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

[Darius]

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

Update on Justin Agosta:

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20150212/quinnipiacs-justin-agosta-mastering-his-role-with-bobcats

... he felt Quinnipiac provided a better opportunity to improve as a defenseman on an NHL-sized rink (New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center has an Olympic-sized sheet) and learn a structured system.

... Agosta said. “I came from somewhere where there wasn’t a lot of systems. It was very wide open. They want you to create your own offense. Once you’re past the blue line, it’s everyone find an open lane and go. That’s not a knock on UNH. It’s just who they are; it’s their image. Here, everything is very structured. That’s why I’m here.

The NHL-sized rink experience makes sense. Please help me understand the systems comment? Defensively, exiting our zone, I have always considered us structured, sometimes too much so. In the offensive zone we "find a lane and go"? What then if the puck isn't in the net? Retreat outside the blue line, find another lane and go again? Seriously W*F? Darren Haydar could find a lane and go. Casey Thrush not so much.

 

[Darius]

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

Need a split with BU this weekend, if we are to have any chance for home ice that would improve chances for a return to the Garden, where I agree anything could happen.

We also need a sunny 60 degree day to melt the snow banks. Enjoy watching a really talented team, hope we keep the games interesting. BU is not a one trick Eichel. Rodrigues, O'Regan, Oksanen, Hohmann, Grzelcyk (BOS), Baillargeon (how DO you pronounce that TC?) reads like the HEA all star team.

 

[skyraider0609]

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

I also hope UNH can make these two games interesting atleast, but there's a reason why BU is ranked 2/3. I think UNH is overmatched and the scores will reflect that. The Cats don't have the horses to keep up, IMO. I'm hoping to be wrong.....

 

[Darius]

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

I also hope UNH can make these two games interesting atleast, but there's a reason why BU is ranked 2/3. I think UNH is overmatched and the scores will reflect that. The Cats don't have the horses to keep up, IMO. I'm hoping to be wrong.....

BU tends to screw around until the 3rd period. Maybe this will be the weekend they don't have enough to rally and someone steals a game from them. As long as we compete, I'm good.

 

[Greg A]

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

... he felt Quinnipiac provided a better opportunity to improve as a defenseman on an NHL-sized rink (New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center has an Olympic-sized sheet) and learn a structured system.

... Agosta said. “I came from somewhere where there wasn’t a lot of systems. It was very wide open. They want you to create your own offense. Once you’re past the blue line, it’s everyone find an open lane and go. That’s not a knock on UNH. It’s just who they are; it’s their image. Here, everything is very structured. That’s why I’m here.

The NHL-sized rink experience makes sense. Please help me understand the systems comment? Defensively, exiting our zone, I have always considered us structured, sometimes too much so. In the offensive zone we "find a lane and go"? What then if the puck isn't in the net? Retreat outside the blue line, find another lane and go again? Seriously W*F? Darren Haydar could find a lane and go. Casey Thrush not so much.

Small rink, big rink, lot of systems, wide open, doesn't matter. Mr. Agosta is not making the NHL any time soon. I understand he is pursuing a masters at Quinnipiac. I think that is great, using what athletic abilities he has to further is education. I wish more college athletes focused on that.

 

[Dan]

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

I'm surprised at how much angst there is over Agosta's departure - I'm not convinced UNH has even one more win with Agosta on the roster this season. He can chip in offense, but he wasn't a very good skater and he certainly wasn't a stalwart on defense. UNH is better off with the younger defensemen, who are more talented than Agosta, getting their feet wet early and Agosta seems to think he is better off at Q. Win-win.

 

[Greg A]

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

We also need a sunny 60 degree day to melt the snow banks. Enjoy watching a really talented team, hope we keep the games interesting. BU is not a one trick Eichel. Rodrigues, O'Regan, Oksanen, Hohmann, Grzelcyk (BOS), Baillargeon (how DO you pronounce that TC?) reads like the HEA all star team.

My sentiments exactly. I was at the Beanpot last week and saw BU up close and personal. Eichel drew a lot of attention and was, for the most part, kept off the scoresheet (he assisted on the winning goal). But Oksanen, a converted defenseman, has a major league shot from the slot. Gets a little lost defensively but he will give UNH's forward and d all they can handle. We'll need goaltending like Harvard received (63 saves in double OT) in order to remain competitive.

Will be at the game tonight but will not risk the trek to Durham tomorrow. Is the game on WBIN or at least being streamed live?

 

[Greg A]

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

Surprised no one mentioned the nice article on the USCHO front page on Bill Beaney, the long time coach at Middlebury who just celebrated his 600th victory. UNH captain ('73) back in my day, he is one of the more prominent members of Charlie Holt's coaching tree. He references Charlie in the article and Terry Meaghar, long time Bowdoin coach, does as well. Nice read.

 

[Darius]

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

Is the game on WBIN or at least being streamed live?

BIN, FCS.

Small rink, big rink, lot of systems, wide open, doesn't matter. Mr. Agosta is not making the NHL any time soon. I understand he is pursuing a masters at Quinnipiac. I think that is great, using what athletic abilities he has to further is education. I wish more college athletes focused on that.

