(from today's Bangor Daily News, in an article by Larry Mahoney)
 
Most Valuable player award shared by junior goalie Garth Snow (tied
   school record (Scott King) with 25 wins) and senior Scott Pellerin.
   Garth's 2.44 GAA is a single season low for Maine goalies (with
   in at least 10 games).
 
Scott Pellerin was not able to attend (in Utica), his parents, Nap and
   Susan, and younger brother Jason were at the banquet.  Scott will
   become the first player in Maine's 15 year history to have his number
   (8) retired next season.
 
   A note read by Scott's dad said, among other things, "After being in
   the pros for four days, I agree with what Coach Leach (former Maine
   assistant Jay Leach) told me: It never gets any better than college
   hockey".
 
   Ed note: Jay Leach is the best hockey teacher I've ever had the
            pleasure of knowing. wts
 
Elected team captain for next year is junior center Jim Montgomery.  This
   is the first Coach Walsh team with a single captain.  Serving as
   assistant captains will be Dave LaCouture, Dan Murphy, and Chris Imes.
 
Other awards included:
 
   Pepsi Spirit Award (best fan)           - 75-year-old Newton Culver
                                             of Eddington, ME.
 
   Gary Thorne Award (Friends of Maine Hockey's favorite player)
                                           - Cal Ingraham.
 
      Ed note: Gary Thorne was instrumental in the success of youth
               and college hockey in Maine and was a long time radio
               broadcaster of Maine hockey.  Gary, a native of Old Town,
               ME, may now be seen on SportsChannel as voice of the NJ
               Devils and on ESPN baseball telecasts.  wts
 
   Bangor Daily News Three-Star Award (for performance in home games)
                                           - Scott Pellerin.
 
   Academic Achievement Award              - Mike Barkley.
 
   Most Honoured Opponent Award            - BC goalie Scott LaGrand.
 
   Stein Award (for team humorist)         - Kent Salfi.
 
   Most Inspirational Player Award         - Dan Murphy.
 
   Outstanding Defensive Player Award      - Chris Imes.
 
   Jack Semler Most Improved Player Award  - Patrice Tardif
 
      Ed note: Jack Semler was Maine's first coach and brought the
               program to Division I status.  Maine's only other coach
               (Thank You, God!), Shawn Walsh, has taken the program to
               a level of play and overall respectability that this
               observer did not think possible.
 
   Howard Neville Rookie of the Year Award - Andy Silverman
 
      Ed note: Howard Neville was President of U Maine during the
               formative years of Maine hockey.
 
Among the higher-ups :-) attending were Maine's Governor Jock McKernan
and U of Maine President Fred Hutchinson.  Hutchinson recalled heading
the fund drive on campus for the Alfond Arena and Performing Arts Center
and the "wonderful feeling" he had attending the first game on Nov 18,
1977.
 
   Ed note: Since the closest things to Alfond being a "Performing Arts
            Center" have been a yearly spring figure skating show and
            occasional magic on ice by players from Andre Aubut to Pelle
            and Jean-Yves Roy, a new "Maine Center for the Arts" was
            built across campus a few years later.  :-)  wts
 
Wayne Smith
The College Hockey Discussion List administrator
BITNET/CREN:  wts@maine
internet:     [log in to unmask]
 
P.S.  Today is the national signing day for NCAA sports (the first day
      that incoming students may sign a letter of intent).  Maine will
      have a couple of nice surprises, and I hope we get news from many
      of you telling us about your new recruits.  cheers.