We have beaten our direct opponent for the league...psychologically it's important because we haven't beaten them in the league for a long time.

Obviously, being a league opponent, that's great for the Northeast-10. They're a well-coached team that's talented inside and out. They get good guard play and they've got very good post players. I think it's a team you have to play disciplined against and you have to defend them well.

Most of the big, physical defensemen in the league are capable of punishing an opponent along the wall, ... The good ones hit with balance and don't overextend themselves . . . . But of the many solid defensemen in the NHL that do that on a nightly basis, there's probably only 10 percent that actively look for open-ice hits because there's a lot more potential to get burned if you don't seize the right opportunity and, secondly, execute. Gauthier's one of those players.

Too many kids today are playing major league ball and don't belong there.

I think it's a natural fit, major league baseball and country music.

We've always said that you can't win the league in the first round of the season but you can lose it. I think that is the great part of playing in the NCC.