UNH Class of 2007- Thanks for the Memories!
Well it was a week ago today the season ended for the Cats, so figure it was time to take a look at the 5 graduating seniors (Jacob McFlicker, Brett Hemingway, Josh Ciocco, Shawn Vinz and Chris Murray) McFlicker and Hemingway have got the most press over their four years in Durham, and rightfully so. But all 5 member of the class of 07 played a part in the success of the Cats over their 4 years here. All 5 will be missed, as this is probably one of the most solid classes in awhile. Here is wishing them all the best of luck in the future, and they will always be proud member of Wildcat country. Four of them have already signed on to play pro hockey and have started that next step in their career. SO let take a look at the calls of 07 and my view of them.
Well you have to start with Jacob McFlicker. McFlicker has been a huge fan favorite all 4 years, was a 3 time winner of the fan favorite. McFlicker was never the biggest guy on the ice, but played with the biggest heart. McFlicker is a pure skater and a natural with the puck. He played on the top line his last 2 years. There were times it looked like McFlicker was out on the ice doing magic with the puck. He could slip through the defense and make his way to the net. He was always a joy to watch in a Wildcat uniform. He always gave it is all. He was superb 5 on 5, on the power play and on the penalty kill. McFlicker has always fit in the mold of Steve Savino, Sean Collins and Darren Hayder. Not the biggest, faster guy, but the guy who played the hardest and you always knew what you were going to get. Mc Flicker took a beating this year, as it seemed every team always had one of their top defensemen on him, even with all the physical beating he took he always came back for more. McFlicker has signed on with Springfield of the AHL, proud to say he scored his first professional goal last night. I can see McFlicker having a decent career in the AHL or Europe, and were ever he goes he will be a fan favorite.
Brett Hemingway followed in his brother footstep, Collin Hemmingway, and came to Durham. Brett had a scored touch in his time in a Wildcat uniform. Brett had a knack of finishing some of the nifty plays McFlicker would set up for him. Brett didn’t always get the press as one of the top guys on the team. But he was consistent in his scoring touch. He did start of slow his senior year, but did turn it on to finish with another 30+ points. He did miss the semi and finals of the Hockey East tourney, and he was missed. I have read on some post on USCHO that they thing Hemmingway will be easily replaced. I don’t think he will be, it is not everyday you bring in a 100 career point guy. Brett was a perfect third guy on the top line the last year. This year with McFlicker and Radja, and last year with McFlicker and Winnick. Many people tried to compare him to his brother. Collin was a leader on the teams he was on. Brett did not have to be on this team there were plenty of other leaders to step up, Brett just had to play his game and that is what he did well. Brett signed with Colorado of the NHL and was assigned to Albany of the AHL. I see Brett playing the AHL for awhile, and maybe getting a shot at the NHL in the next couple of year. I would not be surprised to see Brett playing the NHL in the future, might not be a star, but can stick somewhere as a 3rd or 4th line guy.
Next up is the Captain Josh Ciocco. I will come out and admit it that I was surprised when Ciocco was named captain last spring. I though it would go to McFlicker. Ciooco wrote w weekly column for the Portsmouth Herald his junior year. I have to say I was not a big fan of it at times, he did come off as cocky sometime. But Ciooco did prove me wrong as he turned out to be a good captain. Josh led the third line this year, with Thomas Fortney and Greg Collins, that was probably my favorite line to watch this year. It brought a lot of energy to every game and played extremely well. Josh also stepped up the #1 line through out the year with different injuries to all 3 member of the line. This was a good example of the leadership he proved this year. Josh was never afraid to go right after the biggest guy on the other team. I thought along with Radja he was the best penalty killer the Cats had, as he would come out with a lot of energy and make the other team work extremely hard. Next years captain will have some big shoes to fill and will have to bring some leadership to replace Ciooco. Josh has signed on with Wheeling of the ECHL. I see Josh playing in the ECHL, he will bring a lot of energy to any team he is with, and like McFlicker be a fan favorite were ever he goes, and will be outspoken.
