This is my first posting to this forum.  I'm a displaced New Englander
in Atlanta who grew to love Maine hockey partly because my own alma
mater (UMass-Amherst  -- hold the boos, please) didn't have a hockey
team.
 
But my childhood was spent in Maine, including all my teenage summers
working on the family farm near Belfast.  One winter night over
Christmas break from school, my uncle in Old Town invited me along to
catch a game at Alfond.  His seats are right behind the net at the North
end of the arena (opposite the main entrance).  From that moment I was
hooked, and started to bleed blue.
 
To date I've been fortunate to attend 14 games there, all while living
at least 5 hours from Orono.  It's also been enjoyable to catch them in
Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Albany, Boston and Los Angeles during
road ganes and tournaments. Many a business trip has been scheduled with
a Black Bears game in mind!
 
I was elated to watch UMaine win it all again this year.  I'm also
wondering if a season highlights video will be released.  In addition,
I'm wondering if copies of "Out of the Woods" are still for sale, since
my VCR ate mine last year.
 
Thanks for listening, and rest assured there's a few of us Bear Backers
down South...
 
Mark Brown
Duluth, GA
 
P.S.  When Maine plays the new UMass program in hockey, I always pull
for the Bears....But during football games, I can't get the maroon out
of my heart!