UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

[deltabravo62]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

I can not disagree with much in that preview. The only thing I will say is I don't think Tirone is going to have to return to his freshman year numbers. I get the feeling Clark is going to bump him for the starting spot early on. As I said in my initial preview if Tirone starts looking like he did the majority of last season then don't wait 4 weeks to make the change this time around.

 

[wildcatdc]

I think we're stuck with her. Works for me all around - keeps a better senator in DC, AND the mean streets of Effingwoods get plowed more quickly.

So ... back to hockey content. I say the 10/6/16 home opener against Bentley is a must-win. Discuss.

That "better senator" sat next to me in 8th grade home room, so I'm a fan. I run into her at Reagan or MHT every once in a while, going to or from DC. Still call her by her first name when I see her - I suppose that's poor form, but using the title has sort of a "Maestro" feel to it.

Regarding Bentley - not sure it's a "must" win, because that would imply something big is at stake. If that something big is top half of the PWR at year's end, then I'm with you!

I suppose I'd call it a "should" win, as in, we need to win the ones we should win else it'll be a heckuva a long season!!

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

"UNH Freshman Liam Blackburn: Elite Playmaking Ability"

 

[wildcatdc]

"UNH Freshman Liam Blackburn: Elite Playmaking Ability"

Nice shorty, going 1-on-3 to do it. Wow.

I really hope one or two of the frosh can emerge as creative scoring threats at this level.

 

[HockeyRef]

Nice shorty, going 1-on-3 to do it. Wow.

I really hope one or two of the frosh can emerge as creative scoring threats at this level.

Really looking forward to seeing this player and like you, am counting on this Freshman class to make an impact sooner than later! Will be awesome watching them develop. I'm seeing this season with a different lens than last year...hoping (expecting?) to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Need to play frosh on the top two lines, like the olden days.

 

[UNH1932]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Need to play frosh on the top two lines, like the olden days.

Snively

In the olden days (pre mid-70's), most of the hockey players had to go post-grad to qualify for college and then had to play on the freshmen team as you had to be a sophomore to play. They were 20-21 years old when they came to UNH. I am optimistic about the incoming class Hockey Ref and you are not going to see any of the freshmen on the first two lines early on this year. There are sophomores on the first two lines and juniors as well and our best forward is a senior (TK). All 5 freshmen forwards are talented and we will find out if they can take a beating and keep coming back. Providence, Merrimack, Lowell and just about everybody else play physical games. They are one of the most talented classes with our current junior class in a long time. There is likely more help on the way as the coaches have been on the road for the past month plus. I like both Tirone and Clark and Danny's .907 save percentage with last year's defense is pretty good. Clark is a very good goalie and will get plenty of playing time this year, but I think you are wrong and have been wrong over the past few years with Tirone. Keep an eye on all of the freshmen forwards. Grasso, Blackburn and BVR are the real deal. Fregona and Sacco are also very good players now and have great upside. I am hoping Joe Sacco is this period's Bobby Butler and when someone called him out online I wanted to agree that he would be a prolific goal scorer.

I talked to the ticket manager the other day and he said almost all of the season ticket holders from last year finally renewed. He did say that there were some adamant about not wasting another dollar on the hockey team. I hope Umile and the players can earn your trust and I hope we will see you if we are winning or at least next year after we get back to the tournament. The defense also looks very good in practice and the senior defensemen will be the heart and soul of the team.

The puck drops a week from Sunday. I hope to see a lot of you there.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Snively

In the olden days (pre mid-70's), most of the hockey players had to go post-grad to qualify for college and then had to play on the freshmen team as you had to be a sophomore to play. They were 20-21 years old when they came to UNH. I am optimistic about the incoming class Hockey Ref and you are not going to see any of the freshmen on the first two lines early on this year. There are sophomores on the first two lines and juniors as well and our best forward is a senior (TK). All 5 freshmen forwards are talented and we will find out if they can take a beating and keep coming back. Providence, Merrimack, Lowell and just about everybody else play physical games. They are one of the most talented classes with our current junior class in a long time. There is likely more help on the way as the coaches have been on the road for the past month plus. I like both Tirone and Clark and Danny's .907 save percentage with last year's defense is pretty good. Clark is a very good goalie and will get plenty of playing time this year, but I think you are wrong and have been wrong over the past few years with Tirone. Keep an eye on all of the freshmen forwards. Grasso, Blackburn and BVR are the real deal. Fregona and Sacco are also very good players now and have great upside. I am hoping Joe Sacco is this period's Bobby Butler and when someone called him out online I wanted to agree that he would be a prolific goal scorer.

