> For the _true_ offensive greats, "shadowing" does not affect them much...
>
> Just kidding... Some players are able to handle the shadowing better than
> others... The scouts can see this when they watch how other teams handle
> big players... For one, Joe Juneau, could have as many as 3 guys on him but
> when he had the puck, he was unstoppable... Kariya will probably see the
> same being such a high profile freshman high scorer he can look forward to
> three years of everything but the kitchen sink... "Shadowing" does work
> on some but you leave others with potential open to take up the slack
> of the "shadowed" big gun...
>
NMU's tactic has been to have the shadower try to keep the shadowee from
ever getting possession of the puck, as well as closely checking him if
he gets it anyway.
> I am really annoyed by the fans who leave early, especially at the end
> of a close game. I always take great joy in an early or late Wisconsin
> goal missed by bozos who pay $7-10 for a ticket and then rush to the
> beer garden to pay too much for a cheap beer in a crowd. Usually I make
>
You too! Good! I won't feel at all guilty when I wish for such things!
> > What is annoying is when people don't get back to their seats
> > before the next period and obstruct the view as they stumble
> > back 5-10 minutes into the new period.
>
This is a BIG problem at Lakeview, too, but I guess I'm more resigned to
it.
> I know it is impossible, but I wish the ushers were instructed not to
> let anyone into the aisles except during a timeout....
>
They do at symphony concerts--why not hockey games?! :-)
>
> - I really like the "wash-out" signal for dives (and other no-calls?)
> It looks like not all the refs are using it, but those of us
> who know what it is can see that the ref isn't lost out there,
> he made a decision.
>
I agree with this observation. Although fans often boo when a ref gives
a "washout" signal when they think a play was a foul (committed bythe
opposition, of course!), it does show the official was watching and made
a definite decisio; good for him!
> - The 2 ref system has improved things, in my opinion. Also, the
> new face off rules seem to help (most of the time).
>
Ditto!
> Earlier, Steve Christopher wondered why shadowing wasn't a more common
> tactic. I think it is a quite common tactic and I've seen it employed
> at both the NHL and College level. However, I think there are several types
> of shadowing that are practiced:
>
> 1. The One on One - This is where one team tries to have its _checking_
> line out on the ice when the other team's _scoring_ line is out. And
> then assigns its best defensive forward to shadow the opposing teams
> best offensive forward. Just tune in any NHL game involving Wayne Gretzk
> or Mario Lemeiux (sp) to see this tactic. I think this is the type
> of shadowing that Steve was talking about.
>
This is the kind NMU practices--perhaps because he's best at it, Bill
MacGillivray, a sophomore center, is always given the assignment,
whether the target is another center or a forward (at least I think
that's the case). ("Always" is a bit strong. The 'Cats have only
practiced shadowing when a truly dominant scorer like Ricci or Johnson
is facing them.)
> 2. Generic - If you watch closely on many plays that start in a team's
> own end when they are breaking out to start a rush up the ice, I
> think you'll find that one of the most often used forechecking schemes
> is to have one or two forward forechecking aggresively and one hanging
> back in center ice. Then when the other team comes out of their zone,
> the player who was hanging back at center ice will frequently cover the
> open winger coming out and effectively _shadow_ him. This doesn't
> necessarily match one player against another, it's kind of like playing
> a match-up zone defense in basketball.
>
This is interesting--I'll have to watch for it next home game--or on
this weekend's telecast from Minneapolis.
> One other note, on fans who leave early. Lynah has always had a few, but
> last night, a sizeable contingent of the Lynah Faithful suddenly became the
> Lynah Faithless, as there was a fair amount of scrambling for the exits in
> the third period when Colgate scored to TIE the game. That's all this (or
> any) team needs -- to see a number of fans give up hope like that. The
> players are already more frustrated than any fan could ever be, and I think
> we can give them a little more support than what I saw last night. OK,
> enough with the preaching.
Now . . . That's REALLY bad/sad!
>
> Yes, it happens Mariucci Arena, too. During the closely fought series
> with Duluth last weekend, at every faceoff after the midway point of the
> third period we lost a few more "fans." It always makes me wonder where
> I'd rather be than at a hockey game. I've never found an answer to that
> one.
>
And this, for Gopher-land, is shocking!!! ;-)
**********************************************************************
* Steve Christopher, NMU [log in to unmask] * * * * *
* NCAA Division I Hockey National Champions 1990-91 * GO * *
* NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1991-92 * *
* WCHA League Champions 1990-91 * 'CATS! * *
* WCHA Playoff Champions 1988-89/1990-91/1991-92 . . . * * * * *
**********************************************************************
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