John Van Vranken wrote:
>
> After viewing Dave Hendrickson's preview of this weekend's, Maine, BC game, I
> couldn't help but write to him and display what I think about his preview:
>
> Dear Dave,
>        I really feel sorry for you, really I do.  I can just image the horror
> for you when you have to face your co-workers on Monday. I mean, what are
> they going to think?  -- The Hockey East writer has obviously lost it! --
 
Some of them aren't so sure I ever had it.  :-)
 
> That is just too bad because you really have a great writing style and it is
> a shame to use that great form on such crap.   Think about it, you have lost
> all dignity in the hockey world by making statements such as " BC now travels
> to Orono for what used to be the  toughest road trip in the league." "...the
> tarnished intimidation factor of Alfond Area."
 
Well, let's look at what I said.
 
    BC now travels to Orono for what used to be the
    toughest road trip in the league. With the Black
    Bears losing two of their last three home games,
    however, one has to wonder about the tarnished
    intimidation factor of Alfond Arena.
 
Is this so far off?
 
I would assume that we're in agreement that it used
to be the toughest road trip in the league.  The
question is, "Is it still the toughest, or has it
lost its edge?"  Seems to me, the numbers speak for
themselves.
 
In the first seven years of the nineties (by my quick
calculation), if you throw out the messed up year
of 1993-94 and ignore forfeits and just call those
games what the on-ice results gave, Maine lost a grand
total of eight home games in the six years other than
93-94.  In no year other than 93-94 did the Black Bears
lose more than two home games.
 
Then last year, they lost three.  And this year, they
have already lost two, including two of the last three.
 
How can you call that anything other than a drop in
home ice domination?  And therefore a drop in how
intimidating the road trip seems.
 
Please don't interpret my comments as insults.  I'm just
looking at the recent results.
 
(I've also read comments in this very forum about how Alfond
is not as noisy as in past years, but my primary point was
just wins and losses.)
 
> "BC sweeps Maine, 5-4, 4-3."
 
I'm fully aware that this is a surprise pick, but I
am really impressed with how BC is playing.  And
Maine does not appear to be operating on all cylinders
right now.  Would I bet the ranch on the above pick?
No.  Is it a shocking pick that has a real chance of
coming true?  I think so.
 
Let's keep in mind that my picks should not be taken
personally.  I have many close friends among the Black
Bears contingent and am a native Maine-iac myself.
I consider myself pro-Maine, just like I consider
myself pro- all the other eight teams in Hockey East.
I would hope everyone would take these picks as a
way to promote discussion... um... well, I guess they
have promoted discussion ... but perhaps promote
discussion other than what a jerk Dave Hendrickson
is.  Heck, I can get that at home.  :-)
 
>  To my knowledge, when any travelling team plays a top 10 team at home, there
> is a definate "intimidation factor."
 
But that's not always the case.  UMass-Lowell has had
top ten seasons in recent years, during which both
Providence and Northeastern have also made the NCAA tournament,
but I don't see any of those road trips as intimidating.
 
> It was nice that you included at BC
> "Over 5,000 people passed through the turnstiles Saturday night."  Wow!! That
> is amazing!  Nice job BC, welcome to the club!  But if it is news when they
> draw 5,000 people a game, there is definately going to be an intimidation
> factor when they step on the ice in Orono.
 
Just because the last few years at BC have seen lukewarm fan attention
doesn't mean they haven't faced tough crowds before.  I'll just toss
out the Beanpot and BU crowds as top examples.
 
> As for the refrence to the
> proposed sweep, all I can say is that you have been watching "The Mighty
> Ducks" too much, this is Hockey East, not Disney.  When exactly was the last
> time Maine was swept at home?  Oh ya, you probably were not old enough to
> remember, my apologies.
 
Bless you, bless you, bless you.  I usually hear the other kind of
age jokes, namely about me being over the hill.  If I'm not the
oldest person working at USCHO, I'm second oldest with no other
competitors in sight.
 
Just today I was getting kidded about the following event that
happened a couple weeks ago:  I was eating pizza with two female
game writers USCHO has added.  The person brought the pizza and
complimented me on "my nice daughters."  Duh-oh!
 
So I appreciate your unintended boost to my day. :-)
 
Getting serious now...
 
As for the last sweep, I'll just remind you that Northeastern got a
win and a tie last season.  And it only won three league games all
year.
 
Hey, I'm fully aware that I've walked out on a ledge with this pick.
And if Maine sweeps, you'll be happy to push me off.  But, geez,
let's have fun with all this and not take offense.
 
Signing off with a smile on my face and with the expectation of
another fantastic week in Hockey East,
 
Dave Hendrickson