1 Down, 2 To Go!!!

On Saturday night the UNH hockey team completed the first of 3 major goals for the season. The Wildcats clinched the Hockey East regular season championship. This was the Cats 2nd title in a row. The Cats did it in a convincing matter over the weekend. The Cats won at BC Friday night 2-0. The Cats played probably their best game of the year on Friday. Defensively it was easily the best game the Cats have played in a very long time and it came against no slouch of a team in BC , they are the 2nd rated offense in the country. The Cats limited BC scoring opportunities, and held most of BC shots to outside and cleared out any rebounds Kevin Regan left. When called upon Regan made some great saves. The Cats offense wasn’t clicking all night, they did have many shots go wide, and hit 3 post. But they did take advantage of opportunities when they needed to. John Muse did play a solid game in net for BC. With out him the game could have been 4 or 5 to 0.
So that win set up Saturday night, with a win UNH could win the regular season title. BC did come out playing more aggressive Saturday night, but the Cats matched their intensity, and kept up there solid defense. The Cats offense did show up more on Saturday and lead them to a 5-1 victory. The big difference was the Cats power play that went 4 for 8. That is a huge improvement from where the Cats power play was 6 weeks ago. The Cats power play was floundering, but have really improved with every game. The Cats penalty killing was also huge all weekend, they killed off all 7 chances BC has Saturday night, and limited BC to only 2 chances on Friday. 4 of the 5 goals Saturday night were from Freshman (2 from Dries, 1 from Desimonne and JVR) this goes to show how the entire team has been moving in the right direction and getting better with every game, and ever shift. This is why they have won the title.
So with 4 games left in the regular season where do the Cats go next? The Cats have 2 games this weekend against Merrimack and 2 next weekend against Vermont. Both of these teams still have a lot to play for. Merrimack is fighting for the last playoff spot and Vermont is playing for home ice, and maybe the #2 seed in the Hockey East Playoffs. So both teams will be fired up and give the Cats a real battle. Which will be a good thing for them. The Cats need to keep getting better every game. The need to keep up the intensity they played with last weekend, and keep the hot streak Regan is on. Right now he is probably the best goalie in the country. The can not afford to rest on what they have achieved so far. I think this team learned from last years end of the season down turn that they need to treat the next 2 weekend as if they were the playoffs, it is also important in the power rankings that set up the NCAA tournament, right now the Cats are #2 overall in the country in the power ranking. They also need to make sure they are healthy going into the playoffs. Right now the only injury is to JVR with a hand injury that has slowed him down a little, thought did get a goal and assist last weekend. Also think they will want to get Brain Foster a game in net, be good to get him some time just in case you need him in the playoffs. I think the senior leadership on the team will keep the team focused and ready to go for there next goal. Of course that goal is the Hockey East Championship, which the Cats lost last year after winning the regular season title. I have more faith in this year team then last. This team is taking it one step at a time, and I am sure they are not looking past Merrimack this weekend. There focus is getting prepared for the Hockey East playoffs, and worry about what is after that after the Hockey East playoffs, with hopefully another trophy in the trophy case, then prepare to go after the last trophy.

