UNH Wildcats 2021/2022 - Return of the Champions of October?

[teez]

So I'm calling out YOU, you UNH lurkers, to get on this board and post! By the way, I still have expectations on the program. Big ones. Not saying I'm not disappointed and want to see much better from this program...but, I'm in it for the long haul at this point. What's gone is gone. I'm just hoping we get something out of this weekend!!

Ok, confession time...I've been lurking here for years. Sometimes checking in once a year, other times 2-3x/week. Until last Friday at Providence I hadn't seen UNH live since 2015 when my Dad and I finally gave up our season tickets we'd had since 1999. Admittedly it was an awful showing, but it helped ignite the flame again.

Thanks to all of you dedicated posters for helping me stay in the loop over the past years. I feel like I know some of you. Looking forward to chatting with you all some more here.

 

[HockeyRef]

Ok, confession time...I've been lurking here for years. Sometimes checking in once a year, other times 2-3x/week. Until last Friday at Providence I hadn't seen UNH live since 2015 when my Dad and I finally gave up our season tickets we'd had since 1999. Admittedly it was an awful showing, but it helped ignite the flame again.

Thanks to all of you dedicated posters for helping me stay in the loop over the past years. I feel like I know some of you. Looking forward to chatting with you all some more here.

Well hello there and welcome! Glad to see you are back at it. Fans play a huge role I believe...2015 was our last decent season with a trip to the Garden believe we were .500 that year?

As they say in certain circles "keep coming back" !!

 

[HockeyRef]

Final from Durham: the team that aggressively recruits and sells top talent skates past the program that patiently waits for 'kids that really want to be here', 4-1...

Life lessons Dan...that's why they come to UNH....life lessons!

 

[d.gerry]

What was up with the no hand shake after the game? Is this a Covid thing?

 

[HockeyRef]

What was up with the no hand shake after the game? Is this a Covid thing?

..and no salute to the fans....they did a handshake last game with PC.

 

[Snively65]

It's no secret that things have indeed changed Whalers! I'd love to see new posters coming in...and, would love to hear from the old guard as well. I hear from people at the 'Whitt who do indeed, lurk, but don't want to get 'into it' so to speak. I wish they would post. People also use social media sources to discuss UNH hockey as well...but I'm not aware of how wide spread that is. Let's face it...if the team were winning like they did in the days so many of you got to witness it would be different. No question how things are going for sure influence the postings etc. I don't read a ton of other threads but would think, seem to think, not many are 'hyping up' games but I could be wrong. We USED to have a game thread on such and such a game...even in my short tenure as a poster here!

So I'm calling out YOU, you UNH lurkers, to get on this board and post! By the way, I still have expectations on the program. Big ones. Not saying I'm not disappointed and want to see much better from this program...but, I'm in it for the long haul at this point. What's gone is gone. I'm just hoping we get something out of this weekend!!

ps. None of these players are walking through that door: Krog, Haydar, etc...those days are loooonnngggg gone. But I AM hopeful for those that ARE. I'm grateful for CHC's blog; following these new players has been a great thing and then seeing them with the jersey finally on. And, bummed for those who do not and we are all well aware who those skaters are...

Pss...Fun former player fact! Potsy was AHL's player for the month. He's tearing it up in Chicago!

Ok, here is my “research.”

Ranking, #posts, #days, ppd (posts per day)

1, NU, 29, 3, 9.7
2, UNH, 250, 27, 9.3
3, UVM, 38, 7, 5.4
4, Maine, 933, 178, 5.2
5, BC, 113, 29, 3.9
6, BU, 496, 160, 3.1
7, UML, 72, 35, 2.1
8, PC, 20, 36, 0.6
9, Flagship, 0, 38, 0
10t, Mac, 0, 0, 0
10t, Yukon, 0, 0, 0

 

[d.gerry]

..and no salute to the fans....they did a handshake last game with PC.

