By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University of Maine hockey team’s preparations for Harvard has had an unexpected twist.

The Black Bears will be without senior center Derek Damon for today’s NCAA Eastern Regional contest against Harvard.

The former St. Dom’s star has been suspended for one game for violation of the student athletic code of conduct. The 25-year old Damon is the oldest member of the team, and has been a core contributor all four years.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “No matter how old we get, I still make them. We all do. We’re keeping it in perspective. It’s a one-game suspension. It’s not a major suspension.”

Word of Damon’s suspension began circling Wednesday and the entire squad was notified on Thursday morning. So the Black Bears had just two practices to adjust their game plan without their second-line center.

“Some of the guys on the team found out Wednesday,” said captain Greg Moore. “I heard it Thursday at the meeting before practice. Coach told us the situation and what happened. It’s a tough situation, but we have to look forward. We have guys that have been out of the lineup that can get the job done. We’re excited for them. The team doesn’t change too much. The game plan is still the same. We’re still looking forward to the challenge.”

Damon had 14 goals and 19 assists in 39 games this season.

“Obviously, things got out of the rest of the team’s control, but it’s happened,” said senior defenseman Steve Mullin. “We’re going to have to deal with it. It’s not like it hasn’t happened to other teams before. The rest of the guys in the locker room have to pick up the slack a little bit. Hopefully, we can get Derek another game.”

If Maine can beat Harvard, it plays either New Hampshire or Michigan St. Sunday at 2 p.m. for a spot in the Frozen Four in Milwaukee on April 6.

Whitehead, whose team endured Mike Hamilton’s suspension earlier in the year, recalled having less notice when Colin Shields was unable to play before a tournament game in 2002. That was decided the day of the game. Denver also had to play without one of it’s top forwards in the National Championship game against Maine two years ago and still prevailed.

“One guy doesn’t make a team,” said Mullin. “As much as Derek meant to us all year, it’s not like now that’s he’s gone we’re not going to win this game. We’ve just got to go out there and play hard and the chips will fall where they may.”

Whitehead said he’ll move Hamilton to center and insert freshman Chris Hahn onto the wing on the second line. Damon was also a key piece to the special teams. Hahn had three goals and one assist in 15 games this season.

“We’ll probably juggle the unit a little bit, but we’ll probably use Chris Hahn,” Whitehead said of the power play unit. “He’s got so much skill and poise. He just doesn’t have the experience that the other guys do. I’m excited for him to have the opportunity to play.”

Damon was not with the Black Bears at Friday’s practice. He was expected to arrive Friday night.

“Obviously, we will miss that one person,” said Moore. “As long as we’re still playing hard as a team and playing well as a team and executing the game plan, it shouldn’t be a problem.

“We didn’t have much time, but we have guys that are willing and able to get the job done. It’s not a worry for us right now. We’re focused on (Saturday) as a team. It really doesn’t change anything.”