Unless the rules have changed drastically, there are an allowable number of
days in the season (which is why teams have a mandatory two weeks off, taken
individually at their choosing) and "official" practices cannot start until
X number of days before the opening game.  The so-called "captain's
practices" are just that -- no coaches allowed and captains run some drills
and scrimmages.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Deron Treadwell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 9:21 PM
Subject: Re: PPH Article


> 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.
> > >
> > >
> >