As done with most programs, Maine used the final regular season home
game to pay tribute to its 8 final-year players.  Over 3,000 of the
4,400 fans at last Saturday's Maine-Providence game stayed to listen to
some of the accomplishments of the Maine players, through a 20 minute
standing ovation, and hear each player and Coach Shawn Walsh give their
views on their careers at Maine and the year so far.
 
Typical of a Shawn Walsh team, all players were comfortable with the
microphone, appreciative of the support of the fans and up-beat.  The
entire team seems to follow Coach Walsh's lead this year at deflecting
pressure by recognising what they have accomplished and what it took.
 
Leading this group of seniors are Scott Pellerin and Martin Robitaille,
both stand-outs since they first set foot on Alfond ice.
 
Scott Pellerin
 
   The Bangor Daily News' Larry Mahoney quoted Shawn Walsh (Thursday Feb
   27) as saying Scott Pellerin is "the heart and soul of our hockey
   program.  He's what you want a college hockey player to be.  He's
   been tough, worked hard, he's been a leader and he's done everything
   in the community we've asked him to do.  He's been a great role
   model.  He's one of the best two captains we've ever had here along
   with Mike McHugh.  He deserves the Hobey Baker Award.  He's been the
   best all-around player on one of the best all-around teams this
   year."
 
   Scott went into last weekend with (approximate numbers) 161 games,
   +92 +-, 100 goals, 114 assists, and 268 penalty minutes (I refuse to
   use the ridiculous PIM abbreviation!).
 
   One of Scott's little known roles the past two years is as a founding
   member of U Maine's Athletes for Sexual Responsibility.  The group
   has done a number of workshops on campus and has this year broadened
   their area of work to lectures and have produced a video tape on date
   rape that has been getting play at many campuses across the country.
   (For more information on this group or the video, contact Assistant
   Athletic Director for Academic Support Services Margaret Zillioux at
   207/581-1833)
 
Martin Robitaille
 
   Mr. March.  Again quoting Coach Walsh from the same BDN article,
   Martin is a class act.  He's a multi-dimensional player who is
   creative and knows how to play defensively.  He's a guy we'll sorely
   miss a lot more than people realize.  He is really a big game player
   He scores big goals.  Who can forget the double overtime game-winner
   against Providence in the NCAAs four years ago?" (Not me!)
 
   Martin went into last weekends game (as if were already March) with
   159 games, +56 +-, 69 goals, 103 assists, and 66 penalty minutes.
 
Other final year players are (games, +-, goals, assists, penalty minutes)
 
   Mike Barkley (120, +34, 30, 47, 50) has been out most of this year,
   and not dressed this past weekend, with a knee injury.
 
   Brian Downey (105, +46, 57, 78, 51) has had the skills to play on
   some great lines at Maine, mostly with Roy and Montgomery, though
   that line has been split up for the last half year.
 
   Steve Tepper (120, +8, 19, 29, 176) came to Maine as a football
   player, but made a very successful and popular transition to hockey.
   Steve has played in about one-half of this year's games.
 
   Tony Link (105, +28, 3, 15, 84), has improved every year.  The
   Anchorage, Alaska native has one of the better slap shots on the
   team, but mysteriously rarely uses it in a game.  Speed and quickness
   are not qualities used to describe Tony, but his strength and
   determination have turned him into one of the better Maine defensemen
   this year.
 
   Randy Olson (87, +40, 34, 48, 49) has terrific offensive instincts
   and was ready to play the complete game this year before being
   bobbled with injuries and thus used sparingly.  Randy is one of the
   best stick handlers and the best fisherman/outdoorsman on the Maine
   squad.
 
   Steve Widmeyer (70, +3, 10, 5, 111) has the strength be an impact
   player but has suffered lack of playing time with so much talent on
   the team.  Steve missed his Freshman year due to an NCAA suspension;
   Maine fans surely wished the suspension would have been lifted, but
   to no avail.
 
Last year 100% of Maine's graduates went on to play pro hockey (Brian
Straub is doing very well for the SanDiego Gulls).  Will they have a
similar percentage this year?  :-)
 
Wayne Smith
The College Hockey Discussion List administrator
BITNET/CREN:  wts@maine
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