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At the first fundraising softball game between the University of Maine men’s hockey team and the Orono and University of Maine Police Departments, sophomore forward Joey Diamond called on junior forward Brian Flynn to pitch to him during the home run derby.
It won’t be the last time Diamond calls on Flynn for the assist, especially in the upcoming hockey season, which will feature Flynn and fellow junior forward Spencer Abbott as captains.
After a breakout season, which saw him increase his point total from the year before by 12 points, finishing second on the team with 40 points — Abbott was named an assistant captain for the 2011-12 campaign.
The Hamilton, Ontario, native discussed some of the improvements needed in his game this summer that will benefit him during his senior season.
“Hopefully I gain some strength and size,” Abbott said. “I want to put on some weight in my legs and be stronger [on the ice].”
While it’s hard for the team to improve as a unit during the summer — with everyone back at their respective homes — Abbott will compensate with early practices once the squad comes back next year.
“It’s tough to [improve as a team] in the summer because none of us are together,” he said. “But once we’re back, we’ll start up some captains’ practices and stuff like that to get some chemistry and go from there.”
Flynn echoed that sentiment, calling on trust in each teammate in order to improve this summer.
“You can always improve on everything, but I think guys know what they need to work on in the summer and you need to trust in one another to do that,” he said. “I need to improve my skating and I need to work out to put on some weight and get stronger.”
Flynn built off a fantastic sophomore year —he finished second on the team in points — to lead the 2010-11 squad in goals his junior year with 20. With an even bigger role this upcoming season, Flynn looks to raise his responsibility with the team.
“It’s obviously much more responsibility when I come back next year,” he said. “As far as this summer it doesn’t change much, [but I] still need to work as hard as I can.”
Since the Black Bears lost half of the team’s top scorers for next season, more pressure will be on these two leaders to shoulder a bigger role. Hopefully Diamond won’t mind repaying the favor.
