The college hockey season came to an untimely conclusion in Orono. So it’s time to dole out some awards.

1. The “It Defies the Law of Gravity Award” goes to University of Massachusetts coach Don “Toot” Cahoon.

Feeling his team got hosed by a non-icing call that led to Wes Clark’s overtime game-winner on Feb. 24, Cahoon made an impressive dash across the ice to voice his displeasure about the noncall to the officials.

Despite wearing dress shoes, the incensed Cahoon exhibited marvelous ice balance as he chased the officials.

He ran across the ice better than some teams skate. A mere mortal would have stumbled and fallen at least three or four times.

He also took time out to congratulate Maine coach Tim Whitehead.

2. The “Quick, Find me an Auger Award” goes to the UMass Lowell mascot. The skating River Hawk burst down the tunnel onto the ice at breakneck speed before Maine’s 3-2 loss to UML in Lowell.

He looked like an Olympic speed skater until he had to make a left turn. That’s when he lost his footing and fell to the ice with a resounding thud. The contact forced his huge River Hawk head to pop off his costume and roll up against the boards.

That is when the mascot would have loved to have the auger in order to dig a hole and crawl in.

But, to his credit, the embarrassed mascot gathered his composure and his head and skated sheepishly off the ice.

And I thought it was embarrassing when I walked into a tetherball pole while looking at my report card in fourth grade.

The moral of that story is every mascot needs to temper his or her enthusiasm.

Maine’s Bananas the Bear certainly couldn’t skate nearly as well as the River Hawk, but that can be a positive because if Bananas ever fell, he certainly wouldn’t lose his head.

3. The “Time for a New Song Award” goes to the person who chooses the music for Maine hockey games.

“Sweet Caroline” was a nice little song when Neil Diamond released it in 1969 but, like most hits, it was overplayed and became a monotonous little song.

Then it was resurrected as a theme song for Boston’s march to the World Series last season and was played at Maine hockey home games.

It’s time to move on to something new for next season.

4. Speaking of something new, the “Hallelujah Award” goes to the University of Maine’s athletic administration for obtaining a $700,000 video scoreboard to replace the current one at Alfond Arena.

There are a number of obstructed view seats and to be able to show the replay of goals will be a nice addition for those in the obstructed view seats or for those waiting in line at the concession stands.

The question is: Will they show the goals for both teams or just Maine’s?

Those of us in the media hope they show all the goals to give us a second look.

But the home fans probably wouldn’t care to see an opposing goal a second time.

5. The “You Earned that One Award” goes to standout Maine senior defenseman and captain Travis Ramsey for his overtime game-winner in the season-ending win over UMass Lowell. The winner of the Dean Smith Academic Award has been the epitome of class for four years and had the difficult task of captaining a ninth-place team. The fact Maine finished with five wins in its last six games, instead of packing it in, is a credit to his hard work, consistent improvement, perseverance and leadership.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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