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

[Chuck Murray]

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

Just about everything you say is true. I guess I'm just a little disgusted as I sit here watching this (MP....whatever you called it round) where, at this moment (well into the 3rd period of all the games), the "losing" team hasn't even SCORED A GOAL IN ANY OF THE GAMES YET. Jeez...

EDIT: That I just paid 59 bucks for, by the way..

At least Joey "Buttons" Bertagna appreciates your generosity, chickod.

I really do wish the teams finishing below 8th place wouldn't qualify for the (alleged) Make Believe Phony Baloney Everyone Gets A Medal "postseason". Make the regular season really mean something.

 

[Drew S.]

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

80% of Hockey East can say the same these days.

I've always liked the Merrimack program. I think they have a terrific coach who is getting the most out of his program, as it stands. But if you're going to be a D-2 or D-3 school competing in a legit D-1 conference (and that's a swipe at my alma mater in Waltham) ... shouldn't you at least try to set the program up to compete at the highest level possible? If not ... why even bother??



It doesn't have to be Agganis or even The Whitt. And the locker room facilities might have the greatest carpeting known to man, and the weight room may be state of the art, while the audio system might even go all the way up to 11. But there have to be a significant number of potential recruits who have a negative visceral reaction to the rink, and decide they'd rather play at Lowell or Northeastern, or even UMaine or UNH.

Lowell used to have an even worse facility (Tully Forum). Sure, they got some help from Papa Tsongas, but look at where they are now. Lowell and MC Hockey both come from D-2 roots. One program has emerged as a legit title contender, the other has an effective ceiling right about halfway up the standings.

I really don't want this to come off as bagging on MC, but if you played a Hockey East-wide game of "One of These Things Is Not Like the Others" regarding their respective facilities, MC finishes last, and by a wide margin. That can be changed. And I really hope someday MC does something about it. Unless of course, the school and its fans are OK with being a habitual 7th/8th place finisher in your best seasons.

Chuck, how many rinks have you been to in recent times? Hockey East doesn't have the following it once did and I think Merrimack has the perfect size for the brave new world we are in.

 

[chickod]

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

At least Joey "Buttons" Bertagna appreciates your generosity, chickod.

I really do wish the teams finishing below 8th place wouldn't qualify for the (alleged) Make Believe Phony Baloney Everyone Gets A Medal "postseason". Make the regular season really mean something.

I have to agree. And I would say that even if BU finished 9th or worse. So I am just waiting for another 2:11 to go by for FOUR SHUTOUTS to happen (but UConn has a 2-man advantage plus the goalie pulled). We may have to pull out the record books for this. Has this ever happened before (ALL teams get shutout)? (And Matthews Arena is virtually empty...)

EDIT: Dam!!!!!! UConn just scored...

 

[RENCEB]

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

Wow, 4-0. Imagine what the score would have been if Merrimack had a decent rink

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Wow, 4-0. Imagine what the score would have been if Merrimack had a decent rink

Bottom feeders were outscored 15-1 tonight. The league is a joke this year. So, is tomorrow night it for the coach? Did not go tonight but was in constant texting contact with a friend who did. He observed that Umile was pretty slump shouldered as he walked off after the second period. He exited directly to the coach's room, not the locker room. The proverbial passing of the torch? I know there is not a lot of love for DU on this forum, but he was behind the bench for a lot of the best years of UNH Hockey. Just amazing how his end parallels the end of his coach, Charlie Holt. Time to move on.

 

[chickod]

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

I know there is not a lot of love for DU on this forum, but he was behind the bench for a lot of the best years of UNH Hockey. Just amazing how his end parallels the end of his coach, Charlie Holt. Time to move on.

That's almost always how it ends, isn't it? How many go out on top? As I mentioned last week (when bringing up similar scenarios at BU, BC and Michigan), one of the guys who got it right was David Ortiz. He left before his skills eroded to the point where it was embarrassing. MOST people don't know when to give it up, in ANY profession. The only difference is that people don't pay to watch what we do. I remember my Dad who had to give up his business due to Parkinson's Disease. It's really sad. And I know a lot of people are upset, but we need to have some compassion. It's the toughest decision a person makes in their entire life, and when you're in the public eye, it can be tough to leave the bright lights behind. Let's hope he makes the right decision but let's not bash him on the way out the door (I'm agreeing with you).

 

[HockeyRef]

Bottom feeders were outscored 15-1 tonight. The league is a joke this year. So, is tomorrow night it for the coach? Did not go tonight but was in constant texting contact with a friend who did. He observed that Umile was pretty slump shouldered as he walked off after the second period. He exited directly to the coach's room, not the locker room. The proverbial passing of the torch? I know there is not a lot of love for DU on this forum, but he was behind the bench for a lot of the best years of UNH Hockey. Just amazing how his end parallels the end of his coach, Charlie Holt. Time to move on.

Greg how sad really...you and so many here have seen a lot of amazing years and it's hard to see them play the way they have the past few (well many) games as of late. I cannot speak for everyone here but there is a lot of respect for what he has done...we surely do understand. Anyone that doesn't look at his record and what he's been able to do well they don't get it. But all things come to their end. Not sure if this is it but there does come a time...

Going back to the game Merrimack executed and we did not/could not. 4 power plays that didn't mount much offense. Second goal can't even think of it now. Ok well tomorrow we'll see what's what. For the Seniors sake I would love to see it go three but thinking there is blood in the water...

