In UMass-Amherst's fourth season in Hockey East, coach Joe Mallen has
put together a very nice team.  They are big and fast, but after Steve
MacKinnon was hit with a 5-minute major and game misconduct for hitting
from behind, lack of depth and fatigue showed up in the third period.
Look for this team to really stir things up in Hockey East this season.
 
The best player on the ice for Friday's game was clearly the Minutemen's
Tim Lovell.  Chris Drury is the front-runner for Hobey Baker, but Lovell
outshone him last night.  If he hadn't transferred from Maine, the Black
Bears would be the favorites to take Hockey East.   With Lovell being on
the ice for all 8 of UMA goals this season, put him on the list for
post-season awards.  A better skater than Drury, the only thing he lacks
is height.  Lovell is listed as 5'10", but that may be with his skates
on.
 
UMA's goalie Brian Regan kept his team in the game, making some amazing
stops.  Defenseman Brad Norton is a solid candidate for the pros.
 
BU is depending an awful lot on their freshmen.  This lack of experience
may hurt in the short run, but they are all learning how to play.
Sophomore Chris Heron is still out for a couple of weeks after getting
hurt in the Ice Breaker tournament.
 
BU's Tom Noble gave up a cheapie to Lovell just :42 into the game.
After that he was solid, giving up just one other with his team down 2
men.  BU may have the best goaltending tandem in the nation with Noble
and Michel Larocque.
 
Somebody needs to tell WROL's Bernie Corbett and Tom Ryan that there are
two teams playing.  Their three stars are always exclusively BU
players.  The best player last night wore a dark sweater.   Their three
stars:
    1.    Albie O'Connell - 2 goals
    2.    Mike Sylvia - 2 goals
    3.    Tom Noble - 22 saves
 
My three stars:
    1.    Tim Lovell - 2 goals
    2.    O'Connell
    3.    Sylvia
    Note:    My third star would have been Regan, if not for a bad fifth
goal to freshman Nick Gillis.
 
The best Halloween costume last night was the student wearing the
blood-stained white sheet as the ghost of BU football.  This is a great
personal loss for me, and a true act of betrayal by the BU
administration to its student-athletes.
--
Edward N. Moller
Controller
Mount Ida College
Newton Centre, MA  02159-3323
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Tel:  (617) 928-4515
Fax:  (617) 928-4706
 
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