jon wrote, in part..
> My heartfelt regrets to his family and friends. Its a sad, sad day in
>Orono.Alfond will never be the same:(

How so.

When this brash, driven young man arrived in Maine (27 years ago?), I
was sure he was a very, very good coach, and just as sure he would leave
for greener pastures before some of his first recruits.  I was wrong, as
usual, on both counts ...  he was much better than a very, very good
coach and Maine became his adopted State.  Maine fans knew recruits
would be trained and pushed for the benefit of Maine Hockey and for the
recruits themselves by a superb coaching staff.  Thank you, Coach Walsh!

All the best to his family.

Dick Osborne, the voice of UNH hockey, wrote this last evening,
entitled "A sad day for college hockey" ...

Today's passing of Coach Shawn Walsh is a sad day indeed for the college
hockey world.  He fought cancer with all of the determination and
courage he brought to the sport he loved.   His teams consistently
played beyond what many thought to be their capability, and that was a
sure reflection of the inspiration his players took from Shawn, before
his illness was diagnosed, and certainly afterwards.
While I sometimes shared the stereotyped view of Coach Walsh in earlier
years, I came to appreciate and admire him greatly in more recent years.

College hockey was enriched by him, and the sport will sorely miss him.

Dick Osborne