On Fri, 8 Apr 1994, Mike Machnik wrote:
 
> It seems that one of the biggest criticisms I have heard of Anderson
> is that such-and-such a star player elsewhere would have come to
> Merrimack if Merrimack had worked harder to get him.  Jim Montgomery
> is one of the names the nay-sayers have thrown out there, and I don't
> know how true that is - although Montgomery is a good friend of former
> Warrior Dan Gravelle.  But even if it is true, every program has its list
> of players they could have had but didn't pursue and who turned out to
> be stars somewhere else.
>
> On the other hand, Anderson built an Independent powerhouse in the
> late 1980s by taking the outcasts from DivI - the players other teams
> didn't want.  I still have an article from the Boston Globe in late
> March, 1988 - the week after Merrimack defeated Northeastern.  It is
> headlined "The Little Team That Could" and talks all about how
> Anderson built his team.  And some players Anderson outright stole from
> underneath the noses of other teams, like All-Everything goalie Jim
> Hrivnak who was also pursued by RPI.
 
Yes, Merrimack did astoundingly well, and was the only team to beat Lake
Superior State during the playoffs that year, taking the first game at
the Soo, then losing 5-0 the next night.
 
However, how often can one depend on a team falling together like this?
There were so many players there with minor faults that the big programs
didn't want-- nobody paid attention to Vesey's high school, so they
didn't think his scoring stats were legit. Rich Pion was too small. Great
hands, though. As for Hrivnak-- I've heard it said before that he didn't
go to RPI because he was holding out for a contract with the Caps. When
that wasn't forthcoming, he had to take what was available at a very late
date-- and that was Merrimack. It's not too surprising, then, that when
he became academically ineligible his final semester, he joined the
Caps-- a move that quite possibly was the pivotal factor in Merrimack not
receiving an at-large NCAA bid that year.
 
> The loss of MacPherson is one that probably will prove to hurt.  He
> recruited arguably Merrimack's top 3 freshmen this past season -
> Legault, Jakopin (All-Rookie Team), and Peca.  But Anderson can't be
> blamed for MacPherson leaving.  UMass made him an offer Merrimack could
> not match because of the financial situation Merrimack has been in.
 
Again, this is so. However, ex-players have said to me that MacPherson
was valuable not only as a recruiter but as a coach. As a recently
graduated student-athlete, he communicated to and identified with
Merrimack's players perhaps in a way they like- a way different than
Anderson's. One player in particular (whom Mike knows as well) went so
far as to attribute Merrimack's success in the latter half of the '92-'93
season to the support MacPherson gave the team.
 
> Anderson has faced an incredible number of obstacles over the last 5
> years since moving to Hockey East - obstacles that might have forced
> another man to pack it in.  This is just a small listing of the major
> problems I can recall off the top of my head:
>
> * In 1988-89, the school took so long to decide whether to accept the
> invitation to join HE that many potential recruits went elsewhere,
> after Anderson was honest with them and explained that he just didn't
> know where the team was going to stand the next season - HE, full-time
> DivI Independent, etc.  Just two of those potentials were Mike and
> Mark Bavis who had four outstanding seasons at BU.
 
Well, I had to scratch my head at this. Anderson himself told me that he
did not expect Merrimack to join Hockey East until a full season AFTER
'89-'90, which was their first year of play. He said that was the reason
they had such a tough year, was because all the elite players were taken
by the time they knew they were going Div I. That always puzzled me,
because I thought they would be looking for the best players available at
the time; after all, league affiliation or not, they had been the top
ranked independent for a number of years running (I'm sure Mike has the
figure) so they were getting a quality of recruit quite a bit above that
of the Bowdoins and Babsons at the time.
 
> * As well, nearly all of the players who helped Merrimack to a 61-13-0
> record over two seasons from 1987-89 had graduated by the time the team
> entered HE.  If either a handful of those players had remained, or the
> school had made its decision earlier, I am convinced the team would
> have been much better than it was in its first season.
 
