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Between graduation and early departures, the University of Maine men’s hockey team lost five of their nine top point-scorers, with 154 points among them.
With so many contributing members missing, the Black Bears are going to rely on a group of freshmen more so this year than the past few.
The group of seven incoming freshmen should see more playing time compared to last years’ crop of newcomers. Forwards Mark Anthoine and Jon Swavely appeared in the majority of games, 33 and 23 respectively, while defender Brice O’Connor and forward Carlos Amestoy made spot appearances, catching time in 13 games each.
“This year we’ll need our freshmen to contribute a little more than the class last year had to,” said UMaine men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead.
One of the most promising prospects of this group is freshman forward Connor Leen. The Chester, N.Y. native led the Eastern Junior Hockey League in scoring last year as a member of the New Jersey Hitmen, scoring 26 and assisting on 41 for 67 total points in 43 games.
“Connor Leen is coming in as a tremendous prospect for us,” Whitehead said. “Connor’s a very dynamic player with tremendous speed and skill. He’s going to be slow to start with an illness, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he will eventually be an elite player here at Maine.”
“After visiting Orono, I knew it was the place for me,” Leen told the Star-Ledger back in July of 2010 when he committed to UMaine. “I loved the campus, the rink was great, but most importantly I really liked the coaching staff. I am extremely excited to become a Black Bear.”
Leen was in high demand coming out of Don Bosco Prep High School in N.J., with as many as 14 Division I schools vying for his services.
With five foreign-born players already on the roster, the Black Bears add two more with Swedish-born forward Bill Norman and a forward out of Quebec, Pietro Antonelli.
While at Stanstead College, the high-scoring Antonelli managed 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points in 48 games. The well-rounded athlete also played football, rugby, golf and soccer and was named MVP for the football team in 2010.
Norman played high-school hockey in Rochester, Minn. at Mayo High School, where he earned an All-State Honorable Mention after scoring 17 goals and assisting on 30 others.
While Anthoine was the only Maine native from last year’s class, Scarborough native Jake Rutt joins Anthoine and backup goalie Josh Seeley as the only members of UMaine originally from the Pine Tree State. Last year, Rutt played for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, where he contributed 10 goals and 20 assists as a defender while the Monarchs won the second of back-to-back EJHL championships.
Another promising talent entering his first year as a Black Bear is Green Brook, N.J. native John Parker. The forward played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League last year, where he scored nine goals and added 22 assists. Prior to the Lumberjacks, Parker won a national championship with the Indiana Ice of the USHL.
“I think John Parker is a center that should establish himself rather quickly as a legit college hockey player,” Whitehead said. “He has plenty of experience at a high level.”
Rounding out the freshmen class are Pelham, N.H. forward Andrew Cerretani and Troy, Mich. native Stu Higgins.
Cerretani starred at Lawrence Academy before joining the Black Bears, gaining 50 points in 31 games while bringing the Spartans to the Independent School League semifinals.
Higgins scored 10 goals and added 11 assists as a forward for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL.
Bangor Daily News