I thought that there was a rule that there could not be an "official"
practice (with coaches) before a certain date.  (?)   Otherwise, why would
there be a need for a rule allowing "Captain's practices"?   And I have only
ever heard of hockey having "Captain's practices". (?)
Do any of the other sports have such rules?

-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne T Smith [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 1:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: PPH Article

The NCAA has a number of rules that govern the playing season. There is
NOT, specifically, a rule such as you suggest.

However, scheduling problems led Maine to schedule the Vermont game a
week earlier than expected.  Since the start of official practices was
limited (could not be moved earlier), we get our first practice a day
before the first game ... in Vermont!

The NCAA rules do allow for "Captain's practices", without coaches, and
the team has been meeting in that way.  The Alfond now has ice, so the
players will be skating well before Oct. 2nd.  Also, you don't get to be
a successful Division I program by taking the summer off from training,
so any player not now in great condition would have little chance of
suiting up for a game, IMHO.

cheers, wayne

Jim wrote, in part,  on 9/16/2004 10:41 AM:

>Excuse my ignorance, but is it normal that teams cannot officially practice
>until one day before the season opener?  If so, I assume this in mandated
by
>the NC$$.  What is the logic?  Can you imagine if college football or
>basketball teams could not officially practice until the day before the
>season opening!  It seems that this could lead to unfortunate and
>unnecessary injuries.
>
>"Cousin Jimmy"
>May the legacy of Shawn Walsh live forever
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: The Maine Hockey Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On
>Behalf Of Jacob Metzler
>Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 9:54 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: PPH Article
>
>
>http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/sports/college/hockey/040916mainehockey.s
h
>tml
>
>ORONO - "Jimmy Howard," he said facing the camera. "Goalie. Junior. The
>University of Maine." Fluorescent lights shone in his face, illuminating
>curly blond hair and a big smile. At times, this summer couldn't go fast
>enough for Howard. Wednesday, Maine's hockey players put on jerseys for the
>first time in chilly Alfond Arena for a team picture, posing for photos and
>video head shots and chatting about the upcoming season at the Black Bears'
>annual media day. Howard, the goalie who made a name for himself at the
>Frozen Four last season, talked about why the season opener Oct. 3 can't
>come fast enough. "I'm excited. Summer was way too long," Howard said,
>grinning. "Every year you have to come back with the frame of mind you can
>do even better. We were so close to winning the regular season as well as
>Hockey East. A chance to get back to the (national tournament) would be
>great." Maine, which lost 1-0 to Denver in the national final on April 10,
>will not begin practice officially until Oct. 2, a day before opening the
>regular season at Vermont. For now, the players will skate in voluntary
>practices without their coaching staff. They'll get in their training and
>work out on ice whenever they can. Howard will need to prepare for his
>heaviest load of games since youth hockey. Maine is without Frank Doyle,
who
>graduated after splitting duties with Howard most of the last two seasons.
>Backup goalie Ray Jean transferred to Bentley College to play more
>regularly. "It's going to be a challenge. I haven't played every game in
two
>years," said Howard. "But the two other goalies are going to push me to be
>my best. It's a good test for me." Maine recruited two goalies this year:
>Matt Lundin, an 18-year-old freshman from Apple Valley High in Minnesota
and
>the brother of sophomore defenseman Mike Lundin; and 19-year-old freshman
>Ryan Shelley of Gray, who ranks No. 3 on the depth chart. "Common sense
>would say (Howard) would play (the bulk of games)," said Coach Tim
>Whitehead. "But Matt will challenge Jimmy. It's why we brought him in."
>Shelley, who played for the Portland Junior Pirates in Biddeford last year,
>only found out this summer Maine was interested in him. He had plans to
play
>junior hockey in Canada. "I'm ecstatic. It's a dream come true," said
>Shelley. Now he'll be learning from one of the nation's top goalies. Howard
>recorded six shutouts in 22 games last year, posting a 1.19 goals-against
>average and .956 save percentage, NCAA records.
>"(Howard's) work ethic, just watching him in practice, the way he moves,
>it's unbelievable," said Shelley. Howard's presence in goal is a calming
>factor for the team, said Lisbon's Greg Moore. "Having Jimmy in net every
>game, we're real confident with him back there. . . . It lets us take more
>chances on our offense," Moore said. Howard is not the only player eager to
>get back to playing. "There's a lot of anticipation (for everyone)," said
>Moore. "The way the season ended left a lot of motivation for us . . . to
>get so close." Whitehead is eager to get started, too. "I want to play some
>games. It's the best remedy for all the teams who didn't win their last
>game," he said. "It's a very good motivator to try and get back there."
>NOTES: Former Maine players Niko Dimitrakos and Lucas Lawson skated with
the
>team Wednesday. Both are in limbo after the NHL owners locked out their
>players Wednesday when the collective bargaining agreement expired.
>Dimitrakos was with the San Jose Sharks, Lawson with the New York Rangers'
>organization.
>
>