September 30, 2001
A GREAT DAY FOR HOCKEY


ORONO, MAINE-The University of Maine men's hockey team played its annual
Blue/White scrimmage game today. A day after Head Coach Shawn Walsh's
funeral, the team paid their respects in the manner that he would have
appreciated most. They wore the initials SW on the back of their helmets,
and everyone knew he was watching. No one let him down.

A few hours later, the game was over, and the players were back on the
Alfond Arena ice, signing autographs and playing with area children. "Skate
with the Bears," an event Shawn launched many years ago was in full swing.
First-year goaltender Frank Doyle (Guelph, Ontario), who didn't give up one
goal in the over 25 minutes he just played in goal, was being beaten
routinely by a five-year old. Yes, this indeed was "a great day for hockey."

Yes, there was a score, but it seems secondary to most. The Black Bears were
back on the ice, doing what they love most, playing the game of hockey, and
that was cause enough for celebration.

The UMaine White team, led by Martin Kariya's (North Vancouver, British
Columbia) two-point performance (1 goal-1 assist), defeated the UMaine Blue
team 3-1. Fellow assistant captain Chris Heisten (Anchorage, Alaska) scored
the lone goal for the Blue squad.

After a first period of momentum changes, the team's headed to their locker
rooms tied 1-1. Heisten's goal was answered by Michael Schutte's
(Burlington, Ontario) goal five minutes later. Team's played two 25-minute
periods, and Kariya stole the spotlight in the final period. His goal gave
the White team its first lead, and then he set up Francis Nault's (Tracy,
Quebec) goal a few minutes later to give his team the final two-goal margin.

The Black Bear freshman class came to play as well, collecting all but one
assist in the game. Troy Barnes (Pembroke, Ontario), Ben Murphy (North
Andover, Mass.), John Ronan (Braintree, Mass.) and Jon Jankus (Stoney Creek,
Ontario) all earned assists in the game.

Goaltender Mike Morrison (Medford, Mass.) faced the most rubber in the game,
stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced. His opposing goaltender Matt Yeats
(Innisfail, Alberta) enjoyed a slower night, stopping 18 of the 19 shots he
faced. And Doyle, who will practice with the team, but will not be eligible
to play until the 2002-03 season because like Yeats, he comes to UMaine
after having played Major Junior A hockey a year ago, stopped all 13 of the
shots he faced, while spelling both Morrison and Yeats during the game.

The Black Bears' play Moncton University this Friday at Alfond Arena, 7
p.m., in an exhibition game to start their season.



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