Small schools all over the country compete with the big time programs - UNH has done it. So I don't want to hear about how it can't be done or how they need to accept their place on the recruiting totem-pole.

Who cares about NHL draft picks. How many of the players I listed above were drafted? Its time to get back to consistently landing top-end NCAA talent and not settling for potential diamonds in the rough...

 

[Dan]

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

As recently as Paul Thompson's freshman season, the forward group was:

Bobby Butler (121 points), Matt Fornataro (118), Mike Radja (117), Mike Sislo (116) Paul Thompson (112), Phil Desimone (109), Danny Dries (98 - 49 in two seasons at UNH), Jerry Bag-o-Donuts (97), Peter Leblanc (85), JVR (74 - in two seasons). The team also had a very sound and mobile defense led by Craig Switzer and Brad Flaishans and Kevin Regan and Brian Foster in goal.

So, six years ago the team roster had six 100 point scoring forwards, one slam-dunk 100 point scorer, who left early, in JVR and two players who came a couple of bounces of the puck away from reaching 100 in Dries (98) and Pollastrone (97). That's three lines of century club members!

This year we have just two certain 100 point talents and two players with potential 100+ point ceilings in Nazarian and Vela. Add to that a shaky defense and inconsistent goaltending. These rosters were built with the same number of scholarships (18), same HE competition and the same rules for earning academic aid...

 

[Chuck Murray]

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

I agree 100% on the recruiting ethics - as a recruiter your job is to identify the players who can make your program a winner. If they don't turn out, that's on you as the recruiter and you need to eat your mistakes. If you're a head coach who turns recruiting over to an assistant and the prospects don't turn out, that's on you as a head coach for neglecting the most important part of your job. Ideally, if you work hard and have an eye for talent, you end up with few prospects who don't live up to expectations and it doesn't hurt to honor your agreement with one or two kids. Kids decommit often these days, but as the adult in the situation coaches need to be held to higher standards. I'm willing to ride out the next couple of years, hopeful that UNH can get its recruiting back on track from here on out. But that's the key, getting back on track ASAP so that its only the next couple of years...

I disagree with your statement that UNH has always had to round out its roster with diamonds in the rough or lesser talents. Nobody made the claim that UNH had to settle for recruits when Brian McCloskey was here. In his final season as an assistant UNH's forward group consisted of the following players:

Darren Haydar (219 points), Sean Collins (173), Colin Hemingway (147), Lanny Gare (142), Preston Callendar (140), Steve Saviano (117), Justin Aikins (103), Jim Abbott (94), Nathan Martz (82), Josh Prudden (73). That's ten forwards who turned out to be top-six NCAA talents. That team also included David Busch who scored 32 points as senior, high-profile misses in Eddie Caron and Travis Banga (who were recruited with the expectation they'd be top-six forwards at some point) and Patrick Foley. That team also had four very good to elite puck-moving defensemen in Garrett Stafford, Tyson Teplitsky, Mick Mounsey and Kevin Truelson, as well as Tim Horst, Robbie Barker and Mike Lubesnick who all developed into top four caliber defensemen.

As recently as Paul Thompson's freshman season, the forward group was:

Bobby Butler (121 points), Matt Fornataro (118), Mike Radja (117), Mike Sislo (116) Paul Thompson (112), Phil Desimone (109), Danny Dries (98 - 49 in two seasons at UNH), Jerry Bag-o-Donuts (97), Peter Leblanc (85), JVR (74 - in two seasons). The team also had a very sound and mobile defense led by Craig Switzer and Brad Flaishans and Kevin Regan and Brian Foster in goal.

It is only a recent development that UNH lacks and can't recruit depth - at both forward and defense - to Durham. At some point, the lead recruiters stopped believing that UNH was a destination and issues with facilities, academics, academic money, weight rooms, score boards and university prestige started popping up. They stopped getting into battles (spare a few) for top prospects, because they didn't think they could compete. Add some critical recruiting mistakes and here we are...

The one thing Mike Souza and Glen Stewart MUST do is honestly believe in UNH. The school has everything it needs to recruit top talent, build a roster with great depth and compete with BC, BU, ND, etc., but if you don't believe it as an assistant, you certainly can't sell it. Small schools all over the country compete with the big time programs - UNH has done it. So I don't want to hear about how it can't be done or how they need to accept their place on the recruiting totem-pole.

Who cares about NHL draft picks. How many of the players I listed above were drafted? Its time to get back to consistently landing top-end NCAA talent and not settling for potential diamonds in the rough...

I'm ready to enlist right now, Sargent Dan!!

p.s. let's leave the protests about the officiating alone. poturalski will have to deal with a lot more someday at the next level. might as well learn to cope with it here and now. protests just make us look like wussy crybabies.