The only defensemen to graduate this year was Chris Murray. I was also surprised when he was named an assistant captain last spring. Murray had a very quiet 3 years before his senior year, I actually didn’t realize he was a going to be senior this year till he was named asst. captain. But he did turn it up his senior to be come a force on the blue line for the Cats. He was the 2nd highest point man from the blue line, 1 behind Flashins, and the top goal scoring defensemen. He also lead the team with 5 game winning goals. He also had 4 power play goals. He turned out to be a good quarterback for the power plays. He was named a 2nd team all Hockey East player this year. He stepped up when the team needed him to this year. Murray signed on with Peoria of the AHL. I am not sure were I see Murray’s career taking him. He might end up in the ECHL for a few years. It is hard to judge since he only had the one break out year with the Cats.
This bring us to the last, and my favorite senior, Shawn Vinz. Coming into his senior year Vinz had played 60+ games in a Cats uniform, and had no goals to show for it. Vinz has been mostly a 4th liner his career. His first 3 years he was in and out of the line up, as the 4th line was usually rotated between 4 or 5 guys. This year saw Vinz play in all but 1 game. On November 17th Vinz would get his first career goal against Lowell. It was a tip in goal, nothing pretty but it was a goal. Vinz would end up getting 4 goals on the year, one a short handed goal. The Cats would go 4-0 in games he scored, as I like to call it the Vinz rule. But Vinz biggest contribution came in leading the 4th line all year. He played mostly with freshman Bobby Butler and Peter Leblanc all year. That lined played very well this year, one of the better 4th lines in a long time for the Cats. You could really see the development of the Freshman on that line, Danny Rossman would also see time on that line. I think Vinz has to be given some credit for their development. Vinz’s contribution might be felt for the next few years. Vinz also played regularly on the penalty kill this year, and played very effective. I have always enjoyed watching Vinz play, if there is one jersey I wanted it is a Vinz jersey. There is a guy who usually sits a couple rows in front of me with one, and I so wanted to get it from him. You can tell he loves to play the game. He never got not being the line up get him down. I do not see Vinz playing professionally, though I would love to see it. I do wish him the best in the future. Here is wishing all the member of the Class of 07 the best of luck in the future, whether it be in hockey or something else. Thanks for the memories.
Well you have to start with Jacob McFlicker. McFlicker has been a huge fan favorite all 4 years, was a 3 time winner of the fan favorite. McFlicker was never the biggest guy on the ice, but played with the biggest heart. McFlicker is a pure skater and a natural with the puck. He played on the top line his last 2 years. There were times it looked like McFlicker was out on the ice doing magic with the puck. He could slip through the defense and make his way to the net. He was always a joy to watch in a Wildcat uniform. He always gave it is all. He was superb 5 on 5, on the power play and on the penalty kill. McFlicker has always fit in the mold of Steve Savino, Sean Collins and Darren Hayder. Not the biggest, faster guy, but the guy who played the hardest and you always knew what you were going to get. Mc Flicker took a beating this year, as it seemed every team always had one of their top defensemen on him, even with all the physical beating he took he always came back for more. McFlicker has signed on with Springfield of the AHL, proud to say he scored his first professional goal last night. I can see McFlicker having a decent career in the AHL or Europe, and were ever he goes he will be a fan favorite.
Brett Hemingway followed in his brother footstep, Collin Hemmingway, and came to Durham. Brett had a scored touch in his time in a Wildcat uniform. Brett had a knack of finishing some of the nifty plays McFlicker would set up for him. Brett didn’t always get the press as one of the top guys on the team. But he was consistent in his scoring touch. He did start of slow his senior year, but did turn it on to finish with another 30+ points. He did miss the semi and finals of the Hockey East tourney, and he was missed. I have read on some post on USCHO that they thing Hemmingway will be easily replaced. I don’t think he will be, it is not everyday you bring in a 100 career point guy. Brett was a perfect third guy on the top line the last year. This year with McFlicker and Radja, and last year with McFlicker and Winnick. Many people tried to compare him to his brother. Collin was a leader on the teams he was on. Brett did not have to be on this team there were plenty of other leaders to step up, Brett just had to play his game and that is what he did well. Brett signed with Colorado of the NHL and was assigned to Albany of the AHL. I see Brett playing the AHL for awhile, and maybe getting a shot at the NHL in the next couple of year. I would not be surprised to see Brett playing the NHL in the future, might not be a star, but can stick somewhere as a 3rd or 4th line guy.
