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UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
- Thread starter HockeyRef
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Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Good catching up during intermissions, Ref.
Also, you are correct, PC is not a lock, as the Friars are out if the Wolverines beat the Gophers tomorrow.
The game really was a lot closer than the score on Friday night, well worth the investment of my money and time. Our team left it all on the ice, which is all that I can ask.
Looking forward to next season.
Proud of our 'Cats!!! Count down to October begins!!
Good catching up during intermissions, Ref.
Also, you are correct, PC is not a lock, as the Friars are out if the Wolverines beat the Gophers tomorrow.
The game really was a lot closer than the score on Friday night, well worth the investment of my money and time. Our team left it all on the ice, which is all that I can ask.
Looking forward to next season.
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brassbonanza
Super Serial
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Don't know if you guys saw, Tirone's save at the end of the 1st made the Sportscenter Top 10 tonight. Great effort from him tonight, he and the rest of your team played really well. You have a lot to look forward to next season. That was some of the best forechecking we've seen all year and you did as good as anyone has at stopping our first line. Their four points are really not representative of how much they were taken out of the game for 50+ minutes.
Don't know if you guys saw, Tirone's save at the end of the 1st made the Sportscenter Top 10 tonight. Great effort from him tonight, he and the rest of your team played really well. You have a lot to look forward to next season. That was some of the best forechecking we've seen all year and you did as good as anyone has at stopping our first line. Their four points are really not representative of how much they were taken out of the game for 50+ minutes.
defkit
Well-known member
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Congrats on a great second half and making BU look very pedestrian for most of the game last night. The first period was the worst I've seen BU look in a long time. Your goalie was immense.
And, yeah, as a BU fan, even I was getting tired of the BU love on the broadcast.
Congrats on a great second half and making BU look very pedestrian for most of the game last night. The first period was the worst I've seen BU look in a long time. Your goalie was immense.
And, yeah, as a BU fan, even I was getting tired of the BU love on the broadcast.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Thanks for the kind words and how cool is that for our DT!! Good luck the rest of the way....Yep it was quite the season. When the dust settles this season will be remembered as one the most challenging the 'Cats have had in recent memory... Responding to all of the adversity that hit from the get go with an amazing finish that I don't think any of us here expected!!!
Kudos to the boys and especially our coaching staff...cannot wait for next season already!!
e.cat
Seasoned Veteran
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Sorry I missed you guys last night. It was a bridge too far for me after a long day of work and travel. Once my wife and I got into our cushy seats, we were too tired to budge!
Anyway, as far as the game is concerned, I agree the cats left it all on the ice! I was surprised how many quality chances UNH had. It would have been a different outcome
if the Cats had been able convert a few more.
Looking forward to next year. My take away is that Tirone will give the Cats a chance in every game.
JB, Wellington Station worked great. The potholes on the Revere Beach Parkway were ghastly though
Sorry I missed you guys last night. It was a bridge too far for me after a long day of work and travel. Once my wife and I got into our cushy seats, we were too tired to budge!
Anyway, as far as the game is concerned, I agree the cats left it all on the ice! I was surprised how many quality chances UNH had. It would have been a different outcome
if the Cats had been able convert a few more.
Looking forward to next year. My take away is that Tirone will give the Cats a chance in every game.
JB, Wellington Station worked great. The potholes on the Revere Beach Parkway were ghastly though
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Sorry I missed you guys last night. It was a bridge too far for me after a long day of work and travel. Once my wife and I got into our cushy seats, we were too tired to budge!
Anyway, as far as the game is concerned, I agree the cats left it all on the ice! I was surprised how many quality chances UNH had. It would have been a different outcome
if the Cats had been able convert a few more.
Looking forward to next year. My take away is that Tirone will give the Cats a chance in every game.
JB, Wellington Station worked great. The potholes on the Revere Beach Parkway were ghastly though
Hey bud it's all good! Can't blame you...totally agree regarding quality chances particularly in the first...DT is the real deal! Now the waiting begins..will we keep our number one D Man? Here's hoping.
The experience our Frosh got this year was invaluable especially getting a taste of how to play and win (PC) in the post season. Could not be prouder of all of them!!
Ironically am heading over to the Whitt in a few; hubby's Robotics (and my high school) is competing in a U.S. First Robotics competition...that's gonna seem strange!
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
You guys made the best of a slow start. Good job out of the kitties. Should be a decent team next season
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
We hope. Not sure how much we are going to get out of next year's senior class. I'll be surprised if they match the level of Willows and Downing. And the incoming freshmen will have to progress at the same rate as the this year's frosh. But we do have some pieces in place, especially the goalie. First grain of optimism in awhile.
