The big news first: Coach Crowder was very unhappy with the team's performance
last weekend (3-2 loss at home to St. Lawrence and 5-2 loss at Colgate) and
is making some MAJOR changes for tonight's game with BU.  Ed Campbell, their
number one offensive defenseman and IMO their number one defenseman
overall, will not dress due to the coach's decision.  HE preseason first-team
All-Star Greg Bullock, David Dartsch (expected to be #3 or 4 scorer), and
Marc Salsman will comprise the FOURTH line which will get limited action,
perhaps little outside of the powerplay.
 
Crowder said that these players "did not come to play last weekend and I'm
going to play the players that work hard."  He was *not* picking these players
out because they were prominent and they'd be perfect examples; he was picking
them out because they weren't working hard.  Selfishness and statistics were
mentioned, and a surprising comment about some players being out of shape.
Crowder said that their bus got back to Lowell at around 11PM on Sunday and
since he was prohibited by the NC$$ from skating them on Monday, that practice
on Tuesday was at 5:45 AM.  Personally, I don't understand how players can be
out of shape at this time of the season, but I suppose if that hasn't been a
focus of practices as they've worked on other details it could happen.  It
could also be a catchword for not being willing to work hard.
 
Crowder said that they may take a hit in the short term with the lineup changes
[timed for a game at BU tonight!] but that they were the moves he felt was
necessary to correct the problems.  Things weren't going to be fixed in one
or two games time, but in a few weeks the team should see a difference.
 
Did Crowder time these moves to "sacrifice"
a game that was almost impossible to win?  I don't think so.  I think the
rivalry with BU is so strong that no one connected to the team wants to lose
to BU and nothing will be conceeded.  But this sure doesn't help their short-
term chances.
 
The "Player of the Week" at the luncheon was Christian Sbrocca.  He talked
about the disappointments of last weekend and of how Walter Brown arena was
one of the tougher places to play.  I was talking to him at the table earlier
and he said (in response to my questions) that he'd been a *very* dominant
player as a 10, 11, 12 year old but that he stopped growing all of a sudden
and that caused real problems for him.  He said that at 16 he was only 5' 2"
and about 100 lbs and all of a sudden he wasn't even being considered for the
better teams.  There was some thinking that he had no hockey future beyond the
Midget level.  But he did have a growth spurt and toughened up too and things
have worked out ok.  He said he added about 10 pounds by working in the weight
room this summer.  (Hey this past summer I added 10 and didn't lift a thing!
:-)  or is that :-(   )
 
Freshman Martin Fillion will be in the nets tonight.  It seems that he and
Craig Lindsey are the top two for now, with Scott Fankhauser the odd man out.
Crowder is going to try to get Fankhauser a couple games soon, but it seems
that Fankhauser has been struggling a bit since he hasn't been getting to play.
This is something freshman goalies often have to struggle with.
 
Crowder mentioned that it's a very young team.  Tonight there'll be a freshman
in goal, two on defense, and overall ten players who have played in less than
twenty games for Lowell.
 
Saturday's night's game in Lowell against BU is expected to be a sellout or
near sellout.
 
*****************************************************        ,-******-,
* Dave Hendrickson "Robo" [log in to unmask] *     *'     ##     '*
*        A Hockey Polygamist and Get-A-Lifer        *   *##   ___##___   ##*
* GO BROONS!!!      Go Red Wings!!        Go Leafs! *  *   ##|   ___  \##   *
* GO UMASS-LOWELL!!!    Go Maine!!           Go BU! * *      |  |___)  |     *
* --------------------------------------------------* *######|   ___  <######*
* Although I can't remember ever having an original * *      |  |___)  |     *
* thought, and am certainly parroting someone who   *  *   ##|________/##   *
* actually has a brain, these opinions are mine,    *   *##      ##      ##*
* not Hewlett-Packard's.                            *     *,     ##     ,*
*****************************************************        '-*******-'