There may be a rule about the earliest they can start, but I believe
(someone with a rule book please check this) that the rule governs this
situation is that you are limited to the number of weeks during a
season you can have practice.

This is why there are weeks during the year when Maine has no game that
they do not have sanctioned practice.

I am pretty sure Maine teams have started practice in September before,
but it usually is early October.

Rule book.. how did I do?

-Deron


--- "Chesley, Clair" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 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.
> >
> >
>