From 1991-93 I was a jack-of-all-trades for the hockey team, doing 
everything from equipment manager to office work.  In the end, I was 
primarily the team's videographer.  Some of you may recall my posts on the 
old maine.hockey-l, which I consider the precursor to USCHO (even though 
m.h-l is still going).

For many years I have been a supporter of Tim's.  I know him from my time in 
Orono and found him to be a very friendly guy.  But reading in Nonni's email 
about alumni who try to hide the fact that they played hockey at Maine 
struck a nerve.  I went to North Yarmouth Academy and followed such players 
as the Weinrich brothers, Mike McHugh and Eric Fenton from the school.  
After my time at Maine I returned to coach at NYA and kids still dreamt of 
suiting up for Maine.  Now our kids dream of following Travis Roy to BU or 
Brian Dumoulin to BC.

NYA also has hired Cap Raeder as our full-time goaltender coach to work with 
both boys and girls teams from junior high on up.  As I understand it, Maine 
has a part-time goalie coach who is mainly in New Brunswick.  Grant wasn't 
going to coach forever and I think he coached at Maine longer than he 
wanted, but we should have had somebody to replace him.

Despite my support of Tim, I encouraged people to contact the Athletic 
Director and/or the President's office to let them know.  I have posted the 
email and postal addresses, as well as phone numbers, for both offices.  
Writing anonymous comments on a message board is cowardly, accomplishes 
nothing and is just an exercise in vanity.  The president, AD and anyone 
else in authority does not (and should not) give credence to such anonymous 
postings.  What gets their attention is letters, emails, phone calls and 
even office visits - especially from alumni or donors.  Many of the morons 
in the Maine thread over at USCHO are fair-weather fans (if that) who have 
mocked me for a brain tumor that has disabled me and caused partial nerve 
damage; and recently voiced dismay that Tim did not get caught raping boys 
like Jerry Sandusky did.  They have no class, no loyalty and would rather 
Maine lose games or go through a horrible scandal to get Tim fired than win 
games and be successful.  Those are not supporters of the program.

I have also seen people heap criticism and aim insults at the players.  This 
is, in my view, unacceptable.  Whether you believe some of these players are 
inferior to what we have seen in the past is irrelevant.  They agreed to 
come to Maine.  They wear the same sweater Kariya and Pellerin and Roy wore 
before them.  They work just as hard, sacrifice just as much.  They 
represent the school, the alumni and the fans.  They are due the same 
respect and thanks that was directed at players of yesterday.

Steve Abbott
Director of Athletics
5747 Memorial Gym
Orono, Maine 04469
207-581-1052

Paul W. Ferguson
Office of the President
5703 Alumni Hall, Suite 200
Orono, ME 04469
207-581-1512

Send letters, call the office and, if you can spare the time, schedule an 
appointment to meet with Abbott.  That will get his attention.  I have 
written to both and hope to meet with Steve when I return to campus next 
month.  I encourage people to do likewise.

John Forsyth