May 25, 2013
Mack’s Mailbag for Jan. 6, 2013
Posted on January 6, 2013 | in Mailbag | by Mike McMahonYou left The Eagle Tribune, but I still see your name in the paper covering Merrimack? Are you back?
My position on the paper’s staff was eliminated back in November. I have stayed with them, however, and cover Merrimack College hockey on a freelance basis. I also do a lot more work with College Hockey News now, who I have always been affiliated with, but have been doing more with in the last few months.
I think (Quinn) Gould could really bring a lot to the lineup. I thought he was impressive in the first few games. You?
I absolutely agree. He’s a big body that goes to the net and has nice touch. At the start of the year, I thought he was primed for a breakout year. The injury set him back a bit, of course, but I still think we could see him have a big second half. On a team that’s looking to add some scoring, he has to be a welcome addition for sure.
Do you think Dennehy will end the rotation of goalies soon and stick with a guy?
It’s up to the two goalies. Right now, both are playing well enough that there’s no need to stop it. How can you look at one of those two guys right now and tell them they lost the job? Neither has. Before the Union game last week, Tirronen had a stretch where he was one of the best goalies in the league (GAA under 2.00, save percentage in the .950 area). Marotta doesn’t stop battling and has been consistent all season. Goaltending has not been the issue in MC’s losses. They need to find more consistent scoring.
In the “pairwise”, Mike M. will not be assessing all sorts of odd scenarios this year, analyizng how Merrimack can get into the NCAA tournament. Their only hope is to finish high enough to qualify for Hockey East and hope they advance and get the conference’s courtesy bid. And next year – when they will have to schedule more games like these because of the reduced Hockey East schedule (and one more perennial front runner ahead of them in the HE hierarchy in the form of Notre Dame) … uh, the long-term situation may be bleak….
So you expect every school to have the ability to handpick its schedule like a Boston College? You’re being incredible naive. The league schedule will still be 22 games (when UConn joins), and there’s enough top-quality teams in the league that if you do well enough in your league and do well enough out of conference (no matter who you play) then Hockey East teams will be in the conversation for the NCAA tournament. Bottom line. If you disagree, then you don’t understand how the system works.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see some Hockey East teams play each other in non-conference games, too. It wouldn’t shock me.
When does (new transfer recruit Craig Wyszomirski join the team, this year or next year?
Next. And, he’ll have three years remaining, I believe.
Heard today that Dennehy may leave Merrimack when York retires at Boston College. Have you heard anything like that? Hope not, what Dennehy has done at Merrimack is truly incredible!
All I know is that he is under contract at Merrimack for a very long time. Through 2019, I believe. I highly doubt BC has made any decisions as to “who is replacing York” … Jerry is still going strong over there, runs the best program in the country, and hasn’t indicated to anyone I’ve spoken to that he’s on the verge of retiring any time soon. People will speculate, which is natural because he played there. But again, to think that BC has given any thought to life after York, while he’s still going strong and winning national titles, is silly. In fact, if anyone in power has had any significant conversations about it, I’d think that’s a pretty big slap in the face to the guy there now. Who is to say they don’t look on their own bench? I’ve talked to plenty of people who believe Jerry’s grooming Greg Brown. But anything discussed right now is nothing more than conjecture.
Interesting to note that the suggestion and the response of the last question don’t actually contradict each other…
I think it’s important to reiterate – the fact that there was a change in the athletic director at BC has NO bearing on Jerry York or the hockey program there.
If there is ONE program that’s to be left alone, it’s the hockey program (obviously). As far as the day when Jerry decides to retire – which will likely be a long, long, long, long way down the road — the question is would they elevate an “insider” who’s inside, or go out and recruit an “insider” from another school? Mark Dennehy would be a great candidate…
As far as the future of Merrimack – YES, Merrimack is crippled by their tiny arena, and also by not being a major “name” school (BC, BU, Notre Dame, UNH, Maine) … there won’t be any major holiday tourneys. And to get into the NCAA tournament – they will have to sked a lot of lesser – read = sub-HE schools — and hope the heck they play consistently well against those schools.
Yes – I do agree that there will be some “non conference-conference games” to fill out the schedule. Oh yeah – BC, BU, and Northeastern have been doing that for years — it’s called “The Beanpot”. Perhaps Merrimack will play in a “pretend beanpot” – vs. Lowell, UMassAmherst, Dartmouth, etc. Who knows. Just an idea.
… and yes, your commentaries will be missed in the Eagle-Tribune. Yes I am a fan of BC (National Champs, baby) and often disagree (respectfully) with your views ..
And I miss your columns in the Trib.
So it’s Jerry York now. Before the holidays someone told me that Jack Parker was stepping down after this season and Mark Dennehy was going to replace him.
Chief Wahoo – no, no, Jerry York is NOT leaving. No way. BUT – Mike responded to an inquiry about Mark Dennehy leaving Merrimack (eventually) to succeed Jerry York.
Dennehy is a BC grad – so , he’s an insider, so to speak. And BC has a history of selecting coaches, who are BC alums, but who’ve done a great job elsewhere. So – when the day comes for Jerry York to retire, and I hope (and think) it’s a long way off — he’d be a viable candidate, and, a good one.
On the other hand, you raise an interesting point – what if Jackie Parker decided to retire? Or a coach at one of the top D1 schools??? Would he be a candidate there as well?
He’s been a candidate (and has had offers) for a majority of the openings the last few years.
Obviously, to be the head coach at BC would be the ultimate job in college hockey, as the sun now sets.
But that job isn’t going to open up any time soon. If he’s had offers – and he wants more dough, more recognition, he might not want to wait to see *if* the Heights call someday. They may never call him.
On the other hand – if he’s happy being in North Andover – heck, that ain’t a bad gig, either…
OK, Mike – to bolster another thread – what would you think of this — a holiday tournament – Merrimack, UNH, Dartmouth, and an undetermined fourth school (Maine? UML?) — and the tourney would be played at Verizon Wireless Arena?
A non-conference event?
Funny you mention that, I’ve actually heard it’s been discussed. Merrimack and Lowell would alternate years as hosts and be two of the teams, and then bring in two other teams. … I doubt it’s a big enough draw to run Verizon. You would need UNH and Dartmouth every year, or else you run the risk of an expensive rental and not enough money at the gate.