UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2014/2015 - Next Year Can't Get Here Fast Enough!!!

Re: UNH Wildcats 2014/2015 - Next Year Can't Get Here Fast Enough!!!

Bringing over sonar's comments, as referenced by Felger in his latest post, which followed the discussion of Josh Ciocco's recruiting prowess and assessments of the current crop of UNH players ...

Are there any positives/negatives surrounding the idea that any selection committee involved with hiring the new UNH men's hockey coach ..... be free of any association with the current coaches?

Interesting point. Unless there is a shocking development at the top of the UNH Athletics pyramid, I would expect BS35+5 to be the head of any such *committee*. The next logical person to be part of such a committee would be the incumbent currently in the job, so that would obviously be the most significant association possible with the current coaches. Sadly, most other potential obvious choices are either no longer with us (Coach Holt), working elsewhere in college hockey, or tied up in litigation with the school. Bob Norton is a potential choice for the committee, but he seems to have moved away from hockey in recent years. Some other candidates:

* Coach McDonnell - someone who can now speak to sustained top-end excellence with UNH Football, albeit as a colleague of Coach Umile. Certainly an alum who has raised the profile of UNH Athletics in a very positive way (I can see e.cat has probably just fainted from disbelief that he's reading this coming from me );

* Andy Brickley - ironically, one of the better (if not best) UNH players the last time UNH Hockey was in a downwards spiral, not sure if he's active with his alma mater. Although a fellow Melrose native, his time at the school was between Coach Umile's time as a player and then as a coach, and he presumably has some good contacts dotted all around the North American hockey scene;

* Gordie Clark - yes, he of Clark-Hislop-Cox fame, he did share one season at UNH with Coach Umile when Clark was a soph (recall no freshmen were allowed to play Varsity hockey at the time) and Umile was a senior. Has since been a hockey lifer, playing and coaching at all levels, and currently the Director of Player Personnel with the NY Rangers.

If that was the make-up of such a committee, I'd be reasonably satisfied that Coach Umile's influence over the committee would be no more than that of one of five, with no undue "pull" over the rest of the group. I'm not sure a guy like Clark would have the time to put into such a commitment, but the others would seem to have "down time" at around the time of the year when such a search might be undertaken. Whether BS35+? would have the intestinal fortitude to encourage input/feedback from a committee with that kind of depth of experience, I'm not so sure though.

I'm sure there might be other candidates to be considered as well. sonar, I'm guessing you might have some ideas along these lines, seeing that you kinda brought this up ...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

If it weren't for bad luck, the Cats would have no luck this year! Whatever could go wrong this year has gone wrong. Starting with Agosta bolting, not to the pros, but to the Q! Then DeSmith and injuries and the flu, and newly reviewable offsides nullifying a timely goal and then the bad ice at the Whitt and on and on and on!! Call it bad karma or bad coaching or bad recruiting it doesn't matter to me. It just stinks and the stench is not going away any time soon.

As I look at the 10 remaining games, I thInk UNH will be lucky to pick up 4 wins which would put them at 12-20-2 for the regular season. No regular season trophy this year! Pulling some upsets in the tournament is possible but not probable.

I'll keep watching and listening to games but any hope of salvaging this season is gone. So I'm on to next season! I'm optimistic next season will be better. It can't be much worse!!

Well good to see you here today sir. You make a valid point it HAS been a more difficult season than I think we anticipated. Maybe we got ahead of ourselves here and there when the 'Cats beat teams early on like Michigan, UNO, PC. Their past two weekends have been abysmal in some regards, true. We've still got some hockey left tho so here's hoping some good stuff comes along. At any rate, our young group keeps on getting experience, our Senior Downing will get his Century Club mark, and with just one more win, Coach U gets his 550 milestone. Sure those are simplistic things and I know they don't matter to many, but, it's something. I can't be worried about what we don't have. That doesn't change what's in front of us now. Keep on keeping on!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

By the time Kullen got contacts in Ontario he was the head coach, and actually outrecruited other teams for Amodeo, Mitrovic, and with a vibrant young Sean Coady, got new leads in Mass.

Anybody noticing a trend about who gets good recruits?

