UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

[gocats]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

Didn't check this morning to see if the scoring has changed, but three of the goals deflected in and given to the Maine shooter. So, my eye and the scorer evidently believes in off UVM players or sticks. We do have a good shot blocking team. Sometimes that's just how it goes. We don't have that kind of margin for error - even against a lower third Main team - no offense Walrus.

I believe coach is feeling the pressure - of course he is. Is starting to talk about what they work on in practice. Is talking about shots on net and d zone coverage. Play on ice does not look it. But as clear as his message is in the actual interviews with media, certainly it must be in practice. Tough run so far.

 

[VTALUM]

Sneddon needs to go before Lekkas leaves because he's sick of getting hung out to dry.

I can think of one or two local coaches with trophy cases full who would be a great fit at UVM. One was even a 4 year star player.

 

[walrus]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

- even against a lower third Main team - no offense Walrus.

No offense Maine isn't good but that should make UVM fans feel worse.

 

[catmandoo]

I can think of one or two local coaches with trophy cases full who would be a great fit at UVM. One was even a 4 year star player.

Just to throw it out there but this is the first year with pure Wallack recruits and it shows.
For those that threw Gasparini and micheletto under the bus’s, at least they recruited better players. The common denominator is Sneddon. He does not alow players to play. Cramps them into d only role players then blames everything on them and cycles in the next group of suckers to his empty promises. Now it’s a critical time for this program because if I were an NHL potential player I would be very concerned about commiting here based on what has happened.

 

[FireSneddon]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

#FireSneddon

 

[VTALUM]

#FireSneddon

Nothing against the guy, but yes. Assuming (far-fetched) he’s not the problem...he’s most definitely not the solution. He doesn’t seem to fundamentally understand the game. Let’s start naming potential replacements! Go.

 

[TovarishchLisa]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

Nothing against the guy, but yes. Assuming (far-fetched) he’s not the problem...he’s most definitely not the solution. He doesn’t seem to fundamentally understand the game. Let’s start naming potential replacements! Go.

Dominique Ducharme would be hella expensive, but he's proven he can develop players (Drouin was nothing before the 2012-13 season under him) and win games. He's also an alumnus.

 

[VTALUM]

Dominique Ducharme would be hella expensive, but he's proven he can develop players (Drouin was nothing before the 2012-13 season under him) and win games. He's also an alumnus.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=167270 UVM hockey star, first native VTer selected in NHL draft (#50), decades of head coaching success at BFA St. Albans. His teams consistently win.

 

[TovarishchLisa]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=167270 UVM hockey star, first native VTer selected in NHL draft (#50), decades of head coaching success at BFA St. Albans. His teams consistently win.

If we're including HS coaches, I'll throw Tim Fingerhut in the ring. His St. Augustine's Prep team in 2006-07 had the first perfect season in New Jersey hockey history. (And are being inducted into the NJ HHOF next year)

 

[VTALUM]

If we're including HS coaches, I'll throw Tim Fingerhut in the ring. His St. Augustine's Prep team in 2006-07 had the first perfect season in New Jersey hockey history. (And are being inducted into the NJ HHOF next year)

I’m still voting for Toby Ducolon, but game on!!

 

[VermontfaninNY]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

My daily day dream: I remember worshipping John LeClair when he played for the Cats, loved Montreal when I was still very young, and became a Flyers fan when he was traded. I've loved 'em ever since. The Flyers as of two days ago lost 10 straight games. Their coach, Dave Hakstol is a terrible NHL coach who regularly looks way out of his depth ... but as a college coach, he is great. He went 289–141–43 at North Dakota, bringing them 7 times to the frozen four. If the Flyers keep losing (and they are just terrible this year) he maybe out of a job. If the UVM athletic director was smart, he would get in touch and see if Hakstol found Vermont to be beautiful this time of the year.

