UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

[boblav1]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Why do I feel like the effect of Notre Dame coming into HE is already starting to affect our scheduling?

I agree Monty, Is this a preview of what will happen once they reduce the number of HE games and increase the NC schedule.

[UMLFan]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Also, just noticed we'll be Denver's home (and season) opener this year.

[boblav1]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Also, just noticed we'll be Denver's home (and season) opener this year.

Speaking of schedules, I'm hoping CC and Denver will be coming to Lowell in 2013/2014. UNH is also heading to Colorado this season so it would makes sense.

[boblav1]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Includes the Bentley games. Only one NC game left.

2012 / 2013 Tentative Schedule:

10/13/12 - Sat - Bentley
10/19/12 - Fri -@ Denver
10/20/12 - Sat - @ Colorado College
11/16/12 - Fri - UNH
11/30/12 - Fri - @ UNH
12/01/12 - Sat - UNH
12/30/12 - Sun - @ Bentley
01/04/13 - Fri - Clarkson
01/05/13 - Sat - Clarkson
02/01/13 - Fri - @ Merrimack
03/01/13 - Fri - Merrimack
03/02/13 - Sat - @ Merrimack

[jrobes01]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Wow twice.... hopefully that's a mistake.

The Ryan in Watertown is an outstanding facility. Can't wait for that game...

[schiegs]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

The Ryan in Watertown is an outstanding facility. Can't wait for that game...

The JAR makes the old Tulley Forum look like a palace.

[gochiefs]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Honestly, nothing against Bentley ... but not only are we playing them once ... we're playing them twice!

Playing Bentley twice? I think this is awful. Lowell needs to beef up their NC schedule. CC and Denver help but why Bentley?

[UMLFan]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Playing Bentley twice? I think this is awful. Lowell needs to beef up their NC schedule. CC and Denver help but why Bentley?

I'm wondering the same. I like helping out the AHA programs, but playing them twice will hurt our SOS next year. I think this is just late scheduling hurting us.

[boblav1]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

I'm wondering the same. I like helping out the AHA programs, but playing them twice will hurt our SOS next year. I think this is just late scheduling hurting us.

I've always wanted to play a tough NC schedule. But is that the best approach to make it to the NCAAs? Here's an interesting post by Mike McMahon from the Mack Report site on Merrimack's NC schedule. http://themackreport.com/merrimack-h...ct-6/#comments

Mike McMahon says:

May 2, 2012 at 12:12 pm

The non-conference schedule will always be a debate. Truthfully, bigger schools don’t want to come to Lawler. That’s how it will always be. I know they’ve tried partnering with some bigger HE schools to bring teams in for two games (one there, one at Lawler) and some seem receptive but it’s still early in those stages.

The bigger schools, especially the bigger Midwest schools, don’t want to come East, period. They would much rather pay a team $50,000 to come in for two games at their place, and not return the trip.

And, while I understand the desire to play the “bigger” schools, I’ve always been a proponent of scheduling a non-conference schedule that you think you can do well with. When it comes to the Pairwise, going 6-1 against ECAC and AH schools is going to always be better than going 3-4 against WCHA and CCHA “bigger” schools. It’s beneficial to win NC games, because if you do well enough in Hockey East, the league will always be strong enough to put you in good shape for a NCAA berth.

Two years ago – and I don’t remember the exact teams – but I took four of Merrimack’s NC wins and changed them to one win and three losses against teams that were “better” and the result was squeaking into the NCAAs as the No. 15 seed. Instead of being a No. 2 in Manchester, they would likely have been a No. 4, headed out West.

So, to sum it up, the problem with bigger schools are:
1) They don’t want to come.
2) They won’t come.
3) Is it really beneficial to play them? I’m not sure it is.

I guess I want it both ways, a nice NC schedule and an NCAA berth. It will be interesting to see what the NC schedule looks like in another year when there will probably be 5 more NC games to schedule.

[Patman]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Yes, but.... We aren't saying schedule michigan or Miami... There are plenty of mid level teams out there (Mankato)... Speaking of them... Do they owe us a trip or did we play that already?

[sterlippo1]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

but UML and Merrimack really can't be compared though Mike's take is ,i think accurate, for Merrimack. You guys have a great facility that is a draw while it's a (or THE) reason the "big" schools don't want to go to Merrimack

[gochiefs]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Yes, but.... We aren't saying schedule michigan or Miami... There are plenty of mid level teams out there (Mankato)... Speaking of them... Do they owe us a trip or did we play that already?

Mankato already came here during the season we would all like to forget.

[boblav1]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Is anyone going to the Tsongas Thursday night?

[Go-UML]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Is anyone going to the Tsongas Thursday night?

Yeah, I'll be going. Was curious about that as well.

[UMLFan]

Re: UML 2012 Offseason Thread: "If this is a dream, don't wake me!"

Yeah, I'll be going. Was curious about that as well.

I forgot to pay before April ended.