Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

[jcarter7669]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

On to Northeastern... I missed the first game but the stat sheet shows the Cats controlled the play for much of the game and outshot the Huskies by a wide margin, but in the picked up the loss. Theissen Jr. made 44 saves...

Cats need to come out huge and keep the pressure on throughout the game, and more importantly they need to get pucks past Witt who has been outstanding this season. This is a huge weekend for UVM, wins get them back into contention for the NCAA's, two losses would pretty much seal their fate. Hopefully they play with the necessary intensity.

Time to start Hoffman regularly down the stretch, and sit any forwards not producing, or at least demoting them down the lines. If Brickley can't find the back of the net, he should be down on the 3rd line (the 4th line is too good to mess with right now). Really wish we had Reynolds this year, but all in all the team has played pretty well and need to continue that play.

GO CATS GO!

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

Interesting part of Ted Ryan's right up in the Burlington Free Press today about players who may have a reputation with the refs and are getting called for hard but clean hits...

The rest of the article is worth reading as well

“It’s making sure (the player) understands that there is a time and a place to be aggressive and maybe understanding certain times of the game aren’t the time to do it,” Sneddon said, who added that UVM’s game plan calls for no big hits in the third period when the Catamounts are leading.

 

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

Unfortunately, typical UVM game. UVM -- no puck in net. Other team -- puck in net. Cats completely dominated through 2 periods and go into the locker room down 1-0, when they could easily have been up 5-0. Very frustrating.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

While the idea to get 3 lines scoring was good its time to put Fallon back on the first line, he has been wasted since
moving down and the first line outside of the game Fallon sat has struggled.

Dont think NU is too happy with last night, how many times can you get outplayed that bad at home and still win. Well
so far versus Vermont this year its worked fine.

Powerless play was the killer last night, NU kept trying to help Vt but they wouldnt take it.

 

[Mule617]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

While the idea to get 3 lines scoring was good its time to put Fallon back on the first line, he has been wasted since
moving down and the first line outside of the game Fallon sat has struggled.

Dont think NU is too happy with last night, how many times can you get outplayed that bad at home and still win. Well
so far versus Vermont this year its worked fine.

Powerless play was the killer last night, NU kept trying to help Vt but they wouldnt take it.

I agree, very frustrating. I enjoyed the first two periods, crisp passing, spreading the puck around and opening things up. I was loving the passes to the point from the corner. On most occasions when they come out of the corner they turn back and try to battle it out against the boards, most of the time losing it. But last night they were passing to the point and opening things up to created chances. Too bad they couldn't capitalize. Then in the third period they couldn't make a pass for the life of them. I wasn't sure if it was NU's intermission adjustments to close passing lanes, or UVM's sloppiness. Hopefully Sneddon will make some adjustments for tonights game and they can come away with a win. Too bad it won't be for any points.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

Glad to see they finally get a score to match the effort against NU. Harsh to outshoot a team 124-67 in a series and
only get 1 win. On another highnote Brickley didnt have a penalty last night. Thougt I was watching a rerun for the
first 2 periods and was very happy to see some snipe show up in the third.

Just when you though Hoffman had the edge Santa has a great game and I cant see Sneddon picking only one just yet.

Wonder which BU team we will see next weekend, the one that pressed BC Friday or the one that has gone 0-7-1 in its last 8. Never thought
we would see a BU team this bad. They have given up 5+ goals 5 times this year. Too bad these games are at BU as they are 0-8
on the road.

 

[Mule617]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

Glad to see they finally get a score to match the effort against NU. Harsh to outshoot a team 124-67 in a series and
only get 1 win. On another highnote Brickley didnt have a penalty last night. Thougt I was watching a rerun for the
first 2 periods and was very happy to see some snipe show up in the third.

Just when you though Hoffman had the edge Santa has a great game and I cant see Sneddon picking only one just yet.

Wonder which BU team we will see next weekend, the one that pressed BC Friday or the one that has gone 0-7-1 in its last 8. Never thought
we would see a BU team this bad. They have given up 5+ goals 5 times this year. Too bad these games are at BU as they are 0-8
on the road.

You're right, a total toss up in net. I would love to have one go to guy, but I have no idea who to pick.

