In article <[log in to unmask]>, "Charles A.
Baldwin" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
> I can't add too much to the summaries of Union's 5-3 defeat of Harvard
> Saturday afternoon (although I believe Harvard's second goal, by
> Halfknight, was shorthanded, not the third). I credit Union with a
> determined and well-planned attack, and solid defense (special applause for
> assistant coach Kevin Sneddon), building a 5-0 lead. Harvard remains an enigma
> to me--they outshot Union in the second, and in the third played a
> credible if not overpowering game, though it was too little too late. What
> didn't help is that Martins, who had a 4-point night against RPI, didn't
> play from about five minutes into the first until the beginning of the
> third. No penalty was announced, and based on the attention he received
> from the trainer, he seemed to have some sort of twist or cramp. In the
> third he was everywhere, but he ended up having to do too much on his own.
>
> Without wishing to slight Union, I believe that the first two periods
> were among the worst I've seen Harvard play in years. Don't get me wrong:
> Union deserved it's lead, but it was kind of a boring game from where I
> sat, in that there really wasn't much competition. Union showed nice
> speed and attack, and wasn't really faced with much. Tracy could perhaps
> be faulted on one of the first period goals, but in general, he had no
> support. The defense would just collapse and the offense looked tentative
> and wimpy -- I mean, Union just muscled them to the outside.
>
> Martins returned in the third and almost immediately scored on the
> powerplay. Harvard looked much more alive, and most of the play in the
> third was in the Union end, with Martins leading the attack. The game got
> more exciting: Harvard's sloppy defense still allowed Union to
> counterattack, and the Dutchmen continued to play solid defense, and their
> goalie came up with several excellent saves. When Martins shot over the net
> from five feet out, and only a minute or so to go, I was pretty sure the game
> was over.
>
> Now, I'd like to put in my vote in support of Martins: obviously he's not
> having a season like last year's, and he shouldn't win the Hobey, but in
> the nine Crimson games I've seen, he's consistently been the best player
on the
> ice, for either side. Although he still pulls some god-awful penalties, his
> overall playing and leadership are excellent -- he does it all,
> penalty-killing, powerplay, you name it. His numbers are actually OK: 13-19 in
> 24 games played, or 1.33 ppg, and I think he'd rack up a lot more if there was
> someone with him who could put away his set-ups. So, not that he hasn't been
> credited, but I think he should get attention at least for the All-ECAC
> teams.
>
> Sandy
 
   Obviously Martins isn't having a season like last year's, but Harvard
definitely seems to collapse every time Steve leaves the ice. He is the
backbone of their team, a "man who can do it all."
 
   More importantly, Martins plays both ends of the ice. He's very potent
in the offensive zone, as all ECAC teams have seen, but he always gets
back to help out his defensemen in front of the net and to block shots
from the point. Martins could rack up the St.Louis and Perrin numbers too
if he just hung out by the red line. But as some wiser souls have noted,
the game is about more than just scoring goals.
 
   My most vivid memory of Martins is from the season opener at Brown last
year. Martins ended a tie in OT with the most beautifully placed slap shot
from the top of the left circle I have ever seen. It wasn't luck...you
know he's been taking it for years.
 
   I think Martins remains one of the best players in the ECAC this
year.          Numbers don't say it all...I hope I haven't ticked off all
the UVM fans...
 
Martin Small
Brown Daily Herald