 

[pokecheckguy2]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

Dominique Ducharme would be hella expensive, but he's proven he can develop players (Drouin was nothing before the 2012-13 season under him) and win games. He's also an alumnus.

the kid on the Avalance too. he would be worth the call though even if he says no have to try i think. Hes probably not ready but Brady Liesnring is an assistant in the ECHL right now and Andrew Allen is a goalie coach with the Sabres but probably likes that job. the Hakstol one is a nice dream scenario but probably not likely though like you said a lot of things like losing his job would have to go his way!
How about these names just in a semi informed thinking in no order of preference for people to debate!
Bob Emery - Plattsburgh St - probably lifer there but we know he can coach how would he do with big boys
Mike McShane - norwich - same as Emery unlikely but in term of coaching guy is great but why leave the best job in D3?
Dean Blais - old Omaha and North Dakota coach - maybe hes retired I'm not really sure but worth a call!
George Gwozdecky - old Denver coach - left to coach in NHL for a bit but a proven winner
Ron Rolston - he the ex Sabres head coach and is volunteer asst at Providence this year also going to be an Olympic coach and was the USA development coach for a long time great pedigree
Mark Carlson - top USHL coach
Cam Ellsworth - Lowell asst they do something right he might be part of it
Jason Lammers - was with Lowell now Niagara HC and they are doing well same as Ellsworth
Greg Brown - BC assistant who knows how good he is but seems like he's realistic given Cavenaugh at Uconn
Chris Bergeron - Bowling green head coach does well there for not a big program
Mike Hastings - Mankato same as bergeron has made that team pretty good with wins

What do people think? I did a lot of googling on this one Schulman can thank me later!

 

[FireSneddon]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

Does anyone have any inside info or knowledge of what the athletic dept is thinking? This has to be a very serious conversation and not just something the boards are talking about, the program has failed to grow and stay competitive.

 

[TovarishchLisa]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

the kid on the Avalance too. he would be worth the call though even if he says no have to try i think. Hes probably not ready but Brady Liesnring is an assistant in the ECHL right now and Andrew Allen is a goalie coach with the Sabres but probably likes that job. the Hakstol one is a nice dream scenario but probably not likely though like you said a lot of things like losing his job would have to go his way!
How about these names just in a semi informed thinking in no order of preference for people to debate!
Bob Emery - Plattsburgh St - probably lifer there but we know he can coach how would he do with big boys
Mike McShane - norwich - same as Emery unlikely but in term of coaching guy is great but why leave the best job in D3?
Dean Blais - old Omaha and North Dakota coach - maybe hes retired I'm not really sure but worth a call!
George Gwozdecky - old Denver coach - left to coach in NHL for a bit but a proven winner
Ron Rolston - he the ex Sabres head coach and is volunteer asst at Providence this year also going to be an Olympic coach and was the USA development coach for a long time great pedigree
Mark Carlson - top USHL coach
Cam Ellsworth - Lowell asst they do something right he might be part of it
Jason Lammers - was with Lowell now Niagara HC and they are doing well same as Ellsworth
Greg Brown - BC assistant who knows how good he is but seems like he's realistic given Cavenaugh at Uconn
Chris Bergeron - Bowling green head coach does well there for not a big program
Mike Hastings - Mankato same as bergeron has made that team pretty good with wins

What do people think? I did a lot of googling on this one Schulman can thank me later!

Yeah but MacKinnon was a known commodity before he went to Halifax (supertalented kid from Cole Harbour drew obvious Crosby comparisons). I call out the example of Drouin because he was not on anyone's radar in fall 2012, and was seen as a fringe first rounder at the start of 2013, then wound up being a top 3 pick. Not to mention Ducharme won the Memorial Cup that year, and has a chance at taking home the World Juniors this year.

I think Blais is definitely out of the question. Ditto Hastings who I believe Omaha was looking at but there were rumors he was going to sign a 10 year extension or something absurd like that.

Lammers isn't going to leave Niagara after 1 year.

Gwozdecky is probably unrealistic.

Brown and Ellsworth are interesting because they have no HC experience. Ellsworth's name came up in a couple coaching searches this summer, IIRC.

Don't know much about Rolston, though IIRC there were rumors Michigan Tech was looking at him.

Agree re: Emery/McShane.

Bergeron...BGSU actually feels quite similar to UVM over the last 3-4 years - a team that's constantly close to the tournament but doesn't make it. I think in 2015 they were like .0005 RPI points away from the last at-large :O

That being said, I think all of them would represent an upgrade. Sneddon's a nice guy, and he has had some success here. But sometimes you need culture change.

 

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Does anyone have any inside info or knowledge of what the athletic dept is thinking? This has to be a very serious conversation and not just something the boards are talking about, the program has failed to grow and stay competitive.

