> I would certainly not have the audacity to second-guess Bob Gaudet, who I think > should win ECAC coach of the year, but I had a thought regarding the team's goaltending situation. > Granted, Parsons lost Game 1 of the series against Princeton and then the > backup (his name eludes me) won the second game to force Game 3. Granted, the > backup bailed out the team, but still....Parsons was nothing short of brilliant > for a good part of the regular season and was "the man" through thick and thin. > Might Gaudet have erred by not going back to him for Game 3? > > Of course, this may sound weak, given they only came one goal away from > advancing, but I can't help but think Parsons would've given them a better shot > against Princeton. No Way! Sorry, you welcomed flames, so I've got one. Mike Parsons played spectacurlarly for the first 9/10th of the season, and was a major reason Brown was able to finish in second place with an over-acheiving team. But, as a result of his performances at RPI, vs. Clarkson, and in game 1 against Princeton, it was clear that Brian Audette had to be the man. Parsons was struggling, he had lost his confidence, and I might even venture to say that (especially after game 2) his teammates' confidence lay with Audette. He was rattled and giving up fluke goals and failing to make simple saves. **This is NOT to say that Mike Parsons should be blamed for any of Brown's late-season failures** However, the simple fact is that Audette gave Brown their best chance to win. He showed in the final regular-season game against SLU and in the previous game against Princeton that he could handle to pressures and responsiblities that go with being the starting goalie in the play-offs, while Parsons failed to show that he could handle the tight, pressure-ridden play-off situations. In fact, if I were to question any of gaudet's goaltending decisions, it would be starting Parsons in game 1. But, I give him that, as he needed to give Parsons a chance to redeem himself. David Blackburn Brown Univesity '98