The following is from the Portland Press Herald, Wednesday August 14 edition. It is copyrighted by Gannett Co. and I have obtained permission to reprint any and all articles for the Portland Press Herald on the Maine list. UMAINE PLAYERS CAN'T BEAR BAN * Up to four 'All-American canidates' may leave because Maine is excluded from postseason play by Kevin Thomas, Staff Writer The four best University of Maine hockey players could leave the team because of the Black Bear's ban from postseaon play this year. Goalie Blair Allison and defensemen Jeff Tory and Brett Clark have been invited to the Canadian national team tryout September 9 in Calgary. If chosen, they will represent Canada in international tournaments during the next year. Also, forward Tim Lovell is considering a transfer to another school. "We could lose three or four All-American canidates," said Maine's acting head coach Greg Cronin. "It's one of those things. If (the NCAA ban) hadn't happened, we'd be one of the favorites for the national championship." Although Maine voluntarily sat out this year's national tournament because of it's violations of NCAA rules, the NCAA added a second year to the ban in a wave of additional penalties announced July 31. All four players said the NCAA ban caused them to look elsewhere. "You never know what will happen with the appeal," Allison said. Allison and Tory are All-Americans. They, with Lovell, were the only Black Bears chosen to the All-Hockey East team. They are all seniors. Clark, a sophomore, was chosen to the Hockey East All-Rookie team last year. He was also the Montreal Canadiens' sixth-round choice in the NHL draft two months ago. Because of the NCAA ban, Maine's seniors would be allowed to transfer to another school without any of the usual penalties (transfers must normally sit out one year). Maine has eight seniors this year. Cronin said he knew of no other players considering a move. Lovell said he's spoken to a few schools, inclduing Northeastern. "At the moment, I don't know," Lovell said. "I want to play for a national championship. And since I've been at Maine, this will be our third year we can't play for a championship." In 1994, Maine forfeited 14 games because of ineligible players, runining the Black Bears' chances for an NCAA tournament berth. Maine played in the 1995 NCAA tournament and reached the final. In 1996, Maine penalized itself and sat out of the tournament. The 1997 penalty is harsher. The NCAA is banning Maine from all postseason games, including the Hockey East tournment." "That's shocking," said Lovell, who didn't realize the ban also covered the conference tournament. "At least we had Hockey East last year. Now we don't have anything." Northeastern's new coach, Bruce Crowder, also has been in touch with Allison and Tory. Crowder knows them well from his previous seasons at Massachusetts-Lowell. Allison and Tory said they didn't want to play for another school. Allison said he will return to the Black Bears if he doesn't make the Canadian team. Tory and Clark are exploring their options, including a return to Maine or going pro. If all three play for the Canadian team this year, only Clark could return to Maine because he would have college eligibility remaining, according to the Canadian national team general manager, Mike Johnson. At the tryout 35 players will compete for 20 spots. Johnson spoke highly of all three Maine players. Allison has played on a Canadian all-star team "so we know what he can do," Johnson said. "Tory is high on our list. And Clark may have been one of the top prospects we say" in a recent evaluation of players. If Allison leaves, the Black Bears will not no returning goalies. Backup Blair Marsh has one year of eligibility left but has graduated and said he was leaving the program. The No. 3 goalie, Eric Geoffroy of the Lewiston, has transferred to the University of Southern Maine. An incoming freshman, Alfie Michaud of Selkirk, Manitoba, could become the No. 1 goalie. Michaud, an all-star from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, said two weeks ago he might not come to Maine because of the NCAA penalties. But his father, Alfred Michaud, said Tuesday his son has decided to join the Black Bears. "Alfie will be put in the fire quickly," Cronin said. If Tory and Clark leave, the Black Bears will have only five defensemen returning and no known recruited defensemen coming in. Plus, Tory, Clark and Lovell played pivotal roles on Maine's power play. Cronin, who is acting head coach until the suspended coach, Shawn Walsh, returns Dec. 24, is disappointed the players might leave. "Because (of the NCAA decision) I can sympathize with them," Cronin said. "But there is also a degree of loyalty that exists here." *** LOVELL HAS been chosen to play for the USA Select Team in the Tampere Cup tournament Aug. 22-25 in Finland. The United States team is comprised of 20 American born collegiate players. The tournament includes seven of Europe's top club teams. Earlier this week, Cronin returned from Finland, where he was an assistant coach with the US national junior training camp team. -- end of article