And then there were 8

Well its been awhile since I have posted anything about the UNH hockey team. Well all is good in Wildcat country. With 8 games left in the regular season UNH has a 5 point lead over Boston College. The Cats have won their last 9 straight Hockey East games to take the lead in conference. The Cats are also #3 in the country in the power rankings, which help decide the seeding for the NCAA tournament.
So what makes this team better then last years team that won Hockey East. Well last years team start off hot, and started to fizzle in late Jan. This years team start off inconstant but has really started to play their best hockey as the season as gone along. It was not until mid Jan. that the team had its lines set. The first part of the season there was a lot of mixing up the lines to try to find something that clicked. But starting with the 2 games in North Dakota things started to slowly come together. Freshman Danny Dries was moved to the first line, and has really started to click with Radja and Fornataro. After missing 5 games, while playing for the USA in the Junior World Championships, James Van Reinsdyke has really fit in well on the 2nd line with Bobby Butler and Jerry Pollastrone. The third line has been pretty much together all year with Thomas Fortney, Greg Collins and Mike Sislo making up a strong defensive checking line. Peter Lablanc has been moved to the 4th line, but it has not discouraged him as he has played well in that role along side Paul Thompson and Phil Desimone. Greg Manz, Danny Vranek, and Danny Rossman have stepped into the line up when needed and have added a spark, with Vranek getting first career goal in the first game and Manz getting a goal stepping in when Lablanc had to sit out for a 1 game suspension. All of this had lead to a very deep offense that on any night can get scoring from anywhere. On defense the team has really started to step it up the last month. With some very inconsistent play early in the season, I and many other fans really worried about the defense. But they have proved me wrong. Greg Switzer comes to mine as one I and others criticized early in the year. But he has really turned it up. The others on the blue line have really stepped into their role. Joe Charlebois has turned into a very solid hitting defenseman. Kevin Kapstad has all add a lot of physical play recently and shown a good knack at finding the back of the net. Brad Flashins has turned into one of the top scorers from the blue line in Hockey East. Jamie Fritsch and Nick Krates have played solid D to fill out a very good defensive core.
In nets there is only one word that needs to be said, Regan! Kevin Regan has been one of the best goalies in the country the last 6 weeks, and is playing better and better every game. In the last month he has become the all time UNH leader in saves and wins. Now that he has those records he has been a man possessed. He seems ready for a good playoff push this year.
So what can we expect in the last 8 regular season games? Well the next 2 weekend bring in 2 huge series, both are home and home series. First up will be Providence who sit in 3rd right now 6 games behind UNH. These will be 2 tough games for the Cats, but will be a great test to see how they match up against a very solid team. A sweep of the 2 games would be great for the Cats, but a split would be good to. The Friars need both games. A sweep by Providence wouldn’t be the end of the world, but would not be good for the momentum they have right now. The weekend after is 2 games against BC. Depending on what happens next week, that could be the weekend that helps decides who wins Hockey East, but can’t look past Providence next weekend. I am sure the boys aren’t looking further then Friday night down in Rhode Island. With 8 games left before the playoffs the Cats are in better shape this year then they were last year, and the last couple of years. Unlike previous years the Cats are playing their best hockey at the right time. The Freshman have really stepped it up and have been playing great, lead by JVR and Dries. The upperclassmen have also played better every game. Mike Radja has stepped up and shown to be one of the better scores in the country. This years defense is one of the better defenses they have had in a couple of years. Of course Kevin Regan has shown to be one of, if not the, best goalies in UNH history, and the country this year. The Hockey East playoffs will be very tough this year, as its has been shown many times this year any Hockey East team can beat another. Then will come the NCAA playoffs, and they will be very tough. Right now Michigan and Miami (Ohio) are probably the 2 best teams in the country, also have some great teams from the WCHA, lead by North Dakota and Colorado College. Who ever they match up against will be tough. But this years team has shown they are not afraid of anyone, and are not afraid to work hard to get what they want. This years team has shown to be a very blue collar working team that might not win pretty, but will fight to win.

Q’s Thoughts on Hillary Clinton

Well I am sure if you have read anything I wrote before you can figure out I am not a big Hillary Clinton fan and have plan on voting for her, most of that has to do with her record and her views on things. But there is something that really drives me crazy about her. The fact that I have to hear from her supports that she is this strong woman who has had many challenges in her life and she should be commended for standing by Bill through everything. I find this total BS. She has shown herself to be an opportunist. She ran for the Senate while still being first lady, and from a state she was not from. She claims she knows how working moms feel as she raised Chelsea while in the White House, of course with all the benefits that go with that. This does not make her a strong woman or a one that should be a role model. I’m sorry I was raised by a single mother who raised 2 kids on her own, while working 10 hours a day in a factory. Hillary couldn’t hold a candle to my mother in what a strong woman or role model should be. So for anyone who is voting for her because they feel she is a role model, please look deeper and you will see there are millions of woman who are true role models, women like my mother, and Hillary is not in the same class as these people. Also if she was a strong woman she wouldn’t have stood by Bill all those times he was cheating on her, if she had the nerve to leave him at that time, I would have a hell of lot more respect for her, but by continues standing by him she showed how much of an opportunist she is.

Random Super Tuesday and other Political thoughts

Not sure what the media is looking at, but the Democrat elections on Super Tuesday turn out to be a wash. If you listen to the media today, would think Obama walked away with everything. This one has a long ways to go and is either’s nominations to win.
On that note, Obama will have a good next 10 days with caucuses and primaries that are very favorable to him. But this race will come down to who can come up big in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

For all the whining the democrats did in 2000 about disenfranchised voters, they are doing the same things to members of their own party. First they take away the delegates from Florida and Michigan because they decided to move their primaries before Super Tuesday. So its only 48 states that are nominating the Democrat Nominee for President, yeah that sounds far. Then on top of that about 40% are “Super Delegates” these are elected officials and higher ups in the party. So these peoples votes count a whole lot more then the average voter. For a party that likes to claim to be the party of the people, they sure know how not make them count.

If the Super Delegates are the deciding factor at the Democrat Convention, I see it making things ugly. If Obama has more Delegates, but not enough to win, and the Super Delegates go with Clinton, that will be the downfall and be the cause of the Democrats losing in the general election. This will turn off a large number of people and turn them off to voting in November.

Why is Clinton/Obama a “Dream Ticket” Who’s dream is that? Seems to be CNN’s. But CNN has no favorites?

In that note, why would Obama decide to be VP? I don’t think that is smart move politically. First he would be hidden for 4 or 8 years, losing any power or sway he might have now. This would also put him under the Clinton umbrella, something he prides himself on not being under.

On the Republican side, I am very pleased with the outcome, but I am sure anyone who has read this before could figure that out. John McCain did very well, and looks to be on his way to the nomination.

I am sure this will not shut up the talk radio guys who keep blasting McCain, I am sure they will continue on their mean spirited attacks. Of course these are the same people that would rather lose so they can sit on the radio 3 hours a day and spew there hatred towards anyone who does not walk in lock step with them. The more and more McCain wins, the more it proves that they might had a ton of listeners but no very little influence over them.

