> > On the subject of Maine-Providence, whatever happened to that rivalry? > It used to be pretty big, then it kind of fizzled out. Any explanations? > > -Brian Sprague > Good question. I don't have an explanation but I do remember that it was one of the more intense rivalrys. (That skating Friar!) I guess maybe it evolved into the Maine-BC which became more of a Maine-BU/UNH as BC's program went into decline and Maine's took off. Apart from the truly longstanding rivalrys, like those amongst the Boston teams in Hockey East and WI/MN, two teams need to have some level of parity to continue a longstanding intense rivalry. When PC started to be a second division team and Maine started to dominate (I say that only because they were in the league championship game so many years in a row), perhaps the intensity faded as well. I can't remember the last time they met in the playoffs. It would be interesting to see if anything comes of last year's forfeits between these teams...maybe Maine will feel like they want to prove something. I for one accept that Maine had to take a loss for all those games...it was a bonehead mistake. But for PC to get the wins, that hurt some (only a taste of what was to come though). It will beinteresting to see if the much-hyped rivalry between our two UMass' comes to anything. I feel it to be kind of forced at the moment. Dave Reusch UMaine '86, UNH GR '95