Mike Machnik writes"
 
>Troy J Taylor wrote:
>>
>> Mike,
>>
>>   I can't let this go by......Merrimack has one of the leagues top
>> players? wow, I didn't know this.  Maybe Kasey Kesselring, but certainly
>> not that guy.
>>
>>  I understand your devotion to Merrimack, but let's get real here....
>>
>> Troy
>
>Check the league's leading scorers last season and so far this season.
>:-)
>
>Stringer's 3-10--13 is tied for 6th in the country according to
>USCHO...3-5--8 in HE so far is second according to the HE release...10
>assists is second in the country.  Last season his 14-14--28 in HE was
>12th.
 
I guess those stats are important after all.  BTW, how many penalty minutes
does he have?
>
>Of course if you consider the list of top players to only include 3 or 4
>players, he doesn't make it.  I'm not saying he is of the caliber of a
>Drury or Mowers.
 
Even though Drury is not even listed in the top 20 scorers in HE games and
only has 7 points so far this year?  But even I will admit that he is a
better player than Souza and Filipowicz, who are ahead of him in scoring.
 
  But if you consider it to be players who look to have
>a solid chance at All-Hockey East, well, he's right up there.  He's not
>going to be the Player of the Year, but he's got a solid shot at All-HE
>in the league that has probably the best set of forwards in the country.
>
>Heck, in his season preview Dave Hendrickson wrote, "Stringer could
>appear on many All-Hockey East ballots before he leaves North Andover."
>He may even get it this year, although of course it is still early.
>
>I'm quite surprised to have to defend the "top player" comment -- I know
>you've only seen him a few times, but I don't think you will find too
>many players or coaches around the league who do not consider him in
>high regard.  Ask Coach Umile.  It's got nothing to do with whether he
>plays for Merrimack or not.  The guy is a good player and has earned the
>right to be considered such.
 
I'm afraid Mike that your argument here has the same ring as the Ron
Andersen for Coach of the Year did last year.  It appears to be  a stretch
that he will be a HE forward along with Mowers, Kariya, Drury, Reasoner,
Nolan, Krog, et al.  That's six right there, enough for 2 teams.  I think
you will have to agree that he will either need to put up some serious
numbers and/or lead his team into the Fleet Center to be considered.  Time
will tell.
 
Greg Ambrose
 
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