Let's not take the big step that the season is now in jeopardy.  I have 
only seen this team 3 times in person, including Sunday vs. Vermont.  I 
would say that Derek may have hit a few notes as the team did not come 
out playing an intimidating style and let Vermont control the tempo 
earlier with their style of play.

I do think the losses of Hamilton and Shepherd hurt our depth and our 
ability to play physical along the wall, which was more the Catamounts 
style.  Maine played a solid game but did not get any second chances in 
front of the net, as Russell did a good job smothering rebounds and on 
the occasions when there was a rebound Maine did not win those battles.

It is imperative for Maine to win the last two hockey east games if we 
harbor any hopes of winning the regular season title.  Second half of 
the year will be a test as every weekend is a doubleheader and with our 
depth reduced by two seasoned forwards we can ill afford injuries.  One 
thing that has worked against Maine of late IMHO is the schedule.  This 
one game a week makes it difficult to get into a rhythm.  I think we 
all would have taken a 9-4 start, but not after we were 9-2 and with 3 
of the losses coming in Hockey East and 2 at home.

Providence will be a test, but Maine needs a win on Friday to give 
themselves some confidence.

Bob Fitta '83
On Nov 30, 2005, at 12:04 AM, Deron Treadwell wrote:

> I don't normally watch the six o'clock news, but I happened to catch it
> tonight and Derek Damon was on talking about (and I am paraphrasing
> here) how the last few games Maine didn't come out with much fire and
> intensity and part of the blame lies with him and the captains and that
> has to change.  He wasn't making excuses, but rather he was saying this
> was the area for improvement going forward.  Maybe he was taken out of
> context by the interviewer.  TV interviews are infamous for that.
>
> Regardless, this has seemingly been a reoccuring theme over the last 
> few
> years -- has it not?  (Not being ready to play 60 minutes -- too little
> too late -- not enough intensity, etc.).
>
> My question posed for discussion is this:
>
> Is this just the nature of the college hockey game and is it asking too
> much for players to be fired up and intense each game, especially when
> playing for a program like Maine where you have passionate fans home 
> AND
> on the road?
>
> Or (as someone eluded to in a recent post) are we so distracted with 
> our
> problems off the ice that we can't fully prepare to play 60 minutes 
> with
> the players we've got left and (taking it one step further) are we
> distracted to the point where our season may be in jeopardy?
>
> Discuss.
>
> -Deron
> -- 
>   Deron Treadwell
>   [log in to unmask]
>