Bill Schneller <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>Hulbig can be a crushing checker. A big hit (or better yet contributing to a
>score) early on helps him stay focused and improves his play the rest of the
>way. One of my biggest regrets about Hulbig's career was that I never saw a
>mid-ice collision between him and BU's Mike Grier - just to see who would
>still be standing.  I expect that would be as close to the equivalent of an
>earthquake as I'd want to get. Oh well, there's still hope they'll meet once
>more before this season is over.  B-)
 
When Grier and Merrimack's Steve McKenna (6'8" 235) were freshmen, and
in what I think was their first game going head-to-head, these two
heavy hitters collided at center ice.  Tony Biscardi had a great
description of it.  Both of them went full steam ahead towards each
other, bounced off each other, and were both still standing.  As Tony
puts it, "They stood there for a second staring at each other as if to
say, 'You were supposed to go down!'  Then they went off in opposite
directions and got back in the play."  I guess this was that
earthquake you're talking about. :-)
 
The Grier-McKenna matchup has been one of the really interesting
sidebars to the BU-Merrimack series the last few years.  Here are two
players who had me convinced two years ago that before they graduated,
they would finally have at each other.  But while the physical part of
each player's game has not diminished, both have vastly improved
skillwise and earned attention for more than their size.
 
>As far as PC's success depending on the game being boring, well, some of us
>have learned since Coach Pooley's arrival to like our hockey to look that
>way.  Good D and the ability to bend but not break, can be exciting in its
>own way - especially if they earn you the W when the night is over. It's
>something the Friar faithful have come to appreciate. If you liked the
>Devil's Cup run last year you'll like this team.
 
Trust me, this was not a criticism; I know what this is like...except
for Merrimack's 7-4 win over BU, which was a rather wide open affair,
Merrimack has been at its best when playing a strong defensive style
that often results in a boring game - as was their 3-2 win at BU last
year.
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                 [log in to unmask]           [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93
*****      Unofficial Merrimack Hockey home page located at:        *****
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