Hello All,
 
 
I hope that all of you are having a good start to the summer. The weather
here in DC is beautiful and life is just grand. Nevermind the fact that the
Beezer is still playing hockey!!! Let's go Panthers!!!!
 
Anyway...just wanted to pitch in my two cents on a few topics.
 
First the Maine case....from what I hear and what I know this will be
interesting. There are two ways to look at it. The NCAA can say that Maine
has been penalized enough as long as they get rid of Walsh and start anew.
Or they can come back with a verdict and say that they should blame the
institution instead. However, the bottom line to me seems to be that they
want to make an "example" out of Maine. College hockey is starting to take
off more than I think the NCAA expected. Therefore, before this kinda thing
grows even larger across the sport....make an "example" out of one and let
the rest get the message. If they don't do something to Maine, what will
happen in the future? I don't feel that the kids playing there now should be
punished for past mishap. Therefore, penalize the University not the
kids....Either way, in my estimation, there is no winning in this situation.
It's just a bit of a mess.
 
Second, my alma mater Northeastern. Ben Smith has left and gone on to
greener pastures. He is a great person and a good coach and I know that
he'll do us proud with the Women's Olympic team and I thank him for five
great years behind the Huskies bench. However, who's going to take over??
Well, let's throw out some names and start the ball rolling shall we. Start
with Ron Anderson of Merrimack, Dick Umile of UNH, Bruce Crowder of Lowell,
Toot Cahoon of Princeton, Jim Madigan former Huskies Asst Coach, Dave Quinn
asst at Northeastern, Scott Borek asst at Lake Superior State, Tom Newton
asst at Michigan State, Mel Pearson asst at Michigan, Greg Cronin asst at
Maine, Mike Kemp asst at Wisconsin, Paul Pooley of Providence, Joe Marsh of
St. Lawrence......
 
OK, let's get real here.....who really wants to go to coach at
Northeastern??? All of those names I've listed are great college hockey
coaches....but how many are realistic?? Why would a Mel Pearson leave
Michigan where he can someday take over the reigns from Red?? Why would
Marsh leave a St. Lawrence?? I just have too many questions and NO answers??
Obviously, it's a Division 1 program and they have been to the Final Four
before, so.....
 
Look, the possibilities are endless at Northeastern. The rink is great,
you're in Boston and the Beanpot is a yearly invite....The problem is that
you need a coach who can recruit outside of Boston. BU, BC and Harvard are
going to get the kids first and then NU will pick up the leftovers. If
Lowell and UMass don't get em first. We need a guy that can go into Canada
and dig up the players up North.
 
Right now, I'm not sure who to endorse or push or hope for. I just hope that
NU AD Barry Gallup takes his time and makes the right choice, whoever it may
be.
 
I want to know who you guys think should be the coach. Who do you think is
the right fit? I don't think there are any other NU alumns on the list, but
if there are, please share your thoughts with me.
 
Is Fern Flaman still around????
 
Yours in the Bond of Chaos in College Hockey and a Frustrated Huskies Fan,
Jon Barkan
[log in to unmask]
 
P.S. "Hockey is a slippery game, played on ice." Jack Parker, BU Coach
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.