Official Shawn Walsh Memory Thread

[Bainsey]

"If you don't have the best of everything, make the best of everything you have." -- A sign on Shawn Walsh's desk.

I had the good fortune to have a candid conversation with Shawn in his office a year ago for an article I wrote for MAINE, the UM alumni magazine. The two pieces of advice that Shawn put above all else were:

a) Enjoy all the things that life has given you, and
b) When life brings stressful times, manage the stress effectively.

The latter was especially telling, as it was stress that played a big role in creating the cancer that eventually claimed his life. Shawn allowed me the honor to write his story and pass along his wisdom -- not about hockey, but about life and our perspectives upon it.

I can't think of many people that have gone through stressful situations equivalent to those of Shawn, but I'm very aware of people -- myself included -- that have complained and stressed out about far less important things than we make them out to be. Shawn wanted to us to know that allowing such things to get to you are not only a waste of time and energy, but they also can literally make you sick. He implored that we never forget that.

The other thing that I feel has been understated is Shawn's loyalty to the University of Maine. Here's a man who could have easily jumped ship and taken a professional coaching position in 1996, after the NCAA violations. Instead, he chose to ride out the storm, serve his suspension in full, build the program more, and, thanks to the players he supported, was rewarded with another national championship in 1999. Don't tell me that loyalty doesn't eventually pay off.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Walsh family. We in the UMaine and college hockey communities have the Walsh family to thank for helping to make the man that he was.

Jim Baines
UMaine '89

[wildfan]

First off my deepest condolences to Shawn Walsh's family.

I think that the best example of how great a coach Walsh was is demonstrated by the 98 season. That last weekend of the regular season at the Whitt with main in first place by point over UNH. After UNH infront of and incredible crowd took two games from Maine Walsh could say nothing more than "The crowd was incredible, I don't think there was a team in the nation that could have won in this building this weekend". Then is greatness as a coach shinned through and unfortunatly took that same teem a few weeks later and cameback an beay UNH in what in my opinion was on of the greatest hockey games ever.

Then last season when Maine came to UNH, the overall respect for Walsh was shown. Despite the fact that he was "the enemy" and coaching UNH's biggest rival he got a standing ovation from the UNH crowd. The UNH Maine rivalry is truly less volatile without Walsh's presence.

Thank's for the memories coach.

[MafiaMan]

College hockey has lost a good one. I don't know what else to say. It's been a tough two weeks in America and I'm sorry the Walsh family now has to endure this.

God bless Coach Walsh, his family, and the U of Maine team. This is certain to be a trying season for the Black Bears.

MafiaMan

[horsehead]

Thoughts and prayers to the Walsh and UMaine family. Coach Walsh was an inspiration and mentor to the entire hockey world.

Thank You Coach

[mjckhc]

i have been a college hockey fan for a long time and am a solid minnesota gopher fan---even though we lost a heartbreaker of which i will never forget in the east regionals to maine after we blew it march 01- i still wish my best and sympathies to the walsh family and friends of mr walsh---even though i must admit that hockey east has a few cry baby coaches i still had a great deal of respect for coach walsh---there are few coaches that got as much out of there team than coach walsh----there are exceptions like red behrenson of michigan and dean blais of north dakota but walsh was also in that category----he brought class to the game and also even when he had not so great of a team he still got 100 percent out of those players and they truly respected him---you could always tell when you played a walsh team and they would give everything they had and skated well and were well prepared for the game---i am happy that he did win two championships and even though minnesota hasnt won in over 22years i still respect his great contribution to the game and also as a person and a teacher---maine hockey will not be the same---again my sympathies to the walsh family and friends---go gophers

[Good Slur]

My sincere condolences to the Walsh family and to the University of Maine Black Bear community on the loss of Coach Shawn Walsh. College hockey will certainly not be the same without him. Say what you want about him, he will be greatly missed.

The one memory I have is the day of the 2000 Frozen Four Championship game in Providence. The day of the game, I recall spending some time at the Dek Hockey surface that was put up across from the Providence Civic Center. Used for promotional purposes, a clinic or 2 and to give the kids a little fun. My lasting memory was watching Coach Walsh over at the site having fun with his sons and the other kids participating. This was 2 days after Maine was eliminated by North Dakota in the Thursday Semi.

Coach Walsh was one man who got the very best out of the talent he had. This is a man who guided the Black Bears to the 1999 National Title in Anaheim in their 2nd year off probation and with 2 less scholarships than allowed by the NCAA. And they made the tourney as an at-large bid.

The following says it all:

"If you don't have the best of everything, make the best of everything you have." -- A sign on Shawn Walsh's desk.

Now there's a lesson to be learned. It's a balance we all should have.

[Eagles]

About four or five years ago I was sitting up in the bleachers at Conte in a game against Lowell. I loooked to my left and there he was, the great coach sitting with his wife in the next section in an empty row. I remember how nervous I was to talk to him. I went over to him and introduced myself and he shook my hand. Eventhough the game was going on and he would have rather watch that then talk to some kid, he still said a a few nice things.My condolences to his friends and family.

