Following along in other UNH threads, the attrition of top-level recruits, I thought I'd get some fun started here. Lets gather the intel we think we have on what we've observed over the past decade with declined admission, defection and missed opportunity, etc...., knowing full well that "facts" will be overwhelmed by speculation and heresay. Ahhh, crap, so what...
For the record, my personal take is that for all we say and write about the kids who intended to be in Durham, and didn't make it, the most significant influence is the admissions department. You can't tell me that UNH justifiably has a higher standard than BC, Providence, UConn, St. Cloud, Union, Denver, etc. From the outside looking in, I'd say: "Really? Get over yourself, UNH...!" Now, I get it that this is just knee jerk Monday morning quarterbacking on my part -- lets call it therapeutic venting, but still, smoke and fire, right?
As an educated guess, Coach Umile and his staff, and all the other coaching staffs at UNH are likely waging the same battle. Frankly, as others have said, it's on the AD to straighten things out if they are wonky, which they have the "appearance" of having been for some time now. Don't doubt for a minute the truckload of politics wound up in this thing.
So, without further ado or diatribe, below is the unedited text of an email I wrote to a buddy in 2012, so the references are a bit off, but you get the gist. Let's get a bigger inventory accounted for as I think the followers here can legitimately point to the recruiting issues as a cause of the present state of affairs...
The present performance (or lack thereof) is an impact not so much what UNH gets, but whats been lost lately by de-commits. Many of these kids were Grade-A players that either
1 – didn't cut it in Admissions,
2 - changed their mind,
3 – were (perhaps) misled by the coaching staff.
My theory (the overside ice surface issue aside), is that it’s really in the admissions department, to-wit:
Chris Bourque (F) – de-commits May 2009.
Drafted by Washington.
Would have been a Jr. this year.
Currently playing in Russia.
Umile played like a fiddle by Daddy Bourque.
Joey LeLeggia (D) – de-commits Sept 2010.
Currently a Freshman at Denver.
WCHA Rookie of the year (28 points) (Would have been 4th in scoring at UNH)
1st Team All-Conference – (Not “rookie” all-conference, but all-conference all-conference.)
Cam Reid (F) – de-commits Aug 2009
Drafted by Nashville.
Told by admissions in August 2009 his HS classes do not qualify – turn the car around!
Would have been a Sophomore this year.
Admitted to St. Cloud State
39 pts. as a Freshman; 15 pts. this year, but only 22 games.
Has left St. Cloud to play for Portland Winterhawks (WHL).
Umile probably called this one right…
Matt White (F) – de-commits ?? 2010
Committed March 2, 2009.
USHL Player of the Year – 2009-10
Currently a Sophomore at Nebraska-Omaha.
2011/12 – Leading scorer (40 pts), Asst. Captain.
Mike Vecchione (F) – de-commits Dec. 2011.
Originally 2012-13 recruit.
The top HS player in Mass at end on 2009-10 season.
UNH asks him to take a second year in USHL; matriculate 2013-14 instead of 2012-13.
“That wasn’t the deal”, according to Vecchione.
2011/12 – 21 pts. in 40 games for Tri-City Storm of USHL.
Go nuts!
For the record, my personal take is that for all we say and write about the kids who intended to be in Durham, and didn't make it, the most significant influence is the admissions department. You can't tell me that UNH justifiably has a higher standard than BC, Providence, UConn, St. Cloud, Union, Denver, etc. From the outside looking in, I'd say: "Really? Get over yourself, UNH...!" Now, I get it that this is just knee jerk Monday morning quarterbacking on my part -- lets call it therapeutic venting, but still, smoke and fire, right?
As an educated guess, Coach Umile and his staff, and all the other coaching staffs at UNH are likely waging the same battle. Frankly, as others have said, it's on the AD to straighten things out if they are wonky, which they have the "appearance" of having been for some time now. Don't doubt for a minute the truckload of politics wound up in this thing.
So, without further ado or diatribe, below is the unedited text of an email I wrote to a buddy in 2012, so the references are a bit off, but you get the gist. Let's get a bigger inventory accounted for as I think the followers here can legitimately point to the recruiting issues as a cause of the present state of affairs...
The present performance (or lack thereof) is an impact not so much what UNH gets, but whats been lost lately by de-commits. Many of these kids were Grade-A players that either
1 – didn't cut it in Admissions,
2 - changed their mind,
3 – were (perhaps) misled by the coaching staff.
My theory (the overside ice surface issue aside), is that it’s really in the admissions department, to-wit:
Chris Bourque (F) – de-commits May 2009.
Drafted by Washington.
Would have been a Jr. this year.
Currently playing in Russia.
Umile played like a fiddle by Daddy Bourque.
Joey LeLeggia (D) – de-commits Sept 2010.
Currently a Freshman at Denver.
WCHA Rookie of the year (28 points) (Would have been 4th in scoring at UNH)
1st Team All-Conference – (Not “rookie” all-conference, but all-conference all-conference.)
Cam Reid (F) – de-commits Aug 2009
Drafted by Nashville.
Told by admissions in August 2009 his HS classes do not qualify – turn the car around!
Would have been a Sophomore this year.
Admitted to St. Cloud State
39 pts. as a Freshman; 15 pts. this year, but only 22 games.
Has left St. Cloud to play for Portland Winterhawks (WHL).
Umile probably called this one right…
Matt White (F) – de-commits ?? 2010
Committed March 2, 2009.
USHL Player of the Year – 2009-10
Currently a Sophomore at Nebraska-Omaha.
2011/12 – Leading scorer (40 pts), Asst. Captain.
Mike Vecchione (F) – de-commits Dec. 2011.
Originally 2012-13 recruit.
The top HS player in Mass at end on 2009-10 season.
UNH asks him to take a second year in USHL; matriculate 2013-14 instead of 2012-13.
“That wasn’t the deal”, according to Vecchione.
2011/12 – 21 pts. in 40 games for Tri-City Storm of USHL.
Go nuts!
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