The Times Union this morning carries a pretty interesting article about Mike Addessa, coach of the great 1985 RPI NC$$ Championship team. While the article doesn't contain anything new, at least to dedicated Hockey-lers, there are some good quotes. Here's a few excerpts, printed entirely without permission. "Hockey Purgatory" by Buzz Gray The Addesa File 1966-68 Ass. Hockey Coach- Stoneham HS, Mass. 1969-74 Head Coach-Randolph HS 1975-78 Head Coach-Holy Cross 1979-89 Head Coach RPI 1989-90 Head of group to bring AHL franchise to Capital District 1990-91 GM, head coach Notre Dame of Wilcox, Saskatchewan 1991-94 Scout fo Detroit Red Wings Present: Coach of Junior Bruins, Concord, Mass. ---Mike Addesa, coach and mastermind behine those RPI wondermen, has discovered only too painfully that life can present a downside, too. There have been times far different from that magical moment at center ice in Detroit, when it all seemed so simple. Addesa crashed and burned four years later when he was forced to resign from RPI following a student dPI demonstration afterr it was reported by the media that he had directed a racial slur at one of his players. In the nearly six years since, Addesa has been ostracized, almost like a branded outcast in a Joseph Conrad novel. "I've never recovered, said the 51 year old Andover, Mass. resident. "I've tr tried like heck to get back and coach college hockey, but it looks like nobody going to give me that chance." "The damage done to my family has been devastating. (wife Mary and 3 of his 5 children have undergone counseling in the aftermath) "It's had a terrible, negative impact on the lives of a lot of people." Addesa alientated more than a few in his 10 years at RPI. "He is the most difficult employee I've ever had, said one former RPI ad administrator who spoke on condition of anonymity. "He had a certain effect on people. They either loved hime or hated him." To a lesser degree, the same could be said of his players.... "At times, he was almost like a cult leader, demanding total obedience," said a former player who still harbors mixed feelings about Addesa. "He could be like a caring parent to you and then suffocate and banish you. He was definitely in into all-out control." ---This past fall he became coach of the Junior Bruins, an independent team for high school standouts' Home games are played in West Concord, Mass., and road trips take team as far away as Calgary during an 80 game schedule. The teanm is similar to a Tier II team in Canada. "I love it, Addesa comments. "I hope somebody out there notices." "I hung around hoping some AD would call me," Addesa said. "I've probably a applied for every college coaching job that has opened up." (Article recounts Graeme Townshend incident.) When Addesa announced his resignation, Townshend told the T-U "I certainly don't like the way things turned out. I fell used, and I am bitter. Nobody came to m me to ask me what I thought. My thinking is that someone was out to get him. I It was almost like he was set up. All I know is that RPI has lost a great man. He has helped me from Day One." I've put the incident behind me. It's not something I think about anymore. I'm looking more to the future." Townshend resides in Ballston Spa during the off-season and is working toward his m his MBA at RPI. He runs a hockey camp in the Capital Region during the summer. Addesa still has friends in the area, including RPI academic advisor Bob Conway. "Mike and I talk every week, Conway said. "He's still very interested in the school and of course, how the team is doing." (Regarding his coaching stint in Saskatchewan) Addesa said "We were only there half a year. I wa having a ball. But we were living in a village of only 200 people. Sometimes it would get to 70 below zero. Because we were Americans, mymyy my wife couldn't work." Addesa coached the hounds to a 31-34-3 record in his only season resigning in Mach 1991. (Regarding his experience in working to bring an AHL team to the Capital D District) "Jim Coyne (former Albany Co. executive currently in federal prison) asked me to head the group to brina an AHL team to the Knickerbocker Arena. I put the whole thing together. I was going to be vice president and general manager of the franchise." (Personal Comment: Addesa has been prone to wild speculation, as was the case when he spread around the rumor that he was being considered for the NY Rangers head coaching position, shortly after the 1985 chamnpionship season.) But according to Addesa, RPI's VP of student affairs, Lee Wilcox, found out he was going to run the Islanders and threatened to renege on the college's deal to allow the AHL team to use the Fieldhouse. (The Capital District Islanders pl played two seasons at the Houston Fieldhouse as the CD Islanders, before moving to the Knickerbocker Arena and re-emerging as the Albany River Rats.) Wilcox, now VP of Montclair State in NJ was flabbergasted when told of Addesa's assertion, saying he did not have the influence to get Addesa banned from the AHL club nor the urge to unleash the influence if he had it. ---if nothing else, he is still able to feed off the achievement through an enduring notoriety and an undeniable bond with some of his players. "Last summer Adam (Oates) and Kraig Nienhuis (probably the best fourth line center ever in college hockey, IMHO) took me out to dinner," Addesa said. "I try try to follow all of the players' career. Sometimes they call me when things aren't going good and I try to help them." --"There was never, never any racial thing intended," Addesa said. "I loved Graeme (Townshend) like he was my own son. I'd be proud if they (his own sons) turn out like him." On occasion, Addesa's children have had to bear the burden fo his shattered image. "you know, my son Brian was in the locker room that night," Addesa said. "He compares this whole thing to a movie he saw once. This guy, who was on death row, was really innocent. He (Brian) kept waiting, knowing in the end, it would be turned around. But they executed him. They killed him. Just like this." Please e-mail privately for copies of the entire article. ****************************************************** Brian Morris Go RPI! [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]