We hope. Not sure how much we are going to get out of next year's senior class. I'll be surprised if they match the level of Willows and Downing. And the incoming freshmen will have to progress at the same rate as the this year's frosh. But we do have some pieces in place, especially the goalie. First grain of optimism in awhile.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Had I known you'd be taking the RBP, I'd have suggested taking the Fellsway thru Medford/Melrose onto Rte. 1 north instead. File that away for future trips to the TD Garden. We too got comfy on arrival and didn't move much after.
As pointed out by several already on this thread ... UNH was in deep doo when it became evident they'd have to double shift Pesce and Cleland. And not to rain on anyone's "wait 'til next year!" parade, but if you subtract Pesce from that group last night, then UNH really is going to have issues with their transition play next season. It worries me that the likes of Chanter and Boyd (assuming Maller is still injured) could not crack the line-up ahead of Randall. Quast has gone from a spare part/4th pairing guy the last two seasons to eating up sizeable minutes on the 2nd pairing. Neither of those guys lacks for effort and commitment, but you're only going to get so far with them as regulars in the line-up. Furgele and Marks also made their share of frosh mistakes last night, but they will learn from the experience and apply that over the next 3 seasons. Chanter had some hype (relatively speaking, on a UNH scale) coming into the season, and it's disappointing he figured so little this season. Boyd also seemed to be an afterthought later in the season, after he'd gotten a lot of time earlier in the season.
Make no mistake - I'm not criticizing Coach for going with his best 6 on the backline, and the results over the last month-plus speak for themselves. But a returning Pesce is critical for UNH to buy the necessary time to allow the rest of the d-men to develop at this level. Otherwise, it's likely another season with the likes of Quast (a poor man's Jamie Fritsch - and JF wasn't exactly all-HE caliber either) on the second pairing, and that does not bode well for UNH's competitive development.
Enough of the "dark clouds over the horizon" ... given the above, it's a minor miracle that UNH got this far in the season, and there's absolutely no shame in the way they competed last night. They did a much better job than expected in containing BU's top lines, and in the end they got beaten by a hustle play by a 3rd/4th liner in the second period for the go-ahead goal. Eichel had two late tap-in goals, so if he's getting any of the headlines after this one, then shame on whoever is doing that (I haven't read anything yet, so I'm just guessing given NESN and TC's usual over-the-top hero worship). And I'll again go on the record here and predict UMass-Lowell is going to beat BU tonight for the three-peat. I was WAY more impressed with the methodical way the RiverHawks wore down and beat UVM into submission. UVM did a remarkable impression of UNH postseason teams past down the stretch.
It's funny ... for a UNH fan familiar with the Umile post-season dossier, we probably all spend too much time qualifying our analysis of the team's performance with congrats on them coming with full effort and commitment, and not quitting, etc. Such is the baggage that comes with some of the past disappointments by UNH teams with far superior talent. That should always be a given, and credit where credit is due, Coach Umile's last two teams have not subjected the fans to humiliating post-season capitulations, but rather have allowed us to get behind them and believe that anything was possible. And I think that's all most of us want ... a good team that gives honest effort and rises to the occasion when the chips are down.
But moral *victories* only get you so far when you're a program that wants to compete for serious postseason hardware. Two years in a row back at the Garden is good. But two years out of the national tourney is not. Next year's goal MUST be for UNH to return to both stages, and to continue some of the encouraging progress we've seen over the last couple of months. And folks above Coach Umile need to be part of that progression. More on that in the offseason ...
... for now, well done, 'Cats. You made what was a nondescript season an exciting one when it counted, and restored some of the pride and dignity that's been eroding for far too long. May next season be even more exciting!
Had I known you'd be taking the RBP, I'd have suggested taking the Fellsway thru Medford/Melrose onto Rte. 1 north instead. File that away for future trips to the TD Garden. We too got comfy on arrival and didn't move much after.
As pointed out by several already on this thread ... UNH was in deep doo when it became evident they'd have to double shift Pesce and Cleland. And not to rain on anyone's "wait 'til next year!" parade, but if you subtract Pesce from that group last night, then UNH really is going to have issues with their transition play next season. It worries me that the likes of Chanter and Boyd (assuming Maller is still injured) could not crack the line-up ahead of Randall. Quast has gone from a spare part/4th pairing guy the last two seasons to eating up sizeable minutes on the 2nd pairing. Neither of those guys lacks for effort and commitment, but you're only going to get so far with them as regulars in the line-up. Furgele and Marks also made their share of frosh mistakes last night, but they will learn from the experience and apply that over the next 3 seasons. Chanter had some hype (relatively speaking, on a UNH scale) coming into the season, and it's disappointing he figured so little this season. Boyd also seemed to be an afterthought later in the season, after he'd gotten a lot of time earlier in the season.
