Does Maine have NIL money to work with.
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University of Maine 2024–2025: Freel-ing good
- Thread starter UMO Better Blues
- Start date
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
If Whistle is upset by Barrs coaching techniques can you imagine him around a young Walshy? In todays day and age when players can come and go as they please why would any coach just berate players ? I heard that about Reds first season but never heard it again.
If Boija hangs around Maine will be OK. Maine will still be offensively challenged unless Barr brings some offense in?? That remains to be seen.
If Boija hangs around Maine will be OK. Maine will still be offensively challenged unless Barr brings some offense in?? That remains to be seen.
grooverider
Your Team Sucks
I was thinking the same thing
Its just a troll for attention replies is what the clown wants
Last night was hard to watch, but at the same time, the outcome wasn't shocking. This team has been somewhat inconsistent, particularly on offense, all season. High highs and low lows. We didn't find the extra gear, or any gear, against a very fast and talented PSU. Agree with many of the previous comments. We desperately need a few ringers.
All that said, it was an incredibly fun team to watch on the many good nights. The program is alive and kicking again which will hopefully translate into some key talent pick-ups in the off-season. Onward and upward! Go Blue!
All that said, it was an incredibly fun team to watch on the many good nights. The program is alive and kicking again which will hopefully translate into some key talent pick-ups in the off-season. Onward and upward! Go Blue!
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HockeyRef
Well-known member
Don't even think of taking Lavins!!! Ha!
He must be the guy. Phone call to Ben Barr...".theres a guy named Levins who needs to become a BB"
Last night was an example of why playing a game once a year in Portland is a good thing. Players need that experience playing in a non-Alfond arena where crowd support is not what you get at Alfond. Not to mention the engagement of a fan base in the Portland area will add to the number of fans with the money and desire to travel wherever they go. You cant have too many fans on the road to support the team. That was on display in spades last night with Penn States packing of the arena with loud and strong support of their team. Also think Maine should try to schedule some away games at the big schools to get that experience....like Minnesota, Denver, Michigan State, North Dakota and yes even Penn State. It might not help their PWR, but eventually if you want to hold up the big trophy you have to go through those type teams in a less than friendly evironment.
grooverider
Your Team Sucks
We will be at Denver this coming season for 2 games
UncleRay
M-A-I-N-E, GooOOO, Blue!
For me, last night is why I think the four 1 seeds should host the regionals. And if Alfond isn't big enough, for example, each school could have a backup rink. Think UConn and their glorified HS rink. But to stay with this host school thing,I believe the host should be a 1 or 2 seed to stay "home" - otherwise they should travel.
None of that would have been the difference last night. Maine brought a stock car to an F1 race. Those guys were fast.
I always like to read all the comments on here and I don't really post much. Always a lot of passion from some, along with some head scratching from others. Don't get me started with the social media posts whining/blaming refs, announcers, Maine always getting the raw deal blah blah. But, I couldn't agree more with the post from Drew S.
As always, the elephant in the room is can Ben Barr (or any coach) get 'elite' players up in Orono. Maybe, with the resurgence of the culture/success and CHL deal?, renovations..etc.? We all know the landscape of college hockey has changed with new teams, portal, NIL..etc.. And, you can't hang your hat on just hard work, it's not sustainable. If you just want to work hard and live near Boston, you can play for a team like Bentley. The boys looked great in the first half of the season with fresh legs and once again (same as last year) in the second half they were Jekyll & Hyde, didn't know what you were going get (other than hard work) on any given night. These are great kids!! and good players that work very hard every night and thankful for them, but Maine needs some elite talent with high level skill that can put the puck in the net. And, I believe it will take a lot of work to consistently get them to Orono. Barr and staff will have to work hard. I think Barr is starting to understand and feel the responsibility of what Maine Hockey means to the whole state of Maine. I don't think he knew that comin' in.
As Far as the post from 'Whistle', oh please...this is big boy hockey. if you can find any parallels to D1 big boy football...I don't think Nick Saban gave a rats a$$ about offending any players, parents or fans to get his players motivated to play and if they weren't motivated, they weren't playing. Ben Barr's job is to win the National Championship and to develop his players. He may hurt a few feelings along the way
As always, the elephant in the room is can Ben Barr (or any coach) get 'elite' players up in Orono. Maybe, with the resurgence of the culture/success and CHL deal?, renovations..etc.? We all know the landscape of college hockey has changed with new teams, portal, NIL..etc.. And, you can't hang your hat on just hard work, it's not sustainable. If you just want to work hard and live near Boston, you can play for a team like Bentley. The boys looked great in the first half of the season with fresh legs and once again (same as last year) in the second half they were Jekyll & Hyde, didn't know what you were going get (other than hard work) on any given night. These are great kids!! and good players that work very hard every night and thankful for them, but Maine needs some elite talent with high level skill that can put the puck in the net. And, I believe it will take a lot of work to consistently get them to Orono. Barr and staff will have to work hard. I think Barr is starting to understand and feel the responsibility of what Maine Hockey means to the whole state of Maine. I don't think he knew that comin' in.
As Far as the post from 'Whistle', oh please...this is big boy hockey. if you can find any parallels to D1 big boy football...I don't think Nick Saban gave a rats a$$ about offending any players, parents or fans to get his players motivated to play and if they weren't motivated, they weren't playing. Ben Barr's job is to win the National Championship and to develop his players. He may hurt a few feelings along the way
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
I don't believe it had anything to do with tired or fresh legs, first half, out of conference teams second half, all conference games.