Next up is the Captain Josh Ciocco. I will come out and admit it that I was surprised when Ciocco was named captain last spring. I though it would go to McFlicker. Ciooco wrote w weekly column for the Portsmouth Herald his junior year. I have to say I was not a big fan of it at times, he did come off as cocky sometime. But Ciooco did prove me wrong as he turned out to be a good captain. Josh led the third line this year, with Thomas Fortney and Greg Collins, that was probably my favorite line to watch this year. It brought a lot of energy to every game and played extremely well. Josh also stepped up the #1 line through out the year with different injuries to all 3 member of the line. This was a good example of the leadership he proved this year. Josh was never afraid to go right after the biggest guy on the other team. I thought along with Radja he was the best penalty killer the Cats had, as he would come out with a lot of energy and make the other team work extremely hard. Next years captain will have some big shoes to fill and will have to bring some leadership to replace Ciooco. Josh has signed on with Wheeling of the ECHL. I see Josh playing in the ECHL, he will bring a lot of energy to any team he is with, and like McFlicker be a fan favorite were ever he goes, and will be outspoken.
The only defensemen to graduate this year was Chris Murray. I was also surprised when he was named an assistant captain last spring. Murray had a very quiet 3 years before his senior year, I actually didn’t realize he was a going to be senior this year till he was named asst. captain. But he did turn it up his senior to be come a force on the blue line for the Cats. He was the 2nd highest point man from the blue line, 1 behind Flashins, and the top goal scoring defensemen. He also lead the team with 5 game winning goals. He also had 4 power play goals. He turned out to be a good quarterback for the power plays. He was named a 2nd team all Hockey East player this year. He stepped up when the team needed him to this year. Murray signed on with Peoria of the AHL. I am not sure were I see Murray’s career taking him. He might end up in the ECHL for a few years. It is hard to judge since he only had the one break out year with the Cats.
This bring us to the last, and my favorite senior, Shawn Vinz. Coming into his senior year Vinz had played 60+ games in a Cats uniform, and had no goals to show for it. Vinz has been mostly a 4th liner his career. His first 3 years he was in and out of the line up, as the 4th line was usually rotated between 4 or 5 guys. This year saw Vinz play in all but 1 game. On November 17th Vinz would get his first career goal against Lowell. It was a tip in goal, nothing pretty but it was a goal. Vinz would end up getting 4 goals on the year, one a short handed goal. The Cats would go 4-0 in games he scored, as I like to call it the Vinz rule. But Vinz biggest contribution came in leading the 4th line all year. He played mostly with freshman Bobby Butler and Peter Leblanc all year. That lined played very well this year, one of the better 4th lines in a long time for the Cats. You could really see the development of the Freshman on that line, Danny Rossman would also see time on that line. I think Vinz has to be given some credit for their development. Vinz’s contribution might be felt for the next few years. Vinz also played regularly on the penalty kill this year, and played very effective. I have always enjoyed watching Vinz play, if there is one jersey I wanted it is a Vinz jersey. There is a guy who usually sits a couple rows in front of me with one, and I so wanted to get it from him. You can tell he loves to play the game. He never got not being the line up get him down. I do not see Vinz playing professionally, though I would love to see it. I do wish him the best in the future. Here is wishing all the member of the Class of 07 the best of luck in the future, whether it be in hockey or something else. Thanks for the memories.
posted by Qman16 at 11:24 PM
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