UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

[harry]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

If a win is a win......
Then a tie is a tie.....

Not a great weekend, but a good stepping stone.
Really need to be better on exiting zone on breakouts. Also have to decide on dump and forecheck or carry into zone earlier.
Maybe the lineups are starting to work, maybe not.
Not sure how long we can keep saying...."it's still early in the season...."

Sidenote- Did some looking at the new rinks that have come on the scene this year and the last few years. Wow! Love the Gut, but even Matthews seems to not age as gracefully. Just a little jealous, I guess. Wish my pockets were deeper than the small support I already give.

Already looking forward to some roasted Hawk for dinner next week!

 

[GreenCat]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Big weekend for UVM and in Hockey East in general with a lot of good matchups. This weekend should start to shake out where teams are relative to each other. Hoping we don't don't shake out to the bottom of the pile and play better than last weekend.

 

[CTcatamount]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

The D has been such a glaring weakness this season. Frustrating but there is some size and skill back there. Really need these kids to develop and get guys playing consistently.

Has there been any news about stenerson this year?

Tough weekend ahead. Let's get after them.

 

[j24vt]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

A couple random observations:

1. The entire team needs to work on passing. The difference was very noticeable against ND.
2. The forwards have to stop carrying the puck into the corners. Put on the brakes if you can't make a move towards the net once you gain the blue line.
3. I would dress Lee over Hamilton every game along with A. Privitera (don't put him on the ice for the last minute of any period) and Pattyn (hope the good Pattyn shows up). Dress two of Kearley, Phillips, and Abramson depending on practice effort during the week. I think Kearley has more upside, just needs ice time.
4. Defense needs to focus more on keeping the front of the net clean rather than blocking shots. It drives me crazy when a wing skates in behind the defense in front of the net as the D gets sucks out to try to block the shot.
5. Irwin needs to ride the bench until he is skating 100% when he is on the ice. Give Bowen the ice time.
6. Santaguida is really good on straight in shots. Needs to stop lunging for the puck and ending up sprawled out on his stomach.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

A couple random observations:

1. The entire team needs to work on passing. The difference was very noticeable against ND.
2. The forwards have to stop carrying the puck into the corners. Put on the brakes if you can't make a move towards the net once you gain the blue line.
3. I would dress Lee over Hamilton every game along with A. Privitera (don't put him on the ice for the last minute of any period) and Pattyn (hope the good Pattyn shows up). Dress two of Kearley, Phillips, and Abramson depending on practice effort during the week. I think Kearley has more upside, just needs ice time.
4. Defense needs to focus more on keeping the front of the net clean rather than blocking shots. It drives me crazy when a wing skates in behind the defense in front of the net as the D gets sucks out to try to block the shot.
5. Irwin needs to ride the bench until he is skating 100% when he is on the ice. Give Bowen the ice time.
6. Santaguida is really good on straight in shots. Needs to stop lunging for the puck and ending up sprawled out on his stomach.

I agree with much of this, but I would say Phillips, Abramson are must dresses. Then A. Priv, Pattyn and Lee in the next group, then Kearley as the last man in. At least at the time being. Hamilton shouldn't be on the ice and some of the other guys deserve a chance when the last 4 guys are not with it.

Defense has to be better overall, but keeping the net clear and getting rid of rebounds has to be top priority. It's really crazy how bad they have actually been considering it really should have been a strength. Paliotta was awesome, but he was one guy. I guess I didn't realize how much we'd miss Lukko.

Santa's been good, and hasn't had a lot of help. If the D was doing their job he'd be giving up at least 1 goal less per game. But he can be better and needs to be. Possibly when the D gets their acts together he will relax. When you feel like you have no help, it tends to snowball.

 

[rufus22]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

I agree with much of this, but I would say Phillips, Abramson are must dresses. Then A. Priv, Pattyn and Lee in the next group, then Kearley as the last man in. At least at the time being. Hamilton shouldn't be on the ice and some of the other guys deserve a chance when the last 4 guys are not with it.

Defense has to be better overall, but keeping the net clear and getting rid of rebounds has to be top priority. It's really crazy how bad they have actually been considering it really should have been a strength. Paliotta was awesome, but he was one guy. I guess I didn't realize how much we'd miss Lukko.

Santa's been good, and hasn't had a lot of help. If the D was doing their job he'd be giving up at least 1 goal less per game. But he can be better and needs to be. Possibly when the D gets their acts together he will relax. When you feel like you have no help, it tends to snowball.

Agreed I'd just say Lee is a must-dress too. He is not the fastest guy on the ice and he's a frosh but he's very much as advertised a very smart puck mover who sees the ice well.

 

[Hoser]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Agreed I'd just say Lee is a must-dress too. He is not the fastest guy on the ice and he's a frosh but he's very much as advertised a very smart puck mover who sees the ice well.