I talked to the ticket manager the other day and he said almost all of the season ticket holders from last year finally renewed. He did say that there were some adamant about not wasting another dollar on the hockey team. I hope Umile and the players can earn your trust and I hope we will see you if we are winning or at least next year after we get back to the tournament. The defense also looks very good in practice and the senior defensemen will be the heart and soul of the team.

The puck drops a week from Sunday. I hope to see a lot of you there.

As I've said, I feel realistic about this team and so there's not going to be any hysterics haha. I am optimistic in the sense that we will hopefully see alot of development and if we surprise more than we disappoint...given the particulars of the loss of Pots and new players who will need time to develop, then I am satisfied! Speaking of season tix I have to get mine done today.

One thing I am wondering and I'm thinking this will happen by puck drop, is who will be wearing A's on their jersey...

 

[deltabravo62]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

I noted on the "16 days" twitter post with Kelleher he did not have an "A" on his jersey yet... What is the hold up on that front?

From 1932: I think the wrong on Tirone note was directed at me, what I have seen (mostly last year) is he does not react when the initial save is made which leaves the second chance wide open. With last years defense not as able to get on the puck and clear it out that weakness was much more noticeable. I am not saying he is not deserving of the first shot at the starting role, I am just asking that the leash be much shorter if (and in my opinion, when) he starts to have issues. He was very Jekyll and Hyde last year. Look at the Merrimack playoff series, the Lowell games, and a few others as his his high points (maybe the second Providence game too). But then look at the Michigan State series, the Amherst meltdown, and the Northeastern series as him being very very beatable. I hope that he has worked on his weaknesses and comes into this season much more consistent. Last season Clark came off the bench on fire, posting a shutout in Union and playing to a win in Merrimack before the shoulder injury. I was in person at the Merrimack game and the amount of change he made (likely at the Calgary Flames dev camp) was very noticeable.

Honestly, not giving Blackburn a shot at the top 2 lines out of the gate is a mistake. I know, I'm asking Coach Umile to trust a freshman, shoot me.

I really do not expect a top half finish in HE this season. Leaving me plenty of room for this team to impress. I have renewed my tickets for this year hoping to see development from the likes of Vela, Eiserman, Blackburn, Fregona. I hope to see Cleland, Kelleher, Maller, and Hill take their senior season and run with it. I WANT TO BE PROVEN WRONG, but I personally feel like another bottom 4 finish is on the horizon.

 

[HockeyRef]

I noted on the "16 days" twitter post with Kelleher he did not have an "A" on his jersey yet... What is the hold up on that front?

From 1932: I think the wrong on Tirone note was directed at me, what I have seen (mostly last year) is he does not react when the initial save is made which leaves the second chance wide open. With last years defense not as able to get on the puck and clear it out that weakness was much more noticeable. I am not saying he is not deserving of the first shot at the starting role, I am just asking that the leash be much shorter if (and in my opinion, when) he starts to have issues. He was very Jekyll and Hyde last year. Look at the Merrimack playoff series, the Lowell games, and a few others as his his high points (maybe the second Providence game too). But then look at the Michigan State series, the Amherst meltdown, and the Northeastern series as him being very very beatable. I hope that he has worked on his weaknesses and comes into this season much more consistent. Last season Clark came off the bench on fire, posting a shutout in Union and playing to a win in Merrimack before the shoulder injury. I was in person at the Merrimack game and the amount of change he made (likely at the Calgary Flames dev camp) was very noticeable.

Honestly, not giving Blackburn a shot at the top 2 lines out of the gate is a mistake. I know, I'm asking Coach Umile to trust a freshman, shoot me.

I really do not expect a top half finish in HE this season. Leaving me plenty of room for this team to impress. I have renewed my tickets for this year hoping to see development from the likes of Vela, Eiserman, Blackburn, Fregona. I hope to see Cleland, Kelleher, Maller, and Hill take their senior season and run with it. I WANT TO BE PROVEN WRONG, but I personally feel like another bottom 4 finish is on the horizon.

A bunch of fans were discussing this on Facebook and people in the know say no one will don an A this season?!?

 

[E.J. Smith]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Snively

In the olden days (pre mid-70's), most of the hockey players had to go post-grad to qualify for college and then had to play on the freshmen team as you had to be a sophomore to play. They were 20-21 years old when they came to UNH.

Hello? Hello? Hello? Is anyone home? Hello?

20-21 year old freshmen? Get. out! That's unheard of!!! Imagine if that happened now? Unheard of.



And btw, Bobby Miller, Jamie Hislop, and Cliff Cox - the only 3 I checked - all came to UNH at 18 and played varsity hockey as freshman. If you're pulling examples from before that era, we might at well start discussing how playing outside affected puck movement on warm days...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Hello? Hello? Hello? Is anyone home? Hello?

