Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Certainly hope so, but that seems very unlikely.
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University of Maine Off-season 2024: Insert Pun Here
- Thread starter ticapnews
- Start date
Certainly hope so, but that seems very unlikely.
Don't sell this team short yet...still plenty of time to stock this roster and if and again if Breen/J.Nadeau return they are in better shape...but time will tell..does not look great now but just as fast as things changed last week they can rebound also...I still have hope.
NorthMike
Well-known member
Things were so deep in the dumpster no way after three years would all be well again.
The U and athletic dept buried it a long way by not making a major program refocus during the last quartile of the Whitehead time, and then just sleep walking by hiring Red.
Red just didnt have the drive and energy to rebuild nor have a modern system culture to utilize, he hung onto 30 year old methods, which didnt serve the program well.
I still have alot of faith in Barr, he has drive and energy, and I keep saying on here its going to be a bumpy ride. This next year could be a deep pothole, I can deal with that. Barr needs to and will get some deeper consistent success that will help recruiting and getting portal talent. Until that comes improvement will be gradual.
Dont forget the importance of the renovations, its two years out until done.
This portal and NIL business are admittedly wild cards, going to be for alot of teams, have to see on these. I believe Barr adapts and will succeed with the portal. Its doubtful NIL will be much of a factor in hockey for the near term anyhow.
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UnMcGovernable
Member
There's a lot of reasons to still have optimism about the long term outlook for the program:
-The NIL collective that was recently announced could be a game changer for Maine to recruit/keep talent.
-The investment in the facilities brings the program into the 21st century.
-Barr is recruiting athletes that are at least ranked. Hopefully this can turn into bringing in future NHL talent.
AMC
Registered User
I don't understand the sky is falling mantra. Outside of BU and BC, what roster in the league are you looking at and saying "Maine can't compete with that"? Lowell was bad and is having an exodus. UVM and Merrimack weren't exactly brimming with young talent. UConn lost its top scorer and goalie to the B1G. Northeastern lost the best defensive forward and a D-man to the NHL, and its second leading scorer graduates. UMass lost its top D pairing (who were also 2 of 3 leading scorers) to the NHL (and Makar to us).
I'd maybe slot Maine 5th or so right now, clearly behind BC/BU, likely behind Providence, about equal with UNH. UMass and NU close behind. Maybe 3-7 turns into a muddle, but that's fine.
I'd maybe slot Maine 5th or so right now, clearly behind BC/BU, likely behind Providence, about equal with UNH. UMass and NU close behind. Maybe 3-7 turns into a muddle, but that's fine.
Does Maine have an actual collective or just a marketplace?
I think at this point BU and BC are a million miles ahead of everyone else. They also clearly have really good coaching which I’m not sure was always the case. I’m not super bullish on the rest of the league though. Providence, UMA, UML, and NEU are all in various stages of
decline. UConn seems like it has plateaued and not sure they go much further. UNH had a decent year last year and probably will again next year but the school itself has major issues which will likely hold them back. Merrimack might yo-yo some but don’t see them being a major factor and don’t see UVM doing much anytime soon.
Hopefully Barr can fix the recruiting. There is no doubt the new facilities will help and I’m sure each year he learns a little more what works and does not work at Maine. Union, Providence, and UMA are all a lot more selective than Maine so perhaps he needs to adjust his approach some.
Is the last date to enter portal on May 14..? If so then still lots of time for others to enter...but the BIG fish are mostly out there now...and would assume most programs want to get there rosters set as in players that have played and then bring in incoming recruits to establish there mindset for the upcoming season in the fall...seems far away...but it goes quick. Figure once the Frozen 4 week/weekend is over that we see pretty much what Maine will have in place for 2024-25.
I would mostly agree with this. Losing Bradly sucks, but he's the only really irreplaceable part that's left so far. It's not like Maine is getting decimated by the portal, and portal entries have slowed dramatically recently so I don't think they will all of a sudden lose a big piece who decides to tranfer out. If anything, the portal is already a net-positive for Maine, and could potentially become even more of a boon. Now, pro signings, sure, everyone is on #BreenWatch and #JoshWatch, but the more days that go by the likelier it is they stay. I don't expect them to bottom out next year.
I also don't believe in the idea that Maine is doomed to never be competitive again. They will never be a BC or BU tier program, and they'll probably never be back to what the Walsh era was like (not that I remember it), but seasons like this past year are not out of reach to have on a semi-consistent basis, maybe with the stray year here or there that they can be even better and be playing this weekend. I don't think Maine is destined to be a bottom feeder forever.
umhockey91
Well-known member
I was told that "Bear Down Collective" is in place and would be announced "soon". I have not seen, heard or found anything since this info was given to me on 3/26.
umhockey91
Well-known member
I don't agree that Maine will never be a BC or BU tier program. That's what they said back in the day until Shawn Walsh came along and changed everything. Boston schools will always have recruiting advantages due to being located in Boston as well as deep historical "bloodlines" in the New England hockey community. Maine's renovated/new facilities and the formation of a NIL collective will help with recruiting "blue chippers". The crowd support and excitement last season was "Walsh Era" level...even better in terms of revenue generation.