When it comes to the D, the only must dresses are Pattyn, Abramson and A. Priv. The latter has his weaknesses in the defensive zone but is still better then the others not mentioned. He looked better last year because he always played with Paliotta. Now that he has to carry a freshman or Hamilton, he looks bad a lot. That said, he appears to be the coach's favorite so will always be dressed and a top 2, whether he deserves it or not. It would be great if Pattyn and Abramson could play together. They did last year and were very effective defensively. Hamilton is a loose cannon but has his good moments. Phillips is surprisingly unspectacular offensively and so so defensively. Lee is slow and makes lots of rookie mistakes and has shown little on the pp. Kearley scares me. He falls a lot and gets blown by every shift. Will Muscoby and Ferguson ever get a chance to play? Beats me. I think both are better then Kearley is now. If we went down to 4 d playing the majority of minutes with the last two getting 10 - 12 minutes, we would have a good d. Pattyn/Abramson should be #1 pair and A. Priv and Lee/Hamilton/Phillips should be #2 and let the others learn in non stressfull or important situations. Having Lee play against Brock Boeser was a bit of a mismatch.

 

[Nosmo King]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

When it comes to the D, the only must dresses are Pattyn, Abramson and A. Priv. The latter has his weaknesses in the defensive zone but is still better then the others not mentioned. He looked better last year because he always played with Paliotta. Now that he has to carry a freshman or Hamilton, he looks bad a lot. That said, he appears to be the coach's favorite so will always be dressed and a top 2, whether he deserves it or not. It would be great if Pattyn and Abramson could play together. They did last year and were very effective defensively. Hamilton is a loose cannon but has his good moments. Phillips is surprisingly unspectacular offensively and so so defensively. Lee is slow and makes lots of rookie mistakes and has shown little on the pp. Kearley scares me. He falls a lot and gets blown by every shift. Will Muscoby and Ferguson ever get a chance to play? Beats me. I think both are better then Kearley is now. If we went down to 4 d playing the majority of minutes with the last two getting 10 - 12 minutes, we would have a good d. Pattyn/Abramson should be #1 pair and A. Priv and Lee/Hamilton/Phillips should be #2 and let the others learn in non stressfull or important situations. Having Lee play against Brock Boeser was a bit of a mismatch.

I'm agreeing with most of your comments with the exception of your last sentence. Unless I'm reading the stats incorrectly I don't think Boeser or anyone on NoDak got any points while Lee was on the ice in either game. Granted that may not be your measurement of a "mismatch" but it's a good starting point.

 

[Hoser]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

I'm agreeing with most of your comments with the exception of your last sentence. Unless I'm reading the stats incorrectly I don't think Boeser or anyone on NoDak got any points while Lee was on the ice in either game. Granted that may not be your measurement of a "mismatch" but it's a good starting point.

Your point is well taken from a stats standpoint. In watching those games, albeit on the feed and not live, it seemed that Lee was chasing the play and not letting it come to him which created scoring chances. That's all I was trying to say.

 

[j24vt]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

"It's frustrating for the kids in the locker room. Obviously they're down. I think they put forth probably their best effort of the year," said head coach Kevin Sneddon. "We've got to pull positives from this game. I thought we played with much better passion, much better energy, and made plays. We had an awful lot of opportunities to put up more than three goals."

Not sure what game he was watching. Our 10 year old's comment regarding the first UVM power play was more accurate: "That was terrible."

 

[j24vt]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Anyone know why Forgione is not playing?

 

[GreenCat]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Getting tired of saying 'valiant effort'. How can we not recruit better than this over 11 years? Or is it how can we not develop players better. No more extensions!!!

 

[Mule617]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Another frustrating weekend. I have to commend the players. The only reason they are staying with these teams is their extreme hard work and their high level of competitiveness. Unfortunately they seem to have no idea what to do when they get the puck. They have so much trouble running any kind of breakout plays that could lead to any offensive chance. And when they do get out of their zone it seems to be a "cross your fingers" style of offense. Meaning, toss the puck up for grabs and cross your fingers that somehow it ends up in the back of the net. I'd love to get a look at the shooting chart from this weekend to see how many shots were taken from outside the circles from poor angles. The chances of a goal from those angels are so minimal that you might as well just give the puck to the other team.
As I said before, the kids are busting their butts and that's the only reason they have been competitive. (Unfortunately with no results) I remember years past seeing lackluster performance by players not putting in effort. These kids are not lacking in effort. So where's the problem? I think most of us know.

 

[pokecheckguy]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Getting tired of saying 'valiant effort'. How can we not recruit better than this over 11 years? Or is it how can we not develop players better. No more extensions!!!

hear that. To me not a matter of how can't recruit better is was how recruited so poorly for a 4 year stretch and now there are players here who are solid but not great and it is a talent upgrade because some of those player Sneddon and Joe Gaspo and etc were bringing on that could not hack it were terrible and they were the ones who showed no effort. I agree this team competes and doesnt give up but how long that last if the Ls keep coming? I want to say that they can be better by end of year I hope but same issues. Offense is a wreck powerplay nothing dump and chase. Defense I am not sure I get the pairings on D is anyone else agree those aren't the best ways to balance D? Then you wonder of Santas confidence and durability he keeping them in some games but again if there are Ls how that for his confidence? and it clear if he needed a rest there is no trust in the backups.
This start has been against teams that are playing at Gut except Northeastern that I could see playing in frozen four. This stretch of next six games important to get on track. All very win games.
But it is getting tire to say "effort" good - games are won games are lost no in between.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

This start has been against teams that are playing at Gut except Northeastern that I could see playing in frozen four. This stretch of next six games important to get on track. All very win games.

