Joe Makowiec wrote, in part:

> An observation, if I may - Orono is /way/ out of the way for most of the
> world.  (We noticed the Black Bear bumper stickers, license plates,
> window
> stickers...)  Wouldn't it be helpful all 'round if the UMaine system were
> to move their hockey program's headquarters to, say, Portland, where it
> wouldn't be a four-hour ride to the middle of nowhere for all their
> opponents?


It's only 2 1/2 hours from Portland to the middle of nowhere, unless you
take Route 1 and have to wait for the other 9 million tourists. ;-)

At least 3 things probably stand in the way

* A number of years ago, a new Chancellor of the U Maine System (U Maine
is one of about 7 campuses of the "system") wanted to move his office to
Portland from Bangor (near Orono, for you westerners enduring this
thread).  The fur flew.  The Legistlature thought about system funding.
People all over the state (except Portland) got mad.   As I recall, the
Cows didn't get mad, so that Chancellor must have moved on.

* To expand on the above point:  Portland is only part of Maine if you
live near Portland or out of the great State of Maine.  It's a nice
place to visit, if you don't mind "the city".

* Portland and the U Maine System already have a pretty fair (D-3)
hockey team at the University of Southern Maine (USM).

Probably many college hockey programs have a number of folks that
regularly attend from a good distance.  I know many that watch the Black
Bears year after year after a 75-100 mile trip.  We've had a few from
New Brunswick, but I don't know of any from Nova Scotia ... now that's a
long haul!

Halifax is a great city ... one of my favorites!

Thanks, Joe!     cheers, wayne