UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

[Snively65]

Unfortunate to see us missing out on our annual trip to Mathews (Boston) Arena for the silly frostbite game.

Rumor has it that my other team may play NU again this coming season (gluttons for punishment, those Huskies), so I may get back to one of my two favorite arenas (Boston and Yost).

[NU_Husky]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Rumor has it that my other team may play NU again this coming season (gluttons for punishment, those Huskies), so I may get back to one of my two favorite arenas (Boston and Yost).

Have also heard the rumor that Bentley will be playing NU again. Home and home likely.

[bomberhockey]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Recruiting aggressively, selling and targeting kids aggressively does not mean you'll end up with quantity over quality. That was Borek's approach. It's certainly not Denvers approach - they're aggressively reeling in a quantity of quality. UNH had the same opportunity as AIC and the same ability as DU, yet as Sonar pointed out has taken a completely different approach. That's the comparison...


Dan,
Brady versus Manning, no Brady versus Kelly (Jim) Manning won. To make the comparison that UNH and DU are in the same recruiting circles in my opinion is ludicrous. Denver has more losses in the Frozen Four than UNH has appearances, which also happen to be losses. Not to mention seven wins, two since UNH made its last appearance. And they jettisoned their coach very early when things in the program appeared to be going south. Denver is also geographically much closer to western Canada, home of many top recruits, i.e. Laleggia.
Quality over Quantity?
Have you seen that philosophy hasn’t changed at PC? They are deferring guys that are elite. Why, because they kept tying to get better and landed even more skilled players, a gamble I think they’re willing to take. And I’ve been told by another source that Borek asked for a translation of a Finnish transcript while at UNH. Hmm? Ask the HC if he knew that!
When a contract extension was being considered, and was being mysteriously deferred for the “life time” contract guy, Borek decides to ask the AD about he State of the Program. The AD knowing the dysfunction in his once flagship program, told Borek,, “we’ll have a national search” for a new coach. And note, the AD said that with full knowledge that the guy in front of him was doing everything he could to continue the relative success that the program was having. And then the AD told the UNH alum with 13 years coaching college the same thing. Also take note Borek has the same amount of experience as the HC coaching college hockey, and cut his teeth grinding on the recruiting trail. Borek read the AD loud and clear and put his sheet on the street. The NCAA National Championship coach reached out immediately to Borek because he has a vacancy. The NC HC is thrilled to have a recruiter of that caliber and another ‘HC’ on his bench. Now Borek gets almost all the criticism for the recruiting failures, on this blog and even some in the program. Yet when he’s available, AIC didn’t pick him up, PC picks him up immediately, why? Borek won’t have to worry about that happening at PC, everyone goes on the road recruiting and is giving feedback, everyone decides on recruits, with the HC having final say of course
Remember Borek, was initially in charge of forwards and power play on the bench. In his last season at UNH Borek was switched to handle defense early in the season. Is it a coincidence that they were pretty solid last year. Admittedly he had an NHL caliber to help him right the ship, but I find it hard to believe that that one guy was responsible for the extreme drop off to this year D group with essentially the same personnel outside BP. A huge loss to be sure but the whole D core seemed to play less disciplined, circumstantial? Chemistry? Communication?
Borek leaves for PC, Happy he’s “wanted”. Then he finds out through other sources that he was sabotaged in getting a chance at a HC job by his old friend of 30 years. Why? Maybe to enable the HC’s dysfunctional program, and keep status quo without a major drop off on his watch. After all Borek is a workaholic that can never put the job down, suffering in his personal life for it. Borek made mistakes at UNH and he readily admits that and and fell on his own sword in one of them because he felt it the ethical thing to do. Side bar, some of the remaining elite recruit’s advisors inquired about following Borek to PC. PC took a couple but he and the HC thought it unethical to strip UNH of others. Instead of criticizing Borek for anything you should bow down to him for finally bringing “The Emperor has no Clothes” to a conclusion. Not the conclusion that any of us wanted to see. He didn’t get what he initially wanted but he did force the issue to get something done now, or almost now, probably as “now” as the AD’s rocks could muster. Not the conclusion that any of us wanted to see., fans we see a degrading program with a HC in waiting that has a lot of upside but a glowing lack of experience in coaching. We see the severe degradation of a UNH legend that tried to hang on too long. Certainly Borek although he’s happy now, didn’t get what he was promised when he left a HC job he was happy with for another shot at D1.
I’ll leave the UNH blogs now after my Jerry Maguire like rant. I’ll be back as a Cat fan when this regime has exited, Scarano, Metcalf and Coach Umile. Until then go Friars, go Riverhawks, but I can never go as far as Blackbears or Terriers.

