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Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Wholin1 said:
I can't be too specific because of my sources (I know that sounds very cryptic but I want to share as much with everyone as I am at liberty to do) but I can say that I've been told that Nate has not had a "handsoff" policy with regard to announced recruits. I realize this is double hearsay, but I would not post it if I wasn't confident of its accuracy.
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Perhaps this explains why one or two Union recruits accelerated and are coming this Fall?
 
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Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

ADK11 said:
Perhaps this explains why a one or two Union recruits accelerated and are coming this Fall?
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Good observation, hadn't thought of that. I will try to look into that possibility and report back. In the meantime, I think we are in good shape going forward with a solid if not spectacular recruiting class. There always seems to be a positive surprise or two in each group, so I'm hoping for that to prove out. I think Rick feels pretty confident with this new group as he is likely familiar with all from the recruiting process. Pretty obvious that our young goaltending corps will be the big question mark.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Wholin1 said:
Not sure I really want to resurrect the whole Nate thing, but what the heck, it's the dog days of summer. My statement had to do with other recruiting issues of which I have become aware and not involving LaPlante. I think Nate has put himself into a highly pressurized situation where he is being paid big money and results will be expected to improve maybe not this season, but very soon and very significantly. By contrast he left a low pressure environment where expectations and pressure to win are far lower.
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I have no doubt that some/all of this may be true, but it ignores the the other half of the equation, that being the player. Kids - 16, 17 & 18 yr. old KIDS - make the biggest commitment of their lives based on their relationship and assurances from the COACH. As much as it sucks for U fans, its hardly a surprise that some kids have followed Nate to PC.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Wicked Slappaahs said:
I have no doubt that some/all of this may be true, but it ignores the the other half of the equation, that being the player. Kids - 16, 17 & 18 yr. old KIDS - make the biggest commitment of their lives based on their relationship and assurances from the COACH. As much as it sucks for U fans, its hardly a surprise that some kids have followed Nate to PC.
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I don't think anyone is ignoring that this can and has happened. From all accounts, Drew Brown initiated conversations with Leaman about coming to Providence and LaPlante was officially told he wouldn't play hockey at Union so he was essentially free to be recruited by anyone else. That's kids making their own choices.

But I think its different if any coach actively contacts players that he knows have committed to another program.. particularly if said coach recruited those players at that program in the first place. Yes, with Union its all verbal commitments that don't really hold any water, but its still not very ethical and at the very least shows a total lack of respect towards Union. Obviously, there isn't any hard proof that Leaman has done anything like this, but I do find it slightly odd that Union could have 10 d-men on the roster next season including one that just turned 18 and probably could have used a season in juniors.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

There are two ways of looking at this. From Union's perspective if a recruit contacts a former coach, Union would want that coach to say "I can't talk to you about this", period. I understand that in the real world this may not be a realistic expectation. In any event, there is little that can be done about it at this point. Obviously, if the player was enamored primarily with the coach in making his decision in the recruiting process, that player will likely jump ship as is his prerogative. If the player is most concerned about the right academic fit and the college experience, then he likely stays. Most kids who I have spoken with told me that it was a combination of both factors so maybe I'm all wet. Just my two cents, but I think I would rather have a player who really wants to go to Union and also is enamored with the hockey program, than one who is simply looking to advance his hockey career. Of course I also think about a kid like Andrew Buote who related the story of how he was almost literally a last minute recruit at Union, who came sight unseen to Schenectady, but grew to love both the college and the hockey program.

BTW, it appears that replay cameras have been installed over both goals and on the game clock. They will be used in all games except against RPI. ;)
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

ADK11 said:
Obviously, there isn't any hard proof that Leaman has done anything like this, but I do find it slightly odd that Union could have 10 d-men on the roster next season including one that just turned 18 and probably could have used a season in juniors.
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Can we borrow a couple? :D
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

The new roster is up on the school website.. 29 strong and includes Ingoldsby, which I hope is a good sign that he may play again. http://www.unionathletics.com/roster.aspx?roster=195

And some nice quotes from Welsh on his experience at the Blackhawks camp.. http://unionhockey.tumblr.com/post/7814577551/jeremy-welsh-and-mat-bodie-share-thoughts-from .. really toots Union's horn as a place to get good coaching, etc. Also see that Welsh is an asst. captain, which is hopefully a good sign that he'll be back next season. I believe Zajac & White are the other captains, but don't see this confirmed anywhere else..
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Dutchfan said:
This was funny and clever the first couple of times you posted the #26 thing. The other hundred times have been unoriginal and boring.
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What would you expect from a guy who was trashing the program ona live blog last eyar during the NCAA's. On there pulling against you and dumping on the program, all the while pretending to be your friend.

Real stand up guy
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

The UHBlog has noted that Bergeron is no longer on the roster. He was earlier, as I counted 29 players total and now there are only 28. He probably saw that his chances of any game time were slim & none with 9 other d-men on the roster.. or at least 8 if Ingoldsby is still out.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

The interlocking coaching mechanism continues in full force as former PC assistant Dave Berard is hired for the same job at UConn which was created by the vacancy formed when UConn's assistant Joe Dumais was hired by Union after Ben Barr moved to PC with Nate Leaman...oh never mind. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Wholin1 said:
The interlocking coaching mechanism continues in full force as former PC assistant Dave Berard is hired for the same job at UConn which was created by the vacancy formed when UConn's assistant Joe Dumais was hired by Union after Ben Barr moved to PC with Nate Leaman...oh never mind. :rolleyes:
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...who lived in the house that Jack built. :D Ya know, it'd be funny if this coaching carousel were entirely cyclical.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Thanks to Without a Peer where I picked up this tidbit on potential recruits from its posting on USA U-18 Select Team now competing in the Hlinka Tournament in Czech Republic / Slovakia, under Seth Appert. Does anyone remember his father?

F Sam Kurker (St. John's Prep, Massachusetts)
6'2", 200
Kurker is almost certainly on RPI's radar at the very least - he told the Boston Globe in March that academics are very important to him and that he was stressing the SAT because of Ivy League concerns. Throw in the fact that his father played for Union in Division III in the 1980s, and he's got local connections. As a big, physical scoring threat, he'd be a great addition in Troy if the stars align correctly (and a nice ***-for-tat since Union's got a player in Josh Jooris whose father played at RPI), but he does seem destined for the ECAC at any rate.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Received season ticket brochure / application today.
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

Wholin1 said:
Received season ticket brochure / application today.
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How much are they? I didn't get them last year when I went to about a dozen games (probably spent $100-$120) but would consider going all in this year. All but 2 of the home dates look doable for me this year. Are there any incentives to get season tickets?
 
Re: Union Hockey 2011 Off Season Thread-"Union, We've Paid Our Dues"

rdf8585 said:
How much are they? I didn't get them last year when I went to about a dozen games (probably spent $100-$120) but would consider going all in this year. All but 2 of the home dates look doable for me this year. Are there any incentives to get season tickets?
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Bleacher seats are $119 before Sept. 1st, $129 after. Individual tix are $9 and $11, the latter for RPI, Clarkson and Cornell. There are only 14 home games this season and none in December. In previous years season ticket holders also received a complimentary preferred parking pass which I assume will be the case this year as well. You need to arrive by 6:30 or so for a 7:00 game to be relatively assured of a space.
 
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