>Steve Twombly <[log in to unmask]> writes: >>I think this is the only problem.....when is Merrimack going >>to improve? This was supposed to be THE year, but they have >>been at or near the cellar all year once again. Machnik replied (in part) >Well, I have said a number of times that if there was to be a "year" >sometime soon, it wasn't going to be this year but next...There is a much >better chance that next season will >be better overall than this year, and I >believed that before this season began. > >I think that where the talent comes into play is that if you forget >BU & Maine, and maybe also UNH, then Merrimack is very competitive >with the other five HE teams in terms of talent level, looking up and >down the lineup. Some teams have one or two better individual players >but not as much depth. So, here goes... I follow Merrimack quite closely as is it the closest rink to my home for Maine away games, and that some very involved alumni are friends of mine. So, I am hoping for success on their part. I have another reason: Remember, as you saw on this list, the recent announcement of the new rink to be designed by the same people who brought you the new UNH facility. If a better facility is any indicator, I believe nearly all Div. 1 teams moving to a new rink have had a better record in the season in the new facility than the year before. New rinks are great recruiting tools. UMass-Lowell should get the same benefit shortly with their new downtown rink (shared with AHL franchise) coming. Perhaps some of you number crunchers could confirm/deny my contention that teams improve their first year in new rinks...BTW, I mean overall record, not just the more logical "better at home". Its a pick-me-up for an entire program, all year. But then the shine wears off. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.