UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

...they seem to be an example of talented individual parts that have not meshed. Not sure how many first round picks they have but you would think after being together for the better part of five months that they will be a bit more fine tuned than they are. Their performance against Lowell and the, more notably, their no show in the Beanpot final should send up red flags to the BU faithful.

Oh, trust me, they HAVE raised red flags; hence, the criticism. But that's more of an "internal" thing based on expectations of fans who follow the team year after year. But outside the "inner circle," most people think we're crazy and would love to root for a team that is one of only seven in the country to have 20 wins. So it's all relative. Most people don't really want to hear us complain. So although we may feel as though they have underachieved, that's not the same as being "not very good."

Of course, all of this will be resolved in the very near future.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Just to get us back on page 1...Listened to the 'coaches show' the other night and they had Mike Souza on. He talked about this up coming weekend and his past with UConn. Felt if the 'Cats didn't get home ice they would deal with it and prepare for what comes. Can't remember where we were predicted to be in the HE at the start of this season, 10th was it? Remembering last year's UConn series makes me cringe but somehow I'm not that uptight about it this season. (that could all change next Sunday...) Am hopeful, tho, we can put together 2 decent efforts. While most think UConn is a push over I surely don't feel that way; decent forwards in Tage, Leturnov (sp). 60 minutes boys...60 minutes. Anyway...hard to believe we are at this point in the season already! e.cat will you be making an appearance??? Haven't seen ya in awhile!! Go 'Cats!

 

[e.cat]

Just to get us back on page 1...Listened to the 'coaches show' the other night and they had Mike Souza on. He talked about this up coming weekend and his past with UConn. Felt if the 'Cats didn't get home ice they would deal with it and prepare for what comes. Can't remember where we were predicted to be in the HE at the start of this season, 10th was it? Remembering last year's UConn series makes me cringe but somehow I'm not that uptight about it this season. (that could all change next Sunday...) Am hopeful, tho, we can put together 2 decent efforts. While most think UConn is a push over I surely don't feel that way; decent forwards in Tage, Leturnov (sp). 60 minutes boys...60 minutes. Anyway...hard to believe we are at this point in the season already! e.cat will you be making an appearance??? Haven't seen ya in awhile!! Go 'Cats!

Not sure if I can make it down Friday but I'll be there in spirit if not. Tax season is a busy time for me.

Looks like UNHWhoops are carrying the mantle at the moment. Go Wildcats!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Just to get us back on page 1...Listened to the 'coaches show' the other night and they had Mike Souza on.

Guess Mike's boss can't even be bothered with his own (weekly) show these days ...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Guess Mike's boss can't even be bothered with his own (weekly) show these days ...

Actually he has been on for most of them that I've listened to; one week got snowed out. Usually they have one of the players on as well...this week was Mike McNick. Only one more for the season next Monday. They happen at Buffalo Wild Wings in Portsmouth.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Interfered with a good episode of Matlock. Maybe he's trying to be generous with handing off some media responsibilities.
Nice to hear someone represent the University who doesn't sound like he's just eaten a carton of marbles.

I know its a balance between recruiting and current team, but I'd love to hear an emphasis on bringing new talent in. When asked, Mike said his allegiance is to the current players. Did he say he brings recruits by Mike Murphy's office or did I misunderstand that?

Between Mike saying he's doing campus tours, and Deltabravo saying he's seen Stewart and Mike do this the past couple of weeks, I can conclude none were blown away and committed on the spot Can we please give him a recruiting assistant who knows how to close the deal with a bit of a harder sell? Not Calipari/Walshie like, but if Mike is inclined not to be superlative about his vision for the program, maybe they need someone who can articulate that for the recruits who are somewhat interested in a nice community, but also interested in a coach driven to return to top 4 HE status. Less the "aw shucks, everyone here is really nice" and more "the roster will turn over the next two years, and I need a foundation to be back in top 4 by 3 years. You're part of that!"

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Between Mike saying he's doing campus tours, and Deltabravo saying he's seen Stewart and Mike do this the past couple of weeks, I can conclude none were blown away and committed on the spot Can we please give him a recruiting assistant who knows how to close the deal with a bit of a harder sell? Not Calipari/Walshie like ...

