Today marked the first UMass-Lowell hockey luncheon of the year. The River Hawks open their season tonight against sister school UMass-Amherst. After some opening remarks by Bob Ellis, the play-by-play announcer and luncheon emcee, the UML football coach spoke. Then Chris Libbett did a Q&A. Someone from the audience asked him about Bruce Crowder vs. Tim Whitehead and he responded with positive words about both coaches. Then he said, "Of course, I'm not going to say anything bad about the coach because he's here." That drew an appreciative laugh followed by Whitehead's voice from the back of the room. "Thanks, Chris. That saves me from having to make out a new lineup." :-) Whitehead then spoke. He mentioned three goals for the team: 1) Play physically. 2) Outshoot the Minutemen. Shoot from anywhere. 3) Work hard. He also said that Scott Fankhouser would be in the goal tonight. "Scott's earned the start," he said. "I'm not going to use a rotation. I'm going to go with whatever goalie is playing the best. Right now he's the one. I hope I play him again on Saturday, because that will mean he had a good game tonight." ----------------------------------------------- Dave Hendrickson [log in to unmask] Hockey East writer for US College Hockey Online http://www.uscollegehockey.com HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.