UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

[Greg Ambrose]

"Beyond the pale" ... and "indefensible"? And I thought I was the one who went overboard with the rhetoric.

So ... just for spits and giggles, playing devil's advocate here ... if it's really SO off the grid to allocate a big donation to go to a new scoreboard when a university's primary mission is education ...

... where was the hue and cry of outrage and anguish about misplaced priorities two summers ago when Walt Borisenok decided to gift the school a very expensive new scoreboard at The Whitt?



Yes, Walt chose to earmark his gift for a scoreboard. Understood, I get it. But why wasn't HE lectured about how "beyond the pale" he was being for "indefensibly" not donating his money to a more educationally-focused purpose? Didn't he know the University System could have used his dough to create dozens of new safe spaces around campus for our gentle snowflake community?? Or did we stow our indignation *maybe* just because it went into our 20 yr. old arena with its '70's low tech boards???

The "football-mad" librarian knew he had $4MM to give away, earmarked less than 10% for the library, and chose - yes, chose - to leave the rest up to the powers that be at UNH. After all, it was his choice to do this. "When you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice" - right, 'Watcher?

I've conceded it was a curious, even questionable call, and it was made more clumsy by trying to create the misguided fairy tale/cover story about how the (undoubtedly) generous librarian had become a rabid football fan in his final days. If Walt Borisenok hadn't surfaced with his donation a year earlier ... who's to say the powers that be at UNH wouldn't have created that same fable about the (undoubtedly) generous librarian going native about hockey to support buying the long-awaited arena scoreboard(s) and other upgrades?

And would we still be using terms like "beyond the pale" or "indefensible"? With all due respect, I kinda doubt it.

Go 'Cats - Sweep UMaine.

Walt is a great guy, a very successful entrepreneur, focused at the task at hand. And he happened to,have a son who captained UNH Hockey in his senior year. He was approached about making a donation to make the Jumbotron a reality and, weighing the pros and cons, he decided to come through.. To equate him with a person whose description is almost hermit like, a person whose passion in life was helping others in their quest for knowledge is, frankly, a disrespect to both of them. Chuck we both know how poorly UNH is viewed and supported by the state. How well does the University's pleas for money go over with those in Concord who get to decide when they see an unrestricted gift from a research librarian, who spent his entire career at the Dimond Library, used for a football scoreboard? You tell me. Defend the optics of that decision.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

That is two years in a row that Ty Rone has performed like Ty Conklin at the Bears' Den. My Maine friends were besides themselves on my visit for last year's game in Orono. I will need to send them a very gentle email this coming week, after giving them some time to grieve.

Tyler Kelleher is not Ty Conklin. Never was, never will be.

 

[Snively65]

Tyler Kelleher is not Ty Conklin. Never was, never will be.

I was comparing Tirone (Ty Rone), not Tyler Kelleher (which would make no sense) with Ty Conklin, but I was also kidding, just trying to lighten up this thread.

I think that UNH, as well education in general throughout NH, is more screwed than ever after the elections last month, and I agree that the university's decision to spend $1 mil of the librarian's unrestricted gift for a scoreboard was incredibly stupid in the message that it sent to Concord.

But, back to hockey. Cleland now 2nd in points for all D-men in Div 1, and 3rd in points per game; nice senior season that he is putting together, thanks in large part to continued success with UNH PP.

 

[walrus]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Not sure what all the whining is about in this thread, UNH looks pretty good to me(maybe my thoughts about whats good or bad has been ruined by watching Maine ). Tirone is odd looking style wise, very aggressive, flops some but he gets in the way of the puck.

 

[e.cat]

Nice win tonight. TyK's last goal was a beaut. Nice job hanging on in last few minutes to eke out the sweep. 5-1-1 in HEA, I believe. Haven't faced all the top teams, but I'm not complaining!

Good way to end the day after the brutal shellacking in Harrisonburg!

Yeah we kinda knew JMU was going to be a tough one didn't we? Even still UNH had a decent season!

I'm beginning to wonder if the hockey team is better than we all thought they were going to be. We all focus on UNH so much and forget that other teams have their own set of challenges. I know we haven't faced the iron of the league yet, although we played BC pretty well in their barn as I recall despite losing.

 

[Snively65]

Not sure what all the whining is about in this thread, UNH looks pretty good to me(maybe my thoughts about whats good or bad has been ruined by watching Maine ). Tirone is odd looking style wise, very aggressive, flops some but he gets in the way of the puck.