Just a few days after winning Hockey East Championship I received an email from Ben Barr. Perhaps some of the posters here received one as well. He wants money. Nothing like striking while the "irons hot". I don't know what Maine's NIL funding situation is, but they are going to need money in order to compete for top talent.
Money will always be the name of the game. Made a comment in the FB group the other day to a thread laughing at UNH. It wasn’t so long ago that Maine was in the same boat, trying to decide whether or not to move on from a coach, fighting funding issues, facility upgrades etc. We are lucky to have Barr but I agree that the staff has their work cut out for them in today’s game to recruit top talent. Having the blue collar, hard working guys is great but unfortunately can only get you so far. Again, on a good night, you can compete with anyone, but the bad nights are generally really bad. If it weren’t for goaltending this season, this team is near the bottom of Hockey East. Their ability to salvage points from poor performances and shootout wins is the only thing that saved them in the long run. The model is generally not sustainable long term when as mentioned, you don’t know what team you will get show up on any given night. The margin of error between having a good night and a terrible one is far too thin.
Patman
Rodent of Unusual Size
I only was there through the first period but it'd laughable to think that Maine "mentally tanked" last night out of "exhaustion". Sometimes you make bad choices, sometimes they come out faster than you. Penn State found more chances in the first but the first 10 minutes was definitely maine forward. I thought through one reffing was... Maine got about what they deserved in aggregate but they were lucky that first boarding call wasn't a major.
I left to go out to a brewery then back home near DC so I didn't see the rest. Penn State came out hard charging. Could be Maine didn't expect that? I don't know.
Seems like Maine came out thinking they were going to push them around and be physical which resulted in penalty trouble and Penn really wasn’t phased by the attempted physicality, they instead killed us with their speed and precision in transition. Had it not been for Boija, the score could have easily been 7 or 8 to 1. He stopped two breakaways and had 3-4 other grade A saves. This is the fastest team I recall seeing that we’ve played this year and Maine had no answer. Unsure if it wasn’t expected or if the coaching staff just didn’t prepare them for that style of game or what.
NorthMike
Well-known member
I only partially agree with the lack of talent and working hard only gets you so far outlook.. Ill take this any day over the prior 20 years. Gosh for a team with no talent and barely a coach according to some the boys did pretty good. Hard work pays off huge dividends with or without talent.
Some offensive talent is needed, yes, but absolutely have to fit into the culture that this team has cemented for the near future. Primarily hard work, play for each other, and very important is to want and be proud to put that jersey on. Its a cliche but true - the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the one on the back.
Get some skill in house that buys into the culture and is willing to fill the needed rolls and not go off and pout if it doesn't click. The sky is the limit, hard work definitely included.
NorthMike
Well-known member
Just an afterthought on my rant but anyone on here who might think Maine will ever stand a chance to match talent with the unmentioned teams, you know who, isnt being realistic. It aint tbe 1990s anymore. Not gonna happen. Barrs recipe for success is working, and the correct talent will come along that will supplement the team in the right ways. Teams with loads of talent can struggle too. Who was it the gophers, that had a fight break out in practice. Dont want any part of team like that
I really disagree with the idea that Maine would have been at the bottom of the conference without stellar goaltending. Thats a statement that was true about 19-20 with Swayman, but this team was far better than that. I think with average goaltending (by HEA standards) Maine would have been in more like 4th or 5th place. They are still defensively structured and limited chances. I agree with NorthMikes post in particular. I do agree with the larger overall point that they need to find some more consistency in performance, but that's a separate point in my opinion. Point stands, I think it's safe to say we all agree that the team needs more offensive firepower; we'll see if they can get it. It could either come from a newcomer, or if someone on the current roster can have a Joey Muldowney-esque improvement in one year. Unlikely, but maybe not impossible I would say.
WhistleBB009
New member
I understand that my post has sparked reactions. I was simply expressing my perspective based on the information I have—information that you obviously don’t all have. We have to remember that it’s not just about hockey. These are young men who are also students. And we must also keep in mind that the NCAA has a principle—the principle of student-athlete well-being—which states that programs must be conducted in a manner that protects the physical and educational well-being of student-athletes. They must also protect their mental health environment.
That’s where the issue lies, and that’s the point I wanted to raise. There’s a real problem in that regard. And I’m not the only one saying it. Today, I’m speaking out. I’m sounding the alarm. Because this has to stop.
Some players are suffering—not all, of course. Some have privileges. But others are struggling quietly, and that is unacceptable in college hockey.
We need to be more aware and more sensitive to what these young men are going through. Behind the jerseys and stats, they’re human beings—students, sons, teammates—who deserve respect, fairness, and support.
That’s where the issue lies, and that’s the point I wanted to raise. There’s a real problem in that regard. And I’m not the only one saying it. Today, I’m speaking out. I’m sounding the alarm. Because this has to stop.
Some players are suffering—not all, of course. Some have privileges. But others are struggling quietly, and that is unacceptable in college hockey.
We need to be more aware and more sensitive to what these young men are going through. Behind the jerseys and stats, they’re human beings—students, sons, teammates—who deserve respect, fairness, and support.