The big news first: Coach Crowder was very unhappy with the team's performance last weekend (3-2 loss at home to St. Lawrence and 5-2 loss at Colgate) and is making some MAJOR changes for tonight's game with BU. Ed Campbell, their number one offensive defenseman and IMO their number one defenseman overall, will not dress due to the coach's decision. HE preseason first-team All-Star Greg Bullock, David Dartsch (expected to be #3 or 4 scorer), and Marc Salsman will comprise the FOURTH line which will get limited action, perhaps little outside of the powerplay. Crowder said that these players "did not come to play last weekend and I'm going to play the players that work hard." He was *not* picking these players out because they were prominent and they'd be perfect examples; he was picking them out because they weren't working hard. Selfishness and statistics were mentioned, and a surprising comment about some players being out of shape. Crowder said that their bus got back to Lowell at around 11PM on Sunday and since he was prohibited by the NC$$ from skating them on Monday, that practice on Tuesday was at 5:45 AM. Personally, I don't understand how players can be out of shape at this time of the season, but I suppose if that hasn't been a focus of practices as they've worked on other details it could happen. It could also be a catchword for not being willing to work hard. Crowder said that they may take a hit in the short term with the lineup changes [timed for a game at BU tonight!] but that they were the moves he felt was necessary to correct the problems. Things weren't going to be fixed in one or two games time, but in a few weeks the team should see a difference. Did Crowder time these moves to "sacrifice" a game that was almost impossible to win? I don't think so. I think the rivalry with BU is so strong that no one connected to the team wants to lose to BU and nothing will be conceeded. But this sure doesn't help their short- term chances. The "Player of the Week" at the luncheon was Christian Sbrocca. He talked about the disappointments of last weekend and of how Walter Brown arena was one of the tougher places to play. I was talking to him at the table earlier and he said (in response to my questions) that he'd been a *very* dominant player as a 10, 11, 12 year old but that he stopped growing all of a sudden and that caused real problems for him. He said that at 16 he was only 5' 2" and about 100 lbs and all of a sudden he wasn't even being considered for the better teams. There was some thinking that he had no hockey future beyond the Midget level. But he did have a growth spurt and toughened up too and things have worked out ok. He said he added about 10 pounds by working in the weight room this summer. (Hey this past summer I added 10 and didn't lift a thing! :-) or is that :-( ) Freshman Martin Fillion will be in the nets tonight. It seems that he and Craig Lindsey are the top two for now, with Scott Fankhauser the odd man out. Crowder is going to try to get Fankhauser a couple games soon, but it seems that Fankhauser has been struggling a bit since he hasn't been getting to play. This is something freshman goalies often have to struggle with. Crowder mentioned that it's a very young team. Tonight there'll be a freshman in goal, two on defense, and overall ten players who have played in less than twenty games for Lowell. Saturday's night's game in Lowell against BU is expected to be a sellout or near sellout. ***************************************************** ,-******-, * Dave Hendrickson "Robo" [log in to unmask] * *' ## '* * A Hockey Polygamist and Get-A-Lifer * *## ___##___ ##* * GO BROONS!!! Go Red Wings!! Go Leafs! * * ##| ___ \## * * GO UMASS-LOWELL!!! Go Maine!! Go BU! * * | |___) | * * --------------------------------------------------* *######| ___ <######* * Although I can't remember ever having an original * * | |___) | * * thought, and am certainly parroting someone who * * ##|________/## * * actually has a brain, these opinions are mine, * *## ## ##* * not Hewlett-Packard's. * *, ## ,* ***************************************************** '-*******-'