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http://www.pressherald.com/sports/college/hockey/040105umnotes.shtml

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                     Monday, January 5, 2004

                                            Catamounts a good fit for Hockey East


                        By  KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Staff Writer

                      Copyright  2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.





 Although both are New England universities, Maine and Vermont do not have much of a hockey history: Maine leads the all-time series, 8-7.

   That could change soon. Athletic directors from schools in Hockey East meet Tuesday to discuss the addition of Vermont to the league, according to Maine AD Patrick Nero.

   Hockey East has been searching for a suitable new member so the league would have 10 teams and a balanced schedule. The league has had nine teams since 1994, when Massachusetts was added.

   Vermont would fit nicely into the New England-based league. Hockey East apparently has wanted Vermont to jump from the ECAC, but little interest was expressed from Burlington.

   Recently, according to U.S. College Hockey Online, Vermont contacted Hockey East about membership. That makes sense, especially with Vermont planning to build a new arena for hockey and basketball near the campus.

   MATT GREYEYES jumped at the chance to play Sunday against Vermont at the Cumberland County Civic Center, scoring two minutes into the game. Greyeyes, a junior, added an assist and was named the No. 2 star of the game in Maine's 6-1 victory.

   "You've got to take advantage of it," said Greyeyes, playing in only his fourth game this season.

   Greyeyes, 23, of Edmonton, Alberta, was impressive his freshman year, playing 15 games. That number dropped to 12 last season. This season, with several new recruits on campus, he is seeing less action.

   "It's not easy," Greyeyes said. "You've got to work hard to get into the lineup and keep playing hard."

   Greyeyes played Sunday because Maine was missing three forwards, Ben Murphy and Jon Jankus to injury and Greg Moore to the world junior championships in Finland.

   THE LINEUP could change for Tuesday's game at Merrimack. Murphy and Jankus might be ready to play.

   Moore's last game for the U.S. team is today's gold-medal game. He will return in time for Saturday's home game against Sacred Heart.

   Goalie Jimmy Howard, who has missed the last three games with a sprained knee, said he plans to start skating today. He's hoping to play against Sacred Heart.

   TUESDAY'S GAME at Merrimack is a makeup from a Dec. 6 game postponed because of snow. Maine already has beaten the Warriors twice, 6-2 and 3-1, but Merrimack can give the Black Bears trouble.

   The Warriors (7-9-3, 2-6-3 Hockey East) have won three straight, including a 7-2 rout of New Hampshire and a sweep of Princeton.

   Maine planned to stay in Portland Sunday night and practice at the Civic Center today.

   HOCKEY EAST: Maine, which lost two games last week, is not the only Hockey East team to hit a bump recently.

   Boston College was shut out by Northeastern Saturday, 3-0. The Eagles, 6-1-2 in the league, lead Maine (6-2-1) by a point. Surprising UMass-Lowell (6-3-1) is tied with Maine, although the River Hawks have played one more game.

   New Hampshire has gone 1-4-1 in its last six games, including a 3-2 loss to Yale on Saturday. The Wildcats are 11-7-2, 5-3-2 in Hockey East.

   Massachusetts, considered a contender in Hockey East this season, is on an eight-game winless streak after being swept by UMass-Lowell. The Minutemen have fallen to 9-6-5, 5-4-2. They visit Alfond Arena Jan. 16-17.

   Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:  [log in to unmask]