UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

[snwbrdr]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Keep in mind on the incoming kids that those are just the ones of draft eligible age right

there are likely other non-draft eligible age kids in each schools incoming classes that may or may not be drafted earlier

or there may be some great players (Martin St Louis) that were not drafted

Having said that, I still like the Cats incoming class

 

[observer85]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Hate to, but go Eagles. Let's keep the NC in HE for another year.

In a way I find it painful to type these words, but nonetheless, "Go Eagles" , bring it home for HE.

Just hope the game tonight is fast and entertaining...and clean.

It would be nice to see BC win to keep the national championship in Hockey East. But then it is kind of nice to say that you lost to the team that went on and won it all. No shame in that. Had UVM won, maybe they would be playing in the finals tonight? Not likely but it could have happened I suppose.

 

[funnnnn]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

BC deserved it all.

Hockey East wins it all for the 3rd year in a row.

Guess the WCHA "cock of the walk" talkers will have to settle down. I remember reading that they were going to place 3 teams in the frozen four as the tournament got announced.

how many days until next season starts???

 

[kdaddy]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

BC deserved it all.

Hockey East wins it all for the 3rd year in a row.

Guess the WCHA "cock of the walk" talkers will have to settle down. I remember reading that they were going to place 3 teams in the frozen four as the tournament got announced.

how many days until next season starts???

UVM needs to get some kids who can score. One of 2 types, either the quick sniper or a big guy to stand in front and put in rebounds (you don't see too many of the 2nd kind in college hockey but it would be great to find one).

 

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

UVM needs to get some kids who can score.

Although I was pleasantly surprised by UVM's offensive prowess this year, I've been saying the same thing. UVM absolutely needs guys who have a knack for putting the puck in the net. Too many times they weren't able to finish off golden opportunities--breakaways, half open nets, etc.

Overall though, looking back on the season and how we competed against the teams that were right there at the end, I feel great about UVM hockey. If we can get some of the pieces to fall into place there's no reason we can't be national champs sooner rather than later.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Hi UVM fans. Not intending to disrupt your thread; I know it's early, and the day after the F4, but I come requesting help.

This afternoon, I will be participating in The 24 Bowl to benefit the Travis Roy Foundation, and I'm still not quite at my goal of $500. Any small amount will help, so, if you see this message this morning, and you would like to chip in a few dollars, it would be greatly appreciated.

Donations should be in by 1:00 pm (event starts at 2:00). Thanks!

Click here to donate!

(For those who don't know, Travis Roy played for BU in 1995. He went into the boards awkwardly in his first shift, suffering a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. His foundation raises money and awareness for research and treatments for others who have suffered similar injuries. The 24 Bowl is a charity bowl-a-thon (he was #24).)

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

I donate to the Travis Roy foundation through a summer wiffle ball event up here in Vermont. Good to hear that there are multiple fundraisers out there. He's an inspiring guy.

I think the Cats are going to improve their scoring ability the next few years with the solid incoming forwards. And if they don't lose any D early they should be real solid next year also with Medvec, Miller, Mackenzie, Lawson, Franzon, and Herrington/Luukko or whomever has that sixth spot. That is a very solid D lineup - and with another year of seasoning the three seniors ought to be real strong.

This year UVM's last two losses were to the two teams in the NC game. That follows their last loss each of the last two years being to the eventual NC. That is pretty interesting.

 

[Catamount93]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

To reiterate what others have said, improving the overall talent level and scoring ability on the forward line is the key to us making the next step up from top 10-20 team to top 10 team nationally on a regular basis. With notable exceptions in specific games, we have had pretty consistently strong goaltending and defense for many years, but have not been able to put enough pucks in the net to really score enough to run with the big dogs since the St Louis/Perrin years. National championship teams with games 6-2 and 5-0 several nights a year when they play teams that are overmatched against them. How often do you see UVM winning games like that? We all know that answer...very rarely. We grind it out and win by a goal or two. People don't fear our offense....very hard to name many national champsionship contenders where that is the case.

