01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Carolyn Thornton: Hello everyone. This is Carolyn Thornton and I am here at the Journal newsroom with Lincoln High School hockey players Greg Bushy, Derek Parenteau, Derek Rossi and Jason Martone. They've already started answering the questions that some of you sent in earlier today, so we're going to start posting those now. Feel free to send in more questions, and we'll get to them as soon as we can.

dld: are any of you playing hockey in college?

Lions: Some of us would like to keep our options open and some of us played our NHL in highschool.

Phanthom: how good can the team be next year with 10 seniors leaving. u don't have a goalie and no scorers or defense left. do u think they can make the play-offs even in 2007?

Lions: Although we have a big senior class leaving many underclassmen stepped up and contributed to this season's success. We as a senior class have confidence in next year's team.

Phanthom: Your team looked like they really enjoyed being together? were there any problems in the locker room?

Lions: Yes but the leadership on the team this year was too strong and the character was too great to let little things like that bother us.

hockey4: Greg. Would you like to have played with your brother in goal for a year? How do you think he will be next year? do you think he should have played more? -Dad

Lions: Dad im a little busy. i think that you should ask Mark that question.

Sun Tzu: This question is for Derek Rossi.....How come your hair is so long and do you feel as though it's length had a positive impact on your play?

Lions: Rossi: Honestly I was just to lazy to get a haircut and even as it got longer I thought it looked pretty good. As far as its impact on my play, I don't know if I played any better but it definitely looked mean. P.S. I just got a hair cut.

Sun Tzu: Derek Parenteau....Who is your favorite linemate? Derek or Jason?

Lions: I love Rossi for the hitting aspect and Jmart for the scoring aspect.

Sun Tzu: What do you guys think about your coaches? How important are they to the way you play?

Lions: The coaches but the "reil" leadership came from the seniors.

hockey4: Rank the top 10 teams in the state.

Lions: 1. Hendricken 2.Mount 3.La Salle 4.Lincoln 5.Cranston West 6.Moses Brown 7.Barrington 8.Toll Gate 9. North Smithfield 10. Smithfield

LionHater: Do you really think you could have won the championship if Cumberland or Smithfield was in your Division? Don't you think they would have probably been the top two teams in DII Large if they played there?

Lions: Yes, we would've won. They are both good teams. No, they couldn't handle lions hockey.

hands1711: hi

Lions: Hi do u have a questoin?

Sun Tzu: Greg Bushy......what impact has a steady girlfriend had on your play? You really seemed to step it up big-time this year!

Lions: It wasn't so much about the girlfriend. i just think that as a senior i really needed to step it up since the last few years i wasn't showing much.

hockey4: How do you guys think you would do against Hendricken if you could play them again? Do you think they were the best team in the state?

Lions: Yes, they're the best team in the state they finished undefeated. But we would like to have one more shot.

hockey4: Do yo think there is much difference between you and a D III team..I mean N Smithfield beat you guys...wassup with dat?

Lions: No Excuses it was a bad game. They played good and wanted it more.

LionHater: Do you really think you were the best team or you just rode zapata to a championship

Lions: Frank's the best goalie in the state and that was one! of the things we needed, but it took the whole team to win. P.S. We are state champs. Nice Screename.

Sun Tzu: Derek, Jason, and Rossi: even though you had less combined points than most humans have fingers and toes, why do you feel you were sucha successful line?

Lions: Mr. Reil very funny, Defense wins games.

rp: After 21 years how proud are you guys.

Lions: Lincoln's a hockey town and we are proud to bring a state championship to it and for all the people who never won it.

slapshot2117: what did you think of East Greenwich first round

Lions: Tougher then we thought. And they were a Classy bunch.

slapshot2117: who do you think was the most important player in your playoff run

Lions: Franky Zabatta

Fletcher3: Hey boys, what are your plans for next year? What colleges are you going to?

Lions: What's up there kid, Rossi: I'm off to UNH. Parenteau: For the first semester i will hopefelly be training in the air force to become a Firefighter and then start college second semester. Jmart: Hey buddy, im goin to URI with dannie, and hopefully we can get a shot to play on their team. Greg: johnson & wales

hands178: what underclassmen do you think will step it up next year to hopefully get the lions another state championship

Lions: They all stepped up big in our playoff run and we have faith that each will do their job next year.

slapshot2117: who do you think was the hardest team you faced in the playoffs

Lions: They all were good teams and earned their places. But cranston west was our greatest test.

slapshot2117: what did you think of East Greenwich first round

Lions: Tougher then we Expected. And they were a very professional bunch.

Fletcher3: What did you think about the freshman of the team this year

Lions: They need to take inventory of equipment before leaving the rinks. But on a good note they remind us of ourselves 4 years ago.

pops: onthe subject of girlfriends.....i hope all you guys are spending as much time on the softball and field hockey sidelines as they did in the rink.....also, when you come out of the locker room you always hug your dad first, then the girlfriend.....

Lions: Rossi: Come on dad, you know how it is. It's nothing personal of course, I love you. Can't wait to show you the new haircut. Once again, you know how it is though. I love you, Sarah.

pops: dros: too bad they nixed the smoked shield on you ....could you imagine that look?

Lions: Rossi: Yea, the tinted shield was pretty crazy. I really wish I could have kept it but it probably would have upped the penalty minutes.

slapshot2117: how did you guys bounce back after having to forfeit two games

Lions: We'll give credit to the coaches on this one they kept our heads on playing hockey and out of off-ice distractions.

slapshot2117: what did you think of east greenwich's young goaltending

Lions: They have major pontential and eg will definitely be contending for a state championship.

pops: rossi, if it isn't too late...ask mr larue if you can still buy an LHS hockey jacket.....you'll never regret it....

Lions: Not my style:)

pops: parenteau...congrats on the Hoby Baker Award, you're very deserving.....who do you think was the hardest worker in practice?

Lions: Thank you and thank you to my teammates for voting me in on that one. Everybody worked hard and if you had a day that you were not working hard your teammates would make you step it up.

Carolyn Thornton: We apologize for the upbrupt end to tonight's chat. We had some technical problems that were beyond our control. But I'd like to thank all of you who submitted questions. We had one of our liveliest chats tonight because of your participation. And of course, thank you to Greg, Derek P., Derek R. and Jason for stopping by and sharing their thoughts on Lincoln's championship run.