I have been following the Dan Lacouture thread with great interest. I know many kids who play hockey and have trouble with school. Sometimes they are able to get the help they need early on and succeed in spite of problems. Some kids do not get this help at an appropriate time. Following the Camby scandal and how many more in basketball and football, it has always seemed gratifying to me that a kid does not have to go the NCAA way to play pro hockey. It means that kids who are not going to do well in school still have a chance to pursue their career in sports. This is not true in basketball and football where the NCAA makes tons of bucks providing a minor league for the pros in those sports. Let's not forget that college hockey is not minor league hockey and that there is nothing to be ashamed of if a kid is better off going pro or at least taking his shot. It is a heck of a lot better than what goes on in those other sports to fake the kids through for the profit of the schools. Dan Lacouture is a heck of a player, and from what I hear, a nice kid too. He gave college hockey a shot and looked good doing it. If this is not where he is best suited to play, he should move on with our blessings. Just some thoughts... Susan from Boston HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.