I've often wondered why the school was so late in making the decision, or
why having waited so long they decided to make the jump at all. That
nearly his entire team was graduating could not have been a surprise to
Anderson; neither was the fact that his incoming freshmen were not as
good as the class graduating. MC had three good years in a row, three
ECAC Div II titles. Was Hockey East not interested in them any of those
years? NU was the HE league champ in 1988 when the Warriors beat them in
the NCAAs. It was the second victory over the Huskies that season. It's
been said before that MC could have had a serious shot at being a top 3
team in Hockey East that year- which would have meant better seeding in
the NCAA tourney. Was no one thinking ahead? It sounds like the problems
Mike was criticizing at Kent State in a recent post. MC has a great
playoff run, then graduates all the good players, decides to jump late,
and then says, "well, all the good players are taken now."
 
> * Merrimack went through its first two seasons in HE with a collection
> of outcasts and DivIII-caliber players, some of whom had played JV
> before the 1987-89 team graduated.  The original plan had been to play
> two seasons as an Independent from 1989-91 and then join HE, and it was
> thought that this would enable them to build a team that would be able
> to enter HE and be very competitive - and win some games.  Had the
> 1987-88 team been in HE, they may have been the third best team in the
> league that season, behind Maine and Northeastern...Merrimack followers
> from that time would say second, ahead of Northeastern. :-)
 
Actually, it's funny that you say 3, because that's just what I wrote
above... I didn't peek, honest! Although I do agree that they could have
finished above NU.
 
However, I doubt playing two more seasons as an Ind. would have helped.
Especially since after '89-'90, I believe, Indies got no automatic
tourney bid. That meant no hope for postseason play-- a tough obstacle to
overcome as a recruiter. It's also funny... If MC played those years with
DivIII players, and finished 8th, then sixth, then 8th... and now, with,
say, a mix of Div I and II players, they finish... 6th, then 7th (saved
from the cellar by Maine forfeits) then those first two teams must have
REALLY overachieved. I'd agree there is a qualitative increase in the
quality of MC's play since they joined the league.
 
> * From the start, Anderson was promised full support by the school in
> his quest to build a HE contender.  But from the start, Merrimack's
> financial problems made it impossible for the school to meet its
> promises.  A perfect example is the recruiting budget, for which a
> 5-year plan had been set out in 1989.  The actual budget turned out to
> be far less than what was originally planned.  But cuts were also
> occurring all over campus.
 
Whatever he was promised, I think Anderson would have to be naive to
believe he'd get that kind of support given that MC is easily the
smallest school in Hockey East, perhaps the smallest school in any of the
four major Div I hockey conferences. Founded in 1947, it may also be one
of the youngest such schools. Even as far back as '89, class sizes were
declining, and MC's student retention rate was declining. With class
sizes decreasing in the state as a whole, everyone was aware that it was
likely, more than just possible, that Merrimack would be hard-pressed
financially. It was also known back then that a major rink renovation or
construction project would be necessary in the long-term.
 
> * The rink, generally considered Anderson's largest obstacle in
> recruiting, is no longer under the control of the athletic department.
> I believe Physical Plant controls it, and I also believe there are a
> total of two employees responsible for all or most of the work, from
> driving the Zamboni to cleaning the rink to doing maintenance.  They
> have no time to do preventative maintenance, and so the general M.O.
> is to react to problems rather than to act and prevent them.  Whether
> or not a new building happens, the first step is to immediately move
> the complex back under the control of the AD.
 
The complex was removed from the AD's authority for a number of reasons,
not the least of which was the quality of service it received during that
time. It was shortly after the building was placed under the authority of
Physical Plant that one of the biggest improvements in the facility's
quality (from the player's perspective) occurred- the pipes in the
refrigeration system were flushed for the first time, I am told, in
several years. Players, Anderson himself, and myself noticed a distinct
improvement in the quality of the ice that season. Volpe's ice is
notoriously soft and rutted, especially in the right wing corner of the
zone MC attacks in in the first and third periods.
 
In addition, the stands, walls, and walkways were painted for the first
time in quite a while.
 
