First of all, the (apparent) good news for UMaine:  According to CBS this
morning during the Gold Medal Game (Sweden won in a shootout) Paul Kariya
will be returning to UMaine and rejoin the team (and continue towards his
degree in economics).  It is unofficial at this point, but it would seem
like UM is getting reinforcements from Lillehammer just in time for the
playoffs.  According to Shawn Walsh in an interview aired on Channels 2
and 6 throughout Maine and New Hampshireduring the Maine-Merrimack game
last night, the team voted unanimously to invite Kariya and the Ferraro
twins to return after the Olympics.  As of last night however, there was
no word from any of those involved.  Walsh did say that the Americans
would be landing in New York Monday evening, and the Canadians in Toronto
during the day Tuesday.  Which means that if the players wanted to, they
could be back on campus and able to travel to UNH and BC next weekend,
although Peter and Paul would likely be too worn out to play until the
first round of the Hockey East playoffs.
Of course, this is still not official, only a report from CBS this AM
during the Gold Medal game.  CBS did not mention the Ferraros, however
I believe Chris will come back, and Peter will return with him.
 
Now for the bad news.  A heartbreaking scene will unfold in a few hours
in Orono when all the seniors take their final bows, and play their final
game at Alfond Arena; almostall of them anyway.  Jason Weinrich, a team
mate since our days at North Yarmouth Academy will not be skating onto
ice, instead he will hop onto the ice with the use of a set of crutches
after a season-ending injury last weekend at BU (Officially, he is out for
4-6 weeks, but the Bears would need to make it all the way to the Phinal
Phour in order to make it four weeks).  And of course, Patrice Tardif,
who has fought so hard to overcome a lot of adversity, completed his degree
program at UMaine in only three years, and still said he'd come back for
 
one last year for the team, will be watching from the stands after being
declared ineligible.  Because of a foolish mistake by a beaurocrat, his
final hours at Alfond will not be happy ones.  I watched Scott Pellerin,
Jim Montgomery, Martin Robitaille and crowd favorite Steve Tepper make
their emotional final appearances at Alfond, and they had a good time
in their last games.  Its a shame these guys won't get the chance.
 
As for the HE Playoffs, Maine will likely be the #8 seed, and travel to
BU for the first round, but with Paul (I missed a Gold Medal by an inch)
Kariya and the Ferraro Twins backs.....
And to address the notion of keeping Maine out of the playoffs, every
team in Hockey East makes the playoffs, regardless of won-loss records.
Even if a team goes 0-for-the-league in regular season play, they still
have a shot in the tournament, IMHO, thats what makes the tournaments
so exciting.  A team can come from no where, win a few games and suddenly
find themselves in a championship game, and maybe at the Big Dance (err
Little Dance..I think Big Dance might be trademarked by the NC$$  ;-> )
In any event, the tournament looks like it is going to be a dandy, and I
am in hopes of joining the Garden Party next month whether Maine is there
or not.
 
Thats the news from Black Bear country for now
 
 
John Forsyth
UMaine/Team Canada: The Silver Medal Connection (missed a Gold by 2 cm)
"This (game) is still up for grabs"  CBS announcer Emrick with 6 minutes
left in the first period of a 1-0 game...  Its sure refreshing to have such
observant people doing the play-by-play.