20-21 year old freshmen? Get. out! That's unheard of!!! Imagine if that happened now? Unheard of.



And btw, Bobby Miller, Jamie Hislop, and Cliff Cox - the only 3 I checked - all came to UNH at 18 and played varsity hockey as freshman. If you're pulling examples from before that era, we might at well start discussing how playing outside affected puck movement on warm days...

I think Gordie Clark was the last high profile UNH player I can think of who didn't skate as a frosh? His sophomore/first UNH Varsity year was '71/'72 - which in turn was Coach Umile's senior season in Durham.

Cliff Cox arrived a year after Gordie and played as a frosh (all 4 seasons), as did the 'Slop. So the change on freshman eligibility looks to have gone into effect for the '72/'73 season (at least at UNH).

I know the NCAA allowed freshman eligibility in football (and basketball) starting in '72, but I was under the impression they didn't have a standing rule prohibiting frosh eligibility in other varsity sports, or if there was a rule, it was lifted sometime in the '60's? Help, anyone??

Regardless ... ironic OR interesting, how the timing of the change at UNH Hockey, with the graduation of their future all-time winningest (yet freshman-phobic) hockey coach play directly into each other?

'watcher, over to you ...

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Obviously, I did not use "olden days" in reference to the time when frosh could not play varsity, 32 (not that "olden"). I think that the change allowing frosh to play varsity occurred for hockey at the same time as other sports, Chuck, 1972. I am with you, DB62, put a frosh on each of the top two lines, even rotate them earlier on, as they will develop a lot faster that way. Skating three seniors on the first line and first power play unit the first month of last season was a total disaster, but at least we do not need to worry about that this year. Also, I agree with your overall assessment of Tirone, DB62, but my view is that he over-reacts (rather than does not react) to the first shot, ending up flat on the ice, backwards to the net, completely out of the crease, you name it. But, I did get to see him stand on his head in Orono last November to preserve a 3-3 tie, in a game that easily could have been a Black Bears 10-3 win.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Obviously, I did not use "olden days" in reference to the time when frosh could not play varsity, 32 (not that "olden"). I think that the change allowing frosh to play varsity occurred for hockey at the same time as other sports, Chuck, 1972. I am with you, DB62, put a frosh on each of the top two lines, even rotate them earlier on, as they will develop a lot faster that way. Skating three seniors on the first line and first power play unit the first month of last season was a total disaster, but at least we do not need to worry about that this year. Also, I agree with your overall assessment of Tirone, DB62, but my view is that he over-reacts (rather than does not react) to the first shot, ending up flat on the ice, backwards to the net, completely out of the crease, you name it. But, I did get to see him stand on his head in Orono last November to preserve a 3-3 tie, in a game that easily could have been a Black Bears 10-3 win.

Oh, OK - I see what you're doing there ... only two senior forwards this season.

I'd already written an incredulous response wondering why you'd ever put that past Coach Stubborn ...

 

[Snively65]

Oh, OK - I see what you're doing there ... only two senior forwards this season.

I'd already written an incredulous response wondering why you'd ever put that past Coach Stubborn ...

For once, I am way ahead of you, Chuck.

That said, sounds like a lot of us, but not all of us, old timahs are in agreement about integrating frosh onto the top two lines.

 

[deltabravo62]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Snively, yes I also agree that the overplay of the puck (leading to his swimming on the ice) hurts Tirone as much as freezing after making the first stop only to allow an easy rebound goal. I reread how I wrote that bit and realized I did not really clarify what I was trying to say. In both cases we saw a lot more of it last season. I worry more when I do not see him moving because it says he lost track of the puck and is hoping it stuck to him somewhere. A lot of times when that happens you don't even see him move his head to start looking for it. As much as I dislike his swimming on the ice, usually that is on about the third opportunity for a given team and the defense is doing him no favors. I will say that when he is doing that he usually has an idea of where the puck is.

Even during his freshman half season he was all over the place, but he had a lot more help in front of him. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he can turn it around. I also realize that it could not have been easy knowing that there was not a legitimate backup behind him after Clark went down. Yes, Regan had a stellar 90 minutes against ND (or NICC as I have read), but we all knew they were never going to use him in a true backup sense. On that note, I feel like Regan's start in the second game was the loudest player intro cheer of the season. I'm rambling, I know, I guess I will close with a "Let's wait and see"

 

[wildcatdc]

For once, I am way ahead of you, Chuck.

That said, sounds like a lot of us, but not all of us, old timahs are in agreement about integrating frosh onto the top two lines.

100%.

I'm struggling to think of a coach in any major NCAA sport who's not playing freshman as marquee players, when deserved. Heck, Calipari and Saban (not the most elegant examples, but still) have made it religion in their necks of the woods.

