UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

So, SOG has evolved into diSOG and pSOG? I must return to school for a SOG refresher course. :-)

I heard Chuck would be more than happy to offer one at his WIS Academy....

[e.cat]

So, SOG has evolved into diSOG and pSOG? I must return to school for a SOG refresher course. :-)

SOG calculus is very complex

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

Chuck
You know what? I agree with almost everything you say. i was responding to earlier comments about the shot differential. If i was the coach, that would have probably have been my strategy too. it just makes for a long boring 20 minutes hence the - i hate it comment. I will take any kinda win over the alternates.

Understood. Hey, we're all in a much better place when we can bellyache about boring wins, ugly wins, etc.

#winningprogramprobs

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

So, SOG has evolved into diSOG and pSOG? I must return to school for a SOG refresher course. :-)

I heard Chuck would be more than happy to offer one at his WIS Academy....

SOG calculus is very complex

Yes, indeed HR ... The WIS Academy will be offering a SOG seminar soon. We just need to work out the details of the syllabus with visiting professor emeritus e.cat so we can do this in a point/counterpoint format. Might even work a bonfire into the program. And taking a page from noted entrepreneur BS35+5, outdoor lighting will be installed AND beer will be served. So hopefully we're going to be covering all the bases. WIS lives to serve the masses.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

Yes, indeed HR ... The WIS Academy will be offering a SOG seminar soon. We just need to work out the details of the syllabus with visiting professor emeritus e.cat so we can do this in a point/counterpoint format. Might even work a bonfire into the program. And taking a page from noted entrepreneur BS35+5, outdoor lighting will be installed AND beer will be served. So hopefully we're going to be covering all the bases. WIS lives to serve the masses.

Count me in...so long as the parking is free

[e.cat]

Yes, indeed HR ... The WIS Academy will be offering a SOG seminar soon. We just need to work out the details of the syllabus with visiting professor emeritus e.cat so we can do this in a point/counterpoint format. Might even work a bonfire into the program. And taking a page from noted entrepreneur BS35+5, outdoor lighting will be installed AND beer will be served. So hopefully we're going to be covering all the bases. WIS lives to serve the masses.

BYOB(Bring your own banjo!) to Effingwoods or you'll risk getting turned back at the gate

[HockeyRef]

BYOB(Bring your own banjo!) to Effingwoods or you'll risk getting turned back at the gate

You'll be there to help right? 😉

[e.cat]

You'll be there to help right? 😉

Haha Ref. Yup! I'm just here to help

[Scott]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

In other news.....

Casey DeSmith called up to the Penguins today. Can't help but wonder if a long-distance "nose-thumbing" to Dick Umile from Pittsburgh is en route.....

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

"UNH Captain's Corner: Win Streak to Open 2017-18 Season"
Interview with Captain Dylan Chanter

[phb]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

Yes, indeed HR ... The WIS Academy will be offering a SOG seminar soon. We just need to work out the details of the syllabus with visiting professor emeritus e.cat so we can do this in a point/counterpoint format. Might even work a bonfire into the program. And taking a page from noted entrepreneur BS35+5, outdoor lighting will be installed AND beer will be served. So hopefully we're going to be covering all the bases. WIS lives to serve the masses.

You will need a flashy scoreboard to keep track of the give-and-take and lead cheers for the attendees. Perhaps the librarians would be willing to donate.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

So even if your "Champions of December" finally dropped a game last weekend, the 2017/2018 UNH Wildcats continued their strong start to the season with another win before a frustrating Saturday night OT loss, and a further jump up the polls. The "Halloween Homestand" was a success, as it netted UNH 4 straight wins at a time in the schedule where those W's will likely pay some future dividends. And go figure, they didn't even need to become pseudo-members of Atlantic Hockey this season to turn that trick. So a nice start to the out of conference schedule to add to the sweep of UML, and it's hard to begrudge BS35+5 from whistling that happy "Blue Skies" tune as he cruises around his beloved campus, with the Indian Native American summer conditions seemingly destined to carry us all into November. You'd have to be a Grinch grouch to find much to bellyache about, as WIS Productions brings you the latest in the "Keep Up The Good Work Guys" edition of "Umile's Last Stand - The _____ for 600".

"Umile's Last Stand - The March to 600"

Coach Umile's current career wins total: 591
Wins Remaining to NRN (Next Round Number): 9
Games Remaining (plus 2 min. MBPBEGAM games): 30
Win Pct. Required to Hit Target: 30.0%
WIS Estimated Likelihood of Success: 85%
2017/2018 Cupcake Conversion Ratio (CCR): 3/4 (75.0%)

After back-to-back sweeps over Lowell and Colgate to start the season, the visit of the Colorado College Tigers was described to a degree in this space last week as "playing with house money", and for better or for worse, that's exactly how the precocious 'Cats played against CC. The split (which the WIS panel nailed to the ground, calling for a 6 goal output in a Friday win, followed by a late loss on Saturday) keeps the week-to-week progress moving forward, and arguably keeps the boys from getting overconfident, which I think was their downfall to some degree on Saturday night. The two W's over Colgate upgraded Coach's Quest to a March towards the NRN, and the pollsters rewarded UNH with another jump up to #14. Even though two more W's were within reach last weekend against CC, UNH's split keeps the March in place, while two winnable conference games these next two weekend could see the 'Cats approaching nosebleed territory in the Top 10. A full-out Gallop is possible, with the target NRN possibly coming into sight before New Year's Eve!!

