In article <[log in to unmask]>, The Always Fanatical: Patrick
Ellis <[log in to unmask]> says:
>
>Boy I'll tell ya what a misserable performance that was last night....
 
I wouldn't call Maine's performance last night miserable. I think the
players did a good job getting back into the game. They could have
given up when they were down by what, three? And although they came
unglued a bit in the third period, they came on strong at the end.
They didn't fold up and leave like they did against UMass-Lowell last
week.
 
>     Size.  Maine doesn't have teh size that it used to, In the past
>we had some size, but more than anything we had speed to compensate.
>This weekend was a good demostration that we need some size up front.
 
I was thinking about this last night. The Black Bears have lost a lot
of speed. But I don't think the problem is size; I think the problem
is strength. A lot of the players are having trouble getting off the
boards when they're checked.
 
>     Defense:  well we all know that the defense has been hurt by
>injuries, but Miane has got to stop playing dave macIssac.  The guy might
>be big, but he's slow, and incompetent.
 
I disagree strongly. MacIsaac is one of the best defensemen around.
He's the best defenseman the team has, and that's why he's slow -
he's tired from playing so much to pick up the slack from injuries. I
admit I don't know the exact number, but he has a good number of as-
sists this season.
 
>     Cockiness (sp?).  This I think is Maine's biggest problem.  Even
>though about half the team is made up of Freshman, I think that they
>really have an attitude.
 
I wouldn't say it's cockiness. It's inexperience. The freshmen are
used to being the best, but now they're in a situation where individ-
ual efforts don't count as much. Their focus wanes a lot during games
and they let opposing players get to them. They have to channel their
talents to help each other and to stay focused on playing hockey, not
daydreaming or shoving back when they're pushed around.
 
>They go out on the ice with the feeling that they can win no matter
>who they play, BUT they don't put the effort into it.
 
I wouldn't go so far as putting thoughts and feelings into their
heads. However, there is nothing wrong with believing you can beat
anyone (which you allude to). I think they do put a lot of effort
toward winning. But let's remember, even if they don't put as
much effort in winning as they could, who are we to get upset? It's
just a game.
 
Ryan Robbins
Stodder Hall
University of Maine
 
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