(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.