On to Colorado

Well its been awhile since I posted anything about the UNH hockey team. The last time I posted anything was when they wrapped up the regular season title. Well since then the Cats lost in the Hockey Semi-Finals 5-4 in 3 overtimes to Boston College who went on to win Hockey East Championship.
The Cats looked very good in their quarterfinal 2 game sweep over UMass, except for the first 5 minutes of game 1 the Cats were by far the better team. Game would have 2 UNH players (Fornataro and Pollostrone) scoring hat tricks, with Pollostrone getting 5 goals in the series.
The Cats were justly rewarded at the Hockey East playoffs banquet the night before the semi-finals. Kevin Regan unanimously won the leagues player of the year. He would be a first team all star, with fellow Cats Brad Flashins and Mike Radja, while Craig Switzer and Mike Fornataro were names to the second team. Joe Charblios went on to win the best defensive defenseman of the year award. Coach Umile would be runner up for Coach of the Year, and James Vanreinsdyke was the runner up for Rookie of the Year and names to the all rookie team.
Friday against BC started off good for the Cats, they played very well in the 1st period and would end the period up 2-0. The 2nd period was a totally different games. BC controlled mush of the play and outplayed the Cats big time in that period. But the Cats would leave that period up 4-2. But the 3rd saw the Eagles make the comeback complete and force OT. The Cats did start to play better in the 3rd, but took some stupid penalties that help lead to BC’s comeback. The first 2 overtimes was some very good back and forth hockey with both teams getting their chances. The Eagles would actually have a goal call back when Kevin Regan’s helmet came off before the goal went in. But a penalties by Dany Dries would give BC a power play going into the 3rd. A shot from the blue line would be tipped in by one of UNH defenseman and give BC the victory. Much has been said about the game since Friday. The Cats did play a really bad 30 minutes through out the 2nd period and going into the 3rd. But they did pull it together and played better in the last half of the 3rd and the OT’s, and as most people know anything can happen in OT. I know the Cats are really disappointed in the way they played, but have a chance to get that sour taste out of their mouth in the NCAA tourney.
The lost did push them down a spot in the power rankings. With the #4 seed in the ranking this matched the Cats with Colorado College who were #5, and put in the same regional. With CC hosting this year this forced the Cats to have to go out to Colorado and play in their arena. The Cats will get Notre Dame in the first round. Many people have said this is unfair to UNH. But it is what it is, and as UNH fans know just because you are hosting in front out your own fans does not give you automatics wins. The Cats need to do one thing and focus on ND. Norte Dame was the last team to get in the tourney, actually got in because they lost in the CCHA consolation game. Notre Dame, is a defensive first team, in the mold of UMass or Vermont. But they do lack scoring, and their top scoring is out for the rest of the year. I am sure the Cats will come out flying and put a lot of pressure on ND. The key for ND is to get through the first 10-15 minutes. If UNH can get up 2-0 I see the UNH opening up the game as ND will be forced to try to get some offense going. The game will also be played on an Olympic size ice, which of course UNH is use to playing on at the Whitt, and ND is not use to. This should also help open up the Cats offense. A 2 goal lead would be much safer then it was against a very offensive minded team like BC. Then again I am sure UNH knows now that the game is not over till the final buzzer, and will play hard the entire game. Don’t get me wrong I think ND will give the Cats a tough game, and could pull the upset if it’s a low scoring game. But if the Cats come out and play their game I see no reason why they can not win. They just have to make sure they are focused on Notre Dame, unlike last year where some on the team were thinking about playing BC the next night. Right now its all about Friday.

