Bears a hit in Topsfield

In our present day and age, negative behaviors among college athletes and coaches seem to be big news. Because of this, I think that many of us get the impression that all athletes and coaches are self-centered, greedy and undisciplined, and are only in sports for money and personal glory. I want to thank Rick Filighera, the coach of the University of Maine’s women’s hockey team, for showing the students of East Range II School that this in not necessarily true.

Last Thursday [Jan. 10], coach Filighera brought five of his athletes to visit with the grades six through eight students at my school, a very small K-8 community school in rural Topsfield. They traveled 80 miles each way to spend several hours with my students, teaching them about hockey, playing basketball with them, having lunch, answering questions, and simply being friendly. They also gave away an autographed hockey stick, team jersey and yearbooks.

These are certainly not selfish athletes! On the contrary, they are an extremely impressive group who not only clearly love hockey, but are also excellent students and delightful people. They made a real difference in the lives of my students, and I want to publicly thank them and coach Filighera for giving of their time and energy. It meant a lot to us.

The team also invited us to be their guests at the Northeastern game this past Sunday. Unfortunately, we were unable to go due to the snowstorm, but we plan to attend another game as soon as possible.

It is a special thing when young adults set a positive example for young people. The women of the Maine hockey team and their coach did this in an exciting way for my students and created a group of women’s hockey fans along the way. We thank all who took the time to visit us in Topsfield and good luck the rest of the season.

Chuck Murphy

Topsfield

Shame on poor sports

Through your local newspaper, I wish to vent my disappointment with a group of the town of Brewer’s hockey parents. From Jan. 4 to Jan. 6, a fun hockey tournament was held in Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada. A cross-border invitation led to many disillusioned 10- and 11-year-old N.B. children.

The visiting Brewer parents heckled our volunteer referees relentlessly. They laughed when our children fell on the ice. They yelled negative and personal, direct abuse at and about our children’s abilities, and even their physical appearance. The term “poor sports” truly fits.

Canada opened its homes, hearts and pocketbooks after the September 11th disaster, and this tournament is how these particular Brewer parents act toward their friendliest of border neighbors, New Brunswick.

To those involved, shame, and double shame on the woman in the blue winter jacket who screeched and hollered through every hockey game.

I realize hockey parents North America-wide can be exuberant but the Brewer parents crossed the line literally and figuratively with their nasty sentiments.

Winnie Blizzard

Fredericton,

New Brunswick