Yes, this message only has to do with the actual game of hockey.
 
In evaluating Maine for this season, I went back and looked at their
records last season with and without Paul Kariya.  The results are
startling, I think.
 
WITH KARIYA
HE     GF-GA (AVG)         |||  OVERALL  GF-GA (AVG)
7-2-0  42-25 (4.67-2.78)   |||  8-4-0    55-41 (4.58-3.42)
 
WITHOUT KARIYA
HE     GF-GA (AVG)         |||  OVERALL  GF-GA (AVG)
5-6-4  50-55 (3.33-3.67)   |||  9-11-4   87-89 (3.63-3.71)
 
(This is without factoring in any forfeits.)
 
From the above, Kariya alone seems to have been worth about a two goal
difference in HE games.  On the paces above, Maine would have finished
with 37 pts in HE with Kariya the whole season, 22 without him the
whole season.  That is a swing of about 3 or 4 spots in the standings.
 
And consider that Cal Ingraham only became eligible after Kariya had
left, and he chipped in with 12-17--29 the rest of the way.  It
probably would have been worse, and Cal has now graduated.
 
In addition to Kariya, lost from the team that finished the season
without him are: Fs Mike Latendresse (#1 scorer), Patrice Tardif (#2
scorer), Ingraham (#3 scorer in half a season), Justin Tomberlin (#4
scorer), and Ds Lee Saunders (second leading defensive scorer), Jason
Weinrich, and Andy Silverman.  Also gone are the Ferraros who only
played the last 4 games, with Peter having a hand in 9 of the 13 goals
Maine scored during those games.
 
Kariya was the 7th leading scorer despite playing only 12 games.  Only
Reg Cardinal (9-16--25, #5) and Dan Shermerhorn (10-15--25, #5) return
from the six above him.  Tied with Kariya was defenseman Dave MacIsaac
(4-20--24).
 
I'm very interested to hear more about the new players Maine will have
this season - freshmen, former redshirts, etc.  It seems to me that
their ability to contribute immediately will be vital to Maine's
success.  On the face of it, the numbers above are striking enough that
without such a contribution, it could be a long year for the Black Bears.
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93
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