On Tue, 22 Mar 1994, Neil Goldberg wrote:
 
>         With Denver's Frank Salavatorre (sorry) Serratore, I think
>         it's time to compile a list of coaches in danger of not being
>         back next year, and coaches who might have come close but wrere
>         saved by big years.
>
>         From the East:
>         Mike McShane, Providence
>         Brian McCutcheon, Cornell
 
First of all, I'd like to make it clear that the following is mere
conjecture on my part.
 
1. Mike Milbury *might* take Providence Bruins coach McConnell with him
to BC as an assistant. I have heard this rumored, but in no way from a
qualified source. I'm just thinking out loud here.
 
2. That leaves the PC-Bruins coaching spot open.  A few years back, when
Milbury moved from the Maine Mariners to the B's bench, Merrimack coach
Ron Anderson was mentioned as a possible candidate. I'm not saying that,
the Boston Globe did. To my knowledge, the job was never officially
offered to him. Anderson is an ex-Bruin and an ex-Capital.
 
3. So it's possible that Anderson could be considered if the PC-Bruins
job should open.
 
4. However, there are supporters of Merrimack hockey who would not be
saddened at Anderson's departure. Anderson is extremely hardworking,
dedicated, and straightforward. However, it has been said that some of
his behavior alienates players' parents, and potentially prospective
players. Some of the parents would simply like to see him spend a bit
more time talking to them at after-game get-togethers. The players do.
 
From a media perspective, Anderson was great. He was the straightest
coach I ever interviewed, honest almost to a fault. But many MC fans,
frustrated with the program's difficulty moving from the 6-7-8 spots in
Hockey East, think that some kind of change would help. The other factors
affecting the program's success (size, reputation of school, rink
quality) are a lot harder to alter than who's behind the bench. The
coaching situation has not improved with the loss of assistant Scott
MacPherson to UMass-Amherst.
 
5. To summarize, I don't necessarily think it's likely that Anderson
would be asked to leave Merrimack. However, with the possibility that MC
may not be able to live up to his expectations, it seems possible to
guess that he might choose to take a pro job if he was offered one.
 
Just thinking out loud.
 
David M. Josselyn
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