First of all, the (apparent) good news for UMaine: According to CBS this morning during the Gold Medal Game (Sweden won in a shootout) Paul Kariya will be returning to UMaine and rejoin the team (and continue towards his degree in economics). It is unofficial at this point, but it would seem like UM is getting reinforcements from Lillehammer just in time for the playoffs. According to Shawn Walsh in an interview aired on Channels 2 and 6 throughout Maine and New Hampshireduring the Maine-Merrimack game last night, the team voted unanimously to invite Kariya and the Ferraro twins to return after the Olympics. As of last night however, there was no word from any of those involved. Walsh did say that the Americans would be landing in New York Monday evening, and the Canadians in Toronto during the day Tuesday. Which means that if the players wanted to, they could be back on campus and able to travel to UNH and BC next weekend, although Peter and Paul would likely be too worn out to play until the first round of the Hockey East playoffs. Of course, this is still not official, only a report from CBS this AM during the Gold Medal game. CBS did not mention the Ferraros, however I believe Chris will come back, and Peter will return with him. Now for the bad news. A heartbreaking scene will unfold in a few hours in Orono when all the seniors take their final bows, and play their final game at Alfond Arena; almostall of them anyway. Jason Weinrich, a team mate since our days at North Yarmouth Academy will not be skating onto ice, instead he will hop onto the ice with the use of a set of crutches after a season-ending injury last weekend at BU (Officially, he is out for 4-6 weeks, but the Bears would need to make it all the way to the Phinal Phour in order to make it four weeks). And of course, Patrice Tardif, who has fought so hard to overcome a lot of adversity, completed his degree program at UMaine in only three years, and still said he'd come back for one last year for the team, will be watching from the stands after being declared ineligible. Because of a foolish mistake by a beaurocrat, his final hours at Alfond will not be happy ones. I watched Scott Pellerin, Jim Montgomery, Martin Robitaille and crowd favorite Steve Tepper make their emotional final appearances at Alfond, and they had a good time in their last games. Its a shame these guys won't get the chance. As for the HE Playoffs, Maine will likely be the #8 seed, and travel to BU for the first round, but with Paul (I missed a Gold Medal by an inch) Kariya and the Ferraro Twins backs..... And to address the notion of keeping Maine out of the playoffs, every team in Hockey East makes the playoffs, regardless of won-loss records. Even if a team goes 0-for-the-league in regular season play, they still have a shot in the tournament, IMHO, thats what makes the tournaments so exciting. A team can come from no where, win a few games and suddenly find themselves in a championship game, and maybe at the Big Dance (err Little Dance..I think Big Dance might be trademarked by the NC$$ ;-> ) In any event, the tournament looks like it is going to be a dandy, and I am in hopes of joining the Garden Party next month whether Maine is there or not. Thats the news from Black Bear country for now John Forsyth UMaine/Team Canada: The Silver Medal Connection (missed a Gold by 2 cm) "This (game) is still up for grabs" CBS announcer Emrick with 6 minutes left in the first period of a 1-0 game... Its sure refreshing to have such observant people doing the play-by-play.