Heck, I'd take Walshy-like so long as it didn't involve the retroactive financial aid and grade rigging.

One of the by-products of Coach Umile's "long goodbye" is it handcuffs Souza for another year of just him and Stewart chasing all the recruiting. And if they're not setting the recruiting world on fire, yeah, that 3rd guy could be a difference-maker. Problem is, right now the 3rd guy is more interested in a friendly game of darts at The Coat than he is in finding the next Sean Collins or Steve Saviano two towns over from his hometown. Sadly, this is likely the way it's going to be for another year, unless the rest of the UNH season proves to be as catastrophic as their 3rd period was last Saturday night.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Years back this was the weekend, well actually next weekend, that we whupped up on Merrimack for two nights and MC went hacker goon on us in the final period of the second game(s). The biggest concern was not having a player suspended for fighting the following week at the Garden. Different path these days.

* Edit: I am WAY ahead of myself. This is not a playoff weekend. Seems like it though. Anyway, we are back on page one. *

Go 'cats!

 

[d.gerry]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Unfortunately Chuck, I believe UNH is the cupcake. The decline has been hard to watch, a bit tormenting really. Dick, please do us all a favor and take your final bow, your time has passed.

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Unfortunately Chuck, I believe UNH is the cupcake. The decline has been hard to watch, a bit tormenting really. Dick, please do us all a favor and take your final bow, your time has passed.

I am including this post from the BC thread...

Reading these recent posts is like going into a time machine and gaping back 5-8 years for BU fans. The reality is that eventually, age becomes an issue. The ability of a coach in his 70's (or whatever) to relate to what is going on in the lives of these kids, versus a mid-40s coach is significant. The Quinn/Cavanaugh era of coaches either have kids or are around kids that are similar in age to these players. Parker, York, may have grandkids of that age, but it isn't the same. Parker even admitted that he couldn't relate to these kids. Maybe the same is happening with York.

Not to be an "intruder," but I thought this was an interesting perspective. If you think about it, everyone goes through this eventually. The same discussions were carried on, for example, in the Michigan thread (regarding Red Berenson) and the BU thread (as mentioned). Currently the same discussion is happening on the BC thread regarding York. I know it sounds trite, but it's true that "Nothing lasts forever." But that doesn't make it any less agonizing. I'm not taking sides or defending anyone...just expressing that it's easy to tell someone what to do. All of this talk has actually made me think about what is going to happen when it is time for "me" to retire. Who evaluates when I can no longer do my job "effectively?"

Some people get it right. David Ortiz is one that comes to mind. He went out without his skills having declined hardly at all. But many others don't. For you old timers, Willie Mays is Exhibit A. Sad is the only word that could be used to describe the way his career ended. The talk had even started with Brady (until this latest Super Bowl win sort of squelched it for awhile - but you can bet at the first sign of "decline" it will be back in full force).

My opinion is this: Every program will have to suffer through this transition. Frankly, BU won in 2009 because of outstanding senior leadership who pushed them to overachieve. And they had a little luck (2 goals in the last 57 seconds against a Miami team that had thoroughly outplayed them most of the game). If you put it in perspective, BU had only been to ONE Frozen Four since 1978 (1995 win against Maine) up until 2009. Maine is going through this now with Red Gendron, and before that with Whitehead. It's a difficult thing to experience success and then have a precipitous decline.

As someone who has two family members that have graduated from UNH, they tend to be the "other" team that I pay attention to besides my alma mater. We would all love to see the return of the "old days." I'm not asking for compassion. I get it. But is my opinion different than it would have been if I were a lot younger? Probably. I'm just saying I can see both sides. Either way, it's a part of life that we all have to deal with at some point, and it's not fun.

 

[d.gerry]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

I think what is even more discouraging is once the rebuilding, next era, or whatever you want to call it actually begins we are most likely looking at another 4 to 5 years of mediocrity before UNH can think of becoming competitive again (by that I mean a top 3 or 4 team in Hockey East). This assumes Souza is the real deal and can actually bring the Cats to the promised land. If not, well then, who the hell knows how long, a decade or more?

