Ironically, the single victory came at the expense of Northeastern, which was to be his next assignment.

Smith brings a very different ap-

NORTHEASTERN VS. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

At Boston Garden, February 3, 1992, at 6 p.m.

Series This Season: Terriers, 2-0.

(December 6, 10-7; January 10, 6-4 at Matthews Arena)

Last Beanpot: Terriers, 1991. Northeastern, 1988

Players to Watch: Huskies--Forward Sebastien Laplante, Forward Rob Kenny, Goalie Tom Cole; Terriers--Forward David Sacco, Forward Mike Pomichter, Foward Petteri Koskimaki

Crimson Call: Cole has monster game, but Boston University Still wins in a blowout.

proach to Northeastern hockey. Over the years,Smith has trained with the best in collegehockey--Parker, Cleary, Taylor--and has, no doubt,incorporated his experience with them into hiscoaching philosophy at Northeastern.

"In reality, the reason we have sports is tocreate a diversion from the normal humdrum, to beenjoyed," Smith says. "I think that is one of thethings that I learned from watching Bill Cleary'sgreat Harvard teams. He coached with suchenjoyment and such effervescence that his teamstook on his personality, and that is the coach'srole."

Smith describes his team as a chain, only asstrong as its weakest link.

"It is my job to help a player play at hisbest," Smith says. "In doing so, there issomething of a sales job that has to be done. Itis a very demanding situation that we put playersin. So we have to do a little sugar-coating toremind the players that it is still a game," Smithsays.

Bill Doherty of Northeastern's SportsInformation Office credits him with dramaticallyimproving the team's playing style (the Huskiesare 12-13-0 this year).

"He was hired because of his impeccablequalifications, with coaching at college hockey aswell as at the national level [U.S. Olympic team,three World junior teams, and two national juniorteams]," Doherty says. "Last year, we had a veryrugged, physical style of play, and we incurred alot of penalties. This year we play a moresophisticated, finesse game, which is no doubtborrowed from his international experience."

So far, Smith is pleased with the progress ofhis team. He considers this first year a time forlearning. He must first get acquainted with hisplayers and staff, and they, in turn, must adaptthemselves to his coaching style.