For those who want a little heart-stopper humor, this
article appeared in the Maine Campus today....

April Fools!
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From:    <[log in to unmask]>
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Subject: Untested freshman will start against UNH
Date:    4/1/2002


Untested freshman will start against UNH
By: Mike Hunt


04/01/02
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Less than five days before his team is scheduled to take on the No. 1 team in
the country, University of Maine interim head hockey coach Tim Whitehead is
keeping the revolving goaltender door open. He announced yesterday that a
freshman goaltender will be between the pipes against the University of New
Hampshire in Thursday's national semifinal.

"Kirk Levesque will play against UNH, he's ready," Whitehead said while relaxing
in Dexter Lounge Sunday. "Anyone can be called upon at anytime on this team, and
they better be ready."

It is thought to be the first time that a coach will give an untested freshman
the start in a game so late in the season.

The decision to start Levesque is not totally out of character for Whitehead,
who has shown no inclination toward choosing a full-time number-one goaltender
this season. Seniors Matt Yeats and Mike Morrison split time in net early in the season, alternating starts. Morrison got the nod in the second-half of the
season. Each goaltender started one game in the East Regional.

"Name me another team in the country that would want to be in our situation with
three goaltenders playing well at this time of year," Whitehead said. "We
haven't fared too well against the Wildcats, so this will be the remedy."

Senior Matt Yeats has struggled against New Hampshire this season, going 0-2,
giving up three goals in each contest. Fellow senior Mike Morrison, the starter
most of the season and owner of an impressive 19-3-4 overall record, has fared
better against UNH, going 1-0-1. His lone win came when UNH sophomore Michael
Ayer's arm was scliced by a skate, sending him to the hospital for the evening.
UMaine won 6-3. Ayers returned the next night and made a career-high 33 saves in
a 2-2 tie.

But with a UMaine win, the team will play either Michigan or Minnesota for the
national championship. Yeats has beaten both teams in the postseason.

"Going with Levesque will give the Wildcats a look they haven't seen before and
catch them off guard," Whitehead said.

And while Whitehead acknowledges that it may be risky playing a goalie who has
faced fewer shots in practices this season than Morrison and Yeats have in
games, Levesque has his full confidence.

"Kirk isn't untested, he's well rested from so few minutes," Whitehead said.
"Besides, it is better to have three goalies playing well at this time of year."

It is certainly open to debate whether Levesque is playing well right now. His
training regiment since being added to the team has consisted of many hours of
intensive NHL 2002 for the Playstation2.

"Um, I really like Dominick Hasek," Levesque said. "He's rated really high and I
played an entire season with the Detriot Red Wings already. We won the Cup. That
team is like this team. I've learned a lot. I'm ready."

Morrison, the regular full-time starter, has taken the benching to a strong-thumbed freshman in stride, as evidence by his recycled clichés.

"Whatever the team needs to win," Morrison said. "One game at a time, we want to
shock the world and do the unthinkable. So if we just stay focused and come out
and play our game and put the puck in the net and keep them from scoring, then
the game will be ours."




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Story Source: Maine Campus