At 3:12 PM -0500 2/21/97, Deron Treadwell wrote:
 
>I believe the coach of the year is Ron Anderson's to lose.  Anderson, who
>I've had a chance to meet and is a very nice guy, is well respected around
>the league and most if not all of the other coaches like the guy.  Anderson
>has also been beaten up by his own alumni in the past for Merrimack's
>sub-par performances, but where are those people now?
 
We're still here, Deron. :)
 
Generally I'm loathe to rain on the Warriors' parade, and I have refrained
from making remarks regarding the re-signing of Coach Anderson. I will now
say that I do not think it is a decision that speaks to the future of the
program.
 
>
>Merrimack has made a great turnaround.  Should Merrimack finish fourth or
>fifth, that is a significant improvement from their last place finish a year
>ago.  You all saw Mike Machnik's statistical analysis of where Merrimack has
>come from, and boom.  That turnaround has to be atrributed to Anderson.
 
Why? If a team never better than sixth and quite often last suddenly plays
better, why does the credit go to the coach who has been there the whole
time?
 
The story of Merrimack's turnaround has very little to do with Ron
Anderson. In fact, it began in the period when Anderson's renewal was still
very much in doubt.
 
Merrimack has gotten 1) good goaltending --partially because Legault and
Thibeault were platooned the first time ever. Several of "us" have
advocated this since the two of them were freshmen. Mike M. will remember
that. The one loss in the past six games was the one game Legault made two
successive starts, I think-- I'm sure Mike will correct me if I'm wrong.
Unfortunately, I've seen fewer games this semester than in any year since
1988, which is ironic given how well they are playing. :)
 
2) Better offense. What forecheck are the guys using now? Is it the same
1-1-2 we've been watching for 8 years, or not? I don't think so. The few
games I've seen have been very wide-open, which suits a Merrimack squad
that for the first time in many years is much longer in offensive talent
than defensive talent. Arguably the best defenseman, Darrel Scoville has
excellent offensive instincts. John Jakopin has played part of the year at
forward. Steve McKenna did not return.
 
But several upperclassmen (Beck, Kesselring, Laroche) have turned their
games up a notch. Philbin and Cohen are solid freshman, and Reggie Stringer
and Kris Porter look great. This is the beginnings of a team that could
play a UNH-style offensive games and run the score up on some teams--
witness the 7-2 win at NU and the 11-5 win over BC at Volpe. This team
stands a better chance of winning those games than 2-1 or 3-2 nailbiters
against anybody except UNH and BU.
.
>
>Now what if Lowell makes it to fifth, gets home ice (because Maine is out)
>and goes to the FleetCenter while Merrimack goes to play some golf?  That
>could change everything.
 
If Merrimack tanks from here on end, do you blame the long-abused Anderson,
or the players?
 
 
David M. Josselyn, Desktop Publishing Technician, The Lowell Sun.
Merrimack College '93, Syracuse University '95
 
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