Utica University 2022-23: Is This The Year?

[CUgradUUfan]

Can you please post here on behalf of Utica fans more often?

I’ve been a season ticket holder since the start, I will root for this team no matter how good they are, I will come home from every game horse from yelling and cheering, but I will also be the first the point out flaws with the team. I tend to be very critical, I’ll be the first to admit I expected a loss last night.

I think the talent on the UU team is deep and with the right experience (playing harder teams) they could be national champions but with how relaxed and sloppy they can get sometimes, it won’t happen. Maybe that’s why I’m so critical, because I know what this team could achieve and get frustrated when they make the errors and such like they do.

It also frustrates me knowing the team will be D1 in a couple years (the school was approved for D2 and is looking for a conference for D1 hockey) and how much they are going to struggle. I hear fans all the time saying they are the best in the country in D3 and they will transition fine, and I just want to shake them and say no, not gonna happen. I went to Clarkson from Aug of 2013 to Dec of 2017 and didn’t miss a single game during that time. I watched some of the best D1 hockey there is between ECAC and Hockey East, it’s another level. And the casual to semi serious UU fans that haven’t watched much D1 I don’t think get that. In my opinion D1 skill level is closer to that of the ECHL or AHL than it is to D3.

 

[JSicedog]

Bush move by Utica's coaching staff not shaking hands last night

The coaches of both teams did shake. UNE coaches didn’t partake in the handshake line with the players either. You are wrong here

 

[spwood]

The coaches of both teams did shake. UNE coaches didn’t partake in the handshake line with the players either. You are wrong here

Plattsburgh’s coach, when Bob Emery was coach never went through the handshake line. It wasn’t listed in the postgame protocols (don’t know if that’s changed or not), but he was available for any player that wanted to shake hands after they went through the line. And he and his staff always shook hands with the other coaches outside the line.

 

[Dolphin1717]

New to the board but not d3 hockey. Maybe Utica honestly needs to take a look at the man in charge of the program. An elite level setup for d-3 (and better than some d-1) and he only has delivered 1 NCAA Tournament Win. They beat up on below average teams in league full of expansion teams. This rumored d1 move is coming sure but I do not think you have the right man leading the charge in Utica. Out coached two years in a row. Utica relied solely on skill they were out worked and coached

 

[CUgradUUfan]

New to the board but not d3 hockey. Maybe Utica honestly needs to take a look at the man in charge of the program. An elite level setup for d-3 (and better than some d-1) and he only has delivered 1 NCAA Tournament Win. They beat up on below average teams in league full of expansion teams. This rumored d1 move is coming sure but I do not think you have the right man leading the charge in Utica. Out coached two years in a row. Utica relied solely on skill they were out worked and coached

I don’t disagree with this at all. I really don’t know if Heenan is the right coach for the job. However I don’t see a change happening within the organization since Heenan is basically the whole
driving force for UU moving up.

And I think your second part is perfectly worded. All season they can rely on skill and never have to work hard. If they could combine that skill with the hard work I see from the other top programs, UU could definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[Dolphin1717]

Also what’s next with a senior loaded roster? How do they reload? Do they take a step back next year? Maybe they reload by telling kids d1 even though those kids wouldn’t be part of the bigger picture. Example Lindenwood and Stonehill

 

[jerrynu26]

I don’t disagree with this at all. I really don’t know if Heenan is the right coach for the job. However I don’t see a change happening within the organization since Heenan is basically the whole
driving force for UU moving up.

He may be the driving force, but based on playoff results I would think athletic department should be looking for a coach to win at the NEXT level.

 

[JSicedog]

He may be the driving force, but based on playoff results I would think athletic department should be looking for a coach to win at the NEXT level.

There might not be a coach in all of college hockey with better job security than Heenan. He isn’t going anywhere, and it will never be discussed seriously within the University.

 

[Sir Nubs]

There might not be a coach in all of college hockey with better job security than Heenan. He isn’t going anywhere, and it will never be discussed seriously within the University.