Make no mistake - I'm not criticizing Coach for going with his best 6 on the backline, and the results over the last month-plus speak for themselves. But a returning Pesce is critical for UNH to buy the necessary time to allow the rest of the d-men to develop at this level. Otherwise, it's likely another season with the likes of Quast (a poor man's Jamie Fritsch - and JF wasn't exactly all-HE caliber either) on the second pairing, and that does not bode well for UNH's competitive development.
Enough of the "dark clouds over the horizon" ... given the above, it's a minor miracle that UNH got this far in the season, and there's absolutely no shame in the way they competed last night. They did a much better job than expected in containing BU's top lines, and in the end they got beaten by a hustle play by a 3rd/4th liner in the second period for the go-ahead goal. Eichel had two late tap-in goals, so if he's getting any of the headlines after this one, then shame on whoever is doing that (I haven't read anything yet, so I'm just guessing given NESN and TC's usual over-the-top hero worship). And I'll again go on the record here and predict UMass-Lowell is going to beat BU tonight for the three-peat. I was WAY more impressed with the methodical way the RiverHawks wore down and beat UVM into submission. UVM did a remarkable impression of UNH postseason teams past down the stretch.
It's funny ... for a UNH fan familiar with the Umile post-season dossier, we probably all spend too much time qualifying our analysis of the team's performance with congrats on them coming with full effort and commitment, and not quitting, etc. Such is the baggage that comes with some of the past disappointments by UNH teams with far superior talent. That should always be a given, and credit where credit is due, Coach Umile's last two teams have not subjected the fans to humiliating post-season capitulations, but rather have allowed us to get behind them and believe that anything was possible. And I think that's all most of us want ... a good team that gives honest effort and rises to the occasion when the chips are down.
But moral *victories* only get you so far when you're a program that wants to compete for serious postseason hardware. Two years in a row back at the Garden is good. But two years out of the national tourney is not. Next year's goal MUST be for UNH to return to both stages, and to continue some of the encouraging progress we've seen over the last couple of months. And folks above Coach Umile need to be part of that progression. More on that in the offseason ...
... for now, well done, 'Cats. You made what was a nondescript season an exciting one when it counted, and restored some of the pride and dignity that's been eroding for far too long. May next season be even more exciting!
e.cat
Seasoned Veteran
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Thanks for that info Chuck. I will take note of the alternative route. BTW, I agree UML three peats and hope they do!
Ya, what's the over/under on Pesce returning? Hope he does!
Yes it will be interesting!
Had I known you'd be taking the RBP, I'd have suggested taking the Fellsway thru Medford/Melrose onto Rte. 1 north instead. File that away for future trips to the TD Garden. We too got comfy on arrival and didn't move much after.
Thanks for that info Chuck. I will take note of the alternative route. BTW, I agree UML three peats and hope they do!
Ya, what's the over/under on Pesce returning? Hope he does!
Yes it will be interesting!
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
I want to thank the seniors, who each had their own road to UNH and for those four years. I am always struck by the finality that occurs in a career, even though for many the hockey career will go on beyond UNH.
Grayson Downing came to UNH highly recruited in 2008 out of midget hockey, having attended WHL camps and making the college choice (his BC midget compatriot, Joey Laleggia, had committed a couple of months earlier). Grayson and Laleggia were originally slated for UNH for 2010, but deferred to 2011. Thankfully Grayson waited, while Joey Laleggia didn't take the slight as well (Chuck, as to your post below, would a Hobey Baker finalist made a difference?).
With similar toggling, Casey Thrush was supposed to come in 2012, but when Dan Correale injured his shoulder, Thrush was thrust into the 2011 class. He clearly worked hard and was responsible defensively. A three time Hockey East Academic member, he's got his head on straight.
Matt Willows was the underdog, a late recruit, overlooked through HS and through his career in a weak junior league. He really grew as a player, far exceeding any expectations and being one of the most dangerous offensive players in HE.
Jay Camper came to UNH always in the shadow of his older, better brother. He then had concussion issues that jeopardized his potential career. He was asked to do more than his skill set, but worked hard and scored a critical goal last week. Again, a three time Hockey East All-Academic team member.
