This article has been a big topic of conversation over at USCHO.  I know
that when plans for the Whit were first unveiled, Coach Umile was all for
the Olympic size sheet.  Mariucci had just opened and he had visions of the
speed merchants that he was recruiting (Tom Nolan, Eric Boguniecki, et al)
at the time taking big time advantage of other HE opponents.  Well, by and
large, Umile's vision was correct.  There is no question that teams who
don't normally skate on the big sheet have trouble when they come to UNH.
BC is a prime example.  There a team that has had a stable full of
outstanding skaters over the past few years but have won but one game in
Durham since the Whit opened in 1995.

Despite the team's overall success at the Whit, in the past few years Umile
has developed the opinion that his team is at a disadvantage come tournament
time, when all games are played on a NHL size rink.  He told me once that it
is more difficult, especially on the defensive side, to practice for games
played on smaller rinks.  That is why, as the tournaments approach, the team
schedules practices at a smaller rink in Exeter.

The ironic think is that the last two years UNH has won the Hockey East
title at the Fleet Center despite playing the majority of their games on a
big rink.  Why the talk of a change now is puzzling.  Many speculate that
the motive is purely financial, to jam more seats into the Whit.  But if
they wanted to do that, why not expand upward.  Supposedly the dimensions of
the facility would allow it.

Of course, all this talk may be a pipe dream.  In this economy, which is
about to get worse, I doubt if there will be much money for things like
downsizing a hockey rink.

Greg Ambrose

> From: Cathryn Spreeman <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Cathryn Spreeman <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 13:10:07 -0500
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: get this: downsizing the big ice!
>
> In yesterday's Union Leader (Manchester NH) there was an article by Allen
> Lessels in which he revealed that UNH's Athletic Director Marty Scarano is
> looking into having the Olympic-size ice that the UNH Wildcats play on at
> the Whittemore Center downsized to NHL-size.  The article is available
> online at:  www.theunionleader.com <http://www.theunionleader.com/> .  It is
> entitled "UNH Notebook: the Waiting Game Begins", and appeared yesterday.
> The part about the ice size follows all the stuff about the past weekend and
> the upcoming regionals.
>
>
>
> I AM APPALLED!
>
>
>
> Cathy Spreeman
>
> GO CATS!