Kevin Swallow, the seventh leading scorer for the Dartmouth College men’s hockey team this past season, has decided to transfer to the University of Maine.

Due to NCAA regulations, he will have to sit out next season but he will be able to practice with the team. Swallow will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2008 season.

Swallow, who can play both wings, had eight goals and 14 assists in 32 games for the Big Green and was second on the team in game-winning goals with three.

He had two power-play goals and a shorthanded goal and had 29 penalty minutes. He was on their second line and played on the power play and the shorthanded units.

He had three goals and six assists in 27 games as a freshman.

The 6-foot, 180-pound native of Stanwood, Mich., played with the United States National Team Development Program’s Under-17 and U-18 teams before moving on to the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League in 2004-2005 where he had 20 goals and 21 assists in 60 games.

The 21-year-old Swallow said when he decided to explore transferring, he contacted Maine, Northern Michigan and Vermont. His decision eventually came down to Maine or returning to Dartmouth, where he said he had some “academic issues.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Swallow. “Maine has a great tradition in hockey. They’ve been in the Frozen Four the last two years and they’ve had a lot of guys go through their program into pro hockey.”

He wants work on his strength and overall game next year as well as “focus on academics.”

Cook will coach 2 sports at UM-Machias

Joshua Cook, who had been the assistant basketball coach at nationally ranked NAIA Division II power MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas, has been named the women’s basketball and volleyball coach at the University of Maine-Machias.

Cook spent the last two seasons coaching basketball under Bill Olin and the team went 60-11 including a 33-4 record this past season in which the Pioneers reached the NAIA Division II semifinals.

“I have learned a great deal about how to build a national power at the small college level,” Cook said in a press release.

Cook’s wife, Julie, will assist him with the volleyball team.

UMM director of athletics Rich Fabri said, “We are looking forward to Joshua joining our program. He has both the credentials and reputation to lead our teams through song seasons.”

Blodgett online chat today

Fans of the UMaine women’s basketball team have the opportunity today to participate in an online chat with new Black Bears head coach Cindy Blodgett.

The former UMaine All-American will begin fielding questions starting at 10 a.m.

Fans may submit questions or watch the chat session by logging on at goblackbears.com.

New arena named after Watson

Bowdoin College’s new $20 million ice arena will be named Watson Arena after former Bowdoin College hockey coach and athletic director Sid Watson.

Bowdoin College President Barry Mills made the announcement at Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony.

The arena, which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008, will have a seating capacity of 1,900 and will replace 51-year-old Dayton Arena.

Watson, who retired as the Bowdoin AD in 1998 and died in 2004, compiled a 326-210-11 record in his 24 years as the hockey coach at Bowdoin.

He led his Polar Bear teams to four ECAC Division II championships and they qualified for the ECAC playoffs every year but one.

He was named the national college division coach of the year three times.