Ryan Randall is a local kid from Oyster River HS, and perservered through being a bit part on the team his first three years, to play a fair amount this year. It must be a proud accomplishment for him to play for the team he grew up rooting for. Again, a three time Hockey East All-Academic team member.
TVR would be here but for -- like Willows -- him greatly exceeding any expectations. Like Laleggia, we can only imagine what the D would have been like had he been there.
Agreed 100%. This will be a big hole. I am reminded of Dave Tippett's analysis of defense
I would hope UNH's coaches have a similarly enlightened approach to the value of the big defenders vs. puck skills on D.
BU has tons of skill guys like Grzlyck and Fortunato, Hickey, and UNH never got any forecheck on them because it was tape to tape. In contrast, guys like Doyle Sommerby and Jon MacLeod are supposedly good defenders, but I don't mind playing against them.
Chanter could be one of the later ones, but UNh needs a couple of puck movers back there. I don't see that in Boyd, Marks, Maller. Even Cleland lacks mobility, though with some puck skills, a Brian Yandle-lite.
Masonius will be a good player, good skater, though his puck skills seemed OK, but the puck did not stick to his stick as well as we see in some opponents. It looks like Ryczek is adjusting nicely in the USHL so on the horizon he is the QB.
Granted, puck skills on D are not dime a dozen, but UNH has a glaring weakness, so I hope we get a D who can carry the puck or make a deke.
I want to thank the seniors, who each had their own road to UNH and for those four years. I am always struck by the finality that occurs in a career, even though for many the hockey career will go on beyond UNH.
Grayson Downing came to UNH highly recruited in 2008 out of midget hockey, having attended WHL camps and making the college choice (his BC midget compatriot, Joey Laleggia, had committed a couple of months earlier). Grayson and Laleggia were originally slated for UNH for 2010, but deferred to 2011. Thankfully Grayson waited, while Joey Laleggia didn't take the slight as well (Chuck, as to your post below, would a Hobey Baker finalist made a difference?).
With similar toggling, Casey Thrush was supposed to come in 2012, but when Dan Correale injured his shoulder, Thrush was thrust into the 2011 class. He clearly worked hard and was responsible defensively. A three time Hockey East Academic member, he's got his head on straight.
Matt Willows was the underdog, a late recruit, overlooked through HS and through his career in a weak junior league. He really grew as a player, far exceeding any expectations and being one of the most dangerous offensive players in HE.
Jay Camper came to UNH always in the shadow of his older, better brother. He then had concussion issues that jeopardized his potential career. He was asked to do more than his skill set, but worked hard and scored a critical goal last week. Again, a three time Hockey East All-Academic team member.
Ryan Randall is a local kid from Oyster River HS, and perservered through being a bit part on the team his first three years, to play a fair amount this year. It must be a proud accomplishment for him to play for the team he grew up rooting for. Again, a three time Hockey East All-Academic team member.
TVR would be here but for -- like Willows -- him greatly exceeding any expectations. Like Laleggia, we can only imagine what the D would have been like had he been there.
Agreed 100%. This will be a big hole. I am reminded of Dave Tippett's analysis of defense
I would hope UNH's coaches have a similarly enlightened approach to the value of the big defenders vs. puck skills on D.
BU has tons of skill guys like Grzlyck and Fortunato, Hickey, and UNH never got any forecheck on them because it was tape to tape. In contrast, guys like Doyle Sommerby and Jon MacLeod are supposedly good defenders, but I don't mind playing against them.
Chanter could be one of the later ones, but UNh needs a couple of puck movers back there. I don't see that in Boyd, Marks, Maller. Even Cleland lacks mobility, though with some puck skills, a Brian Yandle-lite.
Masonius will be a good player, good skater, though his puck skills seemed OK, but the puck did not stick to his stick as well as we see in some opponents. It looks like Ryczek is adjusting nicely in the USHL so on the horizon he is the QB.
Granted, puck skills on D are not dime a dozen, but UNH has a glaring weakness, so I hope we get a D who can carry the puck or make a deke.
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Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
Just a hunch but my guess is Brett Pesce returns for his senior season and is the Captain because:
~ He's only 20 years old - Trevor van Riemsdyk was nearly 23 last season when he left early to sign with Chicago.
~ The 9 games he missed due to injuries (first a leg injury then a respiratory problem) set his development back somewhat.
~ In recent weeks, he has been one of the faces of the program at the midweek and post-game press conferences.
