Work on Walsh Center nears final phase

University of Maine athletic director Patrick Nero said he expects work to begin on the third phase of the Shawn Walsh Center at Alfond Arena within a couple of weeks.

“Our goal was to build a first-class facility and, from the standpoint of our student-athletes and coaches, we’ve done that. It’ll match the great atmosphere at Alfond Arena,” said Nero. “It should be one of the best facilities in the country from this standpoint.”

With two phases of the project nearly complete, its price tag is $4.5 million and the money has been generated through fund-raising, gifts and “some of the extra ticket revenue. We’ve generated a lot more revenue the last couple years,” Nero said.

Phase one supplied the men’s and women’s hockey players with new locker rooms. Phase two involved new offices for the coaches, a training room, a weight room, a therapeutic pool with treadmill, a players’ lounge and a renovated Dexter Lounge.

“They’re just finishing the roof now and they’re going to start on the landscaping. We’ve ordered the weight training equipment and athletic training equipment,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead.

The final phase involves reconfiguring the lobby and adding a Hall of Fame room with trophies, photographs and interactive videos.

The concession stands will be moved and renovated and the Bear Necessities store, which sells Maine athletic gear and other souvenirs, will be “five times larger than it is now,” according to Nero.

Nero said administrators in the university’s facilities office have “guaranteed me” that phase three will be complete in time for the home opener against defending two-time NCAA champion Denver on Oct. 14.

Nero also said he is talking to architects about the possibility of adding seven new luxury boxes.

Whitehead is hoping they can have as many pictures and trophies on the wall as they can for the Maine hockey alumni weekend on July 23-25.

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a 2 p.m. alumni game on Sunday, July 24 and a golf tournament on Monday with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

Kim Meagher transfers to UM

Hampden’s Kim Meagher, who played four years for the John Bapst High School boys ice hockey team, has transferred from Boston College to Maine and will be eligible for the Black Bears’ women’s team this year as long as she is admitted into the school.

Meagher, who will be a sophomore this fall, was a defenseman at John Bapst and saw duty on defense and at forward for Boston College.

She appeared in 33 games for the Eagles, notching four assists.

“She wants to be an anthropology major and Boston College doesn’t offer that,” said John Bapst coach Doug Damon, who also coached Meagher in travel hockey. “I think she’ll be a tremendous asset at Maine with her size (5-foot-8) and smarts. She doesn’t make mental mistakes. She works hard and she was a tremendous leader for us. She was one of our captains her senior year.”

Damon also said she also possesses good offensive skills.

“We worked a lot on her slap shot at Bapst and she has a very accurate shot. She puts good offensive pressure on the goaltender,” said Damon who added that Meagher was recruited by five colleges, including Maine and Boston College.

She was an All-Eastern Maine Class B honorable mention her senior year.

Meagher was reportedly on a trip to Ireland with her family and couldn’t be reached for comment. Maine coach Guy Perron can’t comment until Meagher is accepted into school.