Well, I promised my thoughts, so here they are! When I looked at the schedule at the beginning of the year and I saw Maine playing Miami, the possibility of playing Michigan State, Michigan and Colgate (throw in a gutsy Union club) all before coming home, and with an untested sans-Imes defense, I was concerned. Little did I know that Maine would have to take a week off before playing Michigan, after only 9 practices and two games. Maine practiced that next Monday and Tuesday, with a short early Wednesday morning practice and then it's off the Michigan, then to New York. Five games, four preseason nationally ranked teams, roughly 12 practices, and a 4-1-0 record, I couldn't be more than pleased. Some Maine fans have messaged me, and discussed how concerned they were after the Michigan loss, some even throwing the whole season away. I wonder if these people were watching the same game everyone else was. I'd like to think I'm a student of the game, and as such a student I would have been happy starting this year at 3-2, or even at .500, depending. Maine fans should be trilled with this start to the new season. It's a huge beginning, and everything is right in front of us now. Let's look at November, Maine plays 10 games in the month. Of all these games, 7 of these games are home, 1 is in Portland, and we have two in Providence. Granted these aren't easy games, two .vs UNH, one .vs BU, and two .vs BC, but the fact that Maine plays home is an advantage. Don't get me wrong, Maine isn't perfect and they aren't at the form that will return them to the final four, but much of what is wrong can be corrected with practice. The power-play is a big concern. Maine went 1 for 11 the other night in their 4-1 victory over Union, if Maine gets the power-play going they can break the game open. Union gave Maine the chances, they just couldn't convert. Maine has also had trouble connecting consistanly with plays, such as centering plays, all things that can be worked on in practices. The defense had some lapses against Michigan, and the Wolverines were good enough to capitalize on those mistakes. Conversely, Maine did not convert on mistakes enough I believe to satisfy Walsh. Maine lived by this sword last year, they have more speed and scoring punch this year, but they need to capitalize on those chances. I've been very impressed with Maine's top line of Scott Parmentier, Brad Purdie, and Shawn Wansborough. Wansborough has two game winning goals, Purdie has at least a point in every game, and Parmentier has at least a point in 4 of 5 games. Dan Shermerhorn has played well centering the second line, and playing on power-play. Barry Clukey has taken the bitterness of being left off the team for the NCAA's last year and put it to good use. Clukey is now playing with Kariya, and Lovell both good play makers. Clukey had two assists the other night. I've also been impressed with the freshmen defensemen Brett Clark and David Cullen. Both have been solid, and have registered multiple points from the blue line so far this year. Jeff Tory is also quietly doing his thing as well. I am a little disappointed with Steve Kariya, but that's my own fault. I think as fans, in light of Paul Kariya, we may have expected too much of Steve too soon, and without much information. He is very small, that certainly works against him, but he likes playing in the corners, and doesn't seem to let the fact he's small discourage him. He won't leave for the NHL after 1 year and a half, I think he'll be here for several years. If that is in fact the case, look for him to play like Cal Ingraham did late in his career here. He's on the third line with Tim Lovell and Barry Clukey, but doesn't play on the power-play. Because of that he's not getting the ice time, but when he's on the ice he has been creating chances. I'd like to see him work into the power-play unit. He's a slick passer, I'm not sure what kind of finisher he is, but he can sure create chances. I have also been mildly disappointed in Blair Allison. By his own admission he hasn't played all that way, but he seemed more Allison-like against Colgate last night so that is a hopefull sign. I'm looking forward to finally seeing the Black Bears this weekend, and I expect them to play as well as they have all year. --- Deron [log in to unmask] --> University of Maine Hockey (3-1-0) --> http://maine.maine.edu/~dtread41/mehockey.html --> Owner/GM/Coach: Maine Mariners (EHH Fantasy) --> http://maine.maine.edu/~dtread41/ehh.html HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.