>>> glenn auerbach <[log in to unmask] >>> 08/28/96 11:10am >>> I am intrigued by this thread. NMU clearly needs to fill out the This thread touches on a recruiting philosophy that I personally favor ... and would implement if the choice was mine. I like large freshman classes ... but not just every four years or so. I think they're wise every year or two. First, I must add here that when I see a freshman class of 13, I don't see all of those players being part of the squad in their senior year. In fact I see at best 6 of them actually skating as seniors. If they don't contend for starting positions then they get cut. As a general rule, my top line or two would be upperclassmen and the entire rest of the club would be freshman and sophomores. This doesn't mean that an underclassman couldn't be a starter, but it does mean that I would never, ever have a junior/senior beyond my second line, fourth defenseman or backup goalie ... especially third string goalies. The value of using these squad positions for developing potential starters is just too much to waste. Ideally, this scenario would graduate 2-4 starters each year, but would have the upper echelon of prior classes to fill those positions. The general idea would be to have a club that contended year in and year out ... regardless of graduating seniors. The club would always be young in totality but experience and age would permeate the high profile roles. Potential starters would have the oppurtunity to practice and occasionally play with veteran players who have excelled and survived a highly competitive and developmental program. My best scenario would be a first line of three seniors who've demonstrated the ability to work well with eachother and have had a good two years to develope as a line. The second line would be three sophomores who are in the process of becoming what the first line is. They are the "first line" of next year which might also have another junior line as the second line. But, I'd try hard to never have two senior lines. I'm sure you get my idea here. Make any sense? - Paul. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.