Dave writes (in part) ... > Now for a couple of questions. First of all, about that crossbar >shot in the final minute ... I've played my tape over and over again, and >it still looks to me as if the puck went in. It disappeared behind the >crossbar, or seemed to .... I thought it went in when I first saw the play, but thought the slow-motion replay conclusive in showing it hit the cross-bar. Garth Snow talked about praying about the time he "heard it hit the post", adding to the likely-hood of it being nearly in the goal ... but not quite. > Second question: Tom Mees alluded to the "fact" that many Division I >coaches around the country "don't like Shawn Walsh," to which Bob Norton >replied that "A lot of that is jealousy." Is Mees's comment factual? If so, >why is it that folks don't like Shawn? He seems perfectly reasonable in >interviews -- perhaps a little cocky. Do the players like him? They >certainly seem to put out for him in the games. I think players respect him for his honesty, hard work, drive, ability and knowledge. Perhaps all the hoop-la of the NCAA tourney didn't show it, but during his 9 years at Maine, Shawn Walsh has taken care of his players first. For example, while some coaches in Division I seem to be against players going away to Select and Junior and Olympic teams during the season, Walsh works *for* their opportunities. When it appeared that Justin Tomberland might play a minor role for the hockey team during "spring break", he worked with the baseball coach resulting in Justin playing baseball on Maine's Texas/Florida baseball trip (Justin was called back in the middle of that trip, due to a hockey player injury ... and scored an important goal the day after hitting a home run for the baseball bears). Perhaps what impressed me this year as much as anything was the "team." There could have been a bunch of hot-shot brats and some others, but it was NOT that way. They were a focused team, first and last. That can be attributed to the players, or captains, or assistants, but I attribute it to Shawn Walsh. You can't be a lazy player and like Shawn Walsh; you can't just show up at practices and like Shawn Walsh, for he won't stand for it. But he'll surround you with the opportunity to succeed on the ice, in the classroom, and in dealing with the public. A couple of weeks ago, Jean-Yves Roy had three days off (from his difficult first year in minor league pros) and chose to come back to Maine, skate with the team, and chat with his former coaches, players and friends. Each year we get many former players back for our "May Term" and "Summer Session", with some helping at local clinics, and most taking classes. Draw what conclusions you will, but we've a lot of Shawn Walsh fans in this neck of the woods! I think most of the players are in that camp, too. cheers, Wayne (yea, I get to go to the All-Star game this weekend!) Smith The College Hockey Discussion List administrator Systems Group - CAPS BITNET/CREN: wts@maine University of Maine System internet: [log in to unmask]