That’s what I thought. So what, you get beat soundly by a better team, and skate off the ice like a bunch of sore losers? No acknowledgment of the few fans who still actually support you? MS7 should be proud.

 

[HockeyRef]

That’s what I thought. So what, you get beat soundly by a better team, and skate off the ice like a bunch of sore losers? No acknowledgment of the few fans who still actually support you? MS7 should be proud.

May seem insignificant but people notice these things. Hey I was pretty much expecting a tough game but felt for the most part we were "in it". But geeze for those of us who come to game after game the least you can do is a salute to the fans. Kind of early to be packing it in Wildcats.....just sayin' I guess...whatever! Sigh.....

Would love to go tonight but will watch on our new 75 inch screen hubby just had delivered. That is if it's televised. Good luck on St. Botophs Street!

 

[HockeyRef]

Ok, here is my “research.”

Ranking, #posts, #days, ppd (posts per day)

1, NU, 29, 3, 9.7
2, UNH, 250, 27, 9.3
3, UVM, 38, 7, 5.4
4, Maine, 933, 178, 5.2
5, BC, 113, 29, 3.9
6, BU, 496, 160, 3.1
7, UML, 72, 35, 2.1
8, PC, 20, 36, 0.6
9, Flagship, 0, 38, 0
10t, Mac, 0, 0, 0
10t, Yukon, 0, 0, 0

With stats like that we are gonna make it to the Gahden! Oh wait....

 

[Darius]

NU is just a better team period and that's all you have to know about this game tonight....No use ripping the team thought we played as well as we possibly could. Still think Fessenden is a good goalie. Will be tough going on that shorter sheet with NU's quick puck movement.

or UNH is the worse team period and that's all you have to know... I watched parts on TV, fell asleep before the end (long week). Observing us trying to get out of our own zone, finally getting to neutral ice, being gassed and dumping the puck for a line change, we looked like we are from a different league and didn't really belong on the ice with a team like NU. I do appreciate your more positive slant on this ‘Ref, but this sh1t is getting REALLY old.

The one trait Souza has inherited from his predecessor is turning to the proven and known limitations of upperclassmen (or older recruits) as opposed to putting any trust in unpredictability of talent or youth. Maybe the injury big will force his hand...

This! Going back to my where would the top NHIAA talent project on this team post from a week ago, if this is where we are (it is), let's own NH. NHIAA players should know that if they have even modest NCAA D-I aspirations there is a development spot for them with the state's flagship U. Think you need a year to develop? Can’t afford prep? Fine, practice with the team for FR/SO years, maybe start seeing game ice time as a JR. The recruiting cost in NH is basically zero, skating locals would generate fan interest, put UNH hockey more on the local radar, and what the heck, if we are going to score 1 - 2 goals/game and be sub .500 let's do it with more local players. A strategy to get back to the top of HEA? In and of itself, no, but NH kids play on travel teams throughout New England, maybe the word spreads. "Trust in predictability of talent or youth" and the ability to develop players would be important.

The in state line up worked for MN back in the day. Lol.

 

[Felger]

NU is just a better team period and that's all you have to know about this game tonight....No use ripping the team thought we played as well as we possibly could. Still think Fessenden is a good goalie. Will be tough going on that shorter sheet with NU's quick puck movement.

Highly skilled team does their job...

To me Fessenden/Robinson is a coin flip, six of one, half dozen of the other. I have nothing against Fessenden (who saw all of 22 shots last night) but man is he painful to watch. Last week a poster compared him to Herman Munster. I disagree. Munster is more athletic.

But goaltending isn't the issue. Averaging one goal a game since the mirage against Union. Hopefully once the coaching staff solves the important problems like postgame handshakes and crowd salutes it can move on to trivial things like jump starting the offense.

And Darius I agree that last night was about UNH being the worse team, not NU being the better one.

