I see in the latter part of the article that Derek Damon has been
suspended for violating the student code of conduct.  Very disappointing
for a senior leader.  Whitehead's quote after that is pretty classic too
"we've been down this road before"... yeah, maybe that's the problem
Timmy.

-dt

 
> ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Harvard coach Ted Donato wasn't behind the Crimson 
> bench when it happened, but he knows.
> Everybody knows.
> Two years ago, the Crimson blew a 4-1 lead in the third period and lost 
> 5-4 to Maine in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Now, the teams 
> meet again in the first round on Saturday and at the same venue -- Pepsi 
> Arena.
> "Our guys don't want to talk about it, but it's there," said Donato, in 
> his second year as head coach at his alma mater.
> "It's a big memory for me," said Maine captain Greg Moore, who scored the 
> game-winning goal to cap the memorable comeback. "It's kind of a 
> coincidence that we're coming back here to the same building against the 
> same team for the first game. At the same time, we have to look forward."
> Harvard hasn't advanced past the first round since 1994, losing five 
> straight times. The victor will meet the winner of the other first-round 
> matchup here between CCHA champ Michigan State (24-11-8) and New
> Hampshire 
> (20-12-7). The regional final is Sunday, with a berth in the Frozen Four 
> at stake.
> Harvard (21-11-2) is coming off an impressive showing in the ECACHL 
> tournament. Behind goalie John Daigneau, who stopped 53 of 56 shots and 
> was named tournament MVP, the Crimson humbled top-seeded Dartmouth 10-1
> in 
> the semifinals and scored five power-play goals to beat normally stingy 
> Cornell, the defending champ, 6-2 in the title game.
> "I think this year our team is about as confident as we've been since
> I've 
> been here," senior defenseman Peter Hafner said. "Maybe that was a little 
> bit of an issue coming into the national tournament the past couple of 
> years."
> "Our guys felt we were playing very well, and I think we wanted to win
> the 
> ECAC championship in a big way," said Donato, a key member of the 1989 
> Harvard team that won the school's lone national hockey title.
> "Obviously, 
> we got some breaks and bounces. We realize that the pot of gold we've had 
> over the last few games may not be available (against Maine)."
> The Black Bears (26-11-2) finished the season with eight wins and two
> ties 
> before losing to Boston College in the semifinals of the Hockey East 
> tournament.
> "We had a tough loss in our own tournament, but we've had a great stretch 
> run," Maine coach Tim Whitehead said. "We've been playing pretty strong
> as 
> a team. We're pleased with where we're at, but Harvard's obviously a very 
> hot team, a very strong team. We've got our hands full there."
> The Black Bears lead the nation in penalty killing at 89.7 percent, and 
> that's a good thing because they'll be short-handed for this game.
> Senior forward Derek Damon, the team's fourth-leading scorer (14 goals,
> 19 
> assists), will not play. He received a one-game suspension for violating 
> the athletic department's student code of conduct.
> "We've been down this road before," Whitehead said. "The key is to focus 
> on the task at hand."
> If the Black Bears have a weakness, it's being caught off-guard when on 
> the power play. They have allowed 11 short-handed goals, including the 
> first goal in their loss last week to Boston College.
> And this might as well be a home game for Harvard. The Crimson have
> played 
> more games (10) at Pepsi Arena than at any other rink besides their home 
> ice, Bright Hockey Center.
> "We have a good feeling coming back here," Donato said. "Maybe this will 
> be the year to exorcise some of the demons from the past."
> ------
> Notes:Maine is unbeaten in its last 106 games when leading after two 
> periods, with 100 wins and six ties. ... Maine also beat Harvard 4-3 in 
> overtime in the 2002 East Regional at Worcester, Mass. ... Maine has been 
> to nine Frozen Fours and won titles in 1993 and 1999. ... Harvard is 
> 14-28-1 in 20 NCAA appearances.
-- 
  Deron Treadwell
  [log in to unmask]