Unranked Bears still on thin ice

ORONO – The University of Maine Black Bears, playing without suspended Coach Shawn Walsh, have dropped out of the hockey coaches’ Top 10 poll for the first time in six years.

The defending national champion Black Bears were ranked No. 1 in the poll on Nov. 9 before falling on hard times with two players being ruled ineligible and Walsh being suspended for five games for his handling of an eligibility problem.

Capping off Maine’s troubles was the departure last week of Paul Kariya, last year’s Hobey Baker winner, who has left to join the Canadian Olympic team and move on to a pro career afterward.

“I think the poll is pretty accurate, considering everything that has happened,” said assistant coach Grant Standbrook, who is filling in for Walsh until he rejoins the team Jan. 1.

Michigan was ranked No. 1 in the poll, followed by Hockey East rival Boston University.

Maine has not been out of the Top 10 since the 1986-87 season, but the poll “is the least of the team’s concerns right now,” Standbrook said Monday.

The Black Bears have lost three of their last four games, including a 5-3 home loss to Ferris State, an unranked team with a 7-12 record. The next game will be New Year’s Eve against No. 3 Lake Superior State in the Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis.