UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

[walrus]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Not sure what the big pucker is. Maine hockey is better than it has been but considering how far down they have been the last few years whats that really saying? Middle of the road HE team and HE is way down also. So far they have exceeded my expectations but my expectations were really low based on the last few years.

[Drew S.]

Not sure what the big pucker is. Maine hockey is better than it has been but considering how far down they have been the last few years whats that really saying? Middle of the road HE team and HE is way down also. So far they have exceeded my expectations but my expectations were really low based on the last few years.

There are way to many people on here who see Maine and every other team as either good or awful, there is no in between. The truth is Maine and a lot of other teams are somewhere in the middle. I’m no excited about how good Maine is, I’m excited about the improvement and direction. It’s going to take more time, but I am happy to wait as long as we get there and can sustain it.

Hopefully everyone saw that Maine’s future goalie was ranked 11th among NA goalies in the latest draft rankings. There are a lot of good things happening right now. Just because Red hasn’t followed whatever template for success some fans expected doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen.

[BlackI]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Not sure what the big pucker is. Maine hockey is better than it has been but considering how far down they have been the last few years whats that really saying? Middle of the road HE team and HE is way down also. So far they have exceeded my expectations but my expectations were really low based on the last few years.

The pucker is Walshy isn't walking through that door. Nor is Standbrook. So having said that you would think people can get excited and happy about the direction of the team given everything. Instead we have people that refuse to be optomistic and only compare everything to the past. It is annoying. Even worse his anger rolled its way into denigrating Binner and it was uncalled for. Who needs fans like that.

[amkirby10]

The pucker is Walshy isn't walking through that door. Nor is Standbrook. So having said that you would think people can get excited and happy about the direction of the team given everything. Instead we have people that refuse to be optomistic and only compare everything to the past. It is annoying. Even worse his anger rolled its way into denigrating Binner and it was uncalled for. Who needs fans like that.

While I have been critical of Fishman in the past, and I do think he is often too negative in his outlook, I would never question his fandom and dedication to Maine hockey and the Black Bears. Personally I think you were out of line to call him “not a true fan” and rain a torrent of posts down on him like you did.

[BoSox3066]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Real fans are blind and say yay! no matter what the scoreboard says! We dont need evidence that things are getting better we just say “they will be” and it makes it so!

[BlackI]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

While I have been critical of Fishman in the past, and I do think he is often too negative in his outlook, I would never question his fandom and dedication to Maine hockey and the Black Bears. Personally I think you were out of line to call him “not a true fan” and rain a torrent of posts down on him like you did.

Ok that is fair.

Fishman, I apologize.

[mickeyj65]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Real fans are blind and say yay! no matter what the scoreboard says! We dont need evidence that things are getting better we just say “they will be” and it makes it so!

Agreed!

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

While I have been critical of Fishman in the past, and I do think he is often too negative in his outlook, I would never question his fandom and dedication to Maine hockey and the Black Bears. Personally I think you were out of line to call him “not a true fan” and rain a torrent of posts down on him like you did.

Well said and in a positive way I might add. Fishman is a DIE-HARD...

[ticapnews]

Real fans are blind and say yay! no matter what the scoreboard says! We dont need evidence that things are getting better we just say “they will be” and it makes it so!

Take it easy. Only 2.5 ounces at a time.

[walrus]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

I believe Fridays game is on NESN plus. Need a win after the last few weekends.

[Drew S.]

I believe Fridays game is on NESN plus. Need a win after the last few weekends.

I’d be pretty happy with a split. UMA has played a lot of games and travelled a lot the last couple weeks so hopefully they will be tired. Maine should be comfortably ahead of UMA at the end of the season in the standings but if they sweep that could change.

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

"The coach always played his kids

Ha. I got a guy in the office already complaining about his kid's coach playing his twins on defense (and they apparently spend a lot of time in the box as well).

[Pucknut]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Ha. I got a guy in the office already complaining about his kid's coach playing his twins on defense (and they apparently spend a lot of time in the box as well).

I wonder why the "complaining" Dad isn't coaching?

[Fishman'81]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Ok that is fair.

Fishman, I apologize.

We're good. Thanks.

There's room for varying perspectives on our thread. That's what makes it interesting. It ought not to get personal -and I get personal at times, too, yes- because we all want the same thing: to see our Bears get back in the mix.

I'm not as negative as I may sound. This year's team is better than the recent train-wrecks, for sure. It's just that it's been a long time coming. I was hoping for a > .500 season in his 2nd or 3rd year, and then building on that.

If Maine finishes strong this season and makes the NCAA's next year, I'm OK with extending Red... Otherwise, I'm not. He's pocketed over $1,000,000 via Maine taxpayers during his tenure, and he really hasn't delivered on his end of the bargain. Next year ought to be his make-or-break season, IMO. If he doesn't bring-in a good crop of recruits and coach his team into a Regional, I'd rather see the $209,000/season go to a carefully selected younger coach who has blood in his eyes.

[Fishman'81]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

I’d be pretty happy with a split. UMA has played a lot of games and travelled a lot the last couple weeks so hopefully they will be tired. Maine should be comfortably ahead of UMA at the end of the season in the standings but if they sweep that could change.

UMass doesn't suck, but a Maine sweep is doable if Swayman is on his game. That would be a breath of fresh air after the past two disappointing weekends.

(It's looking like it'll be the first double-dip in Amherst I'm going to miss in forever... Can you believe that The Warden bought us pricey opera tickets for Saturday?!? )