UHN has lost to Bentley, Colorado College, and Arizona State, and were lucky to tie Sacred Heart, hence a lot of whining. We can out-whine any fan base in Div 1.

You have certainly seen Tirone in two of his luckiest career wins at Alfond. I did not see last night's game, but I was in Orono for last year's, when my two Maine friends could not believe how much time Tirone spent sprawled on the ice, leaving dozens of rebounds (well maybe only a couple dozen) and a wide open net again and again and again. Maine should have won that game by 10 goals or more. Good teams can and will capitalize on that style of goal-tending.

 

[walrus]

UHN has lost to Bentley, Colorado College, and Arizona State, and were lucky to tie Sacred Heart, hence a lot of whining. We can out-whine any fan base in Div 1.

You have certainly seen Tirone in two of his luckiest career wins at Alfond. I did not see last night's game, but I was in Orono for last year's, when my two Maine friends could not believe how much time Tirone spent sprawled on the ice, leaving dozens of rebounds (well maybe only a couple dozen) and a wide open net again and again and again. Maine should have won that game by 10 goals or more. Good teams can and will capitalize on that style of goal-tending.

I thought if maine had any goal scorers in the 3rd they would have lit him up as he was on the ice quite a bit. His style isn't one a goalie coach would teach..

 

[e.cat]

I thought if maine had any goal scorers in the 3rd they would have lit him up as he was on the ice quite a bit. His style isn't one a goalie coach would teach..

UNH has been on other end of games getting stoned by a hot goalie this year. I'm thinking the Bentley and AZFU games where UNH outshot them both by sizeable amounts. This can be very frustrating for sure but that's hockey!

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Maine fans whining on their thread about the officiating, Kelleher's (non)run at McGovern and such. One fan even going so far as to say "It was unfortunate Michel or someone else couldn't get a good shot on
Kelleher." Are Maine fans the new SMT'S?

The better team won both games IMHO!

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Maine fans whining on their thread about the officiating, Kelleher's run at McGovern and such. One fan even going so far as to say "It was unfortunate Michel or someone else couldn't get a good shot on
Kelleher." Are Maine fans the new SMT'S?

The better team won both games IMHO!

Watched both games and I'm sure TyK took plenty of cheap shots (being the top player he is and was very frustrated; highly unlike him to pull the penalty mins he pulled...but I don't see the game the way the astute fan does so...Personally I don't think we played all that well last night; Maine had plenty of chances, we didn't take care of the puck, but thanks to DT we won it and I'm happy for the team. We certainly can't expect him to carry us against the big guns coming up so I imagine there's plenty of work to be done. Still, and even though the teams aren't top tier, we have swept 2 series, won the 'Mack series with a win and a tie...didn't do that all last year. Scratching my head about the other losses but those are in the rear view. Nice weekend 'Cats!!

Speaking of Matias Cleland, he is one amazing player and replacing him AND TyK is going to be next to impossible in my book. I'm happy both of them are having noteworthy seasons to date...hope it keeps up. Fun to be in second place in HE...for now!! Go 'Cats!

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Watched both games and I'm sure TyK took plenty of cheap shots (being the top player he is and was very frustrated; highly unlike him to pull the penalty mins he pulled...but I don't see the game the way the astute fan does so...Personally I don't think we played all that well last night; Maine had plenty of chances, we didn't take care of the puck, but thanks to DT we won it and I'm happy for the team. We certainly can't expect him to carry us against the big guns coming up so I imagine there's plenty of work to be done. Still, and even though the teams aren't top tier, we have swept 2 series, won the 'Mack series with a win and a tie...didn't do that all last year. Scratching my head about the other losses but those are in the rear view. Nice weekend 'Cats!!

Speaking of Matias Cleland, he is one amazing player and replacing him AND TyK is going to be next to impossible in my book. I'm happy both of them are having noteworthy seasons to date...hope it keeps up. Fun to be in second place in HE...for now!! Go 'Cats!

Yeah TyK takes a lot of shots for sure. I actually watched the Kelleher (non)run on McGovern play and didn't see a penalty! A. He was pushed into McGovern by a Maine player and B. He barely brushed him as he went by him. Maybe I'm blind! One Maine fan said it was one of the cheapest plays he's ever seen. Delusional!

 

[walrus]

Maine fans whining on their thread about the officiating, Kelleher's (non)run at McGovern and such. One fan even going so far as to say "It was unfortunate Michel or someone else couldn't get a good shot on
Kelleher." Are Maine fans the new SMT'S?

The better team won both games IMHO!

