Official Shawn Walsh Memory Thread

[pquine]

I am so sad to hear the news of Coach Walsh. My heart goes out to the family, the players, the University, and all college hockey fans. This is a loss for all of us. I will say prayers tonight for the family and for Jack Parker. After losing Mark Bavis two weeks ago, Jack now loses a rival and friend in coach Walsh.


Sad. So sad.:(

[kellyd2727]

Does anybody know of any kind of memorial service yet?

[bandit]

My step dad called me about 445 tonight to tell me. I was in Mass, this is one of those things you remember where you were.

I don't really want to bore people with how I felt about the man, but I am going to for my own sake and hopefully those that sometimes just don't know what to say or think at a time like this.

I remember back in 84 I think it was, when I heard he was coming to Maine. I was excited for a number of reasons, I felt he had to be cool because he had the same first name as mine and he spelled it the same! More in a minute.

I remember back, as many do, when the Alfond was a grassy knoll in Orono. I didn't like hockey at all, then I heard that they were building a hockey rink and were going to have a college team there. Well I thought, I have to see that. I was 10 years old. Maine hockey was the first hockey I ever saw in my life and after that first game I was hooked. Of course at the time, Coach Walsh wasn't there, but it was fun and very tough times for fans of the school. We weren't really that good after those first couple of years at Div 2.

For some reason, the school was tired of Jack's losing, and decided to go out and get a young gun. I was pretty excited, like I said. I just had a feeling.

Well for a few years after that, we bite our fingernails every March as we got closer and closer, Maine Hockey was as close to God as you could get in the state.

I saw fans rise from about 500 a game to the point were you couldn't even get tickets. I still remember the Alfond as it was, with the single bathroom, no luxury boxes, and you had to fight your way down the aisles to your seat, nothing like it is today.

It was in 92-93 when you just knew there was magic in the air. They could score at will, the old barn would go nuts and they would score. How did a coaching staff get such magicians.
We saw an awesome show that year!

We were so excited by the play of Paul and Jim in that last period!

Coach dedicated it to the entire State. We were so proud.

Then the roof fell in.

We were in our darkest days, attendance fell, we were heartbroken, even those that thought he was the best thing ever felt he should go.

Then the University decided to keep him. Oh, how glad we were of that. But for reasons not everyone will understand outside of Maine.

Coach Walsh brought respect back to himself and the school. Not by winning in 99, but by the way he treated everyone who ever came in contact with him.

Coach Walsh was a man of integrity. A man of integrity makes mistakes, because we all do, but what seperates them from other men, is that they admit it. I will forever remember him for that. I will forever remember him for the way he taught kids in the state about character, about the way his players acted, on the road and in around the University. They always carried themselves with pride and respect.

These are the things that the coach required of them. I believe he has made a difference on many thousands of people all over the world. We need more men of character like him. I will miss him terribly behind the bench, I will think often of his young sons, aand daughter, since I have one the same age as Sean. I hope everyone who ever meets his children lets them know that he was a great man that they can be proud of. I hope anyone that was ever helped or influenced by him, lets his family know that he left his mark on them.

I will forever feel a bond to the man that made me believe in a sport that I never liked and made me enjoy it like I never thought I could. This year I started playing myself. Shawn Walsh was a close to a hero to me as any man that was not a relative. God bless him and his family. We will all miss you Coach, for the man you are.

[bsaeagle64]

My condolences to his family and the University of Maine community. I never had the pleasure of meeting Shawn Walsh personally but my son did. Based on my son's comments about him as a person (never mind a hockey coach), I'm sorry I didn't find the opportunity just to say hello when the Black Bears visited NU over the years.

[lhuntoon]

My thoughts and prayers are with Coach Walsh's family.

I have so many memories of Coach from since I started following team in 1987. I used to love watching him get "agitated" (to put it MILDLY) when a referee made a bad call. I remember two games where he actually got tossed: a game back in 1989 or 1990 against UNH at "lively Snively" when he got tossed with 10 seconds left in the game; and then against BC in what turned out to be his final game. I also loved how he used to help ensourage the crowd when his team really needed it. You knew he meant business when he came out of the locker room at the start of a period without his jacket.

One of my fondest memories of Coach was before a game at Merrimack after he came back from his suspension; we saw him in the lobby and wished him good luck in the upcoming game. After he finished his conversation, he came over to us and thanked us for coming to the game.

I think he was just as proud of having all his seniors graduate in 1999 as he was of them winning the championship.

Coach, thanks for all the good memories - I'll miss you, but thinking of you will always put a smile on my face.
:)

[delmonaco03]

i was getting ready for class when a friend sent me an instant message telling me that coach had died, i didn't know what to say or how to react. we lost a great man today and he won't be forgotten. he holds a special place in all of our hearts and he won't be forgotten. even though we taunt you eagles, wildcats, terriers, etc, it means alot to us maine~iaks to see your condolences. when the season starts and we are standing up in the balcony at the alfond, it isn't going to be the same looking down at the bench and not seeing coach there...not seeing him jump onto the boards when there is a bad call, and after a game, not having him salute the maine~iaks. coach you meant alot to us....we are going to miss you greatly.....thank you for the memories....thanks for everything coach.....we love ya man

[kellyd2727]

delmonaco...all of us at Lowell share you guys' pain and sorrow in this time of mourning. my favorite thing about "Walshy" was watching him climb the boards at the tully forum then at the tsongas. well worth the ticket to see Walshy go ape on the refs. We might've taunted him, but we loved him. won't be the same when Maine comes to town and he isn't there. keep us all posted about any memorials.

[DoorCountyBadger]

it is especially a sad day for not only for Maine Hockey but college hockey in general. Our family gives our best to all and in your time of need we urge everyone to read Romans 6.