Don’t be surprised to see Mitt Romney drop out after next Tuesday if he loses big in Virginia, which is a good possibility since it is open to independents.

I can honestly say I was surprised on how well Mike Huckabee did, with very little money and little media exposure he is keeping in the race with a strong southern strategy. He wont win the nomination but he will get something out of it. Many are saying maybe a VP slot, but I don’t see that, but I could see a Cabinet coming out of it. The same can be said for Rudy Giuliani, I could see him getting Attorney General out of this.

Shut Up!!

First people that need to shut up are the Berkley (CA) City Council who voted 6-3 to tell the Marines that their recruiting office is not welcomed in there city (http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8120433?source=rss) The city sided, actually encouraged code pink, a anti war group, to protest the side. They gave code pink a free parking space and noise permit. What little respects the 6 members of the City Council showed towards the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect them day and night. There are thousands of recruiting stations around the country and they cause no harm. This is place for young men and women who want to serve with honor and protect us to get information and to do the ultimate duty that can be done. But these nut jobs in Code Pink are so opposed with their own little narrow view of how things are they do not see the stupity in there stance against the military. Do they understand if it was not for the military they would not have the right to protest. So to The Berkley City Council and Code Pink, shut up and get off your freaking high horse.
Next up is the town of ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Brattleboro Vermont. They are set to vote on weather they should indict President Bush and Vice President Cheney war crimes, perjury or obstruction of justice(http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080126/NEWS04/801260359/1003/NEWS02). This has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever hear, and I have heard many stupid things. Please Brattleboro get over yourself. You are a town in F'ing Vermont. What power do you thing you have? ..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
As have mentioned before, Rush Limbaugh and all other radio talk show host such as Sean Hannity for their continues attacks on John McCain. I think everyone gets it you don't agree with the Senator on a lot of issues. But I think its time you realize that you are not as powerful as you once were, and you do not represent the majority of voters. The republican party has moved on and is a more open party then you want to believe. You represent the old party of the party and your voices have gotten smaller, but as we know not quieter. Of course I have not heard of any of these guys actually coming out and supporting someone else, what's the problem do scared to actually support someone? You know you might actually get some more respect if you had the balls to back someone instead of just coming out and spewing your hate towards McCain. Until you actually have something of use to say, please shut up.
Speaking of spewing nothing but hate we go the other end of the spectrum, Keith Olbermann. For the 3 people who actually watch MSNBC get to see this guy nightly speak his hatred towards anyone or anything that has to do with the republican party. This is a guy who will never admit he is wrong. During the whole CIA leak situation he would come on nightly and blast Karl Rove and others and say they did it. But has he come out and apologized when Richard Armatige was exposed to be the one? Of course not that would not fit into his agenda of hate. I still wonder how did this guy get this political show when he comes from ESPN, where he wasn't that good. The only thing he is good at is getting people all riled up but has nothing of use to add to a civilized conversation, he makes the problems worst then better. It is people like him who make us more divided then united. So please Keith stick to sports where you have a little clue, and shut up about everything else.
Mitt Romney for whining and crying about John McCain criticizing him and going on the attack on him. Please get over yourself. I remember a few short weeks ago when all I say on TV here in NH were your attacks ads on McCain and misrepresenting his views on things such as immigration. You and your hair need to get over yourself and stop acting like you are this big victim. You are coming of like a little baby, if you cant handle the big leagues maybe you should go back to buying companies when they are vulnerable and weak. Please Mitt, and who can trust a guy name Mitt?, please shut up and grow a pair.
No I did not vote for Barak Obama or Hillary Clinton, and no I am not racist or a sexist. So to those who say that if you don't vote for them you are a racist or sexist please shut up and get a clue. Not everyone who doesn't vote for them are voting against them because of their race or sex. I vote for McCain because of his views and record and not for Obama or Hillary because of their views and records. I take my vote seriously and don't vote for or against someone because of their race, sex or even religion. To the people who do vote for someone because of these reason they need to be slapped, you should vote for the person for who they are, not what they are. The same goes for people who wont vote for someone because of their race, sex or religion, don't vote for someone for who they are, not what they are.
To the bandwagon Patriot fans, shut up you are making the life long serious fans look bad. I know many life long fans who are great fans. They know anything can happen in a game and don't things for granted. But it's these bandwagon fans who do nothing but talk trash and think there is no way the Pats can lose, but these are the same fans who will cry and whine if 1 person comes out think the Giants can give them a game, or used the no one respects us in the past, well no you are the same as those people. So to the bandwagon fans shut up and stop making the real fans look bad.
To the people who wear shorts outside during winter in New England. Please you don't look cool you look like an idiot! I know you are trying to look tough, hey look at me I can a tough guy who doesn't get cold. Please you look like a jackass. I don't know anyone who is impressed with you, they actually laugh at you. Are you that desperate for attention? To the parents who let there kids do this; well you just need a slap aside the head. You and your kids need to shut and get over yourself, your not tough you a