Campbell Blair, who was named an interim assistant coach for the University of Maine hockey team last October, has been appointed a permanent assistant coach and Brian Grady will replace Matt Thomas as the volunteer assistant. Grady is a 2000 graduate of Hamilton College (N.Y.).

“Rehiring Blair became an easy decision for me. He came on board last fall and did a very good job, particularly with the defense,” said Whitehead. “Seeing how young we were at that position last year, it was very important for them to improve and they did. It will be nice to have him back permanently.”

Maine allowed just 2.64 goals per game last season in reaching the NCAA championship game, where the Bears lost to Minnesota 4-3 in overtime in St. Paul, Minn.

“I’m pretty excited about coming back and putting in a full year. I grew to have a lot of respect for the guys last year and I think they grew to respect me. It’s a good group to work with. I’m excited about this year’s team,” said Blair.

Grady, an all-NESCAC first teamer in hockey and baseball at Hamilton, taught history at The Salisbury (Prep) School in Connecticut last year and also helped coached the varsity and JV hockey teams.

“Brian is a great addition. He’s a good young coach. He will help us with our video work and he will also work with our players one-on-one,” said Whitehead.

In other news, incoming recruits winger Greg Moore and goalie Jimmy Howard, who helped the U.S. National Development team win the gold medal in the World Under-18 championships in Slovakia, will attend a camp for U.S. World Junior team candidates in Lake Placid, N.Y. in August.

“Lake Placid gives them another opportunity to improve and prepare for the college level. We feel we need both of them to contribute right away in their own way this season,” said Whitehead.

The Black Bear schedule has been released and, in addition to their 21 Hockey East games, four of their non-league games will be against NCAA tournament teams Cornell, Harvard, Colorado College and Quinnipiac.

Maine will open the season by hosting the University of New Brunswick in an exhibition game at the Black Bear Classic on Oct. 11.

Whitehead also said they are looking to improve the locker room situation at Alfond Arena in the hopes of landing an NCAA regional. The field has been expanded from 12 to 16 teams.

“The NCAA dropped the mandatory seating capacity for a regional from 7,000 to 4,000. We’d like to give ourselves the opportunity Michigan had this year when it hosted a regional and made it to the Frozen Four,” said Whitehead.

Graffam will coach UMFK men

Fifty-two-year-old Jim Graffam, the athletic director at the University of Maine-Fort Kent, will have another duty next season.

Graffam will coach the men’s basketball team after four-year head coach Derek Johnson resigned last week.

John Martin, the assistant to the president, appointed Waldoboro native Graffam to the post.

“Part of the issue was we wanted to get someone in place as quickly as possible,” said Graffam. “I definitely would have applied for the job and John felt this was the best solution at this time.

“I have a one-year deal and John will reassess it after this year. If he feels I can do both jobs, I’ll continue. If not, we’ll open it up for a search,” added Graffam, who is “very excited” about the challenge.

“We have a good foundation laid. We’ve been very successful the last three, four to five years. We were nationally ranked three years ago. And we’ve gotten into the [nine-team] Sunrise Conference which ensures us at least eight home games,” said Graffam who pointed out that his Bengals will have some tremendously exciting challenges this coming season when they play the University of Maine in a tournament in Orono and visit California for a tourney.