2017-2018 Season

[m626t]

/\
That's it, right there

[eldonabe]

The improvement is astounding. Gotta keep recruiting, keep working and keep playing hard!

Holy shit - DK is that you???

[MikeEsq]

It’s wild to think that a .500 season is still a possibility. There haven’t been many of those over the years.

[78]

The improvement is astounding. Gotta keep recruiting, keep working and keep playing hard!

Holy shit - DK is that you???

[gosox22]

I think it's always important to remind ourselves:

Last year we finished 2-19-1 in conference play
Last year we finished 5-29-2 overall

The improvement is astounding. Gotta keep recruiting, keep working and keep playing hard!

And it feels like recruiting was solid again this past cycle. They've got the USHL's leading scorer (both in goals and points) coming to Amherst next season, Anthony Del Gaizo. I've never been so confident in a UMass coaching staff of any sport in many years.

I actually think this team has made such great strides as the season has gone on that they are a legit candidate to make some noise in the HEA Playoffs. Would I be surprised if they won a round and perhaps even made it to the Garden? Maybe a little, but not really. Tonight's game will be another great barometer for their progress. This team deserves your support!! I just wish I lived closer so that I could be there in person.

[Bubba]

And it feels like recruiting was solid again this past cycle. They've got the USHL's leading scorer (both in goals and points) coming to Amherst next season, Anthony Del Gaizo. I've never been so confident in a UMass coaching staff of any sport in many years.

I'll add to that. I have been around since Mallen. I had the pleasure of sitting adjacent to the UMass bench a couple weeks back at UNH. The presence of the coaching staff was unlike anything I have seen. I had already bought in on the direction of this program, but they got me hooked again.

[DearOleUMass]

And it feels like recruiting was solid again this past cycle. They've got the USHL's leading scorer (both in goals and points) coming to Amherst next season, Anthony Del Gaizo. I've never been so confident in a UMass coaching staff of any sport in many years.

I'll add to that. I have been around since Mallen. I had the pleasure of sitting adjacent to the UMass bench a couple weeks back at UNH. The presence of the coaching staff was unlike anything I have seen. I had already bought in on the direction of this program, but they got me hooked again.

When you say, their presence was unlike any you have seen, what exactly do you mean? Genuinely curious, I don't know much about hockey so was wondering what you mean by this.

[Bubba]

Hard to describe. I have been around sports my entire life, been a coach, athlete, ref, and everything in between. I have worked with coaches from youth to hall of fame collegiate even a world champion in my sport.

There seemed to be a pervasive intensity at the bench of utmost respect that started with coaches. It was a feeling I got, a good one, that Carvel had a job to accomplish, knew how to get there and everyone on the bench was in on the job and looking to him to orchestrate.

Or maybe I am an idiot, who knows.

[DearOleUMass]

Hard to describe. I have been around sports my entire life, been a coach, athlete, ref, and everything in between. I have worked with coaches from youth to hall of fame collegiate even a world champion in my sport.

There seemed to be a pervasive intensity at the bench of utmost respect that started with coaches. It was a feeling I got, a good one, that Carvel had a job to accomplish, knew how to get there and everyone on the bench was in on the job and looking to him to orchestrate.

Or maybe I am an idiot, who knows.

Haha I suspect you're on to something, appreciate the insight!

[78]

I love Carvy. This is from his weekly email:

Although it has been five days since our game against BC, I am still fuming. We weren't playing our best hockey but we were leading 2-1 going into the third period. We were out-chancing BC through two periods and had just out-chanced them 6-2 in the second period. The penalties were 4-1 against us in a game that we were pretty much controlling through two periods. The one power play we received was from a violent head shot to one of our players that only resulted in a two minute penalty. Four minutes into the third period one of our players rubbed out a BC player who turned just as he was about to get hit. It was not a violent hit, just a hockey hit. The BC player fell to the ice and stayed down for a considerable amount of time. The referees awarded a 5 minute major penalty on the play and I was not happy! I understand that refereeing is a subjective art but consistency is the sign of solid refereeing. I was upset that when our player got violently hit to the head it was only a two minute penalty. A much less violent hit resulted in a 5 minute power play for BC.

As we build this program I fully expected that I would have to fight for our program's respect in Hockey East. I was given an additional penalty for attempting to stand up for my team. And I would do the same thing again. Over the past month our team has been on the wrong end of too many decisions made by the referees and I WILL NOT TAKE IT LYING DOWN! Our kids play too hard to be disrespected and to not receive officiating that is consistent. We've lost a number of one goal games and we have had many calls work against us in these games.

It's all part of the process. The process isn't easy. We will continue to play in a way that earns our hockey program the respect it deserves. I'm proud of my players. I say this all of the time, if nothing else, our team is CONSISTENT! We come to play every night and we will continue to scratch, bite and fight our way to higher ground.

[mdogt12]

Was a great email. Love the direction of this program.

[McKinney]

With the 3-2 win over UCONN that's the first 14 (and counting) win season since 2009-10.

[UMass02]

If you want UMass to host a playoff series, root hard for BU, Northeastern, and Lowell this weekend.

[eldonabe]

With the 3-2 win over UCONN that's the first 14 (and counting) win season since 2009-10.

Any win over UConn is any sport is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[McKinney]

With the 3-2 win over UCONN that's the first 14 (and counting) win season since 2009-10.

Any win over UConn is any sport is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!