March 8, 2010
Maine Suspends Goalie Darling Indefinitely
CHN Staff Report
Scott Darling
ORONO, Maine — Maine sophomore goalie Scott Darling has been suspended indefinitely by the team for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Darling had already been suspended for this past weekend's regular-season-ending series against Massachusetts at home. Maine lost both games to the Minutemen, greatly hurting its NCAA tournament hopes, though it still finished fourth in Hockey East and will host a playoff series this weekend for the first time since 2005.
Assuming Darling remains suspended, senior Dave Wilson or freshman Shawn Sirman will get the start Friday when Maine takes on Mass.-Lowell at Alfond Arena.
Darling has played the bulk of time this season — 27 games. Though his numbers aren't stellar — 3.10 goals against average and .895 save percentage — the team's record is significantly better with him in net: 15-6-3 with him compared to 1-9 without him.
However, Darling has had his troubles before. He was suspended for the first two games this season for an incident that happened over the summer, and he was suspended for one game last year.
Shawn Sirman, who is 1-6 with 5.19 goals against average, started two games against UMass last weekend, but was lifted both times.
“Shawn is a freshman who has had some highs and lows but I know he’ll be better because of his experience on Friday and Saturday," Maine coach Tim Whitehead told the Bangor Daily News. "Those guys will be ready to go.”
“No matter who is in net, we have to play better as a team,” said Maine junior captain Tanner House to the News. “We’re confident in both of them. Both of those guys are capable of being the starting guy and being able to win games for us. We need to play well no matter who plays and give that goalie and opportunity to win.”
MAAAHTYMar 8 2010, 11:40 pm
I know some Maine players who played under Walsh and then in the beginning of the Whitehead tenure, and KNOWING how little regard Walsh had for the rules, the players I have spoken with said that Walsh WAS A STICKLER for the rules compared to Whiteside. It was not that Whiteside claimed he let anything go. HE SIMPLY DID NOT WANNA BE IN THE LOOP WHEN HE KNEW RULES WERE BEING BROKEN ALL AROUND HIM. Whatever Darlings' discretions (multiple), the only reason his suspension happened is because IT IS APPARENT THAT EITHER THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE PRESS were gonna get the story and he was doing his best to look like he had control of that program, but truth be told it started in the Walsh Dayz and has only gotten worse and if HOCKEY had rules even a fraction as tough as FOOTBALL Maine would have received the DEATH PENALTY several times over by now.
CHN EditorMar 8 2010, 11:53 pm
His name is Whitehead, and you have absolutely no proof to make that kind of statement. And your remarks are erroneous and irresponsible ... I'd delete those remarks right now - except that I'll let them stand for now and simply refute them. But any similar remarks going forward will cause us to review your account.
MaineFanMar 9 2010, 9:55 pm
hey editor, I can spot 2 inaccuracies in your story, right off the cuff... should I state that those are also erroneous and irresponsible, or should I hope that you correct them? (or should I just consider the source and move on?) I have little knowledge of whether MAAHTY is right, but I wonder if he is correct knowing that just very recently a Maine player only served a suspension AFTER the press got ahold of a story (3 whole weeks after the incident orrurred).; It sure looked like he would not miss a game, until his indiscretion was made public.... just sayin'
CHN EditorMar 9 2010, 10:02 pm
If you have inaccuracies you want to point out, we'll correct them. Otherwise, you can consider the source, not tell us, ignore us, or do whatever you'd like.
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