ORONO, Maine (AP) -- Resuming practice without coach Shawn
Walsh, University of Maine hockey players team have voted against
talking publicly about the coach's five-game suspension.
   The university announced Walsh's punishment Wednesday for
allowing a freshman to play despite questions of eligibility.
Assistant coach Grant Standbrook was directing the team, which
plays Hockey East rival New Hampshire tonight.
   Walsh, in his 10th season at Maine, is not allowed to have any
contact with the team until Jan. 1, when he will fly to Minnesota
to rejoin the team at a tournament.
   His office remained empty Thursday.
   "It will give me time to spend with my family during the
holiday," said Walsh, who has a career record of 258-123-4 and
has led Maine to three Hockey East championships and a national
championship.
   The suspension followed the determination that Walsh made a
"serious error in judgment" by allowing Jeff Tory of British
Columbia to play in three games despite questions of his academic
eligibility.
   Maine's record will drop from 8-3 to 5-6 this season after the
forfeiture of three games.
   Frederick Hutchinson, the school's president, noted that the
coach was aware of questions about Tory's eligibility through
conversations with other coaches and a letter from the NCAA to
another school. Walsh contended the problems are the result of a
faulty interpretation of Canada's grading system.
   Walsh said the grade of "P" given to Tory in Canada is the
equivalent of a "C-minus." The NCAA ruled that Tory's grades
amounted to a "D-minus," making him ineligible to play his
freshman year.
   The coach admitted he made a mistake by not bringing a letter
from the NCAA to the attention of athletic director Mike
Ploszeck, but maintained he did what he thought was best.
   "Obviously the University of Maine felt I didn't do what's
right," Walsh said. "I think I may have done what's right."