Official Shawn Walsh Memory Thread

[Good Slur]

I'm sure the consensus of Coach Walsh was that, yeah, he could come across as arrogant and cocky, but that comes from a "fire in the belly" that he had. That fiery sense of confidence that he had a lot of people misinterpreted as arrogance. Suffice it to say, I don't believe Walsh could have coached any other way. The only way he could be effective to his team was to coach that way.

[sacole13]

Thanks for the memories Coach Walsh, you will be missed.

:(

[Scott Murphy]

My deepest condolences to Coach Walsh's family and friends.

[Zudnic]

Unbelievable. I thought he'd pull through. Definitely will be a big void on the bench for Maine.

My condolences to his family, friends, and to the Maine and Hockey East communities. We've lost a great.

[Bobo]

Awful, awful, awful news. When I saw, Shawn Walsh 1955-2001, on the TV this morning I was stunned, my stomach just dropped. The man was way too young and had way too much more to do to go this early. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends. I wish the Black Bears all the best this season and hope they come out and put up a season to honor their coach. That would be the most fitting tribute I can think of.

Say what you will about some of his tactics, and I have, the man brought excitement to the sport. I can’t pick out any one game every game was interesting. Whenever he was in the building, it felt like an event. The man was alive, he not only got the most out of his players it really seemed that he got the most out of life, and losing a guy like that stinks, there aren’t enough like him to begin with. I’ll miss him

[Carter]

I heard the news on local radio on my way to work this morning. Very sad indeed. I certainly knew he was seriously ill, but I was stunned to learn of his passing. My sympathies to his family, and to Maine's players and fans everywhere. I don't think you'll see his equal for a long, long time.

[rufus]

walrus, i saw those interviews last night and i thought also what an impact that coach walsh had on these young men. here was pellerinn, who had bplayed four years for coach, and he could barely speak, as his throat was lumping up and he was on the verge of tears. and chris ferraro, who had only played for him a little over one season, managed to get out a couple of sentences, then choked up and just walked away from the camera.

his legacy, as a coach and a human being, will live on in those young men he taught and influenced by his example, and also in all of us who were lucky enough to have, in some small way, taken away a part of that as well.

[Glen]

UMaine’s Walsh dies at age 46 (http://www.bangornews.com/cgi-bin/article.cfm?storynumber=41908) - Today's Bangor Daily News article on the passing of Shawn Walsh. It includes comments from some of his former players and colleagues.

[Queen's Cowboy]

Deepest condolences from Canada to Mr. Walsh's family, friends, and colleagues from the hockey and university community. My son who is a Freshman at UMaine stated last night with obvious pride and a noticeable lump in his throat "At least I got to shake his hand once!". Such a small thing as a handshake from such a great coach as Shawn Walsh will, I'm sure, be engraved in a young player's memory for a long time to come. Rest in Peace, Coach!!

[Good Slur]

Here's another from the Bangor Daily News

http://www.bangornews.com/collegesports/umsports.cfm?t=article&storynumber=41954&sportid=3&teamid=1

[aqcats]

A truly sad day for college hockey. Walshy was THE best coach that I have had the pleasure to watch. I have never seen anyone get so much out of his talent and be so involved. A testament to his brilliance is that a friend of mine whom has gone to very few hockey games (but they included 2 UNH/Maine games) called me last night in total shock over the news.

I had the good fortune of sharing an elevator ride with Shawn at the 98 Frozen Four in Boston. He noticed my UNH gear and his first comment was "How's Bekar". Derek Bekar was one of UNH's threats, but not the main one, and he had been injured in the game before against BU. Walsh just knew he was the KEY to UNH's chances due to his size and outside speed. I hadn't given it much thought that he would be a make or break difference, but he was. As we exited, Walshy wished us the best of luck, and you could tell that he really meant it.

A 2 minute encounter gave me a keen insight into his greatness, and showed me how classy and genuine he was.

[Jim McSweeney]

Coach Walsh, you will be dearly missed. You were too young, and you had too much left to give. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. May you rest in peace dear friend.

[Bomber]

It's great to see all the new posters on this thread. I hope they all continue to post during happier times.

Shawn Walsh was the best bench coach I have ever seen, period. (I wish that last sentence didn't have to be in the past-tense.) His fire and gamesmanship meant you loved to hate him, but you always knew you were in for a fight playing ANY team from Maine.

I'll never forget the Hockey East Quarters at Walter Brown Arena in 1994. Maine had just had a large chunk of games turned into loses because of an ineligable player. So here comes the University of Maine with the Ferraro brothers back from the olympics, sitting in the 8th spot in Hockey East because of forfeited games. This was hardly a last place team. More like a first or second place team. That Black Bear team gave BU all they could handle that weekend. I have no doubt that Shawn had those kids convinced that the Hockey East title was well within their reach. Shawn Walsh lived his live preaching those sentiments. Anything you want is within your reach if you work hard enough for it.

I hope someone is able to save this thread and send it to Coach Walsh's family. The college hockey family is just that; A family. We may pick on each other from time to time, but when someone is struck down, we band together.

[Good Slur]

One thing that always impressed me about any Maine team under Walsh was the way they played and won those so-called "ugly" games. First Place or Last Place, you were in the trenches with this team.

- 399 Career Wins
- 2 National Championships
- 2 Hobey Baker Award Winners
- 1 Humanitarian Award Winner
- 26 All Americans

Not bad for a 3rd string goalie out of Bowling Green.