On to Colorado

Well its been awhile since I posted anything about the UNH hockey team. The last time I posted anything was when they wrapped up the regular season title. Well since then the Cats lost in the Hockey Semi-Finals 5-4 in 3 overtimes to Boston College who went on to win Hockey East Championship.
The Cats looked very good in their quarterfinal 2 game sweep over UMass, except for the first 5 minutes of game 1 the Cats were by far the better team. Game would have 2 UNH players (Fornataro and Pollostrone) scoring hat tricks, with Pollostrone getting 5 goals in the series.
The Cats were justly rewarded at the Hockey East playoffs banquet the night before the semi-finals. Kevin Regan unanimously won the leagues player of the year. He would be a first team all star, with fellow Cats Brad Flashins and Mike Radja, while Craig Switzer and Mike Fornataro were names to the second team. Joe Charblios went on to win the best defensive defenseman of the year award. Coach Umile would be runner up for Coach of the Year, and James Vanreinsdyke was the runner up for Rookie of the Year and names to the all rookie team.
Friday against BC started off good for the Cats, they played very well in the 1st period and would end the period up 2-0. The 2nd period was a totally different games. BC controlled mush of the play and outplayed the Cats big time in that period. But the Cats would leave that period up 4-2. But the 3rd saw the Eagles make the comeback complete and force OT. The Cats did start to play better in the 3rd, but took some stupid penalties that help lead to BC’s comeback. The first 2 overtimes was some very good back and forth hockey with both teams getting their chances. The Eagles would actually have a goal call back when Kevin Regan’s helmet came off before the goal went in. But a penalties by Dany Dries would give BC a power play going into the 3rd. A shot from the blue line would be tipped in by one of UNH defenseman and give BC the victory. Much has been said about the game since Friday. The Cats did play a really bad 30 minutes through out the 2nd period and going into the 3rd. But they did pull it together and played better in the last half of the 3rd and the OT’s, and as most people know anything can happen in OT. I know the Cats are really disappointed in the way they played, but have a chance to get that sour taste out of their mouth in the NCAA tourney.
The lost did push them down a spot in the power rankings. With the #4 seed in the ranking this matched the Cats with Colorado College who were #5, and put in the same regional. With CC hosting this year this forced the Cats to have to go out to Colorado and play in their arena. The Cats will get Notre Dame in the first round. Many people have said this is unfair to UNH. But it is what it is, and as UNH fans know just because you are hosting in front out your own fans does not give you automatics wins. The Cats need to do one thing and focus on ND. Norte Dame was the last team to get in the tourney, actually got in because they lost in the CCHA consolation game. Notre Dame, is a defensive first team, in the mold of UMass or Vermont. But they do lack scoring, and their top scoring is out for the rest of the year. I am sure the Cats will come out flying and put a lot of pressure on ND. The key for ND is to get through the first 10-15 minutes. If UNH can get up 2-0 I see the UNH opening up the game as ND will be forced to try to get some offense going. The game will also be played on an Olympic size ice, which of course UNH is use to playing on at the Whitt, and ND is not use to. This should also help open up the Cats offense. A 2 goal lead would be much safer then it was against a very offensive minded team like BC. Then again I am sure UNH knows now that the game is not over till the final buzzer, and will play hard the entire game. Don’t get me wrong I think ND will give the Cats a tough game, and could pull the upset if it’s a low scoring game. But if the Cats come out and play their game I see no reason why they can not win. They just have to make sure they are focused on Notre Dame, unlike last year where some on the team were thinking about playing BC the next night. Right now its all about Friday.

ESPN SUCKS!!!

Well I have been saying it for many years, but it is now official ESPN just plain old sucks. They have been over hyping stories for years now then turn around and blame an athlete for doing something stupid, even though they will spend half an hour giving them TV now. But now they have but me over the edge with them. ESPN has had the NCAA hockey tourney for the awhile now. What they usually do it put it out for the highest bidders to pick up the games, which has been fine. The games have always been picked up, actually last year every game from every region was covered in NH. But this year they have changed it up. They are offering some games to local channels to buy, but not letting other games to be picked up and only shown on their own ESPNU. This is network that is only available in 8 million homes in the US, it is not on the biggest cable carrier, Comcast. More people get the Game Show Network channel then ESPNU. So what does this mean to UNH fans? Well Friday nights game against Notre Dame will be picked up locally on CH9 out of Manchester. But if they win and move on to the regional finals on Saturday night that game will be only available on ESPNU or online at ESPN360.com. This is not good for college hockey or its fans. Well hopefully UNH can advance and I will be looking for a place to watch the game Saturday night.