Walsh finalist for Penrose Award

University of Maine ninth-year head coach Shawn Walsh is one of nine finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award given to the Division I Coach of the Year.

Walsh, who was named the Hockey East Coach of the Year for the third time in six years, was joined in the final field by Merrimack’s Ron Anderson, Michigan’s Red Berenson, Northern Michigan’s Rick Comley, Dartmouth’s Roger Demment, Brown’s Bob Gaudet, Miami of Ohio’s George Gwozdecky, Michigan Tech’s Bob Mancini and Minnesota-Duluth’s Mike Sertich.

“It’s a credit to our guys,” said Walsh. “(Assistants) Grant (Standbrook) and Red (Gendron) should be nominated, too.”

This is the third time Walsh has been nominated for the Penrose Award. He was the runnerup in 1988 and 1992.

Tracey Walsh, Shawn’s wife, said she gets much more nervous watching her husband’s team during the playoffs than during the regular season.

“Doesn’t everybody?” asked Tracey, who is expecting the couple’s second child on June 4. “There’s a huge difference. If you lose once, you’re done. If you lose a regular-season game, you forget it and go on to the next game.

“Besides, the outcome of the playoffs determine whether the next two months are wonderful or not-so wonderful,” grinned Mrs. Walsh.

She used to get nervous for her father’s (Michigan State Coach Ron Mason) playoff games, but not nearly as nervous as she does for her husband’s games.

“I’m a lot closer to the situation at Maine,” added Tracey. “Shawn tells me everything.”

Maine’s leaders in different categories:

Power-play points: Paul Kariya (6 goals, 35 assists); Cal Ingraham (22 & 15) and Jim Montgomery (7 & 21); game-winning points: Montgomery (3 & 12), Kariya (7 & 7), Ingraham (4 & 7) and Mike Latendresse (4 & 6); and shorthanded points: Montgomery (2 & 5), Latendresse (4 & 2) and Chris Ferraro (3 & 1).

Maine junior defenseman and alternate captain Chris Imes is in the midst of the second three-game goal-scoring streak in his career.

In addition to scoring a goal in each of his last three games, Imes has three assists.

“I’ve just been getting lucky,” said Imes. “I’ve been playing a lot better in the playoffs than I had been down the stretch. I’ve been concentrating on my defense and not worrying about offense. I haven’t been trying to force things.”

Meanwhile, junior defenseman Matt Martin said he has been enjoying his stint on the first power-play unit in place of the injured Dave MacIsaac. Martin is manning the right point with Jim Montgomery at the left point.

Martin had a goal and an assist on the power play in the 6-2 NCAA Eastern Regional Tournament win over Minnesota on Saturday.

“It’s been great,” said Martin. “It’s fun being on the ice with them. I’ve just been trying to get my shots on net. Hopefully, they’ll result in rebounds.”