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Never one to go quietly, I compiled the following information to rebut Richard Hungerford's assertion that the current Harvard team has as much talent as teams of the recent past (mid 80s to early 90s). I focused on the forward lines and defensive pairings from four seasons, beginning with the obviously gifted national champions. 88-89 30-3, National Champs 90-91 14-12-3, ECAC semis (Ronn Tomassoni's first year) 92-93 22-6-3, NCAA quarters 95-96 6-9-1 thus far Forwards 88-89 MacDonald (sr)-Bourbeau (sr) -Young (jr): 75 goals 90-91 Breistroff (fr) -Vukonich (sr) -Donato (sr): 54 92-93 Farrell (jr) -Drury (jr) -Baird (jr): 44 95-96 Holmes (sr) -Konik (sr) - Nielsen (sr): 46 (pro rated) 88-89 Vukonich (so) -Ciavaglia (so) -Weisbrod (so): 48 90-91 Baird (fr) -Ciavaglia (sr) -Weisbrod (sr): 27 92-93 Holmes (fr) -Flomenhoft (sr) -Mallgrave (sr): 44 95-96 Karmanos (sr) - Higdon (so) - Philpott (so): 16 (pro rated) 88-89 Donato (so) -Hartje (jr) -Krayer (jr): 40 90-91 Farrell (fr)-Drury (so)-Mallgrave (so): 26 92-93 Coughlin (so)-Martins (so)-Nielsen (fr): 18 95-96 Bent (fr) - MacDonald (fr) - Adams (fr): 20 (pro rated) 88-89 Howley (sr) -Murphy- (jr) -Presz (sr): 24 90-91 Burke (jr)-Flomenhoft (so)-Barringer (sr): 29 92-93 Karmanos (fr)-Cohagen (so)-Gustafson (so): 17 95-96 Swenson (jr) - Craigen (jr) - Marett (sr): 10 (pro rated) plus 88-89 Taucher, Burke 90-91 Gardner, Miskovich 92-93 McLean 95-96 Rogers Defense 88-89 Carone (jr)-Caplan (sr) 90-91 McCann (fr)-Sneddon (jr) 92-93 McCann (jr)-Maguire (jr) 95-96 Halfknight (jr)-McCarthy (so) 88-89 Melrose (jr)-Farden (sr) 90-91 Body (fr)-Maguire (fr) 92-93 Body (jr)-Lonsinger (so) 95-96 Storey (fr)-McLauglin (sr) 88-89 S.McCormack (sr)-B.McCormack (fr) 90-91 B.McCormack (jr)-Defreitas (sr) 92-93 McLaughlin (fr)-Breistroff (jr) 95-96 Oberman (fr)-Hyland (so) plus 88-89 Popiel 90-91 Hess 92-93 Marett 95-96 Famigletti, Ferrari Shots on goal per game 88-89 36.02 90-91 32.9 92-93 33.9 95-96 27.9 Power Play Pct. 88-89 26.0% 90-91 30.8% 92-93 26.5% 95-96 15.7% My summary: Looking at the above, I still come to the same conclusion. Harvard is simply not as skilled up front as it has been in the recent past. The decline in production of the fourth line is particularly obvious, but the projected output of the current second line is also noteworthy. Although I'm sure Harvard would like the Higdon line to score more, I don't see the three forwards being able to increase their production this season. Philpott and Higdon might make a step forward next year, and the BAM line certainly will, but I don't see either of these units reaching the skill level of the '90-'91 Baird-Ciavaglia-Weisbrod line (keep in mind that Weisbrod only played five games due to injury). Of course, the decline in shots on net and goals could be a chicken-or-the egg issue; is it because Harvard is less skilled or because Tomassoni is restricting the creativity of his players? I say the former, and I think the drastic dip in power play percentage bears me out (the 94-95 stats lend support as they are fairly similar to this year). The six most skilled forwards usually drive the two power play units. It is interesting to see that the talent and depth of the defense has been a constant on all these teams - you can throw in goaltending, too, but I didn't bother making the comparison because I think it is self-evident (Chuckie Hughes/Allain Roy/Tripp Tracy/Aaron Israel). Other than the general level of talent, I think Richard and I agree on many things. I don't think even coach Tomassoni would attempt to compare his success with that of coach Cleary, nor should he. It is a different era, for one thing, with many more teams competing for a talent pool that is only marginally bigger. The cost of education is also driving players towards scholarship schools. The standard response to Cleary's old "We play hockey the way it was meant to be played" was "I would, too, if I had your players." I wonder if coach Tomassoni is tempted to say the same thing to the writers at the Harvard Crimson and the fans, like Richard, who are dissatisfied with the recent performance of the team. That's it for my Crimson anaylsis -- maybe I'll get to Brown tomorrow (hey, I can compare penalty minutes, power plays for and against, and average size and weight of the players from 1991 to the present...) Geoff Howell Drop the Puck Magazine HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.