 

[Greg Ambrose]

That's almost always how it ends, isn't it? How many go out on top? As I mentioned last week (when bringing up similar scenarios at BU, BC and Michigan), one of the guys who got it right was David Ortiz. He left before his skills eroded to the point where it was embarrassing. MOST people don't know when to give it up, in ANY profession. The only difference is that people don't pay to watch what we do. I remember my Dad who had to give up his business due to Parkinson's Disease. It's really sad. And I know a lot of people are upset, but we need to have some compassion. It's the toughest decision a person makes in their entire life, and when you're in the public eye, it can be tough to leave the bright lights behind. Let's hope he makes the right decision but let's not bash him on the way out the door (I'm agreeing with you).

I sold my business 2 1/2 years ago. No health problems, no real money worries, just time to leave. I knew the business (insurance) was evolving rapidly and I either needed to ratchet up my intensity or get out. So I got out. No regrets. I was hyper competitive for a lot of years but when you get to a certain age you're fooling yourself if you don't see that the times are passing you by. Umile is about my age and knowing him as I did back when I was involved, it surprises me that he just hung on. Not the way he should have gone out. Not the first to fail to see the obvious and he won't be the last. Just time to move on.

 

[chickod]

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

I sold my business 2 1/2 years ago. No health problems, no real money worries, just time to leave. I knew the business (insurance) was evolving rapidly and I either needed to ratchet up my intensity or get out. So I got out. No regrets. I was hyper competitive for a lot of years but when you get to a certain age you're fooling yourself if you don't see that the times are passing you by. Umile is about my age and knowing him as I did back when I was involved, it surprises me that he just hung on. Not the way he should have gone out. Not the first to fail to see the obvious and he won't be the last. Just time to move on.

Yes. Agreed.

 

[riverchief1]

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

It doesn't have to be Agganis or even The Whitt. And the locker room facilities might have the greatest carpeting known to man, and the weight room may be state of the art, while the audio system might even go all the way up to 11. But there have to be a significant number of potential recruits who have a negative visceral reaction to the rink, and decide they'd rather play at Lowell or Northeastern, or even UMaine or UNH.

Lowell used to have an even worse facility (Tully Forum). Sure, they got some help from Papa Tsongas, but look at where they are now. Lowell and MC Hockey both come from D-2 roots. One program has emerged as a legit title contender, the other has an effective ceiling right about halfway up the standings.

Tonight I hit Bentley's rink in Watertown to see Sacred Heart play and all I have to say is "yikes!" Makes Merrimack's facility look like the TD Garden. Thank god they're building a new rink on campus as I have no idea how you survive as a DI program in that place. There was even a gentleman in the row in front of me who unsolicited said to me "How can a DI program play here? Is it even regulation?" so it wasn't just me taken aback by it. After seeing that place tonight, I will never diss Merrimack's facility again as at least they've done upgrades you can't see and ones you can like the second ice sheet, expanded lobby, etc.

 

[chickod]

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

Tonight I hit Bentley's rink in Watertown to see Sacred Heart play and all I have to say is "yikes!" Makes Merrimack's facility look like the TD Garden. Thank god they're building a new rink on campus as I have no idea how you survive as a DI program in that place. There was even a gentleman in the row in front of me who unsolicited said to me "How can a DI program play here? Is it even regulation?" so it wasn't just me taken aback by it. After seeing that place tonight, I will never diss Merrimack's facility again as at least they've done upgrades you can't see and ones you can like the second ice sheet, expanded lobby, etc.

Tell him to check <a href="http://www.bentley.edu/prepared/bentley-building-new-on-campus-arena" target=_blank style="color:blue">this</a> out.

 

[Middle Street]

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

Chuck, how many rinks have you been to in recent times? Hockey East doesn't have the following it once did and I think Merrimack has the perfect size for the brave new world we are in.

Now that Merrimack has installed chair backs, the video board, etc. it's not that bad. Personally I think Schneider and Gutterson are worse places to watch a game.

Is Lawler any worse than half of the ECAC rinks?

 

[MC Alumni]

I don't really understand your argument. Merrimack's enrollment is only about 3,500 students. Andover isn't a huge community - so the size of lawler is fine. As a former collegiate athlete myself, I'd rather play in a smaller rink that's sold out most games than a big arena that's half empty. And the locker room/weight room are way more important than the ice sheet in recruiting, that's just a fact with 18-22 year old kids.
We know our identity as an athletics department and that's our strength.

 

[Yuppie Scum]

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

I mean, I basically chose MC over UNH because Merrimack had waaaay better freshman dorms at the time.

 

[Dirt]

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

For the size of the school and the size of the fan base I think Lawler arena is perfect size. My only complaint is that I wish the seats in the corner sections wrapped around the rink instead of remaining straight to the end wall, that would fix the gym feel people have IMO.

 

[The Earl of Bodine]

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

Hey I just remembered that I had not made my annual post yet: I'm really bummed that the Whitt stopped selling cheeseburgers.

 

[The Earl of Bodine]

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

And another thing........ I will miss watching Jamie Hill. He gives his very best effort at all times.

 

[riverchief1]

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

Just think how good UNH would be if they had a decent rink like Merrimack has.

 

[Darius]

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

Eiserman and Vela are missed. Big time.

 

[HockeyRef]

Eiserman and Vela are missed. Big time.

No truer words in the past 24 hrs on this board.