The size of the Message Text is 8071(> 6K), So it is kept in the First Attachmen ***** ATTACHMENT: mailman.txt ***** Dave Hendrickson and Mike Machnik have already pretty much covered my comments regarding the UMASS v. UMASS-LOWELL game last Saturday, except maybe for my opinion that Dave Dartsch looked very good on the left side of Greg Bullock. I realize that Dartschie put up good numbers with Kent last year, but I was pleasantly surprised with how confortable he looked playing with Bullock and Sbrocca. If this line stays healthy, they just may put up the numbers that Lowell needs them too. A few responses to Dave H's comments: * Out of the rookies, defensemen Mike Nicholishin clearly looks like the one that will log the most ice time. I think there's a very real possibility that he can do as a freshman what Ed Campbell did last year. And I like Campbell *a lot*. Beyond that I really like Shannon Bassaraba's speed. Although he scored one goal, there was another rush that really showed his jets. That doesn't always translate into goals, but he bears some watching. Henderson is playing on the second line, so he's clearly shown the coaching staff something (even though apparently I haven't seen it). I WAS IMPRESSED WITH NICHOLISHIN'S SHOT FROM THE POINT. LOOKED LIKE IT HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD ZIP TO IT. ALSO, ON THE POST-GAME RADIO SHOW, COACH CROWDER SAID THAT BASSARABA WAS THE FASTEST GUY ON THE TEAM. I CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER LOWELL HAVING A TRUE "SPEEDSTER" SINCE TIM SMALLWOOD, BUT HE WAS A DEFENSEMAN WHO NEVER LIVED UP TO HIS POTENTIAL. * The powerplay unit consists of Bullock and Sbrocca on the outsides with Jeff Daw in front of the net in Cam Neely and Adam Graves fashion. Ed Campbell and David Mayes are on the point. In any case, although this unit scored the first two goals I think they still have a ways to go. I'm not one of these fans who is screaming for a shot, any shot, five seconds into the powerplay but there were some 5-on-3 opportunities that positively begged for a shot. * By far the single most improved player is Jeff Daw. After a very promising 12-18-30 freshman season, he dropped to 6-12-18 in an almost invisible last year. He's looking like a totally different player and his job in the slot on the powerplays will put some scores on the board. Coach Crowder's optimism about Daw this year seems very well founded. NO ONE SEEMS TO AGREE WITH ME, BUT I SWEAR DAW GOT BIGGER OVER THE SUMMER. HE SEEMS A LOT STRONGER TO ME, BUT I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS "CASUAL" PLAY IN FRONT OF THE NET ON A 5 ON 3 THAT LOWELL HAD. HE DID LOOK VERY GOOD AT TIMES CENTERING BULLOCK AND SBROCCA ON THE LOWELL (5 ON 4) POWER PLAY. I TOO AGREE THERE WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH MOVEMENT ON THE PERIMETER ON THE 5 ON 3 AND THAT LOWELL SQUANDER SOME GOOD OPPORTUNITES TO SHOOT, BUT WONDER IF THAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE CASE IF DAW HAD WORKED INTO A SCREEN BETTER OR MUSCLED A COUPLE OF GUYS OUT OF THE WAY. * The shorthanded unit varied with Aaron Kriss out there with either Barozzino or Nicholishin. Up front began with Donovan and Riga, but Daw was also out there with Donovan. BILLY RIGA SEEMED TO GET A LOT OF ICE TIME, PARTICULAR IN THE SHORT-HANDED SITUATION, WHERE HIS PLAY WAS APPLAUDABLE. GUY AT WORK HERE IS A BIG RIGA FAN, AND SAYS HIS POTENTIAL IN TREMENDOUS, BUT HE ALWAYS HAS TROUBLE PUTTING THE PUCK IN THE NET. IN MY EYES, IF HE CAN HELP KILL OFF PENALTIES (WITHOUT TAKING ONES HIMSELF) ALL YEAR LONG LIKE HE DID THIS WEEKEND, I'LL KEEP HIM EVEN IF HE DOESN'T SCORE! * Craig Lindsey may have gotten the number three star of the game, but it escapes me why. He really wasn't tested that much and the goal he gave up was one that popped out of his glove and into the net. I'm not sure if we know much more about him now that we didn't know going into the season. Which was basically nothing. THE ONE THING ABOUT LINDSAY THAT I LIKED WAS THAT HE SEEMED TO BE POISED. HE LOOKED VERY NERVOUS IN THE EXHIBITION GAME VS. CONCORDIA AND THAT CONCERNED ME. SATURDAY, HOWEVER, I THOUGHT HE SEEMED QUITE CONFIDENT, WHICH MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. ONE STORY I HEARD SUPPORTING THE "GOALIES ARE THE WEIRD ONES" THEORY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO CRAIG WAS REALLY HUNGRY LATE ONE NIGHT (I BELIEVE IT WAS PST MIDNITE) AND DECIDED TO GO TO MCDONALDS. INSTEAD ON WALKING TO THE ONE NEAR CAMPUS (AROUND A MILE WALK) HE WALKED TO ONE IN THE NEXT TOWN, SEVERAL MILES AWAY). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT CRAIG'S GPA AFTER HIS FRESHMAN YEAR WAS IN THE HIGH 3'S. * Paul "PMS" Botto has developed an *attitude*. In the Concordia exhibition, during one tussle he ripped a player's helmet off and slammed it to the ice. Then a few shifts later he ran the Concordia goalie big time. He continued this chip-on-his-shoulder play for this game, perhaps feeling that he needs to absorb some of the penalty minutes that Travis Tucker (since graduated) picked up last year. YEAH, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? OFF THE ICE, HE SEEMS KIND OF UN-ASSUMING AND HE SORT OF PLAYED THAT WAY LAST YEAR. STEADY, NOT GREAT, BUT NOT TERRIBLE. DIDN'T HELP BUT DIDN'T HURT. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S A TYRANT? IT'S GREAT TO SEE HE'S WORKED HIMSELF INTO A STARTING "D" POSITION, AND HE'S LOOKED PRETTY GOOD BUT HE'S NEEDED ON THE ICE, NOT IN THE BOX. * Governor Weld was respendant in his blue sweater and jeans prior to donning a Lowell jersey with the number 1 (Lt. Gov. Celluci got number 2). I MUST ADD THAT THE GUV'S RECEPTION WAS RATHER "LUKEWARM" (THE GUY BEHIND ME WAS "BOOING" HIS HEAD OFF), BUT HE LOOKED GREAT WEARING HIS LOWELL SWEATER. (HE KEPT IT ON WHILE BEING INTERVIEWED BETWEEN PERIODS ON THE NESN TELECAST) * The crowd over over 3,000 people was basically a sellout. I saw that the capacity was listed as 3,200 but when you don't see an empty seat and there are people sitting in the aisles in the "endzone" seats, you've got to figure they could not have fit more fans in. * My comments from last year about the UMass-Lowell Invisible Band (alternately referred to as the Virtual Band) apply no more. There was a full marching band for this game, and they said there'd be a pep band at all future home games. There seemed to be a lot more spirit among the fans, particularly among the students who were there in greater than normal numbers. Whether this continues beyond the rivalry against "the other UMass" remains to be seen. I WAS TOTALLY PSYCHED WITH THE CROWD. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN GOING TO LOWELL GAMES CONSISTENTLY FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS, THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN "ATMOSPHERE"!! IT WAS THE BIGGEST AND NOISIST CROWD I'D EVER SEEN AT TULLY. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE KIDS THERE, IT MAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCE. AND THE BAND WAS GREAT TOO!! A PEP BAND WOULD BE NICE, BUT I WOULDN'T MIND IT IF THE MARCHING BAND WAS THERE AT EVERY GAME. THEY MADE ALOT OF NOISE, AND AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES TOO! NOW, IF SOMEONE CAN JUST TEACH THE BAND (AND STUDENTS) WHEN TO YELL "SIEVE" AND WHEN TO PROPERLY HECKLE OPPOSING PLAYERS... (ALTHOUGH I THINK I DID HEAR A SMALL 'NORTON, NORTON.. YOU SUCK' CHEER ONCE). STEVE TWOMBLY, KEEP THOSE KIDS GOING TO THE GAMES, AND GET 'EM ROWDY!!!!!! USED TO BE YOU GET GET TO GAME 15 MINUTES BEFORE FACE OFF AND GET A DECENT PARKING SPOT. WE GOT THERE 35 MINUTES BEFORE GAME TIME AND ALMOST COULDN'T PARK!! LET'S HOPE THIS IS THE JUST THE BEGINNING... ************************************************************************** Steve Weisfeldt Go River Hawks!!!!!!!! Univ. of Lowell (now UMASS-Lowell) 1986, 1988 [log in to unmask] 1-0-0 (1-0-0) **************************************************************************