Well I finally caught a Thursday WZON Coach's Report (8:25am Thurs mornings)

Topics covered today included:

-Whitehead headed out the door to the New England Prep Tournament that is going on this weekend.  He said they are almost done recruiting for next years team and are actually doing some work on the year after as well.  They have had some good visits
and commitments already although obviously no names were discussed.

-Tim is most impressed with the closeness of the team, with the seniors really pulling everyone together and that that is probably the biggest reason for the 1st half success.

-Again mentioned that both he and the team are extremely confident in the goalie situation and that both are real solid and that the team plays like they know that those guys will bail them out and that they (the rest of the team) will have to bail
the goalies out as well occasionally.  He also mentioned that both of these guys work real hard and are all around solid individuals.  He was excited that Ray Jean was going to get a shot at being dressed and the back-up during the next few games,
he said that he is real good as well.

-During the time off players have strength and conditioning things to work on, as well as just recovering from bumps and bruises, they need to find that fine line between working too much and not working enough.

-The key to being successful in the second half is to keep the same focus as they've had in the first half, which has pretty much been take it one game/weekend at a time and don't worry about anything other than that.

-Asked about surprises in Hockey East, he was really impressed with Merrimack at this point and said based on what they lost, and what they had coming back that they are really the biggest surprise, and that Maine will have their hands full with
them especially since we play two down there this year.  UMass isn't as surprising but still they are a really good and tough team.

-He was happy that Leneveau (COrnell Goalie) is headed to the WJC for Team Canada so that we don't have to face him and he thinks that makes it a fair shake, although we have a very capable back-up and Cornell hasn't seen anyone else in goal all
year.

-The fact that there will be no drop off in goal, speaks to the depth of this team in all aspects and that too is a reason for the success to this point.

-the game against Cornell is obviously big, as they are two of the big Eastern teams and come NCAA seeding/placement time you want to be in the best position as possible.

-On a lighter note, he suggested that this is really a huge tournement and with Maine and Cornell battling WZON needs to send more staff to cover the game and that Dale should try and get himself in on the trip.  Then they both (Tim and Dale)
decided that Dan Hannigan wouldn't want to lay next to the Duffer on the beach down there in Florida.....


Nothing too, meaty there, but that's what happens when you are still 10 days away from the next game.  Happy Holidays!

-Jake