This can't be overstated enough. The teams we have had to start the season against are all tourney teams and very well may end up in the FF. Six games against top 4 teams is a rough start no matter who you are, and UVM is not an elite team. I still think they can do well and be a good team, but this schedule may have been a bit over the top. These next 6 are important. They need to find some success and build some confidence. They are all winnable games, and those are the games you truly need to win.

 

[catmandoo]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Getting tired of saying 'valiant effort'. How can we not recruit better than this over 11 years? Or is it how can we not develop players better. No more extensions!!!

For those of you who jabbed and punched at me all these years, now you can see what Wallack is about...washed up never had it goalie doing our recruiting??? Last years class were the last of the Micheletto recruits...just sayin.

 

[Hoser]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

hear that. To me not a matter of how can't recruit better is was how recruited so poorly for a 4 year stretch and now there are players here who are solid but not great and it is a talent upgrade because some of those player Sneddon and Joe Gaspo and etc were bringing on that could not hack it were terrible and they were the ones who showed no effort. I agree this team competes and doesnt give up but how long that last if the Ls keep coming? I want to say that they can be better by end of year I hope but same issues. Offense is a wreck powerplay nothing dump and chase. Defense I am not sure I get the pairings on D is anyone else agree those aren't the best ways to balance D? Then you wonder of Santas confidence and durability he keeping them in some games but again if there are Ls how that for his confidence? and it clear if he needed a rest there is no trust in the backups.
This start has been against teams that are playing at Gut except Northeastern that I could see playing in frozen four. This stretch of next six games important to get on track. All very win games.
But it is getting tire to say "effort" good - games are won games are lost no in between.

It is not the losses per se that are frustrating, it is the style of play that appears to have been required of the players. The good teams so far have had great flow to their game, with organized breakouts and dump and chase combined with lugging the puck in. We chip it out of our own zone and chip it in their zone and then try to get it back. Pretty odd at this level if you ask me. As for the pairings, the coaches can't wrap their heads around the fact that A. Priv and Hamilton is a recipe for disaster. As this team has average to a little better goaltending, with no dominant goalie, we have to keep the shots down and the puck out of our nd. Pattyn/Abramson are the only two who can do that. Yet they don't play together. It is one thing to experimemnt with freshmen in games we were probably going to lose anyway but if this continues in the next 6 and we don't win more then half of them, we are doomed.

 

[Vermont Ref]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

This can't be overstated enough. The teams we have had to start the season against are all tourney teams and very well may end up in the FF. Six games against top 4 teams is a rough start no matter who you are, and UVM is not an elite team. I still think they can do well and be a good team, but this schedule may have been a bit over the top. These next 6 are important. They need to find some success and build some confidence. They are all winnable games, and those are the games you truly need to win.[/QUOTE

I agree. We have had the toughest schedule of any D 1 team. When these games were schedules, no one knew we would be playing the #1, #3 and #4 place teams in the country. We played well against all of them. Yes it would have been nice to get some points, but the team should not have lost confidence. Saturday night we were the better team; we got no breaks either night. We do need to eliminate the unnecessary penalites though. The team should not be discouraged but encouraged by playing well against these teams - we could have won some of them, and that would have been great, but we played hard and have learned. These next league games are so essential to start adding to that win column; if they play the way they have for most games (like last Sat. against UML) we will tip that lopsided win/loss record the other way.

We can't expect to get the recruits that the BUs, BCs, etc. get, especially with our old facilties, but we do get some good ones. You just never know. It's like when you hire someone, some don't work out as expected but others turn out to be stars that you didn't expect.

Discipline, conditioning, hard work and belief in yourself is what the team needs to continue to focus on. I believe we will have home ice come March.

 

[j24vt]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Awesome article about St. Louis' life after the NHL: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/07/sports/hockey/martin-st-louis-still-leads-rangers-but-now-he-towers-over-them.html?_r=0

 

[Cat lover]

Re: UVM 2015-2016 The New Season

Thoughts

As bad as losing these games have been at least they have been close, It wasnt to long ago when a game versus a top 10 team might end up 8-0. At least
these games are still up for grabs in the third period.(Yes I'm reaching a little)

Didnt see the hit Dan Senkiel got the 5 min for during the game Friday but then I watched the highlights boy did those refs blow that one. Sat night they were terrible I mean
if you want to call it tight fine but why was it everytime a UML guy fell he got a call and whenever our guys got tripped nothing?

I dont blame the coaching staff for not having better talent. They cant force kids to come here its not like there is a draft and they dont pick the right kids. College Hockey has
a top tier of teams that always get all the talent (BC,BU,MINN,NDAK etc) once you get to this level it is very easy to stay there and very few teams ever move up into this level.
Look at resent teams who had success Union/Prov won titles but I wont see them stealing to many bluechippers from those teams for the same reasons we dont get them.