Unless I missed it before, the subject has finally been raised about = Maine in the polls. I admit to being 1 of 3 who left Maine off my H-L = poll ballot this week and I have privately discussed this with Glen = Keeney. I have very mixed emotions about leaving them off and appear to = be in a small minority who have done so. I haven't seen all the other = polls yet, but it appears that may be true for them as well. Both of = the past 2 weeks I even mentioned where I would place Maine had I = decided to include them in the ballot or if he decided that they would = be included. I do feel like it may be unfairly punishing the players = who clearly have very little if anything to do with any of the = infractions. However, I also feel that in view of the school's decision = to penalize themselves this season that it is better for me personally = not to vote for them. I can't dispute that they are and will probably = remain a top-10 or better level team this season. I also hope the = players will take this as an incentive to play even better and I wish = them the best the rest of the way, but I agree that it is a matter best = left up to those who vote even though that leaves a lot of ground for = argument. For me if I was just rating the teams, I wouldn't leave Maine = out, but I see the poll as somehow different in a way I can't clearly = explain. After two weeks of thought, as far as Maine's self-imposed penalties, I = think Shawn Walsh has been penalized quite severely as he probably = deserved to be. At this point I think outright dismissal would be = excessive. If he is indeed reinstated, any further violation directly = attributed to him that he knowingly makes definitely should result in = his dismissal. I don't see how there can be any more excuses or = repeated violations without taking that action. The only thing I might = have done differently if I were making the decision at Maine would be to = suspend him for all of next season not just for the calendar year. I = think the calendar year suspension actually minimizes the effect of the = penalties on the school and him. He will after all be back for the = important part of next season. The net penalty for Maine is that they = won't be eligible for the tournament at the end of this year and they = will be without the scholarships. Losing their coach will hurt, but I = think that will have a minimal effect despite my utmost admiration and = respect for him as a coach. Perhaps that is enough, but I would have = preferred to see him out for the entire next season if he was indeed = culpable for the violations. Eric Carlson UAF 1978 [log in to unmask] HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.