UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Ah yes, for the 'annual Pre-Thanksgiving Clunker' as some like to say! Like last season...we drove out to Troy for that one. First time there; not a bad rink to visit. Trip is wild over the mountains as I recall... Maybe do it this year we'll see. Pots had a hattie in that one believe we lost 4-3? That's a lot of travelling to New York for the 'Cats that week (if it's true we do indeed go to MSG Saturday).

RPI's going to you, so it isn't THAT much travel, at least. No idea what it is with NH teams, RPI, natural hat tricks, and losing... (Chase Polacek had a NHT vs. Dartmouth in either 09-10 or 10-11, and Dartmouth won that one 4-3)

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

RPI's going to you, so it isn't THAT much travel, at least. No idea what it is with NH teams, RPI, natural hat tricks, and losing... (Chase Polacek had a NHT vs. Dartmouth in either 09-10 or 10-11, and Dartmouth won that one 4-3)

yea I had to re-read it duh...thanks fixed the post! I know...what IS IT with losing to RPI? Maybe this year we get lucky... Oh and the travel for me is cut down by 2 hrs!

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Hearing rumors about UNH playing in the "Frozen Fenway". Having never gone to an outdoor event like this, I hear it's not worth it...Players love it, but the fan experience is meh...What's been your outdoor hockey experience? (looking for something to talk about haha)

A while back somebody (Chuck?) mentioned the curse of the jumbotron. As you all know I have nothing but disdain for that contraption which was supposed to help to bring us a national title. But I have even more disgust for the whole Frozen Fenway concept, and I would argue that the real curse is the "Curse of Frozen Fenway." Think about it. At the time that the athletic administration pimped out its hockey program UNH had earned home ice in the Hockey East playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons. Real home ice, legitimate home ice, not hosting in that phony baloney round the league has since added. Likewise, UNH had participated in the NCAA playoffs for ten consecutive seasons, and 14 of the previous 15. Both of those streaks ended the same season the team participated in the Fenway Farce. You what they say about karma. The program hasn't been the same since.

OK, so I'm being more than a bit sarcastic here. (I've learned you have to spell that out on this forum.)

Still there are some lessons to be learned. As would be the case with the jumbotron, Frozen Fenway was received with wild enthusiasm by the sycophants. Like lemmings they gobbled up all the tickets and flocked to America's most beloved ballpark, only to realize the experience wasn't all it was cracked up to be. More than anything else the whole Frozen Fenway fiasco reminds us of the fraudulent nature of much of the fanbase. For years any attempt to raise revenue at the Whittemore Center was treated with scorn and derision, yet those same voices were silent when it came to the blatant money grab on Lansdowne Street. All those who were so offended when a UNH-Maine regular season game was played in Manchester (you know, a place with a REAL hockey arena) were mute when such a contest was played at a baseball field in Janauary. (Though it was Maine that gave up a home contest rather than NH. Had it been the opposite who knows what might have happened, though I think the outcry would have been limited.)

Since HR asked about our winter hockey experiences I will share my Frozen Fenway memory. I watched the game in my living room (but not to worry Darius it wasn't all that great on TV either - horrid camera placement due to the venue.) My interest in the game was tepid - I was stunned at how so many alleged hockey fans could embrace such a farce. When the 'Cats lost the game in OT I remember I wasn't all that upset. In a weird sort of way I felt like the program had it coming to them for allowing itself to be exploited like that. I didn't think anything could could take the luster off the UNH-UMaine rivalry. But Frozen Fenway did. And in a way, it foreshadowed much of what was to come.

 

[Snively65]

You'll have RPI at home for one game. News report doesn't give a date, but something tells me it might be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving... http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20160501/college-hockey-rpi-2016-17-schedule-released

So, if RPI is coming to town, along with CC's visit and our usual two neutral site games with UMO and annual game with Dartmouth, and Cornell at MSG, return visits to Clarkson and St Lawrence, that leaves six OOC slots open. So far, an upgrade in OOC opponents over last year?

 

[HockeyRef]

So, if RPI is coming to town, along with CC's visit and our usual two neutral site games with UMO and annual game with Dartmouth, and Cornell at MSG, return visits to Clarkson and St Lawrence, that leaves six OOC slots open. So far, an upgrade in OOC opponents over last year?

I believe we are only playing one neutral cite game with Maine at the Verizon or whatever it's going to be renamed...And Felger thanks for spelling out sarcasm as you know who is usually slow on the uptake I'm afraid!! Agree not spending my time or $$ doing the Fenway thing...now gotta convince my hubby that Sat night (or afternoon) in NYC is a good idea!

