Hello fellow Hockey-L'ers.
 
I know that the vast majority of you don't particularly care for the
University of Vermont Hockey team but this year, I make an exception.
UVM was chosen #1 by the ECAC coaches and are ranked #6 or #7 by just
about every college poll in the nation. But they are always some problems
to being in the lime-light...
 
1) No team in the history of the ECAC coaches poll has been picked #1 in
preseason and finished there at the end of the regular season. - This is
usually what happens to UVM, high hopes for the season and then they
eventually choke (they is no other word to describe it.) But I feel that
this is the year, with the personnel that Vermont has, this will be the
season for the Hockey Cats.
 
2) Injuries - Last season it was Rob Pattison, the Cats' best fit to play
with St. Louis and Perrin, but his injury against LSSU ended his season,
so did the hopes of UVM getting a NCAA at-large berth. I feel that if
Pattison would have played the whole season, the Cats would have won 20
games and St. Louis and Perrin would have better numbers than with
Pattison's replacement, J.C. Ruid.
However, UVM is still without sophomore defenseman Jason Reid. Reid is
practicing with the team but will most likely red-shirt this season and
play next year for Vermont as a soph.
If Vermont has any injuries...they are in trouble. Vermont has a talented
corps of freshman recruits but that won't be like the experience that a
upperclassman gives to a team.
 
3) Easy games - UVM has the attendancy to lose to teams they should
soundly beat. i.e. UVM at Dartmouth, UVM at Union.  Vermont needs to win
the 'gimmie' games. There is no doubt they can beat the tough teams
(Clarkson, Harvard on the road)...but they need to sweep the teams in the
bottom of the league to win it.
 
4) Home games - Vermont usually plays well at home but they need to
really use Gutterson to their advantage. UNH and BU come in here the
first two weekends. Vermont needs to show that they can win against teams
at home and on the road, but they NEED to win at home. Winning 50% of
your homes games doesn't equal an ECAC title.
 
Lastly, keep in mind that Vermont has the nation's leading scorer last
night returning in Martin St. Louis and his partner in crime Eric Perrin.
Remember that Tim Thomas is a streak goaltender...he is the best in the
league and in the top three in the nation but he must be more consistant.
The whole team must be more consistant but winning is the key and they
can do it, this is the year.
 
Drop the puck.
 
__________
 
Howie Mansfield
Sports Editor
Vermont Cynic
University of Vermont
 
* These comments do not necessarily reflect those of the University of
  Vermont or the Vermont Cynic or the Vermont Cynic Sports Staff. *
 
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