> * There are also the players who Anderson has landed over the last 5
> years but who didn't come.  If any of you get The Hockey News, open
> any issue from this season and flip to the major junior section, under
> QMJHL.  Laval goalie Manny Fernandez was signed, sealed and delivered
> to Merrimack two years ago.  He was to be "the next Hrivnak".  But
> that summer, Laval drafted him first and made him an offer Merrimack
> literally could not match: a car.  So long, Manny, we hardly knew ya.
> Manny went on to help Canada to a World Junior title, led the QMJHL
> in GAA this season, and took home tons of awards - and he may still
> backstop Laval to the Memorial Cup.  We went on to the 99 to cry in our
> beer and think about what could have been.
 
Yes, I remember- or rather I don't- Fernandez as well. Didn't he recently
sign a pro contract in the NHL? Thot I saw his name in the transactions
column somewhere.
 
> * And, there are also the inherent recruiting disadvantages in terms
> of fighting off the Boston schools for players, lack of a DivI winning
> tradition, etc. that any other coach would have had to face, too.  As
> asst Brian Daccord said when we were marveling at the Mullins Center
> at UMass, "How could any kid turn all this down to come to Merrimack?"
 
Funny you mention Umass.  No Div I team in hockey for more than a decade.
No winning tradition. Not a Boston school. Yet they *will* beat Merrimack
out for kids. Why? New rink. Well-known coach. And with Milbury there to
help BC out of a tailspin... look out.
 
> Because of the obstacles, I don't feel Anderson has been adequately
> provided an opportunity to put a contending team on the ice.  So, I
> think it would be a travesty to reward his 14 years of loyalty to the
> school, his three ECAC East banners and one DivI quarterfinal
> appearance, his taking the program to heights it never reached before,
> his unquestioned integrity, and the respect he has earned from his peers
> in college hockey, by unceremoniously dumping him at a time when the
> program may be ready to turn the corner.
 
If Anderson found the players in 1988 with the same rink, the same
school, and a Div II schedule with no guaranteed NCAA berth, why can't he
now? And if '88 was just a fluke, how can he be given credit for it?
 
Providence College is only slightly bigger. They have a bit of a nicer
rink, but it's not much larger, and certainly nothing to compare to BC,
Maine, or UMass. They had Chris Terreri and a HE championship. Lake
Superior State is about the same size, and they fairly burst onto the
scene with their first championship-- ironically, in 1988.
 
Merrimack does not currently have the resources to compete head-to-head
with Maine and BU ona regular basis. However, in the past few seasons
those teams have not showed up to play MC every night. Yet MC has only
won ONE GAME COMBINED from those two teams in FIVE YEARS. That's more
than having "inadequate resources." MC had a 4-0 lead on BU at Walter
Brown a few years back between Beanpot games. They lost.
 
As a fan of the school and friend of many Merrimack players, I too would
like to believe they are about to turn a corner. However, they've seemed
about to turn that corner for the third year in a row.
 
> Steve Weisfeldt writes:
> >I've always thought that Ron Anderson teams were excellently coached.
> >Never had the "blue-chip" player, and probably regulated to the 6-7-8
> >spot for the near future, but I've always felt that his teams were the
> >hardest working teams in HE.  Over the years, probably the only team
> >in Hockey East that would "show up" for EVERY game.
>
> I don't speak for Merrimack, but thanks for your kind comments, Steve.
> On the other hand, it is truly agonizing to hear the phrase "hardest
> working team" applied to Merrimack, because we know it's really a
> metaphor for "not too far above lousy".  One thing Anderson said five
> years ago has always stuck in my mind: "We want to get to the point
> where teams come in here and beating us makes their season."  Not just
> that well, at least Merrimack's going to give them a good game.
 
Yes, I get sick of hearing the "hard working" stuff, too. Once a BC fan,
hearing of a Merrimack win, said "well, even a blind squirrel finds a nut
once in a while." I found other seats, and was gratified when Maine beat
BC that night.
 
