It has been more than three years since former University of Maine men’s hockey coach Shawn Walsh lost his battle with kidney cancer (Sept. 24, 2001). But, Saturday night, his cherished shamrock was hoisted to the rafters to share a spot with the retired numbers worn by three of his former stars: career points leader Jim Montgomery and Hobey Baker Award winners Scott Pellerin (1992) and Paul Kariya (1993).

It was appropriate that the team the Bears played over the weekend was the University of North Dakota. At both schools, hockey is the top dog, the flagship sport. It is the one sport in which both schools can win national championships – and have done so – at the highest level. And that has been the hook, along with the zealous fan support, that has landed several prized recruits at each institution despite their geographic disadvantages.

When Walsh took over the program in 1984, North Dakota was one of the elite programs in college hockey and the one everyone tried to emulate.

The Fighting Sioux had won the NCAA title in 1982.

Walsh did his homework, learning how to build a national-caliber program while an assistant under Ron Mason at Bowling Green and Michigan State. The tireless Walsh and his staff began landing top-notch recruits and, after two building seasons, Maine burst on the national scene culminating in its first NCAA championship in 1993.

There was another in 1999.

Maine had become one of the programs other upstart coaches wanted to pattern their teams after.

Shawn was one of the most innovative coaches in college sports.

Penalty-killers would pass the puck back to the goaltenders so they could clear it. He would ask the referees to have his opponents’ sticks measured late in a game in which they were trailing, knowing an illegal stick would put his team on a two-minute power play.

Measuring sticks didn’t endear him to opposing coaches. He didn’t care. He would always say he had one job and one job only: win hockey games.

He was a workaholic, a promoter, a salesman who would sell his program to anyone who would listen. He was charismatic with a quick Irish wit. He worked hard and played hard.

To some he was arrogant.

He definitely lived on the edge. He pushed the envelope.

It would eventually cost him a one-year suspension for NCAA violations, but he came back more determined than ever.

His bravery while undergoing experimental treatments for his kidney cancer was remarkable.

He recruited Tim Whitehead to take over the program in case he was laid up for an extended period of time. And Whitehead has led them to two NCAA championship games in three years.

Walsh’s 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Frozen Fours, two NCAA titles, and 399-215-44 record speak for themselves.

Several family members were on hand for Saturday night’s pregame ceremony, which also coincided with the ongoing construction of the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center.

“It was just perfect. It was kind of an end of an era almost. Now we can move forward and let these guys do it,” said Walsh’s younger brother Kevin, who followed Shawn to Maine and earned a degree.

“When they built the Dexter Lounge, that was huge. This is three or four times larger than that. This is exactly what Shawn would have wanted. It looks great,” said Kevin.

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