This article appeared in today's (March 8th) Boston Globe... excuse
any inadvertant typos. :)
 
After seeing the Maine paper's story on this, I wouldn't have sent
this in, but it does have some (not totally enlightening) comments
from "someone from the Hockey East group that banned Maine".  So,
there is an "unofficial" comment.
 
adam
BU '89
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The Boston Globe, Tuesday, March, 8th, 1994
 
"Maine goes to court in bid to gain playoffs"
 
By Bob Monahan, Globe Staff
 
  The University of Maine is going to course to get into the Hockey
East playoffs.
  Last Friday, the Hockey East athletic directors and commisioner Bob
DeGregorio voted to ban Maine from the playoffs because it used
ineligible players twice this season and had to forfeit a total of 24
victories.  The ADs also cited a problem that went back a year ago and
caused Cal Ingraham to miss the first 14 games of this season.
  They agreed that Maine's season should be over as of last Saturday,
when they beat Boston College, and that Boston University, which
finished in first place, should receive a bye in the playoffs instead
of playing the eighth-place Black Bears.
  But Maine officials have asked Penobscot County Superior Cour
Justice Robert L. Browne for a temporary restraining order and an
injunction against Hockey East that allows the school in the
tournament.  Browne reviewed Maine's request yesterday and indicated
he would rule on it this morning.
  "We feel strongly that students should not be punished for events
over which they had no control," said university president Frederick
E. Hutchinson in a statement.  "The NCAA says the team is eligible to
compete, and we believe Hockey East should acknowledge that and treat
the university's students the same way it treats students from other
universities.
  "Unfortunately, last week's vote by Hockey East punished the
university for being honest in its self-reporting and attempting to
correct administrative errors within the Athletics Department."
  A member of the Hockey East group that banned Maine said, "It took a
lot of soul searching before that decision against Maine was made.  We
took into consideration the athletes who were not at fault.
  "Then there was a money factor.  The proceeds of all the playoffs
games at all the rinks and the monies realized from the semifinals and
finals at Boston Garden all go into the Hockey East fund.
  "So just imagine that Maine didn't forfeit any games and had home
ice.  That would be two or three sellouts in a 6,000 capacity rink.
Then imagine if Maine went to the Garden where they draw very well.
You add all that up and that is way over $100,000 lost.
  "Maine doesn't seem to realize that we're trying to give them a
message."
--
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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