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Denver is also geographically much closer to western Canada, home of many top recruits, i.e. Laleggia.

Laleggia was still speaking of going to UNH in March/April when Penticton finished, saying he was going to sort it out in a couple of days. Then he suddenly becomes uncommitted and doesn't pick Denver til the next season. Did he decommit because he pinned to be closer to Denver, or because UNH deferred him? Don't know the answer, but I am suspicious of the answer that he decommitted unrelated to being deferred. His own quotes suggest Denver wanted him early, and take players young, rather than wanting them to grow old in juniors.

http://board.uscho.com/archive/index.php/t-91381.html]Laleggia[/url] committed to Denver today.
Quotes from Laleggia (http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/)
"The coaches (at Denver) really liked me and I felt wanted."
"There are guys who are committing at that young an age and they're having success."
"Mine (situation at UNH) just got a little complicated."

And I’ve been told by another source that Borek asked for a translation of a Finnish transcript while at UNH. Hmm? Ask the HC if he knew that!

You don't need to sell me on the concept that a lightly educated suburban Boston coach is provincial. It's BC never recruiting a non-New England kid, just on a smaller level.

When a contract extension was being considered, and was being mysteriously deferred for the “life time” contract guy, Borek decides to ask the AD about he State of the Program. The AD knowing the dysfunction in his once flagship program, told Borek,, “we’ll have a national search” for a new coach. And note, the AD said that with full knowledge that the guy in front of him was doing everything he could to continue the relative success that the program was having. And then the AD told the UNH alum with 13 years coaching college the same thing. Also take note Borek has the same amount of experience as the HC coaching college hockey, and cut his teeth grinding on the recruiting trail. Borek read the AD loud and clear and put his sheet on the street.

Well, they clearly did a national search and then found a coach who grew up 10 minutes from Umile's hometown, who had established his bona fides in his four years with Ivy league Brown and Division II U.Conn.

Side bar, some of the remaining elite recruit’s advisors inquired about following Borek to PC. PC took a couple but he and the HC thought it unethical to strip UNH of others.

That's pretty decent of him. We'd have been devastated if he hadn't stopped at Ryczek and instead gone on to the Aaron O'Neills and Joey Cippolones of our team.

Instead of criticizing Borek for anything you should bow down to him for finally bringing “The Emperor has no Clothes” to a conclusion. Not the conclusion that any of us wanted to see.

You have succeeded in focusing attention to just how poor the structure at UNH is, starting with large measure with the HC. While I thought that all of the "Grumpy old guys" (Umile, Lassonde, Borek and Tortorella) were on the same wave, your inside talk does cast Borek in a better light. He still must own his mistakes -- and I quibble about his preference for old vs. skill (leading to needless deferrals) -- that seems a smaller part of the blame pie.

I’ll be back as a Cat fan when this regime has exited, Scarano, Metcalf and Coach Umile. Until then go Friars, go Riverhawks, but I can never go as far as Blackbears or Terriers.

Another point we agree upon.

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

We already knew about this one, but schedule beginning to fill in even without release by ADs office.

http://www.uscho.com/2016/05/20/corn...-weekend-2016/

[C-H-C]

We already knew about this one, but schedule beginning to fill in even without release by ADs office.

http://www.uscho.com/2016/05/20/corn...-weekend-2016/

Total puff piece😉

"We are really excited to play UNH at The Frozen Apple,” said Cornell coach Mike Schafer in a statement. “They are always a competitive team with great fans and one of the best coaches in the country in Dick Umile. We look forward to the Wildcats’ fans and UNH alumni joining the Lynah Faithful at such a historic venue."