By the way, that idiot York still hasn't figured out his mistakes, hiring early 30s kids like Cavanagh, Paluch, Brown and now Ayers.

Watcher, I thought this is what you, and many others (the non Phyliss types on this board), were all gaga over for assistant coaches? What IS the desired assistant coach? I know you guys aren't thrilled about Borek...and I'm not into that debate on this snowy morning...so back to my q, what's wrong with these guys?? Who should Jerry York hire? Or am I missing your point entirely.

Sarcasm has a tough time getting across on the Internet, Ref. It's why I sometimes (over)use smileys.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

By the time Kullen got contacts in Ontario he was the head coach, and actually outrecruited other teams for Amodeo, Mitrovic, and with a vibrant young Sean Coady, got new leads in Mass.

Anybody noticing a trend about who gets good recruits?

By the way, that idiot York still hasn't figured out his mistakes, hiring early 30s kids like Cavanagh, Paluch, Brown and now Ayers.



Sarcasm has a tough time getting across on the Internet, Ref. It's why I sometimes (over)use smileys.

Oh. Embarrassed smiley.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Yeah, but even Jerwy and his young assistants can have an off year.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Yeah, but even Jerwy and his young assistants can have an off year.

I mean heck, with Thatcher D and Noah H out there, you'd expect more.. haha. (sarcasm)

 

[Dan]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

[/B]

Watcher, I thought this is what you, and many others (the non Phyliss types on this board), were all gaga over for assistant coaches? What IS the desired assistant coach? I know you guys aren't thrilled about Borek...and I'm not into that debate on this snowy morning...so back to my q, what's wrong with these guys?? Who should Jerry York hire? Or am I missing your point entirely.

Ref: Its definitely sarcasm.

York's best quality is that despite his age, he still thinks, coaches and acts far younger than his years. He thinks outside of the box in so many areas, empowers young assistants, recruits aggressively and relates well to today's players despite his advanced age.

I knew coming in that this would be a difficult season and that I'd have to hang my hat on the development of Kelleher, Maller, Cleland and the freshmen. I'm not dissatisfied with the play of the younger players - but I'm not thrilled with their usage. Umile is an old dog and has ALWAYS depended entirely too much on the players he 'trusts' as opposed to the players with real ability and it has gotten worse as he has aged and as his roster depth has thinned.

What frustrates me more than anything is watching the 'dependable' players play the more important roles and even force talented freshmen into the stands - in an effort, I suppose, to make this team more competitive right now. There is absolutely NO hockey reason for McNicholas to have only played six games this year. NO reason for Chanter to have seen such limited minutes, only playing last weekend due to Pesce's absence. Why are these guys even at UNH this year, if they're just here to watch from the cheap seats.

When McNicholas has played, he's played on the PP and in the top six - but Umile clearly doesn't trust his strength or defense to play him on a lower line. Instead he continues to run out players who are, in Felger's terms, 'just guys'. McNicholas is more than a guy - get him on the ice! Chanter ran around in the offensive zone last weekend. He clearly tossed a Maine player into Clark on the disallowed goal. Mistakes Umile hates, I'm sure. His talent, physical play and aggressiveness is just what this team needs - and certainly something that needs to be developed on the ice!

Coaches like York will toss his young players straight into the deep end if they have the talent - but Umile has simply never been comfortable doing so. He's been forced to do so more often this season, but only out of necessity. At the same time, he's still exhibited his hesitancy with young players in how he's handled McNicholas, Chanter and even Salvaggio.

These are the lines, or some combination there-of, I hope we'll see the rest of the season - with an emphasis on the development of the younger players who will need to play bigger roles next season!

Eiserman - Downing - Kelleher
Willows - Poturalski - Foegel
Correale - McNicholas - Thrush
Salvaggio - Smith - Gaudreault

Pesce - Cleland
Marks - Furgele
Maller/Chanter/Boyd

Clark/Tirone

I'm OK watching UNH struggle through the rest of the year if they youth is being served. I'm getting really frustrated watching players who have proven to have low-ceilings slog along.

I've been a much larger Umile supporter than most - but his usage this year and inability to adapt to his personnel has really frustrated me and something has to change...

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Yeah, but even Jerwy and his young assistants can have an off year.