Probably no doubt there, but then there's little doubt the flameouts in March will continue.

 

[jerrynu26]

There might not be a coach in all of college hockey with better job security than Heenan. He isn’t going anywhere, and it will never be discussed seriously within the University.

Krug for one.

 

[Fishman'81]

He may be the driving force, but based on playoff results I would think athletic department should be looking for a coach to win at the NEXT level.

Why, again, are you offering an opinion, when you know nothing about the topic?

UC (at that time, and, likewise, many ECAC West teams) didn't get a free ride to the NCAA's. There were, like, 3 BS Pool C berths, and they weren't granted on the basis of anything remotely objective. Both Hobart, UC, and a number of other W teams were screwed each and every year.

Please, go back to the NU thread and lick your wounds. You have nothing to offer here.

 

[Fishman'81]

To be fair, Fishman did make his concern about Utica's goaltending quite early in the season. And he was definitely setting "himself' up for a lose in the last few weeks of the season. He knew it might come.

I have eyes... The goaltending was clearly suspect from the get-go. Anyone who had the slightest clue could recognize that much.

And, JSYK, I wasn't sand-bagging, which is to say: I wasn't setting myself up for a "lose"...

That empirical evidence was clear from the Adrian weekend, and throughout the year.

Still, a great team up-front, and on the blue line. Switch goalies last night, the game would have been a blowout.

 

[Fishman'81]

I’ve been a season ticket holder since the start, I will root for this team no matter how good they are, I will come home from every game horse from yelling and cheering, but I will also be the first the point out flaws with the team. I tend to be very critical, I’ll be the first to admit I expected a loss last night.

I think the talent on the UU team is deep and with the right experience (playing harder teams) they could be national champions but with how relaxed and sloppy they can get sometimes, it won’t happen. Maybe that’s why I’m so critical, because I know what this team could achieve and get frustrated when they make the errors and such like they do.

It also frustrates me knowing the team will be D1 in a couple years (the school was approved for D2 and is looking for a conference for D1 hockey) and how much they are going to struggle. I hear fans all the time saying they are the best in the country in D3 and they will transition fine, and I just want to shake them and say no, not gonna happen. I went to Clarkson from Aug of 2013 to Dec of 2017 and didn’t miss a single game during that time. I watched some of the best D1 hockey there is between ECAC and Hockey East, it’s another level. And the casual to semi serious UU fans that haven’t watched much D1 I don’t think get that. In my opinion D1 skill level is closer to that of the ECHL or AHL than it is to D3.

I agree completely. I just don't get why Utica seeks to be an also-ran in a crummy D-1 conference, when it could be a big fish in a small D-3 pond.

People buy tickets to see the local team win, and Utica won't win much, even in the AHA.

There is some verifiable evidence: witness the failed RIT venture into the deep end of the pool.

 

[17'sfanNU]

Totally uncalled for Fish. Maybe it's time to stop posting until you can be civil, to everyone!

By the way, at NU, we lick our wounds the same way as you do. Except we strive to take on new challenges by having a decent strength of schedule, making the work harder but bringing home greater rewards. Utica might want to try that for a change snd see how they are rewarded.

Don't even think about attacking me for the truth I just spoke of. I don't take your insults to heart and dont want to hear you taking your frustration out on people who enjoy hockey.

I do hope to read more posts from you that are constructive and thought provoking. Im serious about that. No more insults, way more insights

 

[Fishman'81]

Agreed, I think it was after the opening weekend that Fish posted his concerns about tending. I have had the same feeling all season, and it seems to be a general sentiment around the arena as well that tending is the weakest spot. However, I can agree with Prezde above and say tending isn’t the only issue. A reoccurring issue I have seen the past few seasons from UU is a lack of step up in the playoffs. While other teams play at a higher pace come playoffs UU seems to mostly play at the same intensity as the regular season (barring moments here and there like the 3 unanswered last night).

