The Black Bears will rely on an influx of new players.
ORONO – There are so many faces missing from last year’s Maine Black Bears hockey team that the normal train of thought would be that it would be a rebuilding year.
In all, due either to graduation or to early departures, 10 players on the roster to begin last season are missing this year. That includes all of Maine’s top five in scoring a year ago, and arguably its best two defensemen.
“We know what we are up against,” said coach Tim Whitehead. “We lost quite a bit of firepower, and this year’s team will be different than last year’s in that we’ll have to rely a bit more on our defense than in the past. Of course, we can’t forget that we have a young defense either.”
But looks can also be very deceiving, something Maine is counting on. Of the new players, four have collegiate experience or the equivalent, and one has already been named an assistant captain by his peers.
Michel Léveillé sat out last season and was not allowed to play or practice, but according to his fellow players, he hasn’t lost the edge that allowed him to lead the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League in scoring with 108 points in 52 games during the 2001-02 season.
“He’s such a talented player,” said Bangor native and former St. Dom’s player Derek Damon. “He has such great vision on the ice, and he’s going to make the forwards we have that much better.”
“He’s in the best shape of his career,” said Whitehead. “It was tough that he couldn’t practice, but he’ll do very, very well.”
From his side of things, Léveillé is still trying to get his legs under him.
“The only hockey I played last year was stick-and-puck hockey,” said Léveillé. “I definitely feel that I can play with these guys, and I want to get out there and show that I can.”
Joining Léveillé as a “new” skater with experience is Jeff Mushaluk, who sat last year as a result of transferring from Lake Superior State. Mushaluk provides a much-needed boost on the blue line, and has already been named an assistant captain.
“I don’t know that the pressure others are going to put on me is going to be as bad as the pressure I put on myself,” said Mushaluk. “At the same time, I’m 23 years old and I’ve seen two programs, and I know what’s going on out there.”
Mushaluk still has three years of eligibility left, so barring an early departure, he will be with the team until 2006.
Dustin Penner and Jon Jankus also are playing with the team after sitting out last season as redshirts. Both Penner and Jankus should contribute this season.
“The thing with the guys that were here last year is that they know the system, and they can jump right in,” said Whitehead.
Luciano Aquino, the younger brother of former Merrimack standout and current NHL prospect Anthony Aquino, Tom Zabkowicz, Keith Johnson, Josh Soares, Brent Sheppard and Mike Lundin are also new to the team.
Lundin signed with the team just over a month ago, filling in the spot vacated when Francis Nault was ruled ineligible shortly following the end of last season. As a senior at Apple Valley High School in Minnesota, Lundin garnered state Player of the Year honors from both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Associated Press.
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