Deron Treadwell posed the question, more or less, of *Where did this
Governor's Cup come from, anyway?*  Well, Deron, it's a loo-o-o-n-nng story:
The Governor's Cup tournament was the brain-child of former U-Lowell mentor
Bill Riley, who first broached the idea ten (? give or take a decade) years
ago; gestation was obviously long and difficult.  About two years ago the
concept surfaced again, and was greeted with enthusiasm by the coaches.  The
athletic directors got involved, as they had to, and it was former
U-MA/Lowell AD Wayne Edwards who spearheaded the organizing effort.  The
comparison to the Beanpot is obvious, for geographic reasons if nothing else,
and the Beanpot certainly played a part in influencing the idea, but other
tourneys and showcases were also carefully reviewed/examined for ideas.
 Biggest (?) difference between the two is that the Beanpot features four
private institutions, while the GC stars public schools.  Not only will it be
a tremendous opportunity for the four state schools to strut their stuff, but
a potential recruiting tool as well, assuming, as we should, that it becomes
a successful annual event.  For now the plan is to rotate the tournament site
around the four schools on a (gee, who'd'a guessed?) four year cycle; maybe
someday, if it gets big enough, it would be a natural for the Fleet Center.
 Next year it will be held at the newly-renovated Gutterson Field House; in
1997 UNH will host it in Towse Arena; Lowell is hoping to have their new rink
up and running in time for their turn in 1998.   By that time it is hoped
that it will be both big enough, successful enough, and popular enough to
warrant national TV coverage.  (much of the above from a recent Lowell *Sun*
article)
 
By all accounts the inaugural series was both exciting and well-received by
the fans; save for UNH's sub-par performance, it had everything the
organizers could have hoped for, which bodes well for future series.
 
Dave Erickson
The Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter
*The puck stops here."  Harry Truman (might have said it)
 
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