I welcome the appointment of Joe Bertagna has Hockey East commissioner.
Unless I misread the articles in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald today,
he will be a full time commissioner, the first in Hockey East history.
Previous commissioners (Lou Lamoriello, Stu Haskell and Barney DiGregorio)
all wore two hats if I'm not mistaken.  This will allow Bertagna to
concentrate on promoting Hockey East and nothing else.  As my wife stated,
I am glad he will be focusing on the TV issue, something all college hockey
fans should be concerned with.  From my perspective he should be able to
set up some type of network for HE since, realistically,  the league only
needs to obtain 3 or 4 markets (Boston, RI, Maine and western Mass.) to
achieve 100% penetration.  The fact that he was able to do the same for
ECAC with the Empire Network is encouraging.
 
My impression after observing him over the years is that college hockey is
not only his vocation but his passion as well (save for his family of
course).  Since he will only have to concentrate on the goal of promoting
Hockey East (and college hockey in general), plus the fact that he has had
several years experience with ECAC, I am confident he will do well for the
league and the sport.  The fact that several coaches in the league have
given him a ringing endorsement speaks well of the man.  I wish him good
luck!
 
BTW, do most of you know that Joe was the goaltender for the hockey scenes
in the movie "Love Story"?  And that Bill Cleary was one of the skaters?
 
Greg Ambrose
GO UNH BLUE!!!
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.