 

[Snively65]

or UNH is the worse team period and that's all you have to know... I watched parts on TV, fell asleep before the end (long week). Observing us trying to get out of our own zone, finally getting to neutral ice, being gassed and dumping the puck for a line change, we looked like we are from a different league and didn't really belong on the ice with a team like NU. I do appreciate your more positive slant on this ‘Ref, but this sh1t is getting REALLY old.

This! Going back to my where would the top NHIAA talent project on this team post from a week ago, if this is where we are (it is), let's own NH. NHIAA players should know that if they have even modest NCAA D-I aspirations there is a development spot for them with the state's flagship U. Think you need a year to develop? Can’t afford prep? Fine, practice with the team for FR/SO years, maybe start seeing game ice time as a JR. The recruiting cost in NH is basically zero, skating locals would generate fan interest, put UNH hockey more on the local radar, and what the heck, if we are going to score 1 - 2 goals/game and be sub .500 let's do it with more local players. A strategy to get back to the top of HEA? In and of itself, no, but NH kids play on travel teams throughout New England, maybe the word spreads. "Trust in predictability of talent or youth" and the ability to develop players would be important.

The in state line up worked for MN back in the day. Lol.

I like the idea, as we have not had much success recruiting the elite in-state kids. As for the Gophers, it was a North Dakotan and an Austrian who won them their national championships in 2002 and 2003.

 

[HockeyRef]

To me Fessenden/Robinson is a coin flip, six of one, half dozen of the other. I have nothing against Fessenden (who saw all of 22 shots last night) but man is he painful to watch. Last week a poster compared him to Herman Munster. I disagree. Munster is more athletic.

But goaltending isn't the issue. Averaging one goal a game since the mirage against Union. Hopefully once the coaching staff solves the important problems like postgame handshakes and crowd salutes it can move on to trivial things like jump starting the offense.

And Darius I agree that last night was about UNH being the worse team, not NU being the better one.

Obviously...I think jump starting the offense is obviously the priority I'm more than happy to have them just skate off the ice if they score some goals, trust me...

 

[After the Whistle]

Hey I was also surprised by the lack of a salute. Perhaps no Captain and lots of frustration. In terms of the hand shake, it is my memory that in a home and home weekend that they never do it the first night.

 

[HockeyRef]

Hey I was also surprised by the lack of a salute. Perhaps no Captain and lots of frustration. In terms of the hand shake, it is my memory that in a home and home weekend that they never do it the first night.

Yay! You got on! Well who knows what was up with that. Think you were right about the handshake..haha tonight will be sure to watch for that, and will make it a priority. Ha! Good to see you here ATW...

 

[After the Whistle]

The lines are posted on HE. Have to say that I actually like them. We need to start rolling all 4 lines. Not evenly, but get the third and fourth enough ice time to develop. When teams are struggling, coaches (at UNH) have a tendency to go 1-2, 1-2-3, 1,2-4. And then by the second and third the fourth line is only gets a couple of short shifts.
for a ream that isn’t winning, it is also a team not developing!

 

[HockeyRef]

or UNH is the worse team period and that's all you have to know... I watched parts on TV, fell asleep before the end (long week). Observing us trying to get out of our own zone, finally getting to neutral ice, being gassed and dumping the puck for a line change, we looked like we are from a different league and didn't really belong on the ice with a team like NU. I do appreciate your more positive slant on this ‘Ref, but this sh1t is getting REALLY old.

This! Going back to my where would the top NHIAA talent project on this team post from a week ago, if this is where we are (it is), let's own NH. NHIAA players should know that if they have even modest NCAA D-I aspirations there is a development spot for them with the state's flagship U. Think you need a year to develop? Can’t afford prep? Fine, practice with the team for FR/SO years, maybe start seeing game ice time as a JR. The recruiting cost in NH is basically zero, skating locals would generate fan interest, put UNH hockey more on the local radar, and what the heck, if we are going to score 1 - 2 goals/game and be sub .500 let's do it with more local players. A strategy to get back to the top of HEA? In and of itself, no, but NH kids play on travel teams throughout New England, maybe the word spreads. "Trust in predictability of talent or youth" and the ability to develop players would be important.