The problem, of course, is that there are 20-30 other D1 programs in the exact same position, looking for that one or two more star players up front to put them over the top. Thats the difference. A good coach like Sneddon can teach defense and coach up decent talent to play the team concept which puts us ahead of lots of other teams with similar talent levels, but that marque talent is the differentiator at the top of college hockey. If you add 1-2 more bona fide playmakers/snipers to our roster either last year or this year, we have a legit chance to make a run to the national championship game and maybe win it. And I'm not talking about a Milo, who was a good offensive college hockey player (with drawbacks best left for another thread). I'm talking about the NHL caliber forwards you see at BC, BU, etc.

Put me down as a huge Sneddon fan. He's pushing this program in exactly the right direction. In my opinion, the only thing left for him to do is to break into the recruiting wars for the top level forward talent and win a few....if he can, I think he can bring a national championship home. If not, I think he can keep us in the national picture and making the NCAA tourney 2-3 out of every 5 years....which ain't too bad.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

After reading through the 2010-2011 schedule thread. It appears that UVM has what looks to be an entertaining upcoming OOC schedule again.

2X DU at home
1X Yale, likely away
1X SLU
1X at UMD?
1X at DC?
2X Christmas Tourney.


The Dartmouth game is an assumption based on the ongoing agreement that the rivalry would continue.

So that gives us 6 of the 7 OOC games known. As such one of either SLU or DC is likely a holiday tourney team. And actually it would seem that maybe both are?

Sneddon said we would go to Minn next year and the presumption is that is UMD. However clearly, UVM isn't flying out west to play a single game. So is it a 2 game set or is UVM participating in a Tournament next year? Either possibility would likely put SLU and DC in the holiday Tourney

Either way DU,DU, Yale will give a strong OOC schedule, and SLU may very well be a TUC next year as well as UMD. Looks like another tough OOC....

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Catamount93

I agree with your thoughts and I would add the following:

Maybe we were a Vic Stalberg early departure away from the NC game this past season.

I believe that UVM is in the thick of some of those top recruting battles. You have to dig deep into other teams threads or have connections (which I don't have) to hear which recruits we did not get. I understand that we have been in the running for some of the top prospects recently. AND our next three incoming classes look highly likely to be our three best consecutive classes ever.

What we need is a new arena -although we know that is a long way off. In the meantime a new mens locker room and player lounge would help us convert some of those recruiting battles. I encourage everyone who cares about UVM hockey and has the means to please make a tax deductible contribution to the Victory Club and specify that you want the money be spent where Coach Sneddon directs it.

YOU can make a difference and be part of the future success of the program.

 

[Catamount93]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Snwbrdr-

We are speaking the same language.....totally agree. Victory Club gets my money every year. You will not find a bigger supporter of a on campus multi use hockey/basketball facility than me.....I'm all for it and have been all for it since I was a student nearly 20 years ago.

And I agree with you on Vic being here this year, it is possible that might have done it. But, I'd just say that I think it usually takes a couple of players of that ilk. Generally, those competing for the national champtionship have a couple of high draft pick forwards on their squad, not just one. Again, see BC, BU etc etc etc.

I have no connection or understanding of the recruiting battles, who we're involved with and who we aren't....getting info on that topic is one of the reasons why I frequent this board.......though I lurk much more than I post. Love hearing any updates people have. I just see (or more more frequently hear on Sportsjuice) the product on the ice, which is very good and improving under Sneddon's leadership. If he can gear up that recruiting just one more notch, I think we're all the way there.

Go Cats.

 

[whitaker9999]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Does anyone have any updates on anything pertaining to a new rink?

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Does anyone have any updates on anything pertaining to a new rink?

All building construction on campus is on hold. There is a current 10-15 million dollar deficit for next year.

While a committee was appointed and stated the need for a new facility, it was put on the high priority list the school has a debt limit and with the economy they are over so all construction has been halted until further notice.

The City of Burlington has also mandated more students be housed on campus and so I expect if anything, new dorms will be built first.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

The new facility is high on the priority list but there are no funds for it right now. If I win the $200MM powerball jackpot then they will be breaking ground in the near future and it will be named after me, otherwise they/we need some MASSIVE donations. It's going to take north of $80MM to get it done and that is what is delaying it.

Get your VC donation in.

The real problem is that it's called a STATE school but it only gets $45MM or less in state funds each year. That is a pittance of the operating budget. Probably should go private, treat in state and out of state tuition the same, and then they can build a nice building. but all the communists in the legislature would FREAK out at that thought.

Get your donation in NOW.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Just thought a peek back at some of the offseason predictions from out good buddy UMLGoon would give everyone a good chuckle this morning.

2) what proof do we have that irwin will "return to form?" and how is setting a career high in goals, an increase of 33 percent over his former high of just 10,

Hmmm, seems he scored 15, just like I predicted.....

but you really do expect that, despite losing 51 percent of league goals scored last year (and 42 percent overall), vermont will, in total, lose just 3 percent of its total goals. there is no statistical basis in the history of hockey east for what you're saying .....teams simply don't lose that much and replace all of it. vermont is in no way special or exempt from these rules.

Sweet, so UVM sets a precedence that even losing 51% of your league goal production and 42% overall you can make it up by committee League goals exactly the same..... overall 8 goal decrease

i think a very reasonable in-league output for vermont next year is somewhere around 70 goals, a dropoff of just about 10 percent,

2008-2009 league goals - 78.
2009-2010 league goals - 78

 

[observer85]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

After reading through the 2010-2011 schedule thread. It appears that UVM has what looks to be an entertaining upcoming OOC schedule again.

2X DU at home
1X Yale, likely away
1X SLU
1X at UMD?
1X at DC?
2X Christmas Tourney.

Sneddon said we would go to Minn next year and the presumption is that is UMD.

The UM-Duluth schedule was posted on the schedule thread. No UVM games in Minnesota on that schedule.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

It would have been funnier if UVM had actually scored more than 3 of those 78 goals the final weekend of the RS in Lowell.

While UML seriously underperformed versus their fans enourmous expectations they actually were about where I expected them to be, while UVM also underperformed my expectations in league while outperforming OOC and in the HE QF series.

I have modestly higher expectations for UVM in league next year.

I suspect next years RS finish will be along the lines of:

BC
Maine
BU/UNH
Vermont/NE/Mack
Umass
UML
PC

BC may have a bit of a hangover but on paper they are BETTER next year than this past season.

Maine should be scary good.

BU and UNH are always there but I see them a step back of BC and Maine

UVM will about the upperclass D, how much the sophomore forwards step up, and how much the Freshman forwards can contribute out of the gate.

I think there is less pressure on them next season and they seem to perform best in the underdog role.

Mack and NU will be right there. I think that Umass (early defections) and UML are rebuilding and PC is probably better but has a long way to go

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

It would have been funnier if UVM had actually scored more than 3 of those 78 goals the final weekend of the RS in Lowell.

While UML seriously underperformed versus their fans enourmous expectations they actually were about where I expected them to be, while UVM also underperformed my expectations in league while outperforming OOC and in the HE QF series.

I have modestly higher expectations for UVM in league next year.

I suspect next years RS finish will be along the lines of:

BC
Maine
BU/UNH
Vermont/NE/Mack
Umass
UML
PC

BC may have a bit of a hangover but on paper they are BETTER next year than this past season.

Maine should be scary good.

BU and UNH are always there but I see them a step back of BC and Maine

UVM will about the upperclass D, how much the sophomore forwards step up, and how much the Freshman forwards can contribute out of the gate.

I think there is less pressure on them next season and they seem to perform best in the underdog role.

Mack and NU will be right there. I think that Umass (early defections) and UML are rebuilding and PC is probably better but has a long way to go

I'm not sure about ME. Offensively they are going to be scary, but Darling is a HUGE question mark, and without a solid goaltender the rest doesn't matter much.

But, I agree, UVM will be a middle of the pack team fighting for home ice.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

The UM-Duluth schedule was posted on the schedule thread. No UVM games in Minnesota on that schedule.

Hmmmm,

Sneddon was quotes as saying DU would be here next season and UVM would be headed to Minnesota. A series with the Gophers???

 

[Catamount93]

Re: UVM Offseason Thread - building for a 3rd Straight Bid

Or Bemidji, or Minn St, or St Cloud.......