I gotta believe they're having this conversation, as it'd be dereliction of duty not to. Whether that means not exercising the option on Sneddon's contract for next year, I doubt it. As someone said (Lisa I think), they'll give him another year to try to straighten things out. If he can't, I can maybe see them not exercising the option for 2019-20.

 

[VTALUM]

I gotta believe they're having this conversation, as it'd be dereliction of duty not to. Whether that means not exercising the option on Sneddon's contract for next year, I doubt it. As someone said (Lisa I think), they'll give him another year to try to straighten things out. If he can't, I can maybe see them not exercising the option for 2019-20.

I listened to the Coach’s Show on the radio earlier tonight. Sneddon sounds terrified and defensive. I felt bad for him, but he’s just not a good fit here. He’s clearly not a student of the game, nor does he understand how to motivate players at this level.

 

[Charlie Catamount]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

Longtime lurker, even longer fan. I can say that while I've been apprehensive to pull the trigger on the #FireSneddon movement, I do believe it's time for a change. Whether that will happen I'm not sure. As I understand it, he and Schulman are close and Sneddon does probably have the backing of many of the power players in the upper donor class. However, given his contractual situation I certainly believe the discussions or at least the thoughts are being had internally by the administration. If I were a betting man I'd say if the Cats can't climb above 9th place in league this year, the chances of Sneddon being let go increase by a significant margin. If they do reach above that and he's retained, I would have to believe he will enter that year as it being his last unless there is significant improvement. His contract nearly expired 4 years ago, but they renewed very late in the year after the season. The worst the finish, the higher percent chance he's let go. I won't shed a tear, he'll land on his feet somewhere and he makes pretty good coin for VT living.

As far as listing names for coaches, I have to say Ron Rolston's name is very intriguing. Still young (51), college assistant for many years under title winning squads, heavily involved in USA Hockey Jr programs including being the HC at multiple WJC events, AHL/NHL head coaching experience, and if he's willing to be a volunteer assistant at Providence, it tells me he'd be willing to listen to taking a college job, no? Also, he's Brian Rolston's brother, so a pretty successful hockey family. I'd also be more than willing to be Dave Hakstol's rebound job if he's fired by the Flyers.

 

[GreenCat]

I think fan's expectations are way too high. Entering this year, UVM's lifetime record, including the D2 glory days is exactly .500. We are under .500 since going to D1 in 1974. Sneddon's record is basically the same as Cross (D1) and Gilligan. We are the equivalent to a Mississippi State in Football, thinking we are an upper tier program, when we really are average. Bad facilities, no sure-fire recruiting base, makes it very tough to sustain a winning program year in and year out. I am not a big Sneddon fan, a lot of the players regress over time, and their on-ice system is baffling, but it's not like he is in a great situation.

Are you fn serious? UML had done nothing prior to Bazin and Providence was in the doldrums for years. Both are excelling after bringing legit coaching. Watching UML BU game tonight and it is like a division above us. Lastly our best games were against CC and game 2 v Michigan and since then, as typical of Sneddon teams, we have gotten worse.

 

[GreenCat]

As far as listing names for coaches, I have to say Ron Rolston's name is very intriguing. Still young (51), college assistant for many years under title winning squads, heavily involved in USA Hockey Jr programs including being the HC at multiple WJC events, AHL/NHL head coaching experience, and if he's willing to be a volunteer assistant at Providence, it tells me he'd be willing to listen to taking a college job, no? Also, he's Brian Rolston's brother, so a pretty successful hockey family. I'd also be more than willing to be Dave Hakstol's rebound job if he's fired by the Flyers.

I like your thinking. Hakstol spent years in North Dakota so VT would be warmer and a little more active and a nice reprieve from Philadelphia. Take his NHL earnings and live large in Burlington. Just dreaming...

 

[TovarishchLisa]

Re: UVM 2017/18: A Gutt Check

Are you fn serious? UML had done nothing prior to Bazin and Providence was in the doldrums for years. Both are excelling after bringing legit coaching. Watching UML BU game tonight and it is like a division above us. Lastly our best games were against CC and game 2 v Michigan and since then, as typical of Sneddon teams, we have gotten worse.

I think the UNH game also pretty good. We dominated the possession battle, 77-44 shot attempts