What's Next

(Friday, April 10, 2009)

I was incredibly tense during the second semi final game between the University of Vermont and BU, which the Terriers won. It was a terrific game and although UVM lost I was exceedingly proud to be from Vermont. Nevertheless, I was left thinking about the Cats future? Where does the team go from here? I hope the exposure of having such a fast paced well-played game on ESPN2 will catapult the Cats to the next level yet I’m worried. 

Coach Sneddon was recently nominated as a Coach of the Year Candidate for the second consecutive year, and although he has pledged his support to the program as well as said that he and his family loves Vermont, I’m worried that he’ll be snatched away. 

Kevin Sneddon has had tremendous success at Vermont, which saw the Catamounts reach the national semi finals for only the second time in school history. Sneddon coached UVM to an appearance in the Hockey East Championship game last year - a program first. These accomplishments along with numerous others boost Sneddon’s appeal and my concern that another school would request a meeting. (I should give AD, Robert Corran lots of praise for working with Sneddon to become Vermont’s coach.)

Another area in question is UVM’s athletic facilities. I’m not sure that our facilities will soon become an obstacle in recruiting, if the haven’t already. Was all that National attention a blessing and a curse? Will recruits recognize UVM as a national power because of our recent successes, want to visit campus, but discover that our facilities cannot compete with other elite programs? I sincerely hope that UVM will be able to carry this momentum for the next few years, but have to think our facilities will catch up to us. 

Many things, like the economy for example have their ups and downs. Many things rise and fall along a curve. Where is UVM hockey on their curve? Are they still rising and have yet to peak? Or was their Frozen Four appearance the peak and now the program is on the way down? What will fans think if UVM doesn’t reach the NCAA tournament next year? Hockey East is arguably the most competitive league in college hockey, and a home ice playoff birth is no guarantee. Tough realities to think about for sure.

I love the job that Sneddon has done and is doing. It has not gone unnoticed that he emphasizes UVM’s "student athletes". It has not gone unnoticed that his athletes are good people on camps, who don’t expect the limelight and who aren't involved in “off ice incidences”. He recognizes and recruits great character. Dean Strong, Peter Lenes, and Corey Carlson for example. I hope Sneddon doesn’t go anywhere. I hope Viktor Stalberg doesn’t leave – less we forget he has a huge decision to make about his career in the next few days (I hope you return #18). I hope that UVM can improve its facilities soon, so that Sneddon can continue to attract high caliber, sound moral character players to Vermont. I hope we are still on the way up. What’s next? I'd like a national championship, but I’d be content with another senior class as classy as our exiting seniors, because I know with such great student leaders, another trip to the Frozen Four and a victory won’t be far off.