However, what Anderson said also stuck in my mind. It translated as,
"We're just happy to be here." Why wasn't he saying he wanted to beat BU?
Why is he satisfied with giving them a good game and losing anyway? It
just seemed like a strange way for him to articulate his goals for the
season. He wants beating Merrimack to mean something. Well, that won't
happen until the team starts winning.
 
 
> On your last sentence, I would say that there have been times that I
> have felt they did not show up.  I think when people outside Merrimack
> don't expect much from the Warriors, it is easier to say that they
> always show up, at least.  I can tell you Anderson's comments have
> been clear in that he has not felt that they have always come to play.
> He also expects more from them than anyone around, as he should.
 
Yes, many times (in fact, nearly any loss not to BU or Maine) Anderson
blamed his team for lack of effort, and benched talented players for that
reason. Players told me after games this season about how Anderson on the
bench would tell them (even sometimes while they were leading) that if
they didn't do such-and-such, they would lose.
 
Why not say, if you DO such-and-such, you will *win*.
 
> I will say this: we are extremely proud of the 8-0-4 overtime record
> the team has rolled up over the last two seasons, as well as being the
> only HE team to have never lost an HE overtime game.  To that extent,
> "hardest working" isn't so bad.  The feeling is that if the game is
> close near the end and there's a chance to win, they will pull it out.
> So the next step is to have more games where they are in that situation.
 
Hate to bring it up again, but MC has lost a Hockey East overtime game.
February 22, 1992, a 6-5 OT loss to.. (ironically) Northeastern.
 
>
> >At the same time, though, maybe a coaching change would be good for
> >the Warriors.  As much as I felt the NC$$ screwed Billy Riley and as
> >sorry I was to see him leave Lowell, I do feel that the change
> >benefited the Lowell program infinitely.  Maybe a similar change would
> >do Merrimack good as well.  It might take a while, but I believe they
> >can become "contenders".  I really feel that Martin Legault can be one
> >of the best goalies in the east.
>
> And Steve, I am sure that with Rollie graduating, you wouldn't mind if
> Marty had chosen UML instead. :-)  In a way, I was happy Marty did not
> get named to the All-Rookie Team over Taylor, because maybe this will
> insure that he continues to work - and he has room for improvement.
> But he's off to a great start.
>
Legault is a potential bright spot. But so was Yannick Gosselin, who
ended up with knee injuries. So was Emmanuel Fernandez, who never played.
So was Dan Millar, who won HE Rookie of the Week honors in one of his
first games, and then promptly vanished off the face of the earth. Last I
heard, he wasn't even attending Merrimack anymore.
 
 
> I can't support a coaching change because as I said above, I believe he
> has done the best he could with what he had available.  And he deserves
> a better chance than he has had.  If the problems that made it
> difficult for him to put a better team on the ice would not be
> resolved along with hiring a new coach, then the new coach would not
> fare any better.  The first step is for the school to make good on its
> promise, even if it is several years late, and provide Anderson with
> what he needs to be able to build a HE-contending team.  Then evaluate
> the job he does.
>
 
I'm not so sure. Anderson has been head coach at the Mack for more than
10 years now, 5 of them in Hockey East. It's his only head coaching
position. He said once that it would take a whole recruiting cycle to
become "competetive" in Hockey East. He said at the time he did not
expect a new arena in that span. He's had a full cycle plus a year. IF
Merrimack were to make other changes, and the team still doesn't improve,
and THEN they decide to change coaches, how many more years will be
wasted while Boston College regroups and UMass rushes past Merrimack?
 
> I think things are improving and that next year we will see something
> start to happen.  I am more convinced of this than I have been at any
> time over the last 5 years.
 
Although it may not sound it, I'd *REALLY* like to believe that. After
beating BC one game in the playoffs their first season, I thought next
year would be something. After they beat BU on the ice for the first time
ever year before last, I thought that was it.
 
Let's hope this really *is* it.
 
 
> ---                                                                 ---
> Mike Machnik                                          [log in to unmask]
> Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                  *HMM* 11/13/93
>
 
 
David M. Josselyn
[log in to unmask]
 
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