Yes, this message only has to do with the actual game of hockey. In evaluating Maine for this season, I went back and looked at their records last season with and without Paul Kariya. The results are startling, I think. WITH KARIYA HE GF-GA (AVG) ||| OVERALL GF-GA (AVG) 7-2-0 42-25 (4.67-2.78) ||| 8-4-0 55-41 (4.58-3.42) WITHOUT KARIYA HE GF-GA (AVG) ||| OVERALL GF-GA (AVG) 5-6-4 50-55 (3.33-3.67) ||| 9-11-4 87-89 (3.63-3.71) (This is without factoring in any forfeits.) From the above, Kariya alone seems to have been worth about a two goal difference in HE games. On the paces above, Maine would have finished with 37 pts in HE with Kariya the whole season, 22 without him the whole season. That is a swing of about 3 or 4 spots in the standings. And consider that Cal Ingraham only became eligible after Kariya had left, and he chipped in with 12-17--29 the rest of the way. It probably would have been worse, and Cal has now graduated. In addition to Kariya, lost from the team that finished the season without him are: Fs Mike Latendresse (#1 scorer), Patrice Tardif (#2 scorer), Ingraham (#3 scorer in half a season), Justin Tomberlin (#4 scorer), and Ds Lee Saunders (second leading defensive scorer), Jason Weinrich, and Andy Silverman. Also gone are the Ferraros who only played the last 4 games, with Peter having a hand in 9 of the 13 goals Maine scored during those games. Kariya was the 7th leading scorer despite playing only 12 games. Only Reg Cardinal (9-16--25, #5) and Dan Shermerhorn (10-15--25, #5) return from the six above him. Tied with Kariya was defenseman Dave MacIsaac (4-20--24). I'm very interested to hear more about the new players Maine will have this season - freshmen, former redshirts, etc. It seems to me that their ability to contribute immediately will be vital to Maine's success. On the face of it, the numbers above are striking enough that without such a contribution, it could be a long year for the Black Bears. --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93 <<<<< Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors (station TBA for 94-95) >>>>>