UConn @ #3 UMass (11/30/18 @ 7p on NESN+) | The Boneyard

UConn @ #3 UMass (11/30/18 @ 7p on NESN+)

So in what his 3rd season the UMASS coach has his team ranked #3 in the country? Oh ok. I remember when we made coaching hires that made huge splashes like that. I also remember when we had the best top to bottom athletics program in the northeast.
 
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We’d be okay if we could only play the middle 10 minutes of a period.
 
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Nyberg w/ the tackle on a breakaway leads to penalty shot...

...which naturally leads to 6-3.
 
Does anyone have the courage to say the obvious at this point?

This entire upgrade to Hockey East seems to have been a complete waste of time, money, and resources.
 
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ASweet3781 said:
Does anyone have the courage to say the obvious at this point?

This entire upgrade to Hockey East seems to have been a complete waste of time, money, and resources.
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There are three things that are a given on UConn Hockey game day...the sun will rise, the sun will set and you will post the same stuff about the program...Head bang.....That's you trying to get Coach Cavanaugh and his program out of your head.....
 
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It's hard to stay positive but the kids are solid. It's just the same dumb mistakes every game.
 
ASweet3781 said:
Does anyone have the courage to say the obvious at this point?

This entire upgrade to Hockey East seems to have been a complete waste of time, money, and resources.
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Harsh assessment - I think there is much hope given the talent. They need to learn how to play 60 minutes. That is the principle job of the coaches. We can thrive at this level, but IMO coaching is currently deficient. I hear they're young. Young - smoung... We have the talent to compete now. I want to hear Cavanaugh's plan to counter 3rd period meltdowns now. It can be done - look how far our opponent has come. A perenial HE also-ran is now #3 in the country. They accomplished this in 3 years and they came back from farther than we are. It can be done. First consideration has to be whether we have the right coach. After 6 years, it is question we should all ask.
 
I’m new to UConn/college hockey. But not new to hockey. My perspective as a new comer is I think this team got some real solid talent. Iskhakov is worth the price of admission alone! El-Mir, Payusov, Kondelik are really solid players out there. I think Huska is a solid goalie and Vamacka is ever better! The addition of guys like Blümel and Firstov will make the offense down right sexy to watch. Cavanaugh ability to go get these highly skilled Europeans is brilliant. And I think bringing them over with the now coming $50m plus practice facility and campus arena will play a big role in getting more recruits.

HOWEVER.... something has to be done about the defense... IT STINKS!! They’re slow, chasing the puck, can’t make break out passes, can’t shoot from the point, etc, etc. It’s rough and I think it’s the primary reason for UConn blowing leads and struggle on the power play. Cav has got to address that! We can have world class forwards and great goaltending. But a solid D group is the backbone of the team success. They especially need to chip on the offensive side. I did some quick research on numbers. And found they only have 3 goals from defenseman this year. Only Newpower is in the top 12 point leaders and now compare that to last nights opponent who has 5 defensemen in the top 12 (including their point leader) and inner state rival Quinnipiac who has 4 d-man in the top 12. I feel that really needs to be worked on currently and recruited on longterm. On the positive note, I thought they looked really good on the PK last night. But the 5 on 5 was... On the 5th UMass goal 4 guys chased the puck...
 
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The dumb garbage Edsall pedals about guys getting better just because they're gonna be older actually plays when you see the hockey team play. There's clear improvement in these kids when you watch them Howarth for example, last night finally gets a goal and then gets another one in the third.


The best players on the team are all the kids. This will take time. Better to be frustrated by them blowing third periods than being blown off the ice from the start every night.
 
12 freshman, 9 seniors gone and the 4 or 5th youngest team in college hockey and you’re calling for the coaches job into their 15th game as college hockey players?

Come on, man

After the Vermont meltdown, they have been playing like garbage and not a full 60, but give them to later in the season down the stretch with most games at home, and then evaluate
 
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ct06111 said:
12 freshman, 9 seniors gone and the 4 or 5th youngest team in college hockey and you’re calling for the coaches job into their 15th game as college hockey players?

Come on, man

After the Vermont meltdown, they have been playing like garbage and not a full 60, but give them to later in the season down the stretch with most games at home, and then evaluate
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Didn't realize we were that young. I was feeling generally a little disappointed that the team has taken a step backwards from the last couple of years. I've also been disappointed that we got to the cusp of playoff consideration but have not broken through.

Maybe in two years this young squad will do that. I'm not giving up on Cav, but I'd like to see us have a breakthrough soon. If UMass can do it, and PC, and a school like Quinnipiac can become a national power, there shouldn't be anything preventing UConn from similar success.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Didn't realize we were that young. I was feeling generally a little disappointed that the team has taken a step backwards from the last couple of years. I've also been disappointed that we got to the cusp of playoff consideration but have not broken through.

Maybe in two years this young squad will do that. I'm not giving up on Cav, but I'd like to see us have a breakthrough soon. If UMass can do it, and PC, and a school like Quinnipiac can become a national power, there shouldn't be anything preventing UConn from similar success.
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Well, I mean you can only keep the guys on the ice for a maximum of four years so they were due for a turnover! :)

Another thing I noted from the broadcast was it took UMASS eight years to get ranked from when they brought back their program in the mid 90s. For those who aren't aware, UMass dropped the sport for a while but brought it back when they built the Mullins Center. So they had brand new facilities and energy and...it still took eight years.

It's frustrating as heck right now. But this stuff takes time.
 
ASweet3781 said:
So in what his 3rd season the UMASS coach has his team ranked #3 in the country? Oh ok. I remember when we made coaching hires that made huge splashes like that. I also remember when we had the best top to bottom athletics program in the northeast.
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whine whine whine

let UMASS have some good things
 
zls44 said:
Well, I mean you can only keep the guys on the ice for a maximum of four years so they were due for a turnover! :)

Another thing I noted from the broadcast was it took UMASS eight years to get ranked from when they brought back their program in the mid 90s. For those who aren't aware, UMass dropped the sport for a while but brought it back when they built the Mullins Center. So they had brand new facilities and energy and...it still took eight years.

It's frustrating as heck right now. But this stuff takes time.
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Also, if memory serves, UConn men's hockey did not have any scholarships during its time in Atlantic Hockey. Once they joined Hockey East, the program phased in the full allotment of scholarships over I believe a four or possibly five year period. This while the other Hockey East programs already had their full allotment of scholarships. It did not make competing in the conference any easier for UConn while trying to build the program.
 
There's only 1 seat left available for UMass' game at QU this Friday at the moment.
 
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