It is never easy to get traded, especially at this point in the season.

But that is what happened to former University of Maine All-American defenseman and 1988 U.S. Olympian Eric Weinrich earlier this week when the Montreal Canadiens shipped the 34-year-old to the Boston Bruins for 26-year-old Patrick Traverse.

The Bruins will be his fifth team and Friday night’s game in Dallas will mark the Gardiner native’s debut in the colors of his favorite team as a boy.

“They were the only team I saw in Maine. They used to show some games on public television,” said Weinrich.

“It’s not going to be easy to fit right in this late in the season. But I’m pretty excited. I’m sure they know what I’m going through and will make it as easy as they can for me,” said Weinrich. “I don’t know many guys. I know Bill Guerin, Hal Gill and Mike Knuble. Assistant coach Peter Laviolette and I were teammates on the 1988 Olympic team. That will help out a lot.”

Laviolette is the brother-in-law of former Maine star center fielder Billy McInnis.

Weinrich had been an iron man for the Canadiens. He led the team in average minutes played a year ago: 25 minutes and 21 seconds. He played on both the power play and penalty-killing units.

He has six goals and 19 assists in 60 games this season including two power-play goals. His six goals are one shy of his single-season high.

His minus-one plus-minus rating is extremely respectable considering Montreal is 12 games below .500.

“I have no idea how [Bruins coach Mike Keenan] will use me back there. I think I’ll play a fair amount,” said Weinrich. “I know they like to use four forwards and one defenseman on the power play. I want him to throw me in where he thinks I can help the team the most. I’ve done a lot of penalty-killing and I’ve played against the opposing team’s top lines the last few years. I think it’ll take some time and he’ll do some experimenting.”

Weinrich, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, said he was “really surprised” to wind up in Boston.

“I had heard Colorado, Detroit and St. Louis but I never heard anything about Boston,” said Weinrich.

There was also speculation about him being sent to Pittsburgh.

Weinrich feels he has had “a pretty solid year” so far.

“I’ve been pretty consistent and that’s when I’m at my best. But I really want to get into the playoffs. That’s where everything really starts,” said Weinrich, who has an offseason home in Yarmouth.

He enjoys playing in the FleetCenter and the passion that New Englanders have for the Boston teams.

“I’ve had good games at the FleetCenter and Boston is one of the best sports towns in the U.S.,” said Weinrich. “It’s more like Chicago than Montreal and it’s always fun to have that kind of atmosphere in the building.”

He is looking forward to playing for Keenan.

“He knows how to get the most out of his players and that’s why he’s been so successful. He has won a lot of games,” said Weinrich.

He thinks the team has potential.

“They’ve got Guerin and Jason Allison has become one of the top guys in the league now. They’ve got a lot of good young players,” said Weinrich.

He has been mentioned in the Hockey News magazine and the Boston Globe as a possible U.S. Olympic team defenseman next year and he’s hoping that will transpire.

“That would be a real honor, a real thrill. But I’m not holding my breath on that. I hope my play has given me a chance to be a candidate.

“If I keep working hard and play the best I can, hopefully I’ll catch somebody’s eye and gain a spot,” he added. “Even if I don’t play in any of the games at the Olympics, I’ll be a cheerleader. I want to be part of that experience again.”

Earnhardt ‘kind, loving guy’

What kind of impact has the death of Winston Cup great Dale Earnhardt had in his native North Carolina?

“One of my employees was so broken up, he couldn’t work so I sent him home,” said Cherryfield’s Andy Santerre, who co-owns a Busch Grand National race team with North Carolina businessman Mike Reece. “I shed tears for Earnhardt.

“He was totally different off the track. He was very gentle. He was a kind, loving guy,” said Santerre who added that Earnhardt’s Intimidator reputation was overblown.

He said this weekend’s racing at Rockingham will be somber.

Santerre will debut in the Alltel 200 on Saturday with the Winstop Cup race, the K-Mart Dura-Lube 400, slated for Sunday at North Carolina Speedway.

“I’ve got a good race car [Chevy Monte Carlo]. If we could get a top 10, I’d be really excited,” said Santerre who is racing in the hopes his team can secure a primary sponsor.

Stan Meserve, former owner of Distance Racing Products in Unity and highly successful pro stock driver, is his crew chief.

Santerre, who has six full-time employees and four cars, has chosen eight races he will drive in based upon his comfort level with the track and his previous performances there.

He maintains that he has no desire to drive in Winston Cup but would like his Busch Grand National team to be successful.