I’M EXCITED!

WE ARE LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY FROM DROPPING THE PUCK ON THE NEW U MAINE HOCKEY SEASON!

THE PROGRAM SEEMS TO BE BACK.

MOST EXPERTS PICK THE BLACK BEARS TO FINISH IN THE TOP HALF OF HOCKEY EAST.

BUT I EXPECT MORE.

THIS IS THE YEAR MAINE GETS BACK TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. OR AT LEAST IT BETTER BE.

WE ARE ENTERING YEAR SIX OF THE RED GENDRON ERA IN ORONO. THE REBUILD NEEDS TO BE OVER. THE TIME TO WIN IS NOW. SERIOUSLY.

DO YOU THINK NORTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL OR TEXAS FOOTBALL WOULD GIVE A COACH SIX YEARS TO REBUILD A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM?

NO WAY.

BUT THAT’S WHAT MAINE HAS DONE. AND IT’S TIME FOR THEIR FAITH IN RED TO PAY OFF.

THE TEAM IS TRENDING UP. EIGHTEEN WINS LAST YEAR AND A FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF WIN.

THOSE EIGHTEEN WINS ARE THE MOST IN GENDRON’S FIVE YEARS AT THE HELM.

DID YOU KNOW TOM WHITEHEAD AVERAGED EIGHTEEN WINS A YEAR HIS LAST FOUR YEARS? HE GOT FIRED.

GENDRON HAS BROUGHT IN GOOD PLAYERS AND HE HAS A TON OF RETURNING TALENT.

SO HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR A COACH, WHO HAS BEEN PAID MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS BY UMAINE SO FAR, ARE MORE THAN FAIR.

I EXPECT THE BLACK BEAR REVIVAL TO CONTINUE AND FOR MAINE TO WIN MORE THAN EIGHTEEN GAMES THIS YEAR.

I EXPECT A TRIP TO BOSTON FOR THE HOCKEY EASY FROZEN FOUR.

AND I EXPECT MAINE TO PLAY IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
2012.

ANYTHING LESS IN YEAR SIX OF THE REBUILD IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Jeff Solari
www.sportschowdah.com