Maine Black Bears Hockey
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[edit] Beginning of Maine Hockey
The University of Maine Black Bears men's hockey team started its hockey program in the 1977-78 under inaugural head coach Jack Semler, and finished an overall record of 15-12-0, which was pretty good for a first year college hockey squad. 8 rollercoaster seasons after starting a hockey program, and along with a new coach, Shawn Walsh, the University of Maine Black Bears men's hockey team entered Division I's Hockey East Associaton in the 1984-85 season, posting a dismal 8-26-0,(12-26-1 overall) record. The next few years they advanced to the Hockey East championship game, only to lose to Boston College in 1987, and Northeastern in 1988, finally capturing the Hockey East crown in 1989, defeating Boston College.
[edit] Blemished Perfection
After 1 more H.E. title and 2 more H.E. Championship game losses, in 1992-93 the Black Bears finished 42-1-2, which is the modern day's closest thing to perfection, the only blemish coming at the hands of a 7 to 6 overtime loss to Boston University. With the help of future NHLer's Paul Kariya, Jim Montgomery, and the amazing goaltending tandem of Mike Dunham & Garth Snow, they captured they're first NCAA Men's Hockey Championship, in a 5 to 4 win over Lake Superior State. The entire state was on top of the world, until NCAA unveiled restrictions due to ineligible players. The season after was full of dissapointment posting an overall record of 6-29-1. There are many things that factor into the dismal record in 1993-94, like Paul Kariya, Jim Montgomery and both star goalies going their own ways.
[edit] 2nd National Championship
After the restrictions they got back into the NCAA National Championship game again in 1994-95, but lost to the Boston University Terriors in the game, 6-2. The next time the Black Bears made it to the championship game was in 1998-99. Unlike the 1992-93 team there would be no regular season title, no Hockey East title, as they would end up finishing second to New Hampshire, or tournament as they lost to Boston College 3-2 in the semifinal game. The Black Bears got even with both teams in the Frozen Four, which is hockey's version of NCAA Basketball's Final Four. The team, led by Paul Kariya's younger brother Steve, beat Ohio State 4-2, destroyed Clarkson University 7-2 in the next round, then advanced where they met the Boston College Eagles in the Frozen Four. The game was a defensive struggle, where both goalies Alfie Michaud (Maine), and Scott Clemmensen (B.C.) each stopped 35 of 36 shots, but the 37th shot by Maine founfa way by Clemmensen and Maine defeated Boston College 2-1 in a glorious overtime win. In the finals they had to play against the New Hampshire Wildcats, who was led by Hobey Baker winner Jason Krog. Maine, who was up by a goal until Souza scored for New Hampshire early in the Third Period, were set for another thrilling overtime game. Alfie Michaud made some tremendous saves in the overtime period, and captured the tournament MVP honors, and at the 10:50 mark of overtime Marcus Gustafsson broke the tied game with the game winning goal, to lead the Black Bears to a 3-2 overtime victory, and most importantly, a 2nd National Championship.
[edit] Death of Coach Walsh To The Present
After failing to repeat as champions in 1999-2000 (North Dakota wound up winning the NCAA Champions), Maine was poised for a great season in 2001-2002. Then came the tragic death of long time coach Shawn Walsh on September 24th, 2001, at age 46. Like in 1993 when Maine won the NCAA Championship the state stood still. With intern coach Tim Whitehead coaching they magically made it to the 2002 Championship game against Minnesota. Maine was 43.5 seconds away from winning championship #3, when the Golden Gophers scored to send the game to overtime. In overtime Minnesota scored to win the game 4-3, ending Maine's Cinderella season, and again in 2003-04 tragically losing 1 to 0 to Denver, after having a goal disallowed for Mike Hamilton having a skate in the crease.
[edit] Season By Season Records
Year---- Overall---- H.E
2005-06: 28--12--2--- 17-8-2
2004-05: 20--13--7--- 13-6-5
2003-04: 33--8--3--- 17-5-2
2002-03: 24--10--5--- 14-6-4
2001-02: 26--11--7--- 14-5-5
2000-01: 20--12--7--- 12-7-5
1999-00: 27--8--5--- 13-7-4
1998-99: 31--6--4--- 17-5-3
1997-98: 17--15--4--- 10-11-3
1996-97: 23--10--1--- 16-7-1
1995-96: 26--9--4--- 14-6-4
1994-95: 32--6--6--- 15-3-6
1993-94: 6--29--1--- 3-20-1
1992-93: 42--1--2--- 22-1-1
1991-92: 18--17--2--- 12-7-2
1990-91: 32--9--2--- 15-5-1
1989-90: 33--11--2--- 14-6-1
1988-89: 31--14--0--- 17-9-0
1987-88: 34--8--2--- 20-4-2
1986-87: 24--16--2--- 19-12-1
1985-86: 11--28--1--- 8-25-1
1984-85: 12--29--1--- 8-26-0
---Division I Independent---
1983-84: 14--20--0---
1982-83: 5--24--0---
1981-82: 8--21--0---
1980-81: 23--11--0---
1979-80: 15--16--1---
1978-79: 25--8--1---
1977-78: 15--12--0---