 

[HockeyRef]

For once, I am way ahead of you, Chuck.

That said, sounds like a lot of us, but not all of us, old timahs are in agreement about integrating frosh onto the top two lines.

Seriously what does UNH have to lose by doing this? If the players are good enough, provide much needed chemistry, then by all means. They will fortunately have to play of course so at least they will get the needed break in time/ development time. I've never hesitated to play/start talented Frosh (of course high school field hockey is not even close to what we are talking about I realize...) Loved what I saw of Blackburn. Can he skate top line? At least second? I recognize we have some good returning players who rightfully belong up there.

Deltabravo62 don't worry about rambling...not like it's never been done around here Guilty as charged.. I enjoy your posts keep 'em coming...Looking forward to next Sunday; finally plunked down the 624 to buy our tix!!!

Still scratching my head about no Assistant Captains if that's true. Has that ever been done before as far as you 'old timahs' can recollect? What if...Cleland gets injured (eeeeekkkk)? Imagine it's easy enough to slap a "C" or an "A" on another player.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Seriously what does UNH have to lose by doing this? If the players are good enough, provide much needed chemistry, then by all means. They will fortunately have to play of course so at least they will get the needed break in time/ development time. I've never hesitated to play/start talented Frosh (of course high school field hockey is not even close to what we are talking about I realize...) Loved what I saw of Blackburn. Can he skate top line? At least second? I recognize we have some good returning players who rightfully belong up there.

If they're good enough, then they're old enough.

I hinted at this in my last post ... first, Coach Umile comes from a time when (as a player) you simply did not play Varsity college hockey as a frosh. Fact. ((then again - so did York and Parker)) Once upon a time, he may have felt he deserved that time as a frosh, but was blocked by the rules/custom of the time? Or maybe he was enlightened and personally realized he wasn't physically up to the challenge straight out of Melrose High? I'm not saying this colored his approach as UNH head coach, but it's possible.

Beyond that ... Coach Umile benefited early in his UNH career with veteran-laden teams that made it easier for him to take the slow and gradual approach to integrating freshmen into the team. In recent seasons, that's not been the case, and he hasn't had the luxury of letting the new players settle in before getting the push to play more prominent roles earlier. Unfortunately, Coach has been (too) set in his old ways, and has been (glacially) slow to adapt. Hence, last year's disastrous decision to give a senior checking line first line ice time.

At this late point in his coaching career, I suspect Coach is only looking at getting to a round number.

So I guess that's all that Coach has to "lose" by taking a different approach now.

The sad thing is, for 11 puny wins last season, he could (should) have let the younger kids play, and he might have kept Foegele around, taken some early lumps, but emerged with a stronger second half team, and have a better outlook for his upcoming next (final) 2 seasons.

I personally think the first half of this season is "make or break" in the Crawl to 600. We'll see ...

 

[HockeyRef]

If they're good enough, then they're old enough.

I hinted at this in my last post ... first, Coach Umile comes from a time when (as a player) you simply did not play Varsity college hockey as a frosh. Fact. ((then again - so did York and Parker)) Once upon a time, he may have felt he deserved that time as a frosh, but was blocked by the rules/custom of the time? Or maybe he was enlightened and personally realized he wasn't physically up to the challenge straight out of Melrose High? I'm not saying this colored his approach as UNH head coach, but it's possible.

Beyond that ... Coach Umile benefited early in his UNH career with veteran-laden teams that made it easier for him to take the slow and gradual approach to integrating freshmen into the team. In recent seasons, that's not been the case, and he hasn't had the luxury of letting the new players settle in before getting the push to play more prominent roles earlier. Unfortunately, Coach has been (too) set in his old ways, and has been (glacially) slow to adapt. Hence, last year's disastrous decision to give a senior checking line first line ice time.

At this late point in his coaching career, I suspect Coach is only looking at getting to a round number.

So I guess that's all that Coach has to "lose" by taking a different approach now.

The sad thing is, for 11 puny wins last season, he could (should) have let the younger kids play, and he might have kept Foegele around, taken some early lumps, but emerged with a stronger second half team, and have a better outlook for his upcoming next (final) 2 seasons.

I personally think the first half of this season is "make or break" in the Crawl to 600. We'll see ...

Hey Chuck, interesting points. Anyhoo, the future of the program at this point (600 wins or not; heck, his legacy has been set already what's in a number but I digress..) has to lie in getting the best players on that ice and right quick. This season especially the Freshman class will have to take a few lumps but it will be worth it providing they do indeed, figure into the mix as they should.

I mean, who else is going to play? (duh no brainer here!) No excuse this season, no excuse at all not to figure this out and I have faith the staff knows this and will do the right thing. 7 days!