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

Watcher - I understand your point on a Head Coach's worldliness vs provincialism. Unlike Umile, Souza has experience playing professional hockey in the US and Europe. Let's hope that translates into a broad perspective on styles of play, talent evaluation, and birthplaces of gifted hockey players.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

I really do feel it's necessary to extend my appreciation and thanks to those of you who don't mind lifting the lid that otherwise keeps a lot of this stuff under cover and out of the public's sight. Hearing the Borek side of the equation from bomber over these last few months has really been enlightening. I'm not sure that any of these guys - Umile, Borek, BS35+4 or Metcalf - emerges from this all unscathed, and I'm frankly not convinced that the AD and his lackey didn't have their hands tied to a degree based on Umile's "lifetime" deal going back to the Judy Ray era, when coach held all the cards. It's kinda sad this is the way this has played out, but given some of the twists late in Coach Umile's tenure, it seems there may have been no other realistic way for the U to get out from under that obligation but to allow Umile to select his successor. And I'm more compelled than ever to wonder out loud where Coach Stewart fits in all of this?

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

I really do feel it's necessary to extend my appreciation and thanks to those of you who don't mind lifting the lid that otherwise keeps a lot of this stuff under cover and out of the public's sight. Hearing the Borek side of the equation from bomber over these last few months has really been enlightening. I'm not sure that any of these guys - Umile, Borek, BS35+4 or Metcalf - emerges from this all unscathed, and I'm frankly not convinced that the AD and his lackey didn't have their hands tied to a degree based on Umile's "lifetime" deal going back to the Judy Ray era, when coach held all the cards. It's kinda sad this is the way this has played out, but given some of the twists late in Coach Umile's tenure, it seems there may have been no other realistic way for the U to get out from under that obligation but to allow Umile to select his successor. And I'm more compelled than ever to wonder out loud where Coach Stewart fits in all of this?

Hanging Onto Wrong Person, in Wrong Job, For too Long is a Sin
Lee Froschheiser ---- talent management, business management

"Good business leaders often say they’ve learned more from their failures than successes. These leaders have the confidence to know they can’t be right all the time and that mistakes come with the territory. For example, they might fail to communicate effectively or delegate properly. Perhaps they need to improve at accountability or developing their people. But what’s the biggest sin or failure of all, which causes harm to the performance of a company, giving leadership the most grief? Believe it or not, it’s a people problem. It’s hanging onto the wrong person, in the wrong job, for too long."

Ouch .......

[E.J. Smith]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

A lot of names being thrown into the blame mix on this – many of whom I’m in no rush to defend – but I just have the nagging feeling that 90% of this entire mess is on Umile.

On-ice: I don’t know him but he has to be the least introspective person out there. He must see how far performance has fallen, how can he not see that’s all on him? He checked out, put the program on auto pilot and headed to Portsmouth CC, for years on end. He didn’t go on the road, didn’t run practices, didn’t work the phones, didn’t meet or get to know the underclassmen. He threw all of that on one guy. I’m not saying I live in that world but I do know that his program was at the extreme end of the scale in terms of group effort, let’s all hit the trail v. one guy lives on the road.

My question is how does he not care about UNH enough to see he’s doing the program a dis-service by digging in his heels? For a guy who supposedly bleeds blue how can he watch the program fall apart while he collects a paycheck that he hasn’t earned in years?

And let’s all not forgot that this latest lacking in talent phase of his regime has only served to make us forget the previous can’t adjust/can’t win in the post season phase of his regime. I guess one way to not choke in big games is to not bring in players good enough to get to them.

Off-ice: The current AD pretty much killed the golden goose he had by milking the loyal season ticket holders for all they were worth, and insulting them with his attention to the corporate crowd and the casual fans while taking the core completely for granted. That’s a fact, but it’s totally unrelated to this coaching issue and I think a lot of us want to get our pound of flesh in any way we can, even if we have to make a leap to do it. Umile pretty much has the AD by the short hairs on this one contractually. Not sure there’s much to be done in this specific case, with the only lesson being, don’t ever give away the farm in a contract, no matter how desperate you are. I’ve seen that happen a number of times in various walks of life and business and I can say that in almost all cases it would have been better to take the hit up front and move on rather than defer the pain – often to years down the road – and be absolutely handcuffed in your ability to run your own business.

