For as long as NESN has been around, Hockey East coaches have used the
carrot of "our games are on TV, their's (ECAC) aren't." To many 17-year-old
kids, that's heady stuff, and enough to sway them in the decision-making
process.
 
    Put yourself in the position of BU freshman Tom Poti, who, when he was
being courted by BU, could flick on the TV and, between WABU-68 and NESN,
see just about every BU game on television.
 
    No more, though. With one outlet gone, and the other offering a
seriously diminished slate of games, someone like Poti might now give some
ECAC school like Vermont, where the stars become city-wide heroes, serious
consideration. And then there's Michigan, Wisconsin, etc.
 
    NESN's dropping Hockey East is bad news for the recruiters in that
league. And good news for the recruiters in the other three leagues.
 
Chris Warner
New England Hockey Report
1770 Massachusetts Ave., #195
Cambridge, Mass. 02140
 
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