 

[Snively65]

I'm ready to enlist right now, Sargent Dan!!

p.s. let's leave the protests about the officiating alone. poturalski will have to deal with a lot more someday at the next level. might as well learn to cope with it here and now. protests just make us look like wussy crybabies.

I left it alone at the game, despite sitting just four rows from the face off circle (great seat!) where one of the Briganthi bros (not sure which one, but there should be a law against two refs from the same family working the same game; too much like the WWF) allowed one cross check after another by UML players; it was ridiculous. But, I kept my mouth shut, as unlike Lanny, I would prefer not to be stabbed in Lowell; the UML fans were already pretty annoyed with me when I stood up and cheered for all three UNH goals at the opposite end of the rink.

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing the UNH-UVM game next Friday night, as the last game that I saw between these two teams at the Gutt was wicked disappointing. If the Cats play as well as they did this weekend, they should be able to sweep.

 

[Snively65]

. These rosters were built with the same number of scholarships (18), same HE competition and the same rules for earning academic aid...

But, only nine HEA teams then, right? And, except for Maine, I think that the HEA competition is better now than it was then.

 

[FiveHole12]

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

The SMTs are alive and well.

No kidding. I just now have read the last two pages of this thread.
Funny, I never noticed the blood oozing out from the UNH bench onto the ice.
Amazing that UNH was even able to field a full team on Saturday at UML.

 

[theprofromdover]

I left it alone at the game, despite sitting just four rows from the face off circle (great seat!) where one of the Briganthi bros (not sure which one, but there should be a law against two refs from the same family working the same game; too much like the WWF) allowed one cross check after another by UML players; it was ridiculous. .

The Briganti brothers are linesmen, not referees. Get a clue.

 

[e.cat]

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

You're absolutely pathetic, Chuck. Or as one of the BC fans put it, you're "a tool". The way you have Massengil'ed up these boards (including other team's threads) since your return after years away is nothing short of hilarious. I realize this fan forum is a desperate attempt at feeling important for you (delegate to your "minions", Chuck) and man is it painful to watch.

Man, do I long for the days of Gibber, Cloud9 et al.

Can't let this go without commenting! Chuck is the Glen Ordway of the board. He can mock, ridicule and humiliate with the best Philadelphia lawyers. He is a a loud mouthed know-it-all, the one you love to hate! Just ask him!

 

[e.cat]

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

Oh, and by the way, another good win for the Cats! Way to go

 

[UNH1932]

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

BC has enough talent Five Hole. They do not need to goon up against UNH's first line throughout the game and particularly at the end of the game. It must be tough to be dealt a royal flush and not win all the time so you have to beat up the 2 players who would have been recruited by BC if your staff looked beyond the top 6 ranked kids every year. BC should get back to up and down hockey.

 

[UNH1932]

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

Dan you are mixing and merging the years that overlap is wanting, but I get your point. Most you list played together for 1 or 2 years. Canadian kids mostly get 4 year scholarships, many of the others who were defensemen and played lesser roles. Danny Dries only played two years for UNH. Scoring in all of college hockey was much higher during that period. You would have very few who would site Craig Switzer as a top defensemen. Brad Flaishans was on a two year scholarship total as he received a Presidential Scholarship as did several others during that period. I cannot be sure we have any on our current team. If you line up years, they still had 18 scholarships. Drop them all by 20-25% due to decrease in goal scoring over the past 8-10 years and yes we are lacking. Our problems since 2008 has been admissions, defense and having less than 6 outstanding forwards (One line seems to score the great majority of goals).

I would be happier with a very good team, as we had spectacular recruiting in the 2000's, but we have lost battles to Boston teams (even Northeastern recently) and we cannot get weaker students like Providence and others as they do not get through admissions. Communications and Health Care Management can solve admissions problems if they give them the chance.

I like you hope they are heading back to greatness soon. The incoming forwards and goalie is top notch and let us hope we get the defensive corps we need and it does look promising. Defections to the NHL of higher profile teams determine our fate in many cases. Let us hope they do not leave early to open spots at BC, BU, Michigan MN etc.

Thanks for keeping the faith from a 4 hour flight away from Boston.

 

[theprofromdover]

BC has enough talent Five Hole. They do not need to goon up against UNH's first line throughout the game and particularly at the end of the game. It must be tough to be dealt a royal flush and not win all the time so you have to beat up the 2 players who would have been recruited by BC if your staff looked beyond the top 6 ranked kids every year. BC should get back to up and down hockey.

Poor baby. Should we call in the Wahhhhhhhhmbulance?

 

[Patronick]

Exactly! Umile needs to file a protest with the HEA; the refs tonight were horrendous, and about as one-sided as I have ever seen in a college hockey game. Simply shameful.

What an absurd statement. Were you at the game? If so, try keeping your eyes open next time.