BC 6-1-1 in 2015, up to 13 in the PWR.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Ref: Its definitely sarcasm.

York's best quality is that despite his age, he still thinks, coaches and acts far younger than his years. He thinks outside of the box in so many areas, empowers young assistants, recruits aggressively and relates well to today's players despite his advanced age.

I knew coming in that this would be a difficult season and that I'd have to hang my hat on the development of Kelleher, Maller, Cleland and the freshmen. I'm not dissatisfied with the play of the younger players - but I'm not thrilled with their usage. Umile is an old dog and has ALWAYS depended entirely too much on the players he 'trusts' as opposed to the players with real ability and it has gotten worse as he has aged and as his roster depth has thinned.

What frustrates me more than anything is watching the 'dependable' players play the more important roles and even force talented freshmen into the stands - in an effort, I suppose, to make this team more competitive right now. There is absolutely NO hockey reason for McNicholas to have only played six games this year. NO reason for Chanter to have seen such limited minutes, only playing last weekend due to Pesce's absence. Why are these guys even at UNH this year, if they're just here to watch from the cheap seats.

When McNicholas has played, he's played on the PP and in the top six - but Umile clearly doesn't trust his strength or defense to play him on a lower line. Instead he continues to run out players who are, in Felger's terms, 'just guys'. McNicholas is more than a guy - get him on the ice! Chanter ran around in the offensive zone last weekend. He clearly tossed a Maine player into Clark on the disallowed goal. Mistakes Umile hates, I'm sure. His talent, physical play and aggressiveness is just what this team needs - and certainly something that needs to be developed on the ice!

Coaches like York will toss his young players straight into the deep end if they have the talent - but Umile has simply never been comfortable doing so. He's been forced to do so more often this season, but only out of necessity. At the same time, he's still exhibited his hesitancy with young players in how he's handled McNicholas, Chanter and even Salvaggio.

These are the lines, or some combination there-of, I hope we'll see the rest of the season - with an emphasis on the development of the younger players who will need to play bigger roles next season!

Eiserman - Downing - Kelleher
Willows - Poturalski - Foegel
Correale - McNicholas - Thrush
Salvaggio - Smith - Gaudreault

Pesce - Cleland
Marks - Furgele
Maller/Chanter/Boyd

Clark/Tirone

I'm OK watching UNH struggle through the rest of the year if they youth is being served. I'm getting really frustrated watching players who have proven to have low-ceilings slog along.

I've been a much larger Umile supporter than most - but his usage this year and inability to adapt to his personnel has really frustrated me and something has to change...

Excellent post Dan! I agree and wonder where those guys esp. Salvaggio and McNick have been...of course I've learned that players like Knodel didn't get much if any, playing time in their early careers either BUT the talent in front of them was there legitimately. (if that makes sense?) I noted that Chanter when he's out there makes things happen, sure, he's in the box a lot but he's at least bringing it... As per change..it requires awareness and the willingness to take risks...

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Yeah, but even Jerwy and his young assistants can have an off year.

UNH needs to have "off years" like the one BC is currently having ...

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

... Chanter ran around in the offensive zone last weekend. He clearly tossed a Maine player into Clark on the disallowed goal. Mistakes Umile hates, I'm sure. His talent, physical play and aggressiveness is just what this team needs - and certainly something that needs to be developed on the ice! ...

Perhaps a coachable moment for the right wing? If the D-man on your side commits offensively, especially to the left side then you need to be aware that the point is not covered.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

UNH needs to have "off years" like the one BC is currently having ...

Ok, think I'm getting the sarcasm in this post perhaps even dripping sarcasm...sans smileys!!!!!!

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Ref: Its definitely sarcasm.

York's best quality is that despite his age, he still thinks, coaches and acts far younger than his years. He thinks outside of the box in so many areas, empowers young assistants, recruits aggressively and relates well to today's players despite his advanced age.

I knew coming in that this would be a difficult season and that I'd have to hang my hat on the development of Kelleher, Maller, Cleland and the freshmen. I'm not dissatisfied with the play of the younger players - but I'm not thrilled with their usage. Umile is an old dog and has ALWAYS depended entirely too much on the players he 'trusts' as opposed to the players with real ability and it has gotten worse as he has aged and as his roster depth has thinned.

