David_W_Hatfield/CAM/Lotus wrote:
>
> ...there's a 1 week break between the regionals & the Frozen Four....I don't know if > I like this idea.  Assuming the
> regionals still end on Sunday, that's 11 days til the semis.  Maybe good
> for travel issues & nursing some nagging injuries, but not for a team's
> momentum & sharpness - no matter how many practices are held in between.
>
> Thoughts?
 
One thing it will do is change the balance of power in college hockey.
Coaches, like teams and individual players, have strengths and weaknesses.
Walsh is a great "during the game coach", while others are good recruiters,
and still others are good preparers. It is this latter group -- those who
doggedly breakdown game tape, expertly manufacture practices to exploit the
opponent's weakness and to blunt their strengths, and evangelically build up
team cohesion and confidence -- will be able to use their skills whereas
before these skills were idle. Madison's winners played on Sunday, traveled
home Monday, probably left for Anahiem on Wednesday. Where is the time to view
tapes, practice, and motivate? The people with these abilities (e.g. Ron
Mason, Jeff Jackson (if the Gophers get him), and who knows who else) will now
have an advantage over coaches with different (gamers and recruiters)
abilities. And you thought I was joking when I said it would change the
balance of power.
 
Nathan Eric Hampton
 
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