official thread of the UNH wildcats

[Grandaddy]

Originally posted by Blackice
NU last roster was Rebecca Paul and Rebecca Peters only Paul transfered to UNH.
huh?

[Collegehockeynut]

Originally posted by candianhockey
Rebecca Paul is an important addition. She's a sophomore which gives the team better balance/experience distribution for the next three years-otherwise would be pretty thin in second year depth. And she is a big strong player, and the Cats could use some size and strength. Works hard, and loves hockey. A real bonus for the Cats.

I agree with your comments. I saw her play last year and she is a big strong player. I also saw her the year before she went to NU when she played in a tournament in Missisauga. She was on a line with Samantha Shirley (Mercyhurst) and Jana Harrigan (Ohio State). All three had pretty good rookie years last year.

[cavbim]

Your roster is now posted on your web site

Which is better then BC which says they have the '03-04 roster but still have 02-03 come up.

[NCAA watcher]

2 Christie Urban Fr. D 5-4 R Wilmington, Del./St. Mark’s
4 Shannon Clement Fr. D 5-10 L Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Korah Collegiate
5 Allison Edgar Sr. D 5-6 L Brigden, Ont./Lambton Central CVI
6 Lindsay Hansen So. F 5-7 L Northport, N.Y/Northport
7 Rebecca Paul So. F 5-9 R Sudbury, Ont./Notre Dame College
8 Carolyn Gordon (A) Sr. F 5-6 R Petrolia, Ont./Lambton Central CVI
9 Debbie Bernhard Sr. F 5-2 R Acton, Mass./Acton Boxborough
10 Randi MacMaster Jr. F 5-6 L Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill
11 Tracy True So. D 5-5 R Westwood, Mass./Cushing Academy
12 Jaime VanMassenhove Sr. F 5-8 R Alpena, Mich./Alpena
13 Jackie Wedster Fr. F 5-8 R Chicago, Ill./Culver Academy
14 Kristen Thomas (C) Sr. D 5-5 R Wilmington, Mass./Cushing Academy
15 Stephanie Jones Jr. F 5-8 L Kimberley, B.C./Selkirk Academy
17 Nicole Hekle Fr. F 5-9 L Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary’s Academy
19 Alexis Silvestri Sr. D 5-4 L Smithfield, R.I./St. George’s School
21 Lindsey Caleo Fr. F 5-5 L Clinton Township, Mich./Cushing Academy
22 Martine Garland Fr. D 5-10 R Toronto, Ont./De La Salle College
23 Sadie Wright-Ward Fr. F 5-6 R Durham, N.H./Brewster Academy
24 Melissa Bourdon Fr. G 5-9 R Ile Bizard, Quebec/williston Northampton
25 Vicki Davis So. F 5-7 L Edmonton, Alb./Shattuck-St. Mary’s
27 Janine Goulet (A) Sr. D 5-7 L Gloucester, Ont./St. Matthew
30 Brittany Busa Fr. G 5-9 L Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle
33 Maghan Grahn So. G 5-7 R Roseau, Minn

[NCAA watcher]

From today's Foster's Daily Democrat:


Here is a brief rundown of those new faces, and relax there won’t be test at the end.

Goalies

Maghan Grahn, sophomore, 5-foot-7, Roseau, Minn. Grahn left Minnesota-Duluth following her freshman year and spent last season playing Junior B hockey in Canada. McCloskey describes Grahn as in the mold of Jen Huggon. "Not tall, but extremely athletic and quick."

Melissa Bourdon, freshman, 5-9, Ile Bizard, Quebec. "A very athletic goalie with great size and great tools," said McCloskey. Bourdon has looked very strong in the early going and will compete right off the bat with Grahn for top goalie honors.

Brittany Busa, freshman, 5-9, Concord, Mass. Busa led her Assabet Valley Midget team to a national title. McCloskey said she "has a lot of very good habits and a lot of potential."

