Keith Carney was entering his Senior season at UMaine,but chose to tryout
for the Olympic team instead.  He signed a contract with the Sabres agreeing
to join them after the Olympics.  However,when Team USA decided to go with
more veteran players in January,Carney was cut.  It was a great surprise,since
Keith was the leading scorer for the defense,and had played in the most games
of any Olympic hopeful.  I believe that he has spent time with both Buffalo
(I saw him playing last week vs. the Bruins)and their AHL affiliate.
A side note on Keith is that one of the most emotional moments of the
season for UMaine this season was playng vs. Team USA,with Keith as THEIR
captain.  The game was played in Portland,ME and Keith received a Standing "O"
for over a minute!  He then faced off against long-time friend Scott Pellerin
in the ceremonial Face-Off(conducted by UMaine benefactor Harold Alfond) at cen
ter ice.  Early in the First Period both Scott and Keith were already into the
flow of the game,when a the puck came loose along the boards,and Pellerin went
in and gave the USA player one of his usual devastating checks.  Only after he
had returned to the  bench did he realize that he had leveled Carney!Scott
"apologized",and Keith returned the favor by leveling Scott in the third!
 To sort of sum up;the loss of both Carney and Brian Straub(graduation)was
supposed to devastate the Bears this season,but the play of UMaine's "No-Name"
defense has been spectacular!  The team misses Keith,but UMaine is so filled
with talent that we don't "miss" him.
 
Does that last statement make sense?
 
Anyway,Go Bears!  The seeds are coming out soon.  Speculation around Alfond
has been that we'll be playing Wisconsin/UNH winner.
 
                                                 JSH FORSYTH
NYA '91 UMO '95
UMAINE #1
(Go Blue Devils)
 
Hobbes: Why do we play War,not Peace ?
Calvin: Too few role models!!
 
Hobbes: Kind of a stupid game,isn't it ?