What would have happened if Umile had left for UMass when he threatened to? Maybe the program falls apart, or maybe we hire a Gwozdecky, Jackson, Blais closer type who takes what’s already in place and has what it takes to finish the job, or maybe we find the McDonald, Leaman, Allain, upcoming hotshot type who knows a golden opportunity when he sees it. But no, instead we sign a one-sided contract that could still be haunting us 5 years from now. Never sign a contract in desperation unless it’s literally an existential situation. That’s our problem now, UNH signed it, a guy who supposedly believes in himself made them sign it, and that same guy who supposedly loves UNH is holding them to it well beyond the time where he got what he wanted and needed out of it.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

A lot of names being thrown into the blame mix on this – many of whom I’m in no rush to defend – but I just have the nagging feeling that 90% of this entire mess is on Umile.

On-ice: I don’t know him but he has to be the least introspective person out there. He must see how far performance has fallen, how can he not see that’s all on him? He checked out, put the program on auto pilot and headed to Portsmouth CC, for years on end. He didn’t go on the road, didn’t run practices, didn’t work the phones, didn’t meet or get to know the underclassmen. He threw all of that on one guy. I’m not saying I live in that world but I do know that his program was at the extreme end of the scale in terms of group effort, let’s all hit the trail v. one guy lives on the road.

My question is how does he not care about UNH enough to see he’s doing the program a dis-service by digging in his heels? For a guy who supposedly bleeds blue how can he watch the program fall apart while he collects a paycheck that he hasn’t earned in years?

And let’s all not forgot that this latest lacking in talent phase of his regime has only served to make us forget the previous can’t adjust/can’t win in the post season phase of his regime. I guess one way to not choke in big games is to not bring in players good enough to get to them.

Off-ice: The current AD pretty much killed the golden goose he had by milking the loyal season ticket holders for all they were worth, and insulting them with his attention to the corporate crowd and the casual fans while taking the core completely for granted. That’s a fact, but it’s totally unrelated to this coaching issue and I think a lot of us want to get our pound of flesh in any way we can, even if we have to make a leap to do it. Umile pretty much has the AD by the short hairs on this one contractually. Not sure there’s much to be done in this specific case, with the only lesson being, don’t ever give away the farm in a contract, no matter how desperate you are. I’ve seen that happen a number of times in various walks of life and business and I can say that in almost all cases it would have been better to take the hit up front and move on rather than defer the pain – often to years down the road – and be absolutely handcuffed in your ability to run your own business.

What would have happened if Umile had left for UMass when he threatened to? Maybe the program falls apart, or maybe we hire a Gwozdecky, Jackson, Blais closer type who takes what’s already in place and has what it takes to finish the job, or maybe we find the McDonald, Leaman, Allain, upcoming hotshot type who knows a golden opportunity when he sees it. But no, instead we sign a one-sided contract that could still be haunting us 5 years from now. Never sign a contract in desperation unless it’s literally an existential situation. That’s our problem now, UNH signed it, a guy who supposedly believes in himself made them sign it, and that same guy who supposedly loves UNH is holding them to it well beyond the time where he got what he wanted and needed out of it.

Bravo. There's some very direct questions in there, begging for honest answers from the guy in charge.

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

"Parker Wheeler Honored As A Top Collegiate Sports Broadcaster"

[Nifty16]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

might of missed this on the tread somewhere, but saw this on the Transfer thread, if its been covered sorry to lazy to look. If it is makes a weak defense even weaker

"John Furgele from UNH to Quinnipiac[/B]

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

might of missed this on the tread somewhere, but saw this on the Transfer thread, if its been covered sorry to lazy to look. If it is makes a weak defense even weaker

"John Furgele from UNH to Quinnipiac[/B]

The only thing that would have made the UNH defense weaker than Furgele leaving is Furgele staying.

Addition by subtraction

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016 Offseason Thread - Searching for Direction

The only thing that would have made the UNH defense weaker than Furgele leaving is Furgele staying.

Addition by subtraction

Sad but true. With Furgele following the "Agosta Trail", just wait for the fun to begin once he hits the ECHL.