With junior defenseman Francis Nault’s eligibility used up according to an NCAA ruling, the University of Maine hockey program’s resiliency will again be tested.

Reliable veteran defensemen are invaluable because they can play 30 or more minutes a game.

Nault was Maine’s best offensive defenseman, by far. He was one of the nation’s top point-producing defensemen although he also had his share of misadventures in the defensive zone.

He had tremendous offensive instincts you can’t teach.

He was also a good locker room guy who was well-liked by his teammates.

He is an easygoing, happy-go-lucky person.

The fact he had 10 goals this past season and no other full-time Maine defenseman had more than two is noteworthy.

Nault’s loss means Maine will be without its top five 2002-2003 point-producers when it begins dry-land training in September.

And the Bears will return just two players who scored 10 or more goals in Colin Shields (14) and newly named captain Todd Jackson (13).

But don’t bother throwing a pity party.

This program has overcome the loss of its charismatic and highly successful coach, Shawn Walsh, to kidney cancer; an NCAA investigation that cost it several scholarships, a two-year ban from NCAA tourney play along with Walsh’s services for a year due to a school-imposed suspension and a host of early departures to pro hockey [i.e. Paul Kariya, Jean-Yves Roy, Peter and Chris Ferraro, Eric Weinrich, David and Jack Capuano, Keith Carney].

The sign of an elite program is its ability to reload and to overcome adversity.

If Nault signs a pro contract, his scholarship will become available.

However, recruiting coordinator Grant Standbrook and coach Tim Whitehead won’t gamble on a marginal defenseman. Recruiting mistakes are costly.

Maine may have to implement a more passive forecheck next season and trap a little until the newcomers adapt to college hockey.

But the team should improve steadily and could be a threat down the stretch.

Emotional roller-coaster for fans

Monday night exposed the sports fans in Eastern Maine to the best and worst of viewing experiences.

The Celtics played well in their 97-93 Eastern Conference playoff loss to New Jersey but it is crystal clear that both Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker have to have good games if they’re going to win. Walker was held to 14 points. Pierce had 34.

It is also clear that the Celtics need a consistently productive scorer in the paint to take some of the pressure off Pierce and Walker.

Then if you switched over to the Red Sox, you saw a dramatic rally from a 5-0 deficit go by the boards when the BBC [Bullpen By Committee] blew a save for the sixth time in 13 chances. Kansas City won 7-6 with two, two-out runs in the ninth on a hit batsman with the bases loaded and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra’s eighth error.

Thank God for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and former Black Bear stars Kariya and Carney, who eliminated Dallas 4-3.

Offense wins championships in the NBA but defense wins titles in the NHL and the Ducks have become a solid defensive team led by the underrated Carney.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.