In accordance with Adam's original post, I tried to think of another moment. I remeber an interview with Coach Walsh early in the morning last season, I think it was on WZON. The focus was on how he was feeling, if he was getting stronger, and about his battle with cancer. In the background we could hear his little boy, Sean, playing around with Coach Walsh. I guess you could argue that the interview was unsuccessful because he never really discussed his feelings about his battle, and his current state of health with the exception of saying something to the effect of "I've been chasing my 1 and a half year old around the house for a couple weeks so I'm strong enough now to coach the team." In turn, I guess one could argue that it was a successful "interview" of Coach Walsh.


A nice collection of photos, taken by Monty Rand, can be viewed at the link below:

http://montyrand.com/walsh/index.html

Some great memories never to be forgotten for sure.

I flipped through the pictures for a while and it stirred up memories. I've been trying to think of something to say that would reflect my feelings like many of you did. I also wanted to honor Coach Walsh with my whatever I said. It is funny, after long compostion, I found that I had deleted all of the negative feelings and replaced them with positive words of encouragement. That is the Coach Walsh way I guess.

He'll still be there. He loved Maine hockey. He'll still be at Alfond I'm sure. I think he loved the state of Maine more than most of our lifelong residents, and that is why a lot of Mainahs are taking this hard. That is what people saw in him. In a lot of ways it wasn't just hockey that attracted fans to the Alfond. He was filled with pride in our state, its university, and its people. That won't be forgotten. He was loyal, and he never sold Maine short.

He, along with Coach Standbrook, hand picked Coach Whitehead, and he saw something there. He gave the university, his hockey program, and the fans a big gift over the span of the last 17 years. Everyone can repay him by not accepting anything less than improvement at every level. If you are a fan, you can repay him with MORE support for the program he built. If you are a player, work harder on the AND off the ice to become the COMPLETE person he'd want you to be. If you are a student at Maine, work harder and GET that degree. He had a unique way of turning everything into a positive, and in a lot of ways it rubbed off on all of us. Maybe that is why I feel like I can write these things.

He made the community a nicer place. He'd want us to turn this sad time into something positive, and that is why I chose to express my feelings this way. If anyone thinks this is out of line, then I'd be willing to delete this post, because I don't want to come off unsensitive. But if I do understand Coach Walsh, and his most fundamental properties, I know he'd want everyone to stay positive and work hard and good things will happen.

Writing this was good for me cause I needed a vent. I've had a lot of people come to me and say "So is the program gonna go down the tubes now?". So that is why I feel so strongly about saying these things now. He'd be darn angry if we(hockey program, the university, fans, friends, family, residents of Maine, etc...) let that happen, and he'll tell us someday.

With that I say....

Lets Go Maine!

[UMLFan]

I got a call late last night, which is never a good thing.

I'd like to also pass along my condolences to Coach Walsh and his family ...

As if we haven't lost enough good people the last couple of weeks. :(

Monty

[Maine Pudge]

Well put Cory. We can only do what is within our power, and that is what Shawn Walsh would want us to do.

Go Maine

[mgk]

I was shocked to hear the news of the passing of Shawn Walsh.

I attended Maine from 1986-89, and let me tell you, everyone knew something special was in the air. Walsh was a fierce competitor who always had his teams prepared and focused.

I had the privilege of not only attending games, but also calling some of the games with Dave Alhers for WMEB (the student radio station). I also did some videography work for the office of public information and was at the game in ’88 when Maine (ranked #2) played then #1 Minnesota. Through sheer will, we managed to score late in the third period to put us up by one, and Alfond Arena was rocking. As they were announcing the goal on the old crummy PA system (which nobody could hear), we scored again and there was pandemonium! Soon after, the chant of “We’re number one!” flowed from the stands. A national powerhouse was born.

Perhaps Alfond could be reconsidered the Alfond-Walsh Arena?

Thanks for the memories, coach -- you will be missed.

Michael Krall
UMaine
1990

[Spartans7]

I can't believe it...I'm only 18 but my family has season tickets and I have only missed a handfull of games since the amazing season of 92-93 when the Bears went 42-1-2. I was fortunate enough to be in Wisconsin for that Frozen Four and I'll never forget Walsh's euphoric yell of "How bout' them Black Bears" That was one of the most amazing trips of my life and one I'll never forget. The thing that I have been thinking is all of the countless occasions that Shawn and the program provided me with such joy and happiness. The weekend I will always remember is the year that Maine wasn't elegable to play in either the NCAA's or even the Hockey East post season. We finished up with BU at home for the weekend that year, a team that was one of the best in Hockey East.
Jason and Shawn Mansoff had 4 goals between them that weekend as Maine swept BU right out of the building with two of the most convincing wins I have seen. One of the BU players made the comment that they were lucky because "that Maine team was by far the hottest team in that country" Think about it...a team with nothing to play for except pride..and they sweep one of the top teams in the league. That was how Walsh's teams always played and it really says something.
Even though I'm now a student at Michigan State and can't go to the games this year, Maine Hockey will still be very much in my heart and my mind as I watch the Spartans play. Shawn was a great coach and I will miss him dearly

I would like to extend my condolences to all who knew Coach Walsh and to the whole U of Maine family.

It saddened me to read of his passing this morning. He was a great coach and brought much respect to our Hockey East league.

I will miss his presence.

- Northeastern U. fan