This email has been sent to you by Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask]).

Comments from Sender:

This story can be found online at:
http://www.pressherald.com/sports/college/hockey/040328umnotes.shtml

 ==============================================================================

                        Sunday, March 28, 2004

                       UMAINE NOTEBOOK: Kevin Thomas



                             Howard has short memory




                          Copyright  2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.





 ALBANY, N.Y.  --  After Mike Hamilton and Colin Shields described their goals to the media following Maine's 2-1 overtime win Saturday over Wisconsin, the question finally came to goalie Jimmy Howard. "Were you able to sleep Friday night?"

     The question, of course, referred to the four goals Howard gave up to Harvard before being pulled after two periods in Friday's first-round game of the NCAA tournament. Although three of the goals were on power plays and Maine's defense broke down often, it was still shocking to see Howard allow so many goals.

     Just how upsetting was it, Jimmy?

     "I slept like a baby," Howard said.

     Howard did say a fire alarm in the hotel got him up at 4:30 a.m., but nothing about the Harvard game bothered him. He woke up Saturday morning ready to get back in goal.

     "I just regrouped (Friday) night, telling myself 'I can do this, I can do this.' I just went out there (Saturday) and played my game," Howard said.

     Howard made 36 saves Saturday night, holding off a charging Wisconsin team. He never thought about the previous game.

     "I just tried to block what happened out of mind," Howard said. "To be honest, I thought I played pretty well (Friday)."

     Howard said it didn't bother him to be removed in favor of Frank Doyle.

     "I definitely understood," Howard said. "We needed a jump, a switch. Just like baseball when the guys are hitting the pitcher. You bring in a new pitcher to throw a curveball at him.

     "It really worked last night. Frank came in and did a tremendous job. The guys buried four goals and here we are going to the FleetCenter."

     NCAA BLACKOUT: If you watched Saturday's game on television, you saw more replays than fans in the Pepsi Arena, which has a four-sided jumbo screen. Replays were not shown, except for goals.

     NCAA officials would not give a reason for the blackout. They initially would not even allow replays of goals until enough people complained. When reporters continually asked why replays were not allowed, no reason was given, except that "it is an NCAA mandate."



     FROZEN FOUR: The Black Bears are going to their ninth Frozen Four. Maine has won two titles and has finished second twice.

     The Frozen Four semifinals are in Boston at noon and 6 p.m. Thursday, April 8, and will be televised on ESPN2. The championship game will be on ESPN at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 10.

     Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

     [log in to unmask]