PROVIDENCE, R.I – Winning back-to-back national championships is difficult in any sport.

University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh said his team’s failed attempt to repeat – North Dakota eliminated the Bears 2-0 in the national semifinals Thursday – wasn’t caused by the pressure to repeat.

Boston University was the last team to repeat during the 1970-71 and ’71-72 campaigns.

“There was pressure early in the season because you’re the defending national champs. It can make a team’s season to beat you. But we had been unbeaten in our previous 13 games [before Thursday],” said Walsh.

He said there are a variety of reasons repeating is so difficult in college hockey.

“The number one reason is parity. Each team has 18 scholarships and it’s a buyer’s market,” Walsh said. “You can bring in a lot of good players but there are still a lot more good players out there. Recruiting has expanded into Europe and now you find a lot of eastern schools recruiting in western Canada.”

He also said the coaching has improved.

“People enjoy coaching and you don’t have firings like you have in the NHL,” added Walsh.

Leger top candidate

University of Maine senior right wing Jim Leger is expected to be named the recipient of the Humanitarian Award Friday in Providence.

The award is given to college hockey’s best citizen and the criteria includes academics and community involvement in addition to on-ice exploits.

“I think it’s a bigger award than the Hobey Baker Award because it goes to college hockey’s best citizen,” said Maine coach Walsh.

The Baker Award is given to college hockey’s best player.

Tourney expansion?

Quinnipiac College Athletic Director Jack McDonald, who is a member Division I men’s ice hockey committee, said the NCAA’s Management Council will consider the committee’s proposal to expand the Division I hockey tournament from 12 to 16 teams on Monday.

He doesn’t think it will be implmented for next season but he’s hoping for the 2001-2002 season.

“The NCAA will address gender equity issues first: expanding the number of women’s championships and the squad sizes of women’s teams,” said McDonald.

“But we’ll point out the record attendance we had at the two hockey regionals and the $500,000 revenue we’ll bring in from the NCAA hockey tournament that can be put towards these gender equity measures,” he added.

Tortorella tracks Bears

One of the spectators on hand was former Maine goalie Jim Tortorella, who teamed with Jeff Nord to comprise the first goaltending tandem at Maine.

They were freshmen on the 1977-78 team that started the program.

Tortorella is currently the men’s hockey coach at Waterville’s Colby College and he was attending his first Frozen Four.

He said he still roots for his alma mater and that there is a special bond between Maine players.

“I think the fans helped create it. It took me an hour to walk up to my seat today. I saw a lot of fans who were fans back when I played and they said they remembered our teams,” said Tortorella.

Larose is All-American

Cory Larose of the University of Maine has been named to the 1999-2000 Jofa University Division All-American hockey second team.

Larose, a senior forward from Campbellton, New Brunswick, led Hockey East in scoring this season with 55 points. He was the only Black Bear recognized on the squads, which were selected by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Of the 24 players recognized, 13 come from the United States and 11 hail from Canada.

Frozen Four entry Boston College placed three players on the University Division first team, including forwards Brian Gionta and Jeff Farkas, along with defenseman Mike Mottau.

Among the players joining Larose on the All-America second team are Hockey East foes Ty Conklin, a goaltender from New Hampshire, and Chris Dyment, a Boston University defenseman.

Walsh was on UMass list

UMaine hockey coach Shawn Walsh was on the University of Massachusetts’ coaching wish list as the Minutemen sought a head coach in recent weeks.

However, when UMass asked for permission to speak with Walsh about its vacancy, Walsh and UMaine athletics director Sue Tyler decided to put any discussions off until after the Bears’ season had ended.

UMass decided it couldn’t wait to talk with Walsh and instead announced Wednesday it had hired Princeton coach Don Cahoon to replace former Minutemen boss Joe Mallen.

Walsh had been approached by UMass back in 1993 when the school decided to restart their Division I program.

Larose, Ek named senior all-stars

UMaine left winger Cory Larose and defenseman Robert Ek have been selected to play on the United States college hockey senior all-star team.

The two Black Bears will take part in a two-game series next week against a team of senior standouts from Canada. On April 15, the teams play at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., then on the 16th, the U.S. and Canada clash at Copp’s Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.