I'll try not to bore everyone with every little detail, but I can't
take a college hockey trip of any considerable length without
posting to Hockey-L about it.  :-)
 
I recently completed my 1993-94 season travels by attending
the Shrine College Hockey Classic in Orono ME.  So, I managed
to visit the Western-most [Univ of Alaska Fairbanks] and Eastern-
most [Univ of Maine] programs competing at the Division I level
in the same season.  I'll take an asterisk for not actually seeing
the Black Bears, but I was in Orono and Alfond Arena nonetheless.
 
It was great to meet Charlie and Margaret Slavin, son Matt and
Wayne and Becky Smith.  As always, it was good to see Mike
and Heather Machnik again.  Also a pleasure to see Venky,
whom I met in Ann Arbor earlier in the season.  It's ironic that,
being a student at Maine, the only one in the Hockey-L gang that
Venky had met previously was the stiff from the CCHA.
 
I also had the pleasure of meeting Coach Shawn Walsh, Assistant
Coach Mike LaZazzera and several members of the Maine staff.
I didn't have a chance to sit down with Coach Walsh and "talk
hockey", but he really looked out for me while I was there and I
can't say how much I enjoyed and appreciated that.  Coach
LaZazzera picked me up at the airport, took me to me hotel and
to the arena, gave me a tour of the facilities and essentially made
sure that I was well cared for.  The coaches also arranged for me
to attend the banquet on Friday evening.  Don't worry, NO recruiting
violations in any of this...my eligibility has long since expired. :-)
 
On Saturday, Charlie and I wandered around the area both by foot
and by car.  Highlights included Pat's Pizza [one of the four best
restaurants in Orono :-] and Charlie's memorabilia collection.  We
also spent some time at hockey card shops in Orono and Brewer.
Amazing how much more a Garth Snow card sells for in Maine than
in Ann Arbor. :-)
 
Prior to the game, Charlie, Wayne & Becky, Mike & Heather, Venky
and I gathered for dinner.  We then headed over to Alfond.  The
game info has already been posted...all I can add is that if the gang
thought I was loud [cheering for Oliver] there, they should see me at
Yost. :-)
 
There is also a fieldhouse on the Maine campus with a huge block
M for all to see.  Very cool, although I can't help thinking that it would
look better with a darker shade of blue and some yellow trim. :-)
 
Charlie, Wayne, Mike, Heather and I met one more time for brunch
on Sunday.  Sort of the unofficial end to the 1993-94 season.
 
Before I finish, I have to say that if you ever have the opportunity to
attend one of the Shrine games...do so.  And I encourage everyone
to attend the Friday night banquet.  It's good to meet some of the
players and hear the coaches speak, but it's even better to listen to
the Shriners and get a feel for why this game and it's continual growth
is so important...and to see the honorary captains.  This year's
captains included a boy from a Shrine hospital and one from a
Shrine burn institute.  Both honorary captains skated onto the ice
prior to Saturday's game and joined their respective teams at the
blue line.  It was a thrill for the players and fans as well as the kids.
 
And...it's a great opportunity for a mini-Hockey-L gathering!
 
 
  John H
  U Mich
  Already pumped for 1994-95.