Re: UVM 2018-19: This is so sad Alex play Esposito
I'm still rooting for them. But, as you said, too disinterested to post much anymore.
Seriously, when was the last time there was news about the UVM hockey program people were excited about?
--The "new facilities"? (not so much, for me anyway)
--The news that Colton would be returning for his junior year? (which of course didn't happen)
--The news that Zemgus Girgensons was in Burlington and working out with the boys during the summer of whatever year it was, and would be suiting up for the Cats that fall? (which of course didn't happen)
--The Chris McCarthy led team that made it to the NCAA's only to bow out to eventual champs Union in the first round?
I don't know, can anyone come up with something (other than the occasional good win)? There has literally been nothing to be excited about for years.
I feel like the atmosphere this weekend said it all. No one was really all that excited to be watching the games. There's such an air of stagnation around this program. Yet I'd be willing to bet Patrick is packed Saturday for what looks like a delicious basketball game between UVM and Harvard.
To respond to your points:
--I don't think new facilities would be a panacea - good coaching and culture does that. So far that new facility hasn't really done much for Colgate or Omaha. It's worked for AHA teams because they were a) playing in glorified rec rinks like the JAR or Milford, which the Gutt definitely isn't and b) I think the increase in scholarships for AHA teams has more to do with some of their programs improving anyway.
--Believe it or not that newser is *still on the site.* For anyone who cares, btw, Colton has 1g-6a in 17 games in his AHL rookie season so far for Syracuse.
--I wasn't around for that (I was just coming off my sophomore year of high school in rural PA and at the time did not know I was going to UVM), but I'm genuinely curious to know how the fanbase reacted to the Girgensons fiasco.
--I feel like the freshman class that was there at the time never achieving anything more is an indictment of our player development, especially since a member *of that class* blasted the staff for it. And it's very clear to me now that we really got lucky with that recruiting class.
Again, I root for the kids out there on the ice. I want them to do well. But we need fresh energy and ideas. IMO the worst thing that can happen this season is that we somehow sneak into that 8th spot and make the HE tournament and get clobbered by whoever. And the reason why is...well, since I'm no longer Cynic-affiliated and can speak from the heart...that theory I kept talking about over the summer: that Sneddon was a lame duck unless he came up big this year. And, Michigan game aside (and even that win's lost its luster as Michigan is not actually that great), he hasn't.
Course as soon as I pen that rant I see that Farkas is on Twitter talking about how NEXT year is the make or break because it's the last year of his extension...you know, despite Schulman being on record as saying he doesn't like having coaches in their final year without knowing their future (as seen in Ted Ryan's piece when Sneddon got said extension)