I'm surprised at how much angst there is over Agosta's departure - I'm not convinced UNH has even one more win with Agosta on the roster this season.

I agree with you, Greg and Dan. The system comment has me perplexed.

 

[Nifty16]

BIN .

Heard Umile say in the Buzz this morning game since that game moved up the game isn't on BIN

 

[UNHhockey29]

Heard Umile say in the Buzz this morning game since that game moved up the game isn't on BIN

That means there is hope that there is no camera in the corner!

 

[New Hampshire 'Cats Fan]

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

Heard Umile say in the Buzz this morning game since that game moved up the game isn't on BIN

According to the DIRECTV program guide, Fox College Sports has moved the Saturday hockey game from the 7pm time slot to 4pm...so appears to still be on TV.

 

[Snively65]

Surprised no one mentioned the nice article on the USCHO front page on Bill Beaney, the long time coach at Middlebury who just celebrated his 600th victory. UNH captain ('73) back in my day, he is one of the more prominent members of Charlie Holt's coaching tree. He references Charlie in the article and Terry Meaghar, long time Bowdoin coach, does as well. Nice read.

I agree; nice article, Greg. Mike McShane ('71 grad) is another coaching success story from our time at UNH, as he had 653 wins and 14 20-win seasons at Norwich at the beginning of this season.

 

[Darius]

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

Looking forward to seeing our 'Cats up against those Terriers...maybe they'll be looking past us and we do finally catch the break of the season and actually steal one of 'em. Hey it could happen. But what I'm most worried about now is what is up with GDowning...BU or no BU he's a big part of that team (obviously). Imagine they are evaluating him and we'll know in the next couple of days if not sooner. Personally steeling myself for the worse case scenario judging how that looked Sat. night. Upbeat article in seacoast about the team's win Sat. night. Another trip to the palace for me (Agganis) and if you're coming to the 'Whitt Sat. night it's 'blue out' the Whitt night. Go 'Cats!

UPDATE: Annnnddd Andrew Potularalski is HE's Rookie of the Week for his UVM antics. Great player! Great UNH future ahead of him! Met his parents out to dinner; they go to every game.

Reading the BU thread and from personal experience getting to that area 7 days ago during evening rush hour: Depart NOW!

 

[Greg A]

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

Reading the BU thread and from personal experience getting to that area 7 days ago during evening rush hour: Depart NOW!

I am leaving Lynn at 4PM, heading directly to the parking garage inside the Agganis complex. Normally that would be a half hour drive for me but I am anticipating at least an hour, if not more. My trip to the Boston Garden is usually about a half hour as well, maybe a little less, but the night of the Beanpot it took just about an hour to go from the exit off the Tobin Bridge to the parking garage behind the Garden. Of course, we haven't had any snow in 4 days so things might be different. Just don't take the T. Total mess.

 

[Greg A]

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

I agree; nice article, Greg. Mike McShane ('71 grad) is another coaching success story from our time at UNH, as he had 653 wins and 14 20-win seasons at Norwich at the beginning of this season.

I think there was a period of about 10 years where it was either Beaney or McShane that won the D3 title. Might be wrong on the time frame but, between them, they have won at least 10 NC. McShane was in a stat class with me in my last days at UNH. We both needed at least a B to crawl through; we both miraculously got it. BTW, Beaney and Gordie Clark are married to sisters, Judy and Carol. Beaney's wife, Judy, was my wife's RA at Hubbard back in the day.

 

[brassbonanza]

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

I am leaving Lynn at 4PM, heading directly to the parking garage inside the Agganis complex. Normally that would be a half hour drive for me but I am anticipating at least an hour, if not more. My trip to the Boston Garden is usually about a half hour as well, maybe a little less, but the night of the Beanpot it took just about an hour to go from the exit off the Tobin Bridge to the parking garage behind the Garden. Of course, we haven't had any snow in 4 days so things might be different. Just don't take the T. Total mess.

I would expect traffic getting over to Agganis once you get into the city to be horrible. Many, many more people are driving into work now due to shutdown T lines on fewer lanes because of snowbanks.

 

[HockeyRef]

I would expect traffic getting over to Agganis once you get into the city to be horrible. Many, many more people are driving into work now due to shutdown T lines on fewer lanes because of snowbanks.

Am on Storrow Drive now slow go!

 

[C-H-C]

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

+/- rating for all 5 freshmen forwards vs. 3rd-ranked BU was EVEN - McNicholas, Eiserman, Foegele, Poturalski, & Salvaggio. Danny Tirone with career high 40 saves.

 

[UNHJourney34]

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

I really am starting to miss Maller. Tonight seemed to me to be the worst game Quast has played. Against lesser teams he has had some solid games. But BU's speed hurt him, and they seemed to capitalize. Multiple times he got beat wide without even getting a touch on the opposing forward. Tirone played pretty solid despite the 5 goals. BU was all over the net and there were times where he had to make multiple point blank save in succession. And offensively the 'Cats played well. Had good offensive opportunities and quite honestly for stretches had BU on their heals. If the defense can play a better game tomorrow night I think UNH could have a chance at a point or two.

I missed the beginning of the first period. Was it announced in Downing was out for a while or just day to day?