Looking at the big picture ... WIS' panel of experts projected in the preseason that Coach Umile's Wildcats would amass at least 10 wins in the opening 19 game stretch of the season through completion of the Ledyard Bank Classic after the break and before we turn the calendar into 2018. The 'Cats are probably still two games ahead of WIS projections at this early stage, so our original forecasts for the NRN remain upgraded and optimistic. And more good news is over the horizon, as the "next cupcakes on the shelf" arrive in the form of UVM over this weekend, and then UMass Amherst the following weekend. Both are road games, yes ... but for the in-form "Champions of December", a 3 hour bus ride is hardly something to be intimidated by (that's what November will bring, though). UVM has only a pair of wins to date, with one against CC, and the other against a surprisingly weak Union squad. Nothing ever comes easy on a Saturday night at The Gut, but with the Catamounts struggling to find their offense so far this season, a low scoring one-goal win is exactly what UNH needs - and will get.

Prediction:

Saturday: UNH 3 @ UVM 2

NEXT CUPCAKE ON THE SHELF: 11/4/17 @ UMass Flagship

COMMESSO RE-COMMIT WATCH: Blue-chip former UNH commit G Drew Commesso is reportedly reconsidering his decommit, and was recently spotted by WIS operatives bedding down with a host family in Rollinsford, working up the nerve to approach "Dynamite" Mike Souza with hat (helmet?) in hand, begging forgiveness for his rash decision to revisit his options through free agency. Sure, the Rollinsford to Needham commute is a bit of a drain, but young Drew is bent on showing Dynamite Mike he is sorry and has seen the error of his ways.

WIS INITIATIVE - "WATCH THE FACTS" - COMING SOON!!

WIS operatives have been out and about in the world of college hockey, in search of the truth amidst false narratives and hidden agendas at the highest levels, on and off the ice. Watch this space for incredible disclosures as they unfold.

YOU ARE COACH UMILE ...

You are Coach Umile. Professionally, this was always going to be the hardest thing for you to pull off. Leaving involuntarily was never in the cards, but too many mediocre seasons strung together forced your paisan boss to put an end to the "lifetime contract". You look at Jerry York, and you see a guy who's got at least 5 years on you, but he's untouchable. "That used to be me", grimaces the turtlenecked short-timer. Of course, that's probably a reach ... but yeah, you had things good there for a long time. How it got to this, you have your thoughts, but you will keep those to yourself. Life has been good. And the start of this season has been as good as you could have hoped.

Two scenarios were always going to be the hardest to deal with. The first, another terrible losing season that saw the program leave you short of the vaunted NRN, was unthinkable. 5 early wins has taken a lot of pressure off on that, and it's feasible that in a week and a half, you will be halfway there, with plenty of time to enjoy the ride.

Unfortunately, that second hardest scenario is the one that's potentially unfolding now. Scaling the polls in recent weeks, and carrying the strongest PWR ranking they've had in recent years, it seems the whole enchilada is at least in play. The HE regular season title, maybe yet another HE Coach of the Year, and possibly a Penrose too as going away gifts ... hey, even your old pal Jackie from Comm Ave. didn't pull that one off. An invite to the national tourney can't be dismissed either. One more final trip to the Garden would be wonderful. These are things that you took for granted about a decade ago. But anything that ends up short of that one thing you don't have ... ouch. Close is not going to count for you this time. You gotta have it all. And even if you somehow were to pull that miracle off ... you're still out.

It's a great way to ride off into the sunset, if you can make it happen. Chances of that happening are realistically slim, but a down year for Hockey East has left the door of your wildest dreams just a tiny bit ajar. Letting go, though, after finally turning things back in the right direction, is going to be THE toughest thing.

You are Coach Umile. It's going to be an interesting ride. Thinking about how it's finally gonna end ties you up in knots, and you know a sweet ending can become bittersweet quickly, when "puck luck" goes against you. Again. You'd almost prefer one final "Umile-ation" than a gruesomely close loss in something big. 'Cuz this time there is no "next year".

GO UNH - GOT TO GET THE GOODBYE TOUR TO THE GAHDEN!!!

[UML Puck Hawk]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

NEXT CUPCAKE ON THE SHELF: 11/4/17 @ UMass Flagship !

Pictured Here

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

Arena "Farewell Tour" begin for Coach U:

https://amp.burlingtonfreepress.com/amp/805379001

Go 'Cats!

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!

Arena "Farewell Tour" begin for Coach U:

https://amp.burlingtonfreepress.com/amp/805379001

Go 'Cats!

Saturday’s game will mark Umile’s final appearance at The Gut after 28 years as UNH head coach. He will retire sometime in the spring — the later, the better from his perspective — with over 600 victories, at least six Hockey East coach-of-the-year awards, and innumerable awards for his players, his teams and himself.

Looks like some Nostradamus of the North already foresees a successful conclusion to the _____ for the NRN.

Is everyone on vacation this week, or what??? This place has become a ghost town - rankings too high, perhaps?