In a recent article it was suggested that UMaine was "getting fat" by playing
in bad leagues,with bad schedules to prepare for the NC$$'s. First of all,Hock
ey East IS a competitive league-it sent three teams to the "Little Dance"just
as did the WCHA and CCHA. Granted that the overall balance of the league may
not be strong,but any team can beat you(see UMaine vs. NE,Nov [4-3 loss at Alfo
nd] and Jan.[4-3 win at NE].
But if you want to discuss non-league preparation,it's a little difficult
since UMaine only played two "top-notch" teams this season[at Wisc. and vs.MSU
in LA]. Notice that NO ONE came up to play at Alfond this season!!!
In fact,last season NMU was the only team to come[swept in two games] play i
n ME,and LSSU was the only (top-notch) team in '89-90! Meanwhile,UMaine has pl
yed in Wisc,LA and Michigan(GLI 1990) vs. MSU(2),Wisc. and UMichigan,in Holiday
Tournaments. And UMaine has gone to LSSU and Minnesota as well.
I was not surprised when I looked this information up and found these reult
s;after all,Who wants to come up to Alfond and get swept???
A few Alfond facts:
1) 119 consecutive sellouts(with another 2000+ seats going in)
2) a 101-13-5 home record during the streak!
3) the last home loss:
league: Dec 7,1990
non-league: Jan 23,1989
4) UMaine has NEVER lost a post-season game(NC$$/HE) at home!!!
Looking at that,I can see why no one wants to come and play. So,in a
way,UMaine is penalized for being such a strong home team. In order to play
high quality teams,UMaine hits the road for Minnesota,Michigan and Wisconsin.
Below is the breakdown h/r/n for UMaine the past three seasons.
opponent home road neutral total
UMichigan 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1
MSU 0-0 1-0 1-0 2-0
LSSU 1-0-1 1-1 0-0 2-1-1
UMinnesota 2-0 1-0 0-0 3-0
Wisconsin 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-1
NMU 2-0 0-0 0-0 2-0
total 5-0-1 3-3 1-0 9-3-1
Note: Reg.season only
Note that while UMaine has played everywhere except NMU;UM,UW and
MSU haven't come up in three years(UM has never come!). When teams do come,
only LSSU has managed even a single point. However,when UMaine hits the bricks
they have a decent 3-3 mark. In overall play since the 87-88 season UMaine is
15-6-1 vs. these 6 teams,with 13 of the 22 being played away from Alfond!
Therefore I would say that it is not by choice that UMaine has little non-leagu
e competition. When the only schools that will come play you at home are Army,
UAF,Kent State and Notre Dame,that makes it hard to make a diverse,competitive
schedule.
Some possible Solutions:
1) Expand non-league play,perhaps make it mandatory for schools
to play at least four or five teams from other leagues in a season,with a
rotating home/road format to assure fairness.
2) Return to the playoff format of two-out-of-three at the arena
of the higher seeds,until the F*nal F*ur.
Some might say that giving the higher seed home-ice is too much of
an advantage. However,what has the team worked so hard for all season? The
right to travel to Providence or Detroit to play?,or the right to stay at
home,and make the lower seed earn the win on the road?
These are just some thoughts to ponder during the off-season. These
are not JUST because UMaine AND UMinnesota lost in the Quarters,but it has
always been my belief that the higher seed(Better Team)deserves the advan-
tage of playing at home.
Before anyone else points it out,I would like to say that I have
*heard* that some great teams from the West are coming to play in the Dexter
Classic next season. If that is true,then it is a step in the right direct-
ion,and it's about time!
John Forsyth
UMaine '95
The views expressed by the host are not neccessarily those of this station,it
s management or the advertisers. Yes,its hard to believe that people out there
still don't agree with EVERYTHING I say. What does that make them?....WRONG!!!
Rush Limbaugh 8/1/91
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