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Vermont 2023/24: Stuck in the Wieds

NHL released it's first central scouting ratings. Caeden Herrington is a rated a 6th/7th round pick. Looks like it could be a big year for Vermonters. Herrington(Manchester), Elliott Groenwald(Bellow Falls), Jake Boulanger(Barre), Gio DiGiulian(South Burlington) are all rated. The problem is Groenwald and DiGiulian who look like really good prospects are both committed to other schools already.

I know the days of cleaning up on recruits in your backyard are kinda over. All of these guys are scouted by coaches from across the country as soon as they reach Bantams, but it does seem like Woodcroft missed the boat on a couple of these players when he was here. DiGiulian played at South Burlington High and his dad was an assistant coach under Mike Gilligan. It goes for transfers as well. Nicholas Niemo(Middlebury) had a good freshman year at Bentley then entered the transfer portal and end up at...Maine :(

It's a different sport, but we've seen the impact that local players have had on the basketball program. Players that other D1's had no interest in, can become impact/all league players for them. Hoping that Weidler starts to prioritize this, because it's not like we're winning a ton of battles for players from elsewhere.

Sorry for more downer content. I was really impressed by opening weekend!
 
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Seems to me that the forwards are driving to the net and taking shots more than in the past. The opposing defense no longer has to just stand there until the rush breaks itself up with a bad pass.
 
Providence was obviously the better team last night, but after watching periods 2 and 3 last night, the officiating was decidedly one-sided (not talking about the major, and I didn't think there was intent plus slo-mo always makes it look worse). The two late power plays came as the game was practically with the score already 4-1. The PK was stellar though.
 
I agree. Zapernick had a very long conversation with the referees at the end of the second period. I was particularly annoyed late in the second, when one ref ignores the clear trip behind the Providence goal line and then the other called Tornquist for a less obvious interference at the other end 5 seconds later. Penalty killing was fantastic. Few shots allowed during that 5 minute major. Haven't watched the espn replay yet. I didn't have a good view of the major. Carriere was great, especially at getting to where he needed to be in dangerous situations.
Score and shots were lopsided. It didn't seem like a lopsided game. Wiedler took blame for the team "not playing to their identity for the majority of the game". But, hey, Providence is #7 in the country and red hot right now. Will be interesting to see what changes tonight.
 
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Does anyone know where to find the line ups for each game? UVM men's hockey used to post them before each game on twitter, but I have noticed they no longer do.

I was also at the game last night, disappointed in how easily PVD took the puck from our guys, we lost all the little battles. We did have a lot of offensive zone time but very few shots to show for it, 14 SOG won't win many games!!
 
The eternal optimist in me wants to believe this program has bumbled and stumbled its way into the coach it has needed all along. We shall see, but excellent showing tonight.
 
Fantastic win / tie against #7 in nation. Nice to see that shots were even… and we didn’t need Carriere to steal one.
 
Was at both games and I can't tell which team had the bigger transformation from night 1 to 2. Would like to get excited after Sat but stiil remember how ugly Friday was.

I Can't figure how these schools (Prov, NE) get good players to come play in an empty rink. About 1/3 full Fri and 1/4 Sat. and this is a top 10 team here.

Agree with Soucy as I have been saying this for years when the other team gets powerplays to build the lead and when the game is already over Vermont gets a couple token PP's when they are down 2 or 3 goals late in the game just to make the box score look better.
 
Cat lover said:
Was at both games and I can't tell which team had the bigger transformation from night 1 to 2. Would like to get excited after Sat but stiil remember how ugly Friday was.

I Can't figure how these schools (Prov, NE) get good players to come play in an empty rink. About 1/3 full Fri and 1/4 Sat. and this is a top 10 team here.

Agree with Soucy as I have been saying this for years when the other team gets powerplays to build the lead and when the game is already over Vermont gets a couple token PP's when they are down 2 or 3 goals late in the game just to make the box score look better.
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I can understand Northeastern tbh - good playing time, access to the Beanpot, and a pretty solid student section afaik (it's the non-students that let them down imo). But Schneider is my least favorite place in HE at least on TV. The place is constantly empty, the school's color scheme makes it look drab and depressing, there's no atmosphere, and I feel like even when we were like a fringe tournament team we always got killed there.
 
I would always get annoyed when announcers would say "beautiful Schneider Arena". It may have looked that way from the press box, but the viewing angles in the stands were lousy. I don't remember many blowouts there. I remember Tom Cullity came in with a 10 game goal scoring streak on a Sunday in mid-January. He hit the post and UVM lost 2-1 or 1-0. A win would have put UVM in first place. Also have a vivid memory of Ducharme hitting the crossbar from the blue line. Nowadays, the non stop music blasting makes it virtually impossible for players to hear me. That could be deliberate to prevent visiting fans from outcheering the locals.
UConn not off to a great start this year with two losses to Holy Cross and a split at Union. Last weekend, they only scored twice and split with Lowell. Should be an interesting weekend.
 
UCONN has had excellent goaltending so far, so it should be an interesting series, probably low scoring but who knows. Hopefully UVM finds a way to find the back of the net. Overall though, I've enjoyed watching them so far. I know it's early but Hockey East seems pretty tight this year. I'm sure someone will break away from the pack but as of right now, anyone seems to be able to win on any given night. Again though, it's early.
 
Just too many mistakes last night, after the 2 goal lead happened. Looked slow to the puck in 2nd half of game. And that boarding penalty when already down a man (and in the other team's zone...) - just cannot happen.
 
SoucyWasNoSieve said:
Just too many mistakes last night, after the 2 goal lead happened. Looked slow to the puck in 2nd half of game. And that boarding penalty when already down a man (and in the other team's zone...) - just cannot happen.
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Agreed. Thought they looked like a pee wee team during that 8 min stretch when UConn scored 4 times, and particularly the 2 min stretch when they scored 3. Honestly, before the season I thought this is the team we'd be seeing, but instead was pleasantly surprised to see they've been very, very solid. Hopefully, this is a little aberration and we'll be back on track. Would have been awesome to have a 6 pt HE weekend though!
 
Got to see the team in person last night. Overall there was a lot to feel good about. I can't remember the last time I saw a UVM team control the play and actually look like the better team. Loved the 2nd uvm goal. Theodore and Miotto are great adds wish they're gonna be here more than a year. Also the atmosphere in the Gut was great. I missed being in the old rink when it's like that.

On the negative side, they came completely undone in the 3rd period. Just looked lost after the tying goal. Penalties are a problem. Richards was lucky not to get kick out on the boarding and the Bergmanis penalty was just straight up dumb. I hope Walther is okay. That happened right in front of me and looked BAD. First thought seeing it was broken arm.
 
Very interesting weekend. Actually played 5 very good periods of hockey. Hustle, hard work, etc.. Knew that UCONN would make a push on Saturday and disappointed with the UVM response. I think this team actually is quite fast and can put pressure on the opposition. Also hoping the Walter injury isn't significant, not sure if wrist/arm but was holding it coming off the ice. Special teams are an issue. If we want to continue to rise up it has to improve (both PK and PP). Gabe has been playing well and has given the team a chance every night. Wondering if in period 6 of the weekend we lost our legs a bit and then obviously the PP's and quick strikes by UCONN had the team on their heels. Still like what I'm seeing, team is older and more experienced. HE games are going to be tough as usual.
 
So, how many consecutive commitments to other schools without any to UVM before I should get worried? It has to be pretty tough to get people to buy in when you are effectively in a trial period.
 
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