Fingers crossed.
Just a hunch but my guess is Brett Pesce returns for his senior season and is the Captain because:
~ He's only 20 years old - Trevor van Riemsdyk was nearly 23 last season when he left early to sign with Chicago.
~ The 9 games he missed due to injuries (first a leg injury then a respiratory problem) set his development back somewhat.
~ In recent weeks, he has been one of the faces of the program at the midweek and post-game press conferences.
Fingers crossed.
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
The counter to that is that under the NHL CBA, a player drafted becomes a FA after his senior year. (See Kevin Hayes last year) So teams have an incentive to get the player after their junior year. Notwithstanding all of the valid personal reasons for a player returning, most often the monetary ones win out.
They will be a one line team unless Eiserman and BCHL rookies Vela and Blackburn to get up to speed quickly.
So.Foegele--So.Poturalski -- Jr.Kelleher
So.Eiserman -- Fr.Blackburn -- Fr.Vela
So.McNicholas--Sr.Smith -- Sr.Correale
So.Salvaggio--Sr.Gaudreault--Fr.BVR
Sr.Hill --Fr.Kalinowski --Fr.Miller
Jr.Bourque
Sr.Pesce--Fr.Masonius
Jr.Cleland--So.Furgele
Jr.Maller -- So.Marks
Sr.Quast--So.Chanter
So.Boyd
The counter to that is that under the NHL CBA, a player drafted becomes a FA after his senior year. (See Kevin Hayes last year) So teams have an incentive to get the player after their junior year. Notwithstanding all of the valid personal reasons for a player returning, most often the monetary ones win out.
They will be a one line team unless Eiserman and BCHL rookies Vela and Blackburn to get up to speed quickly.
So.Foegele--So.Poturalski -- Jr.Kelleher
So.Eiserman -- Fr.Blackburn -- Fr.Vela
So.McNicholas--Sr.Smith -- Sr.Correale
So.Salvaggio--Sr.Gaudreault--Fr.BVR
Sr.Hill --Fr.Kalinowski --Fr.Miller
Jr.Bourque
Sr.Pesce--Fr.Masonius
Jr.Cleland--So.Furgele
Jr.Maller -- So.Marks
Sr.Quast--So.Chanter
So.Boyd
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e.cat
Seasoned Veteran
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
I was thinking the same things and as you point out, hopefully he can go to school on TVR's misfortune this year. Pesce strikes me as one of those guys also that is very loyal to coach and the program. A "C" would fit his sweater nicely
I was thinking the same things and as you point out, hopefully he can go to school on TVR's misfortune this year. Pesce strikes me as one of those guys also that is very loyal to coach and the program. A "C" would fit his sweater nicely
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
If BU plays like they did in last night's first period, than I agree with you 100%. But I don't expect that to happen. BU's talent should win the day.
Of course, Chuck is on quite the prediction role, so BU's probably cooked. ****.
If BU plays like they did in last night's first period, than I agree with you 100%. But I don't expect that to happen. BU's talent should win the day.
Of course, Chuck is on quite the prediction role, so BU's probably cooked. ****.
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
No doubt Brett Pesce and his advisor(s) have this all figured out but this article seems to suggest that the Carolina Hurricanes would retain his rights until August 15, 2016 - 3 months after he graduates from UNH. In other words, Pesce could not declare himself a free agent on June 1, 2016, immediately after he graduates.
http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/6/7/4404684/nhl-cba-college-loophole-ncaa-change
Any lawyers out there who can help clarify this question?
No doubt Brett Pesce and his advisor(s) have this all figured out but this article seems to suggest that the Carolina Hurricanes would retain his rights until August 15, 2016 - 3 months after he graduates from UNH. In other words, Pesce could not declare himself a free agent on June 1, 2016, immediately after he graduates.
http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/6/7/4404684/nhl-cba-college-loophole-ncaa-change
Any lawyers out there who can help clarify this question?
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015
You are right, technically he'd have to wait to August 15th, but as a practical matter, its the off season. So, much like the MLB "exlusive period" of the first 10 days of the offseason, virtually all players who have gone that far will go to free agency to see what else is out there.
To avoid being in that situation, NHL teams lock their college picks up after their junior year.
You are right, technically he'd have to wait to August 15th, but as a practical matter, its the off season. So, much like the MLB "exlusive period" of the first 10 days of the offseason, virtually all players who have gone that far will go to free agency to see what else is out there.
To avoid being in that situation, NHL teams lock their college picks up after their junior year.
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