definitely agree with the injuries comment below.  especially after
watching this season of home games.  it seems that opposing teams always
play the more (negative)physical approach to the game rather than the
finesse that maine seems to consistently play with.  hardly a game went by
without noticing at least one out of line hit.  and it seems to me that if
maine went to a finesse, pass the puck, out skate them style the other team
resorted to brutality to get an edge.  i believe it was vitorino who got a
5 min for cross checking on thurs.  before he retaliated i saw him get
creamed at least three times and i don't mean good clean hits.  i think at
least one of those three times resulted in a nu player getting a two minute
cross check penalty.  wouldn't it be interesting if the penaly showed not
only the offender but the victim as well.
        although good clean hits are part of the game and i am the first one to
call for retaliation if we take some unfair contact, i sincerely believe
that their would be no need for retaliation if the game was cleaner overall.
 
At 08:44 AM 2/8/98 EST, you wrote:
>I agree that parents of Division 1 hockey players should appreciate what they
>have, as John Duffil says, but I'm not sure how that translates into
>acceptance of serious injuries as part of the game.