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

yea I had to re-read it duh...thanks fixed the post! I know...what IS IT with losing to RPI? Maybe this year we get lucky... Oh and the travel for me is cut down by 2 hrs!

We wouldn't mind you continuing that when we visit... been a while since that's happened.

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

I believe we are only playing one neutral cite game with Maine at the Verizon or whatever it's going to be renamed...And Felger thanks for spelling out sarcasm as you know who is usually slow on the uptake I'm afraid!! Agree not spending my time or $$ doing the Fenway thing...now gotta convince my hubby that Sat night (or afternoon) in NYC is a good idea!

You can take Amtrak out of South Station in Boston right to the arena....ironically back when UNH-UMaine was a hot rivalry and the games meant something I always thought they should take the "third" HE game of the season on the road...always thought MSG would have been a great spot given how the fan bases traveled....not so much now....

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

You can take Amtrak out of South Station in Boston right to the arena....ironically back when UNH-UMaine was a hot rivalry and the games meant something I always thought they should take the "third" HE game of the season on the road...always thought MSG would have been a great spot given how the fan bases traveled....not so much now....

Thanks for the tip!!! Will start checking into it...logistics, hotel...etc...but think it will be the trip for the season; not planning on my usual UVM jaunt..

 

[Snively65]

You can take Amtrak out of South Station in Boston right to the arena....ironically back when UNH-UMaine was a hot rivalry and the games meant something I always thought they should take the "third" HE game of the season on the road...always thought MSG would have been a great spot given how the fan bases traveled....not so much now....

Any idea what time the last Amtrak train heads north from MSG on Saturday evenings, to save me looking it up? I would need only to get as far as New Haven. I like our chances against Cornell better than the other EZAC teams from New York.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Any idea what time the last Amtrak train heads north from MSG on Saturday evenings, to save me looking it up? I would need only to get as far as New Haven. I like our chances against Cornell better than the other EZAC teams from New York.

Can't ans the q but have been looking from Boston. Wonder when the game is? Not sure it's cost effective but the ease of getting there is surely worth the expense...could always drive down and then train it in from Ct. Lots of options!!

 

[The Zlax45]

Can't ans the q but have been looking from Boston. Wonder when the game is? Not sure it's cost effective but the ease of getting there is surely worth the expense...could always drive down and then train it in from Ct. Lots of options!!

The commuter train to new haven the last time I was in nyc, got back at 3am. That was 7-8 years ago but expect it to be around the same time.

 

[scoreboard]

The commuter train to new haven the last time I was in nyc, got back at 3am. That was 7-8 years ago but expect it to be around the same time.

The commuter train, Metro North, leaves from Grand Central on 42nd Street. May have more train options than Amtrak to New Haven and I believe will be less expensive. It does not run from Penn Station like Amtrak does.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Four UNH (football) players rise to cop's aid:
http://fosters.com/article/20160426/SPORTS/160429459

 

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Nice to see a school like AIC lay out a specific recruiting plan to change the culture a bit. Thoughtful, cogent, and removed from the past proceedings .... and they even shared it with their fans .... what a concept.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

A while back somebody (Chuck?) mentioned the curse of the jumbotron. As you all know I have nothing but disdain for that contraption which was supposed to help to bring us a national title. But I have even more disgust for the whole Frozen Fenway concept, and I would argue that the real curse is the "Curse of Frozen Fenway." Think about it. At the time that the athletic administration pimped out its hockey program UNH had earned home ice in the Hockey East playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons. Real home ice, legitimate home ice, not hosting in that phony baloney round the league has since added. Likewise, UNH had participated in the NCAA playoffs for ten consecutive seasons, and 14 of the previous 15. Both of those streaks ended the same season the team participated in the Fenway Farce. You what they say about karma. The program hasn't been the same since.
OK, so I'm being more than a bit sarcastic here. (I've learned you have to spell that out on this forum.)