And I am as confused as you are about BU. I do a double take every time I look at the standings. I guess that goes to show you how influential a good coach can be. 40 years of winning with Jack Parker, and they seem to have fallen off a cliff their first year without him.

 

[VermontfaninNY]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

It was nice to get the non-conference win and get us back on the NCAA bubble. However, with Hockey Easy tightening up, it would have been really nice to get the first game as well. Granted I didn't see the game, just heard it on the radio, it sounded like after 2 periods of dominating, there were two unnecessary frustration penalties back to back, Northeastern scored on one, then immediately after the second penalty kill ended. It seems like this has happened every close game that has mattered this season, whether it was Lowell, or North Dakota.

The bottom line is, I don't think the coach can keep his team disciplined when needed to win games. He's got to go.

 

[Mule617]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

It was nice to get the non-conference win and get us back on the NCAA bubble. However, with Hockey Easy tightening up, it would have been really nice to get the first game as well. Granted I didn't see the game, just heard it on the radio, it sounded like after 2 periods of dominating, there were two unnecessary frustration penalties back to back, Northeastern scored on one, then immediately after the second penalty kill ended. It seems like this has happened every close game that has mattered this season, whether it was Lowell, or North Dakota.

The bottom line is, I don't think the coach can keep his team disciplined when needed to win games. He's got to go.

You're right. There has never seemed to be much discipline coming from the coach, ie: 4 years of Brickley penalties. I like aggressive play, but stupid penalties at the worst time seem to happen too often. Where are the consequences? Or maybe coach feels there is nothing wrong with these plays. Someone should ask him.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

You're right. There has never seemed to be much discipline coming from the coach, ie: 4 years of Brickley penalties. I like aggressive play, but stupid penalties at the worst time seem to happen too often. Where are the consequences? Or maybe coach feels there is nothing wrong with these plays. Someone should ask him.

No discipline? Sneddon sits his good players when they screw up more than most most any coach. Fallon just a few weeks ago dont we forget and Brickley,Letz, Mscoby to name a few.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

It seems like this has happened every close game that has mattered this season, whether it was Lowell, or North Dakota.

When did we play Lowell?

As for losing Friday... It doesn't even matter. Everyone makes the HE tourney, and UVM isn't winning the tourney. They have a shot at the NCAA's and as far as that is concerned Saturdays win counted just as much as Fridays. Bottom line is UVM is on the outside looking in at the current time, the only thing that is going to move them up are wins. Looking ahead they need wins against BU, UNH, and MC at the least. I'd really like to see something along the lines of a 7-3 record to finish out the season, and I think that's reasonable if not slightly optimistic.

 

[Patronick]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

When did we play Lowell?

As for losing Friday... It doesn't even matter. Everyone makes the HE tourney, and UVM isn't winning the tourney. They have a shot at the NCAA's and as far as that is concerned Saturdays win counted just as much as Fridays. Bottom line is UVM is on the outside looking in at the current time, the only thing that is going to move them up are wins. Looking ahead they need wins against BU, UNH, and MC at the least. I'd really like to see something along the lines of a 7-3 record to finish out the season, and I think that's reasonable if not slightly optimistic.

It's really hard to articulate just how bad BU looked on Saturday night. If Vermont plays like they did against NU they'll destroy the Terriers.

 

[VermontfaninNY]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

I'm pretty sure I meant Notre Dame or Providence, not Lowell. My bad.

 

[Mule617]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

No discipline? Sneddon sits his good players when they screw up more than most most any coach. Fallon just a few weeks ago dont we forget and Brickley,Letz, Mscoby to name a few.

Well we don't really know why Brickley was benched. You said yourself he was "dinged up." If it was for discipline reasons, a lot of good it did. Maybe a different approach to discipline is needed. Teaching them to play with self discipline would be better. I love the intensity that Brickley plays with, but every time he goes to hit someone a part of me cringes because he goes in so haphazardly. If he could harness his energy and focus it in a disciplined manner, then he would start affecting the game in a positive way, rather then negative.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

On a more optimistic note, Puscharich was named HE rookie of the week for the 4th time in the past 6 weeks. I am really impressed with this kid. Watching the highlight video of the last NU v. UVM game the first goal was just a great play him. McCarthy got him the puck but it was in his feet and in very little space he was able to get a shot off that went in. He has great hands and is going to have a huge impact for this program as long as he is here.

