By Mary Paoletti
CSNNE.com
There should be an air of optimism around Maine's hockey program.
The Black Bears finished the regular season tied for third place in Hockey East and will take a fourth seed -- and home-ice advantage -- into the conference tournament this weekend against UMass-Lowell. While an overall 16-15-3 (13-12-2 HEA) mark does not signal a return to the glorious Kariya years up in Orono, it does denote a step forward. After an impressive Feb. 5-6 sweep of rival (and league leader) UNH, it looked like the monkey of Maine's last two substandard seasons might finally be off its back.
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But there is a subplot threatening this progress.
Last Friday sophomore goaltender Scott Darling was suspended indefinitely from the team. This penalty is the third of its kind for Darling, who served a one-game suspension last season and missed the first two games this fall for violating the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct the previous semester. In the statement released by the university, head coach Tim Whitehead revealed little in regard to the source of the decision.
"Scott has been suspended for violating team rules and that's pretty much how we're gonna leave it now and not get into any specifics publicly," it read.
Whitehead is doing what he can to keep the drama surrounding Darling's suspension to a minimum and prepare his team for the conference tournament.
"Our focus this week will be on improving our team defense, Whitehead told Maine media. "We have to give our goalies an opportunity to succeed. When we do that, were a very strong team.
A team that Scott Darling still wants to be a part of. On Tuesday he issued a response -- a public apology relayed via the university.
"I apologize to my teammates, coaches and our fans and I will work hard to return to the program when Coach Whitehead decides it is appropriate, Darling's statement read. "I am thankful for the support I have received and I am determined to learn from this situation and return ready to contribute in a significant way.
Whether or not a return in 2010 is possible remains to be seen. Whitehead has expressed gracious pride in his goalie's ability to step forward and articulate remorse. The coach also told the Bangor Daily News that the suspension will be re-evaluated next week if Maine advances to the semifinals.
In the meantime it's back to business for the Black Bears. If the blue liners batten down in the zone and league scoring leader, Gustav Nyquist (56 pts, 1.65ppg), keeps the offensive fire lit then they can do some damage in the Hockey East playoffs even without Darling.
Considering Maine's last two seasons, this should be a point of pride.
Mary Paoletti is on Twitter at http:twitter.comMary_Paoletti