Defense

Christine Urban, freshman, 5-4, Wilmington, Del. Urban played on boys teams all the way up, a fact that leads McCloskey to describe her as a "tough competitor" and "a hard worker."

Shannon Clement, freshman, 5-10, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. "She is a very gifted individual with tremendous upside," said McCloskey.

Martine Garland, freshman, 5-10, Toronto, Ontario. McCloskey casts Garland as a "Larry Robinson" type of defender with great hands and very smooth on her feet.

Forwards

Rebecca Paul, sophomore, 5-9, Sudbury, Ontario. Paul is a transfer from Northeastern where she was the team’s third leading scorer last season with seven goals and 11 assists. McCloskey said she is the proverbial power forward who will remind Wildcat fans of Caroline Gordon in her style of play.

Jackie Wedster, freshman, 5-8, Kimberly, British Columbia. Wedster is another of the "good-size" forwards McCloskey has added to the team whose strength and persistence will help out up front.

Nicole Hekle, freshman, 5-9, Winnipeg, Manitoba. McCloskey describes Hekle as an excellent athlete with a lot of talent and tremendous potential.

Lindsey Caleo, freshman, 5-5, Clinton Township, Mich. Caleo is a very crafty player who is clever with the puck. "She will contribute right away," McCloskey said.

Sadie Wright-Ward, freshman, 5-6, Durham. The local favorite, McCloskey said Wright-Ward is a very persistent player with a lot of smarts. She will have to adjust to the speed of Division I play, but when she does, she will be an important contributor.

[Frozenaffairs]

Originally posted by NCAA watcher
From today's Foster's Daily Democrat:

Here is a brief rundown of those new faces, and relax there won’t be test at the end.

Goalies

Maghan Grahn, sophomore, 5-foot-7, Roseau, Minn. Grahn left Minnesota-Duluth following her freshman year and spent last season playing Junior B hockey in Canada. McCloskey describes Grahn as in the mold of Jen Huggon. "Not tall, but extremely athletic and quick."

Melissa Bourdon, freshman, 5-9, Ile Bizard, Quebec. "A very athletic goalie with great size and great tools," said McCloskey. Bourdon has looked very strong in the early going and will compete right off the bat with Grahn for top goalie honors.

Brittany Busa, freshman, 5-9, Concord, Mass. Busa led her Assabet Valley Midget team to a national title. McCloskey said she "has a lot of very good habits and a lot of potential."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Based on this article, it appears that Grahn is the front runner for the starting goalie slot with expected pressure from Bourdon. Looks like Busa is a work in progress with future potential and not in the immediate plans for the 2003/04 year.

Interesting comments from McCloskey, especially on Bourdon, considering the official season has not yet started (for the non Ivy D-1s it should be the week of 9/22). He must be relying on feedback from non coaching staff relating to the preseason ice sessions (voluntary/captains practices etc.) since coaches are not allowed to be present at these preseason sessions per NCAA rules.

[cavbim]

Originally posted by Frozenaffairs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting comments from McCloskey, especially on Bourdon, considering the official season has not yet started (for the non Ivy D-1s it should be the week of 9/22). He must be relying on feedback from non coaching staff relating to the preseason ice sessions (voluntary/captains practices etc.) since coaches are not allowed to be present at these preseason sessions per NCAA rules.

My understanding is that 4 players at a time can go on the ice with 1 coach. I don't believe the guys have the same rule which is closer to what you are talking about.

[Frozenaffairs]

Cavbim.

Clarification, it is my understanding that official team practices cannot start earlier than 180 days ( give or take a few days) prior to the projected end of the season. This is an NCAA rule. So these sessions where the coach is on the ice with no more than 4 players at a time are considered preseason? Interesting set up with regard to the players participation. Im sure they fall under the voluntary/ but you better be there practice.

[171]

Given the strict approach all coaches seem to display for the NCAA rules, I doubt that the UNH coaching staff was on the ice or even present at any of the so called "captains" practices. However what coach wouldn't want to know from their captains, or rink staff, men's coaching staff, etc., etc., how their new recruits were doing. I'm sure his comments are related to 2nd hand information.