I have season tickets with a large group of people and when talking to them, we all question the #1 ranking most of the time. My feeling is even if the PWR is a perfect system that accounts for everything perfectly (which we all know it’s not quite) something it doesn’t account for is preparedness. And quite frankly as long as UU is in such a weak league as UCHC, they will never be prepared to play against top ranked opponents. They can basically glide through the season and never have to learn how to grind out hard wins. That’s what the playoffs are, a grind, and the team that grinds the hardest typically comes out victorious.

Not so sure.

I didn't think that UU loafed at all, and I've had season tickets for 22 years. I've been publicly critical of Heenan here and there over the years, but he NEVER accepts a lack of effort. His guys play hard, or they sit.

It was very clearly sub-par goaltending that was the only weak link this season.

VERY clearly. The rest of the roster was outstanding.

 

[Dolphin1717]

They won 2… 2 out of conference games. Plymouth and Oswego. This team for the last two years on paper should have been in the finals but they choked. It all starts with your coach not getting you ready. They have no systems and no defensive structure. Heenan relies heavily upon skill to win games. And when UU faces someone who knows how to coach they fold.

 

[Sir Nubs]

I agree completely. I just don't get why Utica seeks to be an also-ran in a crummy D-1 conference, when it could be a big fish in a small D-3 pond.

People buy tickets to see the local team win, and Utica won't win much, even in the AHA.

There is some verifiable evidence: witness the failed RIT venture into the deep end of the pool.

Utica has won one NCAA Tournament game in its history. That makes it a long way from being a big fish. Right now the Pios are just a guppy in a shark tank.

RIT made a Frozen Four in Division 1. That required two wins in that tournament to achieve it. Which is twice as many as Utica has won at the D-3 level ever.

 

[Sir Nubs]

I have eyes... The goaltending was clearly suspect from the get-go. Anyone who had the slightest clue could recognize that much.

And, JSYK, I wasn't sand-bagging, which is to say: I wasn't setting myself up for a "lose"...

That empirical evidence was clear from the Adrian weekend, and throughout the year.

Still, a great team up-front, and on the blue line. Switch goalies last night, the game would have been a blowout.

Yet with this suspect goaltending you still predicted a 4-1 win over UNE. You were so confident you even stated you would bet your life on it.

Face it, you are just rationalizing another choke job by scapegoating the goaltender, who is probably a nice young man who did his best. When it reality it is likely a complete team and program failure to be prepared for the big stage.

 

[WCHornet]

Utica has won one NCAA Tournament game in its history. That makes it a long way from being a big fish. Right now the Pios are just a guppy in a shark tank.

RIT made a Frozen Four in Division 1. That required two wins in that tournament to achieve it. Which is twice as many as Utica has won at the D-3 level ever.

RIT was in the D-1 Tourney in 2010. It was at the Igloo in Pittsburgh. I know this because earlier that day I had back surgery at the Jho Institute at Allegheny Medical. My room overlooked the city of Pittsburgh. I honestly cannot remember who they played or the outcome.

 

[UCBadger]

RIT was in the D-1 Tourney in 2010. It was at the Igloo in Pittsburgh. I know this because earlier that day I had back surgery at the Jho Institute at Allegheny Medical. My room overlooked the city of Pittsburgh. I honestly cannot remember who they played or the outcome.

RIT defeated University of New Hampshire 6-2 in the quarterfinals and then lost to Wisconsin 8-1 in the semifinals.

I remember a Wisconsin player checking an RIT player into the boards near the the area between the benches where there obviously an open mike. The Wisconsin player said very clearly "You don't belong here" I was embarrassed by that comment.

In other hockey news: Wisconsin Women win their 7th NCAA Championship with a 1-0 win over Ohio State, last year's champions. I got to seem them play in the first round of the tournament a week ago Thursday when they defeated Long Island University 9-1 at Colgate University.