The in state line up worked for MN back in the day. Lol.

Getting old for me too. I just don't know what to say about it anymore. Agree with your take on the NH players. Loved seeing Alex Gagne (Bedford) out there last night and liked his game. Think of the NH players we have not gotten tho, for whatever reason...bet you guys could name quite a few. I've heard Mike Souza remark that you could find a player locally just as easily as going out of state so he's definitely not adverse to that idea (see his recent recruits; a few from MA preps come to mind). Many here were looking for Swedes, etc. Along came Filip E, Kalle E, (almost) Tim S...couple more in the pipleline on the way that seem exciting (we'll see). So Darius would UNH Club Hockey be an option for some of these guys you speak of in your post in the meantime? And what about those club players...any hidden gems in that bunch? Makes you wonder....

HR Predictions for tonight: NU 6 UNH 1 Robinson in net

 

[Darius]

Getting old for me too. I just don't know what to say about it anymore. Agree with your take on the NH players. Loved seeing Alex Gagne (Bedford) out there last night and liked his game. Think of the NH players we have not gotten tho, for whatever reason...bet you guys could name quite a few. I've heard Mike Souza remark that you could find a player locally just as easily as going out of state so he's definitely not adverse to that idea (see his recent recruits; a few from MA preps come to mind). Many here were looking for Swedes, etc. Along came Filip E, Kalle E, (almost) Tim S...couple more in the pipleline on the way that seem exciting (we'll see). So Darius would UNH Club Hockey be an option for some of these guys you speak of in your post in the meantime? And what about those club players...any hidden gems in that bunch? Makes you wonder....

HR Predictions for tonight: NU 6 UNH 1 Robinson in net

One of the reasons I don’t post much anymore.

Ouch on the prediction. Go big or go home, I suppose. if you are right Robinson may not see game ice until after Thanksgiving.

 

[wildcatdc]

or UNH is the worse team period and that's all you have to know... I watched parts on TV, fell asleep before the end (long week). Observing us trying to get out of our own zone, finally getting to neutral ice, being gassed and dumping the puck for a line change, we looked like we are from a different league and didn't really belong on the ice with a team like NU. I do appreciate your more positive slant on this ‘Ref, but this sh1t is getting REALLY old.

This! Going back to my where would the top NHIAA talent project on this team post from a week ago, if this is where we are (it is), let's own NH. NHIAA players should know that if they have even modest NCAA D-I aspirations there is a development spot for them with the state's flagship U. Think you need a year to develop? Can’t afford prep? Fine, practice with the team for FR/SO years, maybe start seeing game ice time as a JR. The recruiting cost in NH is basically zero, skating locals would generate fan interest, put UNH hockey more on the local radar, and what the heck, if we are going to score 1 - 2 goals/game and be sub .500 let's do it with more local players. A strategy to get back to the top of HEA? In and of itself, no, but NH kids play on travel teams throughout New England, maybe the word spreads. "Trust in predictability of talent or youth" and the ability to develop players would be important.

The in state line up worked for MN back in the day. Lol.

So, I answered your post last week. Ryan Philbrick, from Concord, a defenseman with 100 points through 59 games as a junior, is easily best player in the NHIAA. And his coach questions whether he will go D1. Compared him to Mounsey in an article, but even Mounsey went to Avon from Concord after a year.

I know you were joking, but I think the State of Hockey’s HS talent pool is just a smidge deeper. Kind of a “lob-sided” comparison.

 

[HockeyRef]

One of the reasons I don’t post much anymore.

Ouch on the prediction. Go big or go home, I suppose. if you are right Robinson may not see game ice until after Thanksgiving.

Hey right? Was just considering the ice differential and being overly negative I guess ....so far, we're in it. Hope Robinson has a great game. On another note, feed isn't coming in...for me anyone else? Listening online...