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

I think what is even more discouraging is once the rebuilding, next era, or whatever you want to call it actually begins we are most likely looking at another 4 to 5 years of mediocrity before UNH can think of becoming competitive again (by that I mean a top 3 or 4 team in Hockey East). This assumes Souza is the real deal and can actually bring the Cats to the promised land. If not, well then, who the hell knows how long, a decade or more?

On the other hand, he could be a Bazin and turn it around quickly and decisively. You just never know...

 

[UML Puck Hawk]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

On the other hand, you could get a Bazin and turn it around quickly and decisively. You just never know...

Bazin is not leaving Lowell for UNH

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Bazin is not leaving Lowell for UNH

Not what I meant. I said "a Bazin" - not "Bazin." Meaning someone like him...

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Not what I meant. I said "a Bazin" - not "Bazin." Meaning someone like him...

You mean like someone with four years as an assistant in HE at Lowell (96-00), then nine years as the lead recruiter at Colorado College for a team that made the NCAA tourney six times during that stretch (2000-2008), then several years as a succesful HC at DIII Hamilton?

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

You mean like someone with four years as an assistant in HE at Lowell (96-00), then nine years as the lead recruiter at Colorado College for a team that made the NCAA tourney six times during that stretch (2000-2008), then several years as a succesful HC at DIII Hamilton?

It wasn't meant to be a sarcastic comment. I was just speculating.

 

[d.gerry]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Not what I meant. I said "a Bazin" - not "Bazin." Meaning someone like him...

I think you hit a nerve, settle down Puck Hawk! I understood your meaning. I hope I am wrong, but I am not convinced Souza is that man...

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

It wasn't meant to be a sarcastic comment. I was just speculating.

I didn't take it as sarcastic. I was just noting Bazin had quite the track record when Lowell hired him.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

...or, one could make the choice to be as pragmatic about the situation as possible, and take the good when it comes and support the team on the ice. (Which I believe most UNH fans do). But it IS challenging, when you are competitive yourself, to WANT to be on that other side, to know what it felt like to be great, to know you are 'going on' to the next round. Absolutely. It's going to be a drag to go to Manch again, to watch OTHER teams out there, and see the UNH logo on the boards. However I'm a believe that things go in cycles like has been said. I don't like that fact but I do believe that happens. The trick is to get it going again back or as close as one can, as fast as one can. That's going to take decent recruiting, high level coaching, and, the players on the ice have got to buy in and create the hockey culture needed to be successful.

You all know I started following this team at the 2013 Regionals. I had no idea of the UNH past (well, I had a vague idea from time to time I'd hear about UNH hockey doing this or that) but not the past so many of you guys do. I believe that Mike Souza will bring the team back to being highly competitive as that past you all yearn for. Norm Bazin came in and it seemed like 'overnight' he turned UML around. They obviously bought into his system and he hasn't looked back. Did he have a high level of recruits? I have no clue; I don't have the knowledge of what he had to work with and frankly, don't really know what he's about. But I do know, whatever he does; he's effective as you know what. I watched an interview with Derek Arnold who plays for the Monarchs and he talked about how that all went down; they just bought in to what he was presenting and we know how it all has gone since. Got our first glimpse I believe at that Regional when UNH was shut out 2-0. (Correct if I'm wrong) Can the same thing happen for our Mike Souza? Who knows...but I've heard the man speak about his vision for UNH hockey and I'm behind him 100%.

I'm going to say it right here, right now, that I believe that MS should start next season, and not any time later. It's really time for UNH hockey to move on to new coaching ideas etc. That doesn't mean that I do not have respect for what Coach U has done over the years I know he has his heart in the right place and all the success he has had, he has earned every bit of it. It's just time. And you won't catch me bashing him on this forum. I'm sure I am disappointing some who follow this board...that doesn't mean I am any less of a fan. And my opinion on the matter means diddley squat anyway in the grand scheme of things...

Meanwhile we've got one last weekend here to see where we land and I fully intend on going and supporting our Senior class. Will be in Hartford as well...go 'Cats!!!!

 

[d.gerry]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

I didn't take it as sarcastic. I was just noting Bazin had quite the track record when Lowell hired him.

So, what are the thoughts out there, is Souza the guy? Personally I do not believe so, hope I am wrong as he appears to be the heir apparent.