Although I've enjoyed this discussion list for years -- long before
having the pleasure of personal connections to UMaine hockey -- I've
never added my two cents worth before.
 
But now I gotta -- 'cause I was at the BC game, and what I saw ain't
being said.
 
What happened folks is that a brilliant coach, valiant team, and
inspired goaltender fought off a relentless BC onslaught that
shoulda/coulda won the game by six or seven goals as easy as New
Orleans on a Saturday night.
 
But shoulda became couldn't do it at all.
 
Wave after wave of yellow jackets assaulted Maine's end of the ice only
to be thwarted by a clever and crafty defensive scheme; a team
dedicated to making the second effort, and devoted to making the third;
and a goalkeeper -- Alfie Michaud -- who was both dazzling and heroic.
 
Now, Coach Walsh is overloaded with both the wit and the wisdom to keep
the newsies happy with a quick sound bite.  So he called the game
"boring" and sent them on their way. They believed every word of it
which is, in its way, quite magical.
 
After all, they'd just witnessed the greatest theft in Boston since the
Gardner Museum art robbery, or the Brinks' job in the 50's -- and Walsh
led them away "boring" -- so if need be, he can do it again.  Indeed,
whoever said genius is in the small details might have seen this game.
 
See, BC had a full squad pumped up off a heady win over crosstown rival
BU, about 5,000 Eagle loyalists in spectacular Conte Forum, and just
about anything else you could want, including a damn good college band.
 
On the other side -- and at Conte Forum it IS the other side -- our
cherished Black and Bluers had so many players relegated to the stands
you couldn't be sure if Maine was going to play on the ice or in the
seats.
 
And that's the script.  Maine's supposed to supply enough resistance to
make the inevitable BC win actually feel like a victory.  No,, they're
not supposed to take a dive like Brando in "On the Waterfront," but
they sure as hell ain't supposed to go the distance, either.
 
Whoops.
 
After playing most of the first period more or less even with some
pretty big chances at either end, Maine holds off BC 3x5 and 4x5*, and
I don't know how few against how many for how long...
 
The 2nd and 3rd periods continue the theme.  BC's water bug Gonta
scoots around like a cartoon character and does absolutely everything
but score. Reasoner is held in check by ferociously defensive minded
Black Bears, while BC's bold, brash Chris Masters thunders around, but
can't put it away.
 
Meanwhile, when all the other Maine troops are overrun, Alfie Michaud
plays the best game by a goalie I've personally seen since longer than
you want to know.
 
Clever, quick, shutting down the rebounds, out to challenge, and at
times beyond unbelievable -- saves that couldn't be made: one glove
save from 3 or 4 feet, I'll never forget (nor will the BC player who
shot it) -- to show how fabulous he really is. Sensational.
 
Just as last year's team showed courage and character under confusing
if not adverse conditions, it now looks that this year's is a more than
worthy keeper of that flame, and of the hallowed Black Bear tradition.
 
 
JReingold
 
 
* Might have been the second period.  The end changes at BC leave me
  wondering.
 
 
PS:  In an exceptional touch, last year's star senior Trevor Roenick's
parents were at the game and thoughtfully visited with Coach and
players afterwards.