2010 Hockey East Championships | Sports

Men’s Hockey: Abbott fills void on Bears power player

Sophomore winger provides scoring punch, clutch play

Posted on March 17, 2010, at 10:42 p.m.

Former University of Maine men’s hockey standouts Michel Leveille, Derek Damon and Keenan Hopson were forwards coach Tim Whitehead trusted to run the point of his team’s power play unit. Whitehead’s decision to try sophomore left wing Spencer Abbott there this season has paid dividends for UMaine’s power play, which has been perched atop the nation for most of the year.

Graduated power play defensemen Simon Danis-Pepin and Matt Duffy left Whitehead with a void to fill. Whitehead had a hunch during the summer that Abbott’s calm, poised demeanor while in possession of the puck would translate to an expanded role on the team.

“[Abbott] certainly could have played both roles for us this year,” Whitehead said. “Set-up man was really what we needed most, so we were pleased that he could do that.”

The point man commands the distribution of the puck similar to a basketball point guard or football quarterback, and a mishandled puck or ill-advised pass could result in a short-handed breakout for the opposing team.

“You get a lot of looks and touch the puck a lot, so it helps you out in the game,” Abbott said. “It helps you on five-on-five because you have confidence with the puck.”

Abbott said his only experience in the role came during the playoffs of his second year of junior hockey with the Hamilton (Ontario) Red Wings. He currently plays in all situations for the Black Bears, and his minus-one plus-minus rating is tied with classmate Theo Andersson for the best among UMaine forwards not on the first line (Tanner House, Gustav Nyquist, Brian Flynn). The plus-minus rating factors in whether a player is on the ice when his team scores and when they are scored upon.

“It means a lot to me,” Abbott said. “It means [Whitehead] does have confidence in me, and it also helps my game and gives me confidence.”

Despite standing 5-feet-9-inches tall, Abbott remains strong on the puck since adding muscle in the off-season to his 170-pound frame. His strength complements elusive skating ability and a quality wrist shot.

“His ability to hold defenders off until a man gets open is exceptional,” Whitehead said. “That’s really helped his game a lot.”

“I went home last summer and got down to business,” Abbott said. “I gained probably eight or nine pounds of muscle and stayed 5-percent body fat. I definitely got a lot stronger in every aspect of my body.”

UMaine’s power play efficiency has hovered around 30 percent all season and currently stands at 27.9 percent, which is more than four percentage points higher than its nearest competitor. Abbott said it has been a group effort for the two power-play units.

“We’ve got really good net-front guys, so if we draw guys out and get pucks to the net, they’ll do the rest,” Abbott said. “It’s great to be a part of that.”

Abbott has a career-high eight goals this season despite being relied upon more to assist on scoring chances with the man-advantage rather than score. He has dished out 17 assists and ranks sixth in team scoring. Just one of Abbott’s goals has come on the power play, after scoring six power play goals as a freshman.

The Black Bears can rely on Abbott to contribute on the score sheet in big games. In both of his seasons, Abbott’s game-winning goals have forced decisive third games in UMaine’s Hockey East Tournament quarterfinal series. Last year, his game two goal came against eventual National Champions Boston University, and he scored the game-winner last Saturday in the quarterfinals against UMass Lowell.

“In the playoffs, it’s a totally different style of game,” Abbott said. “It’s more grinding and mucking it up. To be able to come out on top with a couple of points against a good team like BU really helped my confidence.”

UMaine’s second forward line of Abbott, junior center Robby Dee and senior right wing David deKastrozza has accounted for 18 percent of the team’s scoring, even with Dee and deKastrozza having missed time due to injuries. Dee is a skilled center and good skater, while power-forward deKastrozza balances the line as formidable net-front presence to screen the opposing goaltender, finish rebounds and block shots in the opposite end.

“They’re all well-rounded players, but each one has some elite aspects of their game that really make it a great line,” Whitehead said.

Whitehead knew he was getting a scoring threat when he recruited Abbott out of Hamilton, which is also Abbott’s hometown. Abbott racked up 83 points on 42 goals and 41 assists in 42 games in his second season of junior hockey. He scored 75 points the previous season.

Former Black Bear leading scorer Josh Soares set Hamilton scoring records with 124 points in 48 games in 2002-03. Abbott said Soares skated with the junior team during winter break while a member of the Black Bears. UMaine junior defenseman Josh Van Dyk and freshman forward Joey Diamond also played for Hamilton.

Abbott was disappointed he did not contribute to UMaine’s scoring as much as he had hoped to as a freshman, while the Black Bears’ offense finished with a league-low 2.21 goals scored per-game in their 13-win season.

“I felt like I could come over and make an impact,” Abbott said. “It wasn’t the season I was looking for, but hopefully I can carry on the good things I’ve been doing this year.”

Whitehead said Abbott’s improvement is evident in all aspects of his game.

“He’s become more of a complete player than we expected this quickly,” Whitehead said. “He’s really improved the defensive side of his game.”

Abbott attended Sherwood High School in Hamilton. He said he was also recruited by Northeastern, Niagara, Bowling Green and Bemidji State.

“Maine was best suited for me,” Abbott said.

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