BU this weekend... Cats need these wins big time. In past years UVM has struggled getting up for games against the cellar dwellers, here's hoping they come out hungry and hard.

 

[j24vt]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

Well we don't really know why Brickley was benched. You said yourself he was "dinged up." If it was for discipline reasons, a lot of good it did. Maybe a different approach to discipline is needed. Teaching them to play with self discipline would be better. I love the intensity that Brickley plays with, but every time he goes to hit someone a part of me cringes because he goes in so haphazardly. If he could harness his energy and focus it in a disciplined manner, then he would start affecting the game in a positive way, rather then negative.

Most of Brickley's penalties are because he tends to stand up and raise his elbows as he checks people. That is on the coaches. He also occasionally leaves his feet as he initiates the check. That will get called every time (and usually does).

 

[Mule617]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

On a more optimistic note, Puscharich was named HE rookie of the week for the 4th time in the past 6 weeks. I am really impressed with this kid. Watching the highlight video of the last NU v. UVM game the first goal was just a great play him. McCarthy got him the puck but it was in his feet and in very little space he was able to get a shot off that went in. He has great hands and is going to have a huge impact for this program as long as he is here.

BU this weekend... Cats need these wins big time. In past years UVM has struggled getting up for games against the cellar dwellers, here's hoping they come out hungry and hard.

Agree with you on Puscharich. Great hands, needs to work on his feet though. A sniper no doubt, but he won't be blowing by anyone. Fun to watch, hopefully we'll get a couple of years our of him.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

Agree with you on Puscharich. Great hands, needs to work on his feet though. A sniper no doubt, but he won't be blowing by anyone. Fun to watch, hopefully we'll get a couple of years our of him.

I think this is the one reason he will stay. He doesnt blow by people like Stalberg or McCarthy and doesnt beat people with strength. What
he does is finish. Simple but considering its the one thing VT has been missing the last few years we should be happy we found it in a player
the NHL didnt draft.

BU is in a big slump and you would think they would turn it around with all of thier talent but lets hope Vermont can get ahead early and not
let them get the crowd into the game.

 

[VTinNY]

Re: Vermont 2013-2014 Season Thread : The Golden Year

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4729846
Another recruit for the Cats.. is the leading goal scorer in NAHL. Not the greatest league, but his coach says he has a quick release on his shot, which is a handy skill.

I guess Puskarich is not looking "too old" anymore .. I think he can improve skating in the next couple seasons. Often it's a certain matter of conditioning and realizing that at the NCAA level you have to go full speed all the time with no coasting. If he gains a step on his speed he will be dynamite and would be nice to see with Reynolds next season. Hoping for a big weekend against the Terriers!

 

[HOCKEYGUY23]

On a more optimistic note, Puscharich was named HE rookie of the week for the 4th time in the past 6 weeks. I am really impressed with this kid. Watching the highlight video of the last NU v. UVM game the first goal was just a great play him. McCarthy got him the puck but it was in his feet and in very little space he was able to get a shot off that went in. He has great hands and is going to have a huge impact for this program as long as he is here.

BU this weekend... Cats need these wins big time. In past years UVM has struggled getting up for games against the cellar dwellers, here's hoping they come out hungry and hard.

Puskarich is a good player. He's not going anywhere early. He's raw defensively. He is lucky to be with McCarthy, as he demands a lot of attention and makes the right play and Mccarthy is lucky to have him as Puskarich knows where to go to get open and McCarthy finds him. I don't think Fallon has a point since he was moved from McCarthy Puskarich line.

We need to stop blaming the coach for the bad penalties. Lenz got the message, walls has for the most part and Brickley is just playing his way and that reckless. Meanwhile Mccarthy plays the most and has 1 penalty all year. Same coach, so can't say its a coaching issue.

Team needs a sweep this weekend, bottom line. They went 2-2-2 in last 6, and we are *****ing. That was against Colgate (who knocked off 2 powerhouses the weekend before), Yale (natl champs) NE (witt's been ridiculous) so I see things as half full. If we can get another line to contribute we will be a tough out for anyone.