Hello fellow Hockey-L'ers. I know that the vast majority of you don't particularly care for the University of Vermont Hockey team but this year, I make an exception. UVM was chosen #1 by the ECAC coaches and are ranked #6 or #7 by just about every college poll in the nation. But they are always some problems to being in the lime-light... 1) No team in the history of the ECAC coaches poll has been picked #1 in preseason and finished there at the end of the regular season. - This is usually what happens to UVM, high hopes for the season and then they eventually choke (they is no other word to describe it.) But I feel that this is the year, with the personnel that Vermont has, this will be the season for the Hockey Cats. 2) Injuries - Last season it was Rob Pattison, the Cats' best fit to play with St. Louis and Perrin, but his injury against LSSU ended his season, so did the hopes of UVM getting a NCAA at-large berth. I feel that if Pattison would have played the whole season, the Cats would have won 20 games and St. Louis and Perrin would have better numbers than with Pattison's replacement, J.C. Ruid. However, UVM is still without sophomore defenseman Jason Reid. Reid is practicing with the team but will most likely red-shirt this season and play next year for Vermont as a soph. If Vermont has any injuries...they are in trouble. Vermont has a talented corps of freshman recruits but that won't be like the experience that a upperclassman gives to a team. 3) Easy games - UVM has the attendancy to lose to teams they should soundly beat. i.e. UVM at Dartmouth, UVM at Union. Vermont needs to win the 'gimmie' games. There is no doubt they can beat the tough teams (Clarkson, Harvard on the road)...but they need to sweep the teams in the bottom of the league to win it. 4) Home games - Vermont usually plays well at home but they need to really use Gutterson to their advantage. UNH and BU come in here the first two weekends. Vermont needs to show that they can win against teams at home and on the road, but they NEED to win at home. Winning 50% of your homes games doesn't equal an ECAC title. Lastly, keep in mind that Vermont has the nation's leading scorer last night returning in Martin St. Louis and his partner in crime Eric Perrin. Remember that Tim Thomas is a streak goaltender...he is the best in the league and in the top three in the nation but he must be more consistant. The whole team must be more consistant but winning is the key and they can do it, this is the year. Drop the puck. __________ Howie Mansfield Sports Editor Vermont Cynic University of Vermont * These comments do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Vermont or the Vermont Cynic or the Vermont Cynic Sports Staff. * HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.