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Tuesday, March 30, 2004
UMAINE NOTEBOOK: Kevin Thomas
Next chapter unfolding
Copyright 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Maine vs. Boston College. Again.
In nine days, the University of Maine and BC will renew their rivalry in a semifinal of the NCAA tournament at the FleetCenter in Boston.
When Maine's top hockey rivals are listed, the first ones coming to mind are the University of New Hampshire and its border-war talk, and Boston University and its fiery coach, Jack Parker.
But Boston College is also in that mix. It is just that the Eagles do not share a state line with the Black Bears, and BC Coach Jerry York is about as antagonistic as Mr. Rogers.
The teams have played 82 games since Maine jumped to Division I in 1979. BC leads the series, 42-35-5. Since Maine became an established power in 1986-87, the Black Bears lead, 32-28-5.
In the 20-year history of Hockey East, Maine and BC have met the most in the final (five times). BC won in 1987, '90 and '98. Maine won in 1989 and 2000.
Despite their mutual success, the Black Bears and Eagles have met only two previous times in the NCAA tournament. In each instance, the winner went on to win the national championship.
In 1999, Bobby Stewart scored in overtime to give Maine a 2-1 win over the Eagles in the semifinals in Anaheim, Calif. Two day later, Maine beat New Hampshire 3-2 in overtime for the title.
In 2001, top-seeded BC and No. 5 Maine met in the quarterfinals in Worcester, Mass. After a 0-0 tie through two periods, the Eagles topped Maine, 3-1. In the game, Maine Coach Shawn Walsh was ejected for arguing. It turned out to be Walsh's last game. He died six months later of complications from kidney cancer. BC kept winning and beat North Dakota 3-2 in overtime for the national title.
The title was BC's second, the first coming 52 years earlier, in 1949. Maine also has two nationals titles, in 1993 and '99.
This is the Eagles' 24th appearance in the NCAAs and their 18th in the Frozen Four. However, 10 of the Frozen Four appearances came when the tournament featured only four teams, through 1976.
Maine is in its 14th NCAA tournament and ninth Frozen Four. The Black Bears first reached the Frozen Four in 1988, losing to Lake Superior State in the semifinals.
This season, Maine and BC have met three times. On Nov. 7, Boston College whipped then top-ranked Maine, 4-1. In the final regular-season series at Alfond Arena, Maine swept 3-0 and 4-3 in overtime.
BC SEEDED HIGHER: Though Maine beat the Eagles in two of three games this season and had a better record (30-7-3 to 27-8-4), the Eagles were seeded higher than the Black Bears. Both were No. 1 in their regionals, but BC is No. 2 overall and Maine is No. 3 (North Dakota, the No. 1 overall seed, was upset in the West Regional by Denver).
BC got the higher seed over Maine because of the Eagles' strength of their regular-season schedule. Both Maine and BC lost to Notre Dame and beat Vermont. Maine beat both Minnesota and Wisconsin, while BC beat both Michigan and Michigan State.
Maine also played Ohio State (and lost). But most of the Black Bears' other nonconference foes were not strong (Sacred Heart and Alabama-Huntsville, twice). BC played Minnesota-Duluth (and tied) and also split a series at North Dakota.
BEWARE OF THE POWER PLAY: One of the reasons Maine fell behind Harvard 4-1 in Friday's first-round game is that the Black Bears kept skating to the penalty box. They allowed three Crimson power-play goals.
That could spell trouble against BC. The Eagles scored three power-play goals in the regional and two in their last game with Maine.
HONORS: Sophomore goalie Jimmy Howard has been named the Hockey East defensive player of the week and freshman forward Mike Hamilton rookie of the week.
Howard stopped 29 of 33 shots in two periods against Harvard on Friday night in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament. In the regional final against Wisconsin, he stopped 36 of 37 shots, including two in overtime as Maine advanced to the Frozen Four.
This is the fifth time Howard earned the honor. He also has been a Hockey East player of the week.
In the game against Harvard, Hamilton scored the first of Maine's four goals in the third period of their 5-4 comeback win, and against Wisconsin he scored the winning goal 3:27 into overtime.
TICKETS: Maine has not announced how many tickets it has available for the Frozen Four but keeps emphasizing the supply is "very limited," according to hockey spokesman Brent Williamson.
And the best way to get your hands on these tickets is to be a relative of a player, a student willing to wait in line or a big donor.
After dispersing tickets to the players' families, 75 tickets will be sold to Maine students, starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the ticket office.
Big donors are next in line. According to the Maine Web site, donors to the athletic department "at or above $10,000 annually" will be given the next priority for tickets.
Of course, Maine officials add, it's not too late to donate.
"If fans would like to increase their chances at tickets for this year's Frozen Four," the Web site states, "the Black Bears Club and Shawn Walsh Hockey Center will be accepting gifts . . ."
After the donors get their share, if their are tickets remaining, they will be sold by a lottery (limit two per person). The lottery will be weighted, taking into consideration season-ticket holders and other donors.
Deadline for signing up for the lottery is Wednesday at noon. Call 1-800-756-TEAM for more information.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: [log in to unmask]
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