Coach Giusti reacts

Globe correspondent Matt Porter caught up with Needham coach Bill Giusti Tuesday evening by phone. When asked his reaction to the ban on students at Wednesday's game Giusti said the following:

"The fans are really, really loyal to us. They're a great group of fans, and occasionally they cross over the line a little bit, but you know, it's high school hockey. They're out there enjoying themselves. Myself personally, I don't see them not being able to attend our games. But the people in charge -- my athletic director, my principal -- are preventing them from attending this game so that maybe it will keep them marching a little more in line so that this doesn't happen again.

"I didn't see anything where they really crossed over the line, but I guess they did the other day and the MIAA is really on our case. You know what, our fans aren't the only ones. I've been at other games, and I'm not going to mention any teams, but kids are hanging out over the dasher, yelling and screaming and swearing at other players. That stuff goes on, and you just have to live with it. I'm not saying it's right, but you just have to play the game and concentrate on what you're doing.

"Some of these games, these kids get really rambunctious. If a kid gets really out of line, one of the school officials or a police officer removes them from the game. That's all there is to it. Some of the other kids will learn from that, and it won't happen again.

"It's unfortunate that it's come to this. Like I said, our fans have been great, last year [during Needham's Division 1 state title run] and all the games up to this point. It's too bad they won't be able to attend the game [Wednesday night].

"We draw more fans at Babson College than Babson does, and that's their home rink. We bring more fans, and more revenue to that rink than anybody. That includes the Wellesley teams, boys and girls -- we've got a bigger fan base than anybody, from what I can see.

"I can't really answer for the MIAA and what they're doing, but we have to do what they say, stay on the right page, walk a straight line, and make sure our fans do the same. I think that's what our higher ups, Mr. Richards and Mr. Palmer are doing by reprimanding them for this one game. Hopefully it will sink in. We don't want to be eliminated from the tournament because of fan behavior. That just doesn't make any sense."