In a message dated 97-12-01 17:22:26 EST, you write:
 
> Greenie writes on Hockey-L:
>
>  >Looking for any comments people here may have on this game, both on the
>  >game as a whole and on Ben Guite's clocking of Mark Mowers head-first
into
>  >the boards.
>
>  I'll jump in.
>
>  >This loss was UNH's biggest win ever over Maine, the Black Bear's worst
>  >shutout loss since 1982 (11-0, Providence), and Matile's sixth shutout in
>  >two years.
>  >
>  >Are the Black Bears a very good team which is just having difficulties in
a
>  >holiday slump... or have people been putting too many expectations on
this
>  >team (IE, overrated?)?
>
>  This was my first time seeing Maine this year, so I can't comment on that.
>  What I will say is that UNH played very well in every facet of the game.
>  What particularly pleased me was the intensity and determination on the
>  face of every Wildcat player throughout the entire game.  What was also
>  heartening was the way the team played within itself after the scary
injury
>  to Mowers.  I, for one, was concerned with how it would affect them.
 After
>  all, though they were up 5-0, they still had more than half the game to
>  play.  But they continued to play well, led by Tom Nolan.
 
They were pretty flat Saturday night. After seeing Friday's Maine/Vermont
game, I expected a much closer game on Saturday. I'm not sure we can dismiss
them as overrated, but they're certainly not the Maine we've become familiar
with (and I wouldn't be surprised to see Umile's first win at Alfond this
year).
 
>  >What's up with Matile? Is he starting to settle down as a solid netminder
>  >or is he as unpredictable as ever?
>
>  Matile was *definitely* in command on Saturday night.  I was not at the
>  Friday night game, but Greg said he was excellent in that game as well.
>  Let's face it, he may have had back-to-back shutouts if he hadn't lost his
>  stick late in the second period on Friday.  His GAA has improved to 2.68,
>  and his save percentage is now at .903.  With our offense, I'll take those
>  numbers to the bank.
 
Matile was excellent both nights. The first goal against Lowell was scored
because he was playing with Filipowicz's stick (Matile lost his, Filipowicz
gave him his own and tried to get Matile's back to him. Matile refused it,
because he wouldn't have been able to change hands fast enough, and got
caught stick side about 10 seconds later). Lowell's second goal came shortly
after, and I wonder if it was because Matile was shaken from the first. When
he's got his head in the game, he is nothing short of brilliant in the net,
and he seems more focused lately. By the way, Matile took four penalty
minutes late in the Friday game for going after a Lowell player who hit him
after the whistle.
 
>  >Regarding Mowers' injury, perhaps I missed it but is any talk of more
>  >severe punishment for Ben Guite (the player who delivered the hit)? Is
>  >there any possibility that the league may assign Guite a further
suspension
>  >for such a vicious hit? In the box that was posted I didn't even see
Guite
>  >assigned a penalty -- in the USCHO writeup it was listed that he received
a
>  >"major misconduct" so what happens to him? Was he sent off and another
>  >player served the penalty? Is this simply a one-game suspension? Did
Guite
>  >have anything to say?
>
>  >This seems to be an increasing problem with college hockey. We've had our
>  >discussions here about full-face helmets, about where a player stands
with
>  >his back wide open, about the difficulties in not hearing a ref's
>  >whistle... but it seems that these types of hits (and injuries) seem to
be
>  >on the rise, and the main factor is the lack of severe
>  >penalties/suspensions for the guilty parties. How long can this go on?
>  >
>  >greenie
>  >S P O O N  ! !
>  >(go BU)
>  >(go RAPIDS!!!!)
>
>  Guite received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct, so another player
>  did serve the major.  A game misconduct carries no further suspension.  I
>  would like to think that Bertagna will look into a suspension, but that
>  probably won't happen.  I will say that I watched the BU/Clarkson game on
>  channel 68 Friday night, and Jeff Kealty received the same punishment on a
>  hit-from-behind on a Clarkson player who went hard into the boards but
>  bounced right up.  Seems like there should be a more severe penalty when a
>  serious injury results from the hit.
>
>  Karen
>  GO BLUE!
>  Get well quick, Mark Mowers!  We need you!
 
I doubt there will be any further action against Guite. While it was a cheap
shot, I don't think there was any intent to injure Mowers, and I'm not sure
that Guite did anything that doesn't occur all the time in hockey games at
all levels. I think any hit from behind should be dealt with seriously, as
they have the potential for tragedy.
 
Foster's Daily Democrat (local paper) quoted Mowers yesterday as saying that
he'd like to practice Wednesday and play this weekend. The Concord Monitor
says that he'll be out this weekend and will face BU on 12/12. I don't know
which one is correct.
 
I'll say two more things about this weekend and shut up:
 
1)How 'bout that UNH penalty kill? UNH is now 2 SH goals away from last
year's total. Bekar has been ripping it up since he returned from a
three-game absence due to an early injury.
 
2) Jason Krog had nine points this weekend (two goals, seven assists). Did
somebody say Hobey Baker?
 
Mark Toussaint
UNH '96
Go Wildcats!
 
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