[walrus]

Watching local news interview Scott Pellerin and Chris Ferarro in Portland last night before an NHL exibihtion it was easy to see what an impact Shawn made in their lives.
One of the reasons people disliked Shawn, was his actions on the bench during a game. They called it Showboating. As a Maine fan it was one of the reasons I liked him. Going to Alfond it was another part of the entertainment, watchng Shawn stand on the dasher doing an imitation of Greg Louganis and then later in the game watching Mcbride do a Greg Louganis skating down the ice after a no call and Shawn turning away with a look of disgust. It was part of the game to Shawn and no one played it better. Alfond will never be the same:(

[jct]

My sincerest sympathies to the Walsh family and the UMaine hockey program. A more prepared and fiercer competitor has never graced Hockey East.

My current memory is a simple, yet moving one. Last year at the Whittemore center, seeing coach Walsh wave his hand as he walked off the ice to a standing ovation. At that moment, I/we were all part of a college hockey family regardless of the uniforms.

Jim

[HankWP]

My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the Walsh family, University of Maine Atheletic Department and the Maine Hockey Team. I met Shawn Walsh after the UNH/UM Semi-Finals in Boston. We chatted for about hockey for five minutes. He was a real nice guy to talk to a complete stranger, as he gave me the time of day.

You will be missed.

Henry.

[FMercury]

A husband and dad is gone. May the Walsh family keep his memory alive.

[walrus]

www.zoneradio.com Follow the link to the sports zone and one can listen to this mornings show for the most part dedicated to Shawn. I just listened to an interview that happened last night with former Maine coach Greg Cronin that brought tears to my eyes. Greg talked about how much Shawn touched his life and that players might not realize how lucky they are to have been around Shawn until after they leave Maine.

[riverchief1]

College hockey is the lesser today with Coach Walsh's absense. Yeah he was controversial at times and could be the "coach you loved to hate" and harrass at games but he was a true ambassador for the sport and not only grew the program at Maine but also helped put HE on the map as well as bring more attention to the sport in general.

I remember when HE first started and UML was the new kid on the DI block too. The first season or two (84-85 and thereabouts) you'd see a Maine game on the schedule and say "easy win" because in the first couple of years, they were. But Walsh had the program focused and within a few years, they were no longer a HE pushover and within 10 years, national champions. Incredible! To echo other posters, no matter if it was an up year or a down year (rare) for Maine, they were a scary team.

A couple of funny memories - several years ago at the old Tully forum, he was so incensed over a call that supposedly he kicked the crap out of the locker room door, the door jammed, and it couldn't get open again. Rink workers had to pry the door open. And another when he was berating a ref over a call at Tully and was standing on the boards in front of the bench - he was very agitated, jumping and so forth, and he fell right back into the bench, out of view, onto his players.

And I remember a time at a UML hockey luncheon where he was the guest speaker, in town for two weekend games. I could see how much Maine loved and respected him. Very personable, insightful, and a true gentleman.

Is may be too early but does anyone know where the family wishes donations in his memory to be sent?

[PCM]

Rest in peace, Shawn Walsh.

[jk]

My condolences to the Walsh family and the UMaine community.

My hockey memory is a recent one: last year's NCAA tournament games. After looking a bit outclassed against Minnesota (IMO) but squeaking out the win, I wasn't sure how Maine would fare against mighty BC. I posted this after the game and still think it: Maine's performance against BC was one of the guttiest displays of sporting courage that I have ever seen. Even shorthanded at the end of the game, I thought they might come back - they were trying *that* hard. Maine fans should have been so proud of their team, and, of course, its coach.

[Mark Laliberte]

In what has been a sad stretch for all of us, now comes word of Shawn Walsh's passing. I can only hope that his family can come to grips with his death, and that they can take solace in that he battled to the end. There was no give in when it came to Walsh, and I'll miss seeing him come into the Whitt with his Maine team. The rivalry will never be the same. A fierce competitor and friend to many in the hockey world, may he rest in peace.

[jrg]

I always looked forward to Minnesota v. Maine hockey games because they meant clean, hard-fought battles between two teams that had great respect for each other. Shawn Walsh was often portrayed as smug, arrogant, cocky, and worse, but his attitude was born of confidence, confidence that his team was as good as any program in the country, and his record and championships bear that out. Shawn Walsh was, and is, University of Maine hockey, and no matter what your personal opinion of the man, his death is a loss not just for that institution or college hockey, but for the entire hockey world. My deepest sympathies to the University of Maine, the Black Bear hockey team, and to Coach Walsh's family and friends, he will be missed.

[gcast]

College hockey has lost one of its best.My heartfelt condolences to the Walsh family,and the Maine hockey team.

May God hold him in his arms forever.

[NCAA watcher]

It would not be unwarranted to give Walsh a good dose of credit for Hockey East's rise as a national power. Before Walsh, Hockey East teams engaged in regional recruiting, with only a few Western Canadians on the rosters (NU in the early 80s had a handful). Walsh learned his craft and elevated Michigan State in the early 80s while an assistant, by recruiting players from the BCHL and SJHL (Gord Flegel, Norm Foster, Gary Haight, Bill Shibicky, Dale Krentz, etc.). He brought those recruiting lines with him to Maine in 84, bringing in BCHLers Dave Nonis, Bruce Major, Mike Barkley, Scott King, Al Loring (long with a bunch of lesser-known BCHL guys), and ultimately Kariya.

Other coaches followed - BU got Dave Tomlinson and Phil Van Stefenelli in 85 or 86, Lowell moved in in 88, Providence circa 90, UNH in 93, Merrimack in 94, and finally BC in 99. Now Hockey East recruits nationally, and is on equal footing with the other conferences in attracting BCHL talent.

[TAILFEATHERS]

Thoughts and prayers....