UMassHoops.com

[Sam Minuteman]

[BullmooseGEO]

On a similar note, is there a reason why we shoot twice at the net on the opposite side from the "main" student sections (S and T)? Does that have to do with the current bench configuration?

I am personally for switching benches per UMass02's suggestion, and erect some kind of barrier between the opposing bench and the students (as I don't expect them to behave nicely until the drastic changes to culture are effected...)

However, I am also wondering, and this is just a thought: is it possible to move the penalty boxes to the opposite side of the ice, to the *left* of the current home bench when facing ice? That might solve several problems:

1) per UMass02's points, it would easy to change player after penalty is served, as well as the home bench to communicate to the players in the box (does anyone know if that's legal, btw?)

2) most of the students will be further away and thus less able to harass the opposing player in the penalty box (security could be beefed up for big games)

3) Season tickets holders won't have their cushy seats taken away...

Thoughts?
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"When in doubt, use brute force." -- Ken Thompson

[Dickie Dunn]

It's pretty standard to defend the zone closest to your bench for two of the three periods of the game (first and third). Makes it much easier to do line changes, particularly for the defense, to avoid getting caught in odd-man rushes.

If you look at the Mullins configuration, the benches are sitting diagonally from each other between the red and blue lines.

NHL arenas have the benches next to each other (like the Garden), so teams always defend the end closest to their bench in the first and third. Alfond (Maine), Tsongas (UMass-Lowell) and Gutterson (UVM) are set up like this, as well.

The one thing swapping the team benches would do is put the penalty boxes next to the home bench, which would be an advantage. I'm pretty sure UMass is the only Hockey East school that puts the home team at a disadvantage by having the visitors' bench next to the penalty boxes.
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I wrote this ... it's gotta be true.

[Kieron]