[Grandaddy]

Originally posted by 171
Given the strict approach all coaches seem to display for the NCAA rules, I doubt that the UNH coaching staff was on the ice or even present at any of the so called "captains" practices. However what coach wouldn't want to know from their captains, or rink staff, men's coaching staff, etc., etc., how their new recruits were doing. I'm sure his comments are related to 2nd hand information.

two coaches, including the head coach, can be on the ice with no more than four players, during pre-season sessions.

[cat_fan100]

Ok, lets get active again. What is happening at UNH? I here that the best of there rookie goalies might not be eligible?

[interestedobserver]

I heard the same. Something about academic transfer credits not on the eligiblity list.
What's going on in the game? DBBC, did you go?

[unh_hockey]

Originally posted by interestedobserver
I heard the same. Something about academic transfer credits not on the eligiblity list.
What's going on in the game? DBBC, did you go?

DBBC no longer goes to UNH, and threfore the UNH hockey womens games. No more farmiliar faces at womens games anymore...**** graduation :(

Anyway to the game. UNH prtty much dictated play the entire game, but couldnt score the first two periods. Mcgill was held to 0 shots, I believe, for the second period, and 3 for the first. Each period, the cats seemed to pick it up, and finally closed the door in the third.

Players that stood out : jones and davis. Both good stick handlers up front. I think viki davis will shape up to be one heck of a goal scorer. Thomas off season routine seems to have payed off, she seem sharp out there too. She was the catalysit for the first goal. Right-ward ( or whatever her name is) was a workhorse, almost reminded me a little of saviano. Didnt get much of an idea about the others. True and Urban played all of 1 minute at the end, so I do not forsee much play time for them.

As for the team as a whole, they seemed to have trouble getting the puck into the zone tonite, but they cycled well. Some of the passes seemed to miss some of the players, but I also noticed alot of freshmen out there. Like the mens team, I see potential here to improve, but they looked good. better than their first game against Assabet last season for sure.

[lyla33]

what did i say b4 sadie wright- ward is good Pc will be tough once again this yr it is deff a rebuilding yr for unh w/ the loss of huggon and the srs hope they will do good this yr

[PUCKMASTER]

I saw yesterday’s game and I thought the defense for UNH played very well against McGill allowing only a total of 11 shots against UNH goalies. The offense was a little slow going but picked it up at the end but you expect that with new kids and new lines and getting used to each other. I believe our goalies will be fine, their equipment is brand new and hardly broken in. Both Grahn and Busa are basically rookies, Grahn not seeing much time at MDU. Busa has played varsity boys hockey for the last four years and led her Assabet team to a National Championship and Grahn played Jr Boys last year. They are both athletic and will have see who rises to the top in the next few weeks.

In PC game McGill had 22 shots on PC goalies, even though they did not score, it makes you wonder the defense of PC vs. UNH defense. Offensively PC is strong, but their score against McGill was 7-0. The PC offense has very little adjustments to make than UNH does. I believe UNH offense has the potential to take on PC this year and should be a great game.

I agree with and earlier writer that this game yesterday was much better played than the Assabet game last year.

Lets give the Cats a chance and let McCloskey and staff do their thing.

[Blackice]

It was a good start for UNH Paul and some of the freshman recruits look good.

[Grandaddy]

Originally posted by Blackice
It was a good start for UNH Paul and some of the freshman recruits look good.

aren't the 'recruits' not recruits anymore? ;)

[171]

They are going to need some outstanding freshmen if they want to play with Providence this year. Providence sure looks good on paper.

[Grandaddy]

Originally posted by 171
They are going to need some outstanding freshmen if they want to play with Providence this year. Providence sure looks good on paper.

but games aren't played on paper... they're played inside of TV sets

[171]

Grandaddy,
Ok that's good...I needed a chuckle today.