What frustrates me more than anything is watching the 'dependable' players play the more important roles and even force talented freshmen into the stands - in an effort, I suppose, to make this team more competitive right now. There is absolutely NO hockey reason for McNicholas to have only played six games this year. NO reason for Chanter to have seen such limited minutes, only playing last weekend due to Pesce's absence. Why are these guys even at UNH this year, if they're just here to watch from the cheap seats.

When McNicholas has played, he's played on the PP and in the top six - but Umile clearly doesn't trust his strength or defense to play him on a lower line. Instead he continues to run out players who are, in Felger's terms, 'just guys'. McNicholas is more than a guy - get him on the ice! Chanter ran around in the offensive zone last weekend. He clearly tossed a Maine player into Clark on the disallowed goal. Mistakes Umile hates, I'm sure. His talent, physical play and aggressiveness is just what this team needs - and certainly something that needs to be developed on the ice!

Coaches like York will toss his young players straight into the deep end if they have the talent - but Umile has simply never been comfortable doing so. He's been forced to do so more often this season, but only out of necessity. At the same time, he's still exhibited his hesitancy with young players in how he's handled McNicholas, Chanter and even Salvaggio

These are the lines, or some combination there-of, I hope we'll see the rest of the season - with an emphasis on the development of the younger players who will need to play bigger roles next season!

Eiserman - Downing - Kelleher
Willows - Poturalski - Foegel
Correale - McNicholas - Thrush
Salvaggio - Smith - Gaudreault

Pesce - Cleland
Marks - Furgele
Maller/Chanter/Boyd

Clark/Tirone

I'm OK watching UNH struggle through the rest of the year if they youth is being served. I'm getting really frustrated watching players who have proven to have low-ceilings slog along.

I've been a much larger Umile supporter than most - but his usage this year and inability to adapt to his personnel has really frustrated me and something has to change...

Love your post Dan, agree with virtually all of it.

I think the part I highlighted speaks to why, historically, UNH has been more of a 1st half team while others tend to blossom in the second half. Giving all the ice time to the "safe players" early on will certainly yield benefits. But those players, who tend to be older jags, are what they are, and aren't likely to get any better where the more talented ones develop as the year goes on.

 

[Dan]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

BTW - next year might be even worse. A lot depends on the development of the younger players for the rest of this season and who they bring in as freshman next season, but without Downing & Willows upfront and Pesce in the back, it could be a LONG year. The decisions that are made over the rest of this season and the off-season will illustrate whether or not we're on the road to rebuilding or whether we're in for more of the same.

I'm much more excited about the incoming classes than Watcher and most. In defense of the younger & future players - Ciocco posted what he did about the last few classes, because there was so much discussion about the lack of impact recruits Umile had committed. So the production of the current upperclassmen certainly did not come out of left-field. The future recruits are much more talented in my opinion. However...

Who comes in next year? Blackburn is a future top-six forward who should play right away. Masonious will likely matriculate and play next year - he is a talent, but he'll make an already young and inexperienced D corp even younger and more inexperienced. Who else comes?

In my perfect world Vela and vanReimsdyk are part of next years class and Vela and vanReimsdyk play right away and develop with the young offensive group. But, after watching this season unfold, my concern is that Vela and/or vanReimsdyk matriculate and end up spending a great deal of the time in the stands because they're not up to the coaching staff's 'par' in their own end.

Worse yet, the recruiting class is Blackburn, Kalinowski, Miller, Masonious and maybe Nonis and even with Blackburn and Masonious its another relatively weak recruiting year...

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

From the NHL Central Scouting Service:

"Marcus (Vela) is a very fluid skater with good acceleration, speed and balance. He is a smart playmaking center who reads the play and sees the ice well. He has good offensive instincts and is very composed moving the puck around. He can skate his way through checks, gets involved in forecheck battles for the puck, and is willing to give and take the hits on the play. Generates scoring chances and can really shoot but most effective as a reliable two-way player. "

http://www.thespec.com/sports-story...watch-at-cjhl-top-prospects-game-in-oakville/

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

I'm much more excited about the incoming classes than Watcher and most.

