This weekend the University of Maine captured their fourth Great Western
Freeze-out championship with a 4-3 win over the Michigan State Spartans.
 
THE PLAYERS:
* Dan Shermerhorn was named MVP of the tournament by virtue of his 2-2--4
performance, and his consistency on face-offs.
* So far in this early season, many Maine players looked greatly improved.
Shermerhorn is faster this season, which Coach Walsh attributed to
off-season conditioning program.  I was most impressed with two players,
Scott Parmentier and Jeff Libby.  Parmentier scored three goals in the
tournament, two short-handed.  The goal Parmentier scored on Sunday night
was a thing of beauty.  Jeff Libby also showed great improvement at defense
from last season, and was given the puck after Sunday night for his performace.
* Former Maine Black Bear Peter Ferraro has been called up to the New York
Rangers.
 
THE GAMES:
 
It was a huge weekend for Maine hockey.  It was a very tough beginning to
the Maine season, and it's only beginning.  Maine opened this weekend with
two top CCHA opponents, Miami and Michigan State.  To win both these games
is very important considering that Maine has Michigan upcoming next, and two
games after that Colgate a team many think will win the ECAC this season.
Certainly we will have a good feel for what kind of team Maine will have by
the time they play their first home game November 3, against UNH.
 
Would the Maine defense hold up?  That was the question coming into the
season, and as I've said before you can't judge defense this early in the
season.  It's more important for the defense to gell in March than in
October.  However, I was somewhat reassured by what I saw this weekend.
Friday nights game was not defensively sound, but most of the problems came
short-handed rather than 5 on 5.  With only two weeks of practice under
their belts, it's not surprising to me that in the first game that
short-hand would be a little erratic, especially since Chris Imes is not
here anymore.
 
Sunday night the defense was much, much better, probably because the team
was more focused to play Michigan State.  The game was played very tight
defensively by both teams, and it came down to who made the fewest mistakes.
A great game considering it is only the second game of the year.  It was the
first time I've seen Anson Carter, and boy he looks like a player, and Mike
York looked like a promising freshmen as well.  Short-hand got better as the
game went on.
 
THE BROADCAST:
 
As many of you know, Mainers got to listen to Michigan State play-by-play
voice Ken Landau this weekend, and next week Al Randall's broadcast will be
picked up for Mainers.  After that Maine's new play-by-play voice, Dan
Hanagen will begin calling the games.  This will be Dan's fourth season
watching Maine hockey, and was the Sports director for News Channel 7 here
in Maine.
 
UP NEXT:
 
The October 26 game against Michigan is already being hyped here on local
sports radio.  There is a new commercial with a clock ticking, and the
words, "The last time they met, it took three overtimes.  On Oct. 26, the
rematch."  Sports radio here is reporting the game is at Joe Louis Arena??
Has the venue changed or is it still the Palace of Auburn Hills.  I talked
to Barry Clukey of the Black Bears yesterday, and he said that the
Maine/Michigan is sold out, and that he is expecting about 20,000 fans and a
very intense atmosphere.
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Deron [log in to unmask]
 
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