Still there are some lessons to be learned. As would be the case with the jumbotron, Frozen Fenway was received with wild enthusiasm by the sycophants. Like lemmings they gobbled up all the tickets and flocked to America's most beloved ballpark, only to realize the experience wasn't all it was cracked up to be. More than anything else the whole Frozen Fenway fiasco reminds us of the fraudulent nature of much of the fanbase. For years any attempt to raise revenue at the Whittemore Center was treated with scorn and derision, yet those same voices were silent when it came to the blatant money grab on Lansdowne Street. All those who were so offended when a UNH-Maine regular season game was played in Manchester (you know, a place with a REAL hockey arena) were mute when such a contest was played at a baseball field in Janauary. (Though it was Maine that gave up a home contest rather than NH. Had it been the opposite who knows what might have happened, though I think the outcry would have been limited.)

Since HR asked about our winter hockey experiences I will share my Frozen Fenway memory. I watched the game in my living room (but not to worry Darius it wasn't all that great on TV either - horrid camera placement due to the venue.) My interest in the game was tepid - I was stunned at how so many alleged hockey fans could embrace such a farce. When the 'Cats lost the game in OT I remember I wasn't all that upset. In a weird sort of way I felt like the program had it coming to them for allowing itself to be exploited like that. I didn't think anything could could take the luster off the UNH-UMaine rivalry. But Frozen Fenway did. And in a way, it foreshadowed much of what was to come.

Now there's a fiery hot take (or more accurately, a series of hot takes) from Felgie. Where've you been? I had to start the offseason thread, and frankly I'm pretty sure whatever you had in mind would have been better than mine. Maybe in a few weeks if we can burn through this one with many FB type posts, you can get yours up then. Or even now.

Anyway ... put me down with the rest as having been underwhelmed by Frozen Fenway. I actually went twice (UNH plus one other that I'm not quite able to remember, due to frozen brain cells no doubt), so how stupid does that make me (don't answer that, please )? Both times were on some corporate entertainer's dime, and it was absolutely positively a novelty thing for me (plus free beer is free beer especially when it's frosty cold!!) that I'm in no hurry to revisit. As others have said, the sightlines were awful, and after about a period, my posse went looking for a better location too. I'm not a Red Sox fan but can appreciate Fenway as a nice (if somewhat overrated) baseball venue. I've even been there for Fenway Football (soccer) twice, which wasn't half bad. I've never had the slightest interest in seeing any of the musical acts that have played there. My chances of ever going back there outside of baseball season are virtually nil.

Now if they ever can build the new UNH football stadium to be big enough to house enough fans to make an outdoor hockey game there economically viable ... THAT might be something to consider. But realistically, the chances of that ever happening in my lifetime would be about 0.0001%. Even with those new-fangled lights thingies they've got up there.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Grayson Downing has a banner rookie season with the Iowa Wild!

http://www.iowawild.com/fan-central/multimedia/news-releases/?article_id=1128

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Now there's a fiery hot take (or more accurately, a series of hot takes) from Felgie. Where've you been? I had to start the offseason thread, and frankly I'm pretty sure whatever you had in mind would have been better than mine. Maybe in a few weeks if we can burn through this one with many FB type posts, you can get yours up then. Or even now.

If this crack refers to our attempts to get beta on trains for the supposed Cornell-UNH game at MSG over next Thanksgiving, guilty as charged. But, got some good tips.

 

[Snively65]

Grayson Downing has a banner rookie season with the Iowa Wild!

http://www.iowawild.com/fan-central/multimedia/news-releases/?article_id=1128

Good for Grayson.

Gotta pick up the pace here, if we want to complete the first installment before October.

Any more rumours about the schedule?

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Good for Grayson.

Gotta pick up the pace here, if we want to complete the first installment before October.

Any more rumours about the schedule?

I do know the men played the field hockey team yesterday for a FOJ (Friends of Jacklyn) and lost in a shootout. TvR was rumored to be in town give some swag to the raffle which was prob. the highlight of the day in Durham...haha. Didn't see the game but heard DT was stellar in shootout, taking the loss. Outside of that, I got nothin'.

 

[UNHJourney34]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

I do know the men played the field hockey team yesterday for a FOJ (Friends of Jacklyn) and lost in a shootout. TvR was rumored to be in town give some swag to the raffle which was prob. the highlight of the day in Durham...haha. Didn't see the game but heard DT was stellar in shootout, taking the loss. Outside of that, I got nothin'.

The game was rigged! Eiserman scored right at the buzzer at the end of the first half and they waived it off even though it was clearly before time expired. They could have used you out there officiating HR! At the start of the game there was actually quite a few people there, unfortunately around half time it started to rain and it thinned out pretty quick. But the shootout was hilarious! None of the ICE hockey players knew what to do on the FIELD hockey goalie. Tirone did his best to keep them in it.