In this mornings Boston Globe, Will McDonough reports that the University of Maine's hockey program is headed for probation, and the announcement could come by the end of the month. --- The Boston Globe Monday, August 8, 1994 by Will McDonogh ... Speaking of college hockey, things have changed for the University of Maine. Just two years ago the Black Bears were the toast of their sport and the greatest thing to happen to the state of Maine since lobster. But now word has it that Maine's hockey program is headed for probation and the hammer could drop sometime this month. Sources close to the Maine hockey program say that inves- tigators (a law firm hired by the NCAA to conduct the investi- gation) have been on campus three times in the last six months checking for possible infractions. "We think it could be a year's probation," said the source, "but not as bad as some people thought it was going to be. It might be like what they did to the Ohio State basketball program." Ohio State was placed on one-year probation, but can play in the postseason and appear on television. Ohio State had one scholarship taken away and has been curtailed in its recruiting for certain periods during the year. Ironically, both the athletic director and compliance officer at Ohio State left during this period. Some who know college hockey well say the Maine hockey program has been out of control in recent years. In the last six months, the athletic director and compliance officer have left the program, and the feeling is they took the fall for what has been going on in the hockey program under Shawn Walsh. If and when the probation comes, the five-year clock will start ticking against Maine, which means that any violation during the next five years could be the death knell for the program. --- End quoted material The one thing that bothers me about Will's article is that he doesn't quote one source by name. The article is highly speculative. But we've all heard these same rumblings about Maine's program, this is the first time I've seen them in print. -kap