Coach got the best from team

I played for Shawn Walsh between 1984-1988. A lot of hockey was played during this timeframe, all of Shawn’s hockey passion and knowledge was instilled into us. This man brought the Bad News Bears into a No. 1 ranked contender within a four-year period. I recall Shawn sitting in my house in Chatham, Ontario, back in 1984 – delivering his vision of bringing Maine to a national championship. I of course was on the edge of my mom and dad’s couch – bags packed. I still recall going out on the ice against Lake State in the Frozen Four my fourth year.

As I sift through all the stories of Shawn, and I believe every former player would agree, not only did Shawn excel at winning at the college level, but he was a very gifted individual in developing us, to be the best we could be, at whatever it was we did. I attribute a lot of the wins after my hockey career to the many things Shawn taught us as players.

To Shawn’s family, the friends of Maine hockey, the university, former teammates and coaches, my sincere sympathy.

Todd Studnicka

Ontario