Worse yet, the recruiting class is Blackburn, Kalinowski, Miller, Masonious and maybe Nonis and even with Blackburn and Masonious its another relatively weak recruiting year...

Did you say excited?

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

I think the part I highlighted speaks to why, historically, UNH has been more of a 1st half team while others tend to blossom in the second half. Giving all the ice time to the "safe players" early on will certainly yield benefits. But those players, who tend to be older jags, are what they are, and aren't likely to get any better where the more talented ones develop as the year goes on.

Bingo.

As for Dan's concern that BvR could spend a lot of time in the stands if he shows up next year ... I have no insight into such plans one way or another, but I can assure you no van Riemsdyk is going to be spending ANY time in the stands at UNH. Not. Gonna. Happen. Just as it never happened with the Kariya brothers, even as they got less talented as things played out.

 

[Scott]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Bingo.

As for Dan's concern that BvR could spend a lot of time in the stands if he shows up next year ... I have no insight into such plans one way or another, but I can assure you no van Riemsdyk is going to be spending ANY time in the stands at UNH. Not. Gonna. Happen. Just as it never happened with the Kariya brothers, even as they got less talented as things played out.

Agreed. If Umile wants him here next year, the kid is gonna play.

A lot of excellent posts on this thread. And it's quite evident that a zebra never changes its stripes, so we're going to have to deal with Umile and his archaic "loyalty" coaching philosophy until either A). He decides enough is enough and announces his retirement, or B). MS finally decides to grow a pair and take the bull by the horns and calls Umile out on the carpet.

These kids are playing their hearts out each night. We all know that. The onus is on the coaching staff to figure this out, and more importantly, LEARN from this year so that they don't lather/rinse/repeat with next year's freshman class.

More random thoughts on this snowy day in NH....

- Borek's "E-Mail-Gate" from several seasons ago and the recruiting damage it did is one of the top reasons UNH is where it is today. If Umile had been more a forward thinker like York instead of living by his "good ol' boy" loyalty standards, he would have replaced Borek immediately. 'Nuff said.

- Was on the Union thread, and it appears that everyone's "favorite" UNH basher and Vecchione jock-sniffer, Hockydad, has finally been banned.

 

[HockeyRef]

Did you say excited?

Uh oh Dan you better watch it with words like that...they are indicative of "Phyliss" like behavior and we will have none of that here! ����

Ps your posts are among my favs coz you don't try to outwardly insult anyone and they are spot on. But suppose anything/anyone is fair game eh on a hockey forum ER hockey fan forum ��. We play nice here for the most part...on other boards they eat their own!!��

Even Tom Brady gets 'excited' check it out!
From the Seacoast online:

Brady told the crowd his team will be relying on their support as it faces the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday's NFL title game in Glendale, Ariz.
"I couldn't be more excited. I tell you, it's an unbelievable accomplishment for our team," he said as snowflakes swirled around the square. "It's been a long ride. We have the best fans in America. We're going to go represent you guys in Arizona as best as we possibly can. Go Patriots!"

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats Official Wait til Next Year...14/15 thread

Agreed. If Umile wants him here next year, the kid is gonna play.

A lot of excellent posts on this thread. And it's quite evident that a zebra never changes its stripes, so we're going to have to deal with Umile and his archaic "loyalty" coaching philosophy until either A). He decides enough is enough and announces his retirement, or B). MS finally decides to grow a pair and take the bull by the horns and calls Umile out on the carpet.

These kids are playing their hearts out each night. We all know that. The onus is on the coaching staff to figure this out, and more importantly, LEARN from this year so that they don't lather/rinse/repeat with next year's freshman class.

More random thoughts on this snowy day in NH....

- Borek's "E-Mail-Gate" from several seasons ago and the recruiting damage it did is one of the top reasons UNH is where it is today. If Umile had been more a forward thinker like York instead of living by his "good ol' boy" loyalty standards, he would have replaced Borek immediately. 'Nuff said.

- Was on the Union thread, and it appears that everyone's "favorite" UNH basher and Vecchione jock-sniffer, Hockydad, has finally been banned.

Do we? Not trying to outwardly insult or be hoky-ied.