Best Wishes to the Maine family

As a lifelong UNH fan, I certainly directed my fair share of venom towards the Black Bears and Coach Walsh. I married a girl from U. Maine last year, so the UNH-Maine rivalry had taken on even more meaning in our house.

Two winters ago, we got tickets to the UNH game at Alfond (still don't know how we managed that), and the place was rocking. Coach Walsh was yelling at the refs, his players were cheap-shotting the UNH guys, and I got into a heated argument with an old lady over our rooting interests. And you know what? All was right with the world right at that moment. I just didn't realize it.

The thing I admire most about Shawn Walsh is that his teams were always good. Even if the Black Bears were playing .500 hockey, you still feared a Shawn Walsh team. I also admire the way he battled this despicable disease.

Coach, our prayers are with you, your wife and your three children...rest in peace. And thanks for making it fun to be a college hockey fan.

[aaronstol]

From a big OSU hockey, my thoughts are with his friends and family and all Black Bear fans..

[Scarlet]

My condolensces to the Walsh family and University of Maine hockey family. As a BU fan, I have more interesting memories of games against the Black Bears than any other school. I know he meant a lot to the school and he will be missed.

I feel like I've been writing the same type of sentence for the last few weeks. First Mark Bavis and the SLU players. Now Coach Walsh. This hasn't been a good month. I look forward to the beginning of the season. I'd like to believe that they would all want us to celebrate their lives by supporting college hockey as best we can.

[unh_hockey]

as a hockey fan at UNH, I am glad that during the last Umaine game, the crowd actually gave walsh a standing ovation. I am sad to see him passing away, and feel even more sorry for his children that will have to live with this for the remaining of their life.

[mcwarriorfan]

As I try to look through the tears at what I am typing, I find my mind in an absolute coma...I still can't believe what has happened today...not only have we lost unquestionably one of the best coaches in college hockey history, we have lost a great man, husband, and father...My prayers and thoughts go out to his wife and 3 children...words can not express the sadness that has come to college hockey today...Coach Walsh, wherever you are now looking down on us, please know that you are in a much better place...you will always remain in the hearts, memories, and spoken words of all college hockey fans across this country and in other parts of the world...your inspiration to many will always be remembered...RIP Coach Walsh...You will be sorely missed.

Justin Faro- MC '98

[dechavu]

What is there to say that hasn't already been said. I remember watching in '95 at home and thinking that I wanted to play in the pep band up in Orono cause they were having fun at the hockey game. Well, in '96 I saw my first hockey game and became hooked. I got to see a lot of hockey games over the years and traveled a bit too (out in CA for '99 championship). What I will remember the most though is the national anthem being sung by all of the fans in the Alfond and Walsh using us (gotta love those Maineiacs) to help keep the game going. He never forgot the students that came out to support him and as students, we'll never forget him.

My prayers go out to Shawn's family, friends, players (past and present) and everyone else who has been touched by this.

[Wardy]

College hockey has lost a lion but more importantly 3 young boys have lost a father. My condolences to the Walsh family, his wife Lynne, and their children Tyler, Travis, and Sean.

Back in my college days at UMass I was a student volunteer in the press box keeping period and game statistics; during intermissions I'd run the stats sheet down to the lockerooms. Coach Walsh was the ONLY coach that said, "Thank you." after I'd give him the sheet.

Coach Walsh was a class individual who will sorely be missed.

[Red Cloud]

I'm at a loss for words. Shawn Walsh was, without a doubt, one of the truest people college hockey had to offer. Whether or not you're a Maine fan, you have to have had respect for him.

I still remember when North Dakota wore all of their jerseys with the name "Walsh" on the back in his honor. Touching indeed, and fitting for such an awesome individual.

God bless you, Shawn Walsh.

[Riverhawks73]

I would like to send my prayers to everyone effected by this loss....maybe God watch over his family, friends, and the Maine community... I have said some stupid things in my day about schools, players, and fans, but its only a sport...and whether your a fan of Maine hockey or college hockey you will miss what this man brings to the game....May God watch over him

[Deep Blue]

Thanks for teaching us how to win. Thanks for sharing your passion for the game, and for all of life. Thanks for the knowledge of hockey which you imparted to all of us - players, fans, and even foes. Thanks for two titles for Maine - one with one of the greatest teams ever, and one with one of the greatest over-achieveing teams (with a little help from Alfie). Thanks for not quitting, and for teaching us not to quit on ourselves. You weren't perfect. Neither are we. But we are better for having had you as coach and as friend and as a welcome, transplanted, 'Mainah.'

To Lynne and the boys, my deepest condolences. I can only imagine your sorrow and your loss. I pray that the knowledge of how much Coach touched all of us will help sustain you as you move forward. We can hire a coach. Good dads, and good husbands, are hard to find. God bless you all.

[gopherhockey]

Deepest sympathy to all friends and family of Shawn Walsh. A wonderful man both on and off the ice. College hockey salutes a great coach.:(

[KLEINER!!!]

I had actually forgotten about the North Dakota jerseys until someone brought it up on the board. I remember at the East Regional last year talking to a North Dakota fan who had (I think) Panzer's "Walsh" jersey. I guess I was surprised to see that despite the strong possibility the two teams would play each other, NoDak fans still wore their Walsh jerseys proudly. I asked why, and the fan replied that it didn't matter if people thought they rooted for Walsh, simply because if one person will beat them, they wanted it to be Walsh.

"And wherever you've gone
And wherever we might go
It don't seem fair
You seemed to like it here
Your light's reflected down
Reflected from above
They were but stones
Your light made them stars."- Adapted from "Light Years" (Vedder/ McCready/ Gossard)


We'll miss you, Walshy.