The one concern that I do have is the capacity of Alfond (5K) and the amount of space available in the facility for future revenue generation.....although the new renovation is addressing some of those concerns with expanded concessions and possibly club seating (?). A brand new facility with more and better seating would have been great IMO but the fan base would have freaked out and it would have cost $150 million which would have severely limited other athletic facility improvements.
Agree with um91. To say Maine can never compete with bu and bc is just wrong. Proof is recent pc and umass national titles
AMC
Registered User
Agreed. I think Maine would need to do things a bit differently than BU/BC do, but Maine can absolutely be successful. It's probably a harder road, but it is a road.
I don't mean that I don't think they can compete with them, what I meant was more that Maine will never have a steady stream of first round, Top 10 picks at the top of their lineup year in and year out like they do. A well built and well coached team can easily compete with a team full of top talent, and I think Maine could very feasibly become, and in fact is on the way to becoming, that well built, well coached team that can swing with the big fellas, a la Amherst, Providence, or Q.
walrus
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Does the portal change that?, No portal when those 2 schools did that
Hoover
New member
I just received my issue of "The Hockey News" today - there's a page-and-a-half feature on Bradly Nadeau. It was written before he signed with Carolina, but it's a nice article focused on his season at Maine. It also touched on his time in Penticton with Josh and the resurgence of interest in Maine Hockey.
For me, it was nice to see a feature on a kid from my home province of New Brunswick. Throughout the season I was very proud to tell anyone who would listen that this years Black Bears roster included not 1, not 2, but 3 key players from NB! My wife and I were at both games against Boston College and we were impressed with the energy and excitement around Orono that weekend. We met Lynden Breen's mom in Saint John on our way back to Mississauga, and told her that interest in the Black Bears was on the rise - even outside of Maine!
Things can change quickly in college hockey as we've seen in the past few days. I'm disappointed that I won't get to see an encore season from Bradly, but hope he has success at the next level(s). I hope the real fans will continue to support and root for the Black Bears next season regardless of the roster changes we've seen and are likely to see going forward.
For me, it was nice to see a feature on a kid from my home province of New Brunswick. Throughout the season I was very proud to tell anyone who would listen that this years Black Bears roster included not 1, not 2, but 3 key players from NB! My wife and I were at both games against Boston College and we were impressed with the energy and excitement around Orono that weekend. We met Lynden Breen's mom in Saint John on our way back to Mississauga, and told her that interest in the Black Bears was on the rise - even outside of Maine!
Things can change quickly in college hockey as we've seen in the past few days. I'm disappointed that I won't get to see an encore season from Bradly, but hope he has success at the next level(s). I hope the real fans will continue to support and root for the Black Bears next season regardless of the roster changes we've seen and are likely to see going forward.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Right.
My concern is that Maine had fallen off kids' radars while under Red, and the portal guys don't see it as a prime destination.
(Imagine if there'd been a portal when Shawn made Maine elite. He'd have been beating plums transfers off with a baseball bat.)
I would postulate that what kids who are going to be D1 players want, primarily, is a more direct path to becoming a professional hockey player. Shiny facilities and an exciting fanbase can sure help, but in the end, kids, especially highly talented ones, want to know that they are going to a place that can help progress their development in a way that will eventually help get them to the big leagues, or at least to sign a contract and have a chance at the big leagues. What is going to inspire that confidence in kids is a solid coach with a good program who can help them grow as a player, and hopefully as a man too. If your coach can build a perception of "Hey, going there is gonna help you develop the skills you need to become a pro", you automatically become a lot more attractive as a destination to both recruits and their advisers. In my view, the first, second, and third most important element to success, especially in hockey, is a good head coaching hire. I have faith that Barr will help create this culture around Maine, but time will tell if this faith is justified.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Well that is off to a good start. You have a late first rounder that just went pro after one season. Barr coached defense at UMass, where Cale Makar flourished under his coaching. Younger Makar is transferring here to get better. Not sure who else Barr coached that went pro, but probably quite a few given he was assistant for Union, Providence, and UMass. You got Alfie who was the goalie coach of a starting NHL goalie in Jerry Swayman, who also got the Richter award for best goalie. He coached Ostman to a Richter finalist last year, and this year Ostman is signed as a pro. So…