They are the new smts, it's even worse on facebook page. Unh was the better team both nights.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

... Speaking of Matias Cleland, he is one amazing player and replacing him AND TyK is going to be next to impossible in my book. I'm happy both of them are having noteworthy seasons to date...hope it keeps up. Fun to be in second place in HE...for now!! Go 'Cats!

Granted he is our best defender, but on a well recruited defense corp he would be a solid 3 or 4. TK has potential to be a Hobey finalist. He was the best player on the ice by a significant margin this weekend.

 

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

They are the new smts, it's even worse on facebook page. Unh was the better team both nights.

You're a stand up guy Walrus!

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Yes, but what took so long. Giving unsold tickets to as many students as were interested has been suggested for years on this forum. And will it continue for future "non-rivalry" games? It should.

Oh, and next time Darius - grab three friends and the bull by the horns and MAKE beat 'em, smash 'em happen! Do it for me! Hahaha...

Seat neighbors would be horrified.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Yeah TyK takes a lot of shots for sure. I actually watched the Kelleher (non)run on McGovern play and didn't see a penalty! A. He was pushed into McGovern by a Maine player and B. He barely brushed him as he went by him. Maybe I'm blind! One Maine fan said it was one of the cheapest plays he's ever seen. Delusional!

you can Zapruder it here, at the 29 second mark. Weird that he loses the top hand glove without contact just as he goes down low.

http://www.foxbangor.com/sports/item/17697-black-bears-swept-on-the-ice-by-rival-unh

 

[Dan]

Yeah TyK takes a lot of shots for sure. I actually watched the Kelleher (non)run on McGovern play and didn't see a penalty! A. He was pushed into McGovern by a Maine player and B. He barely brushed him as he went by him. Maybe I'm blind! One Maine fan said it was one of the cheapest plays he's ever seen. Delusional!

I watched the replay late last night and it was immediately obvious to me (and instantly agreed upon by the Maine color commentator) that Kelleher - after shooting the puck through a screen - did not realize the puck went in. He jabbed at what he thought was a rebound. There was nothing cheap about the play and I'm sure McGovern will be OK after taking a simple poke to the absolute fluffiest part of his right pad...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Granted he is our best defender, but on a well recruited defense corp he would be a solid 3 or 4. TK has potential to be a Hobey finalist. He was the best player on the ice by a significant margin this weekend.

If TyK doesn't get a Hobey nod...even a top 3 finalist, there is NO justice in the world...!! You are right about Cleland...just thinking from our current point of view. (we had a well recruited D corp but that's besides the point...)

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

Actually, we still give to the Charlie Holt Endowment which helps fund a hockey scholarship. We do that solely because of our fond memories of Charlie and the entire Holt family. It's been a long time since he's been coach (30 years), and the end was not very good for him. But Charlie was not only a hockey innovator and well respected by his peers (a member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame), he was also one of the warmest human beings I ever got to meet.

As for the UNH General Fund, perhaps we'll consider in a year or two and start giving again. But given the financial woes UNH has had ever since I was a student (and probably before), it is beyond the pale that the school would use a million dollar unrestricted gift for a freakin' scoreboard. Technically within their rights but educationally? Indefensible.

Good for you!

For the record, I disagree with you about the score board. Civil people can still do that while remaining friendly, right? I trust P-Hudd's judgement, don't always agree with his decisions. Driving into Durham on Friday night, seeing the stadium... man is it a show piece. I do completely understand your reasoning though. I used to donate to the unrestricted President's fund until UNH's disappearing WSBE for PTP really annoyed me. WSBE was a respected undergraduate business school that I attended and suddenly it never existed. Goodbye Darius' unrestricted gifts. Hello English department, The Fund for N.H. Students and UNH athletics. I recently walked through PTP school on a weekend, chatted with some CEPS students who were studying in a class room because PTP is close to their frat house. It is a magnificent facility and UNH did right by capping it with a real slate roof. The U is also softening on the WSBE dismissal. "WSBE" is appearing in business school communications. I have a long memory so targeted gifts will continue for this year at minimum. I'd like to think Mr. Morin understood the concept.

BTW, Ham Smith is looking stellar and PCAC is pending:
http://tnhdigital.com/8204/news/unh-museum-of-art-undergoes-renovations/
http://tnhdigital.com/8189/news/students-make-noise-for-pcac-changes-through-hashtags-and-posts/

Small steps.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 -- We're Going to Have a Hockey Season Here!!

You're a stand up guy Walrus!

...And...he has the hardware to prove it!!