The University of Maine hockey team puts on a one-hour clinic at CMCC.
LEWISTON – The line in the lobby of the Central Maine Civic Center snaked past the pro shop and into the hallway behind the canteen.
Players from the Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League mites division, some still in their gear, waited as those in front of them made their way through the line.
The object of the young players’ affection on this day: Approximately one-third of the University of Maine Black Bears hockey team was in town on Sunday for a one-hour clinic with the mites division players.
“The whole idea is to get the younger kids skating next to the college players,” LAYHL travel director Steve Rodrigue said. “It helps to build the kids’ confidence, especially when you have someone that came from the same system as they did on the ice with them.”
On Sunday, Lisbon native Greg Moore was among the nine players sent from Orono to run one of three clinics around the state. Presque Isle and Camden-Rockport were the two other sites.
“It’s great to be back here,” Moore said. “I think there are more kids out here this year, too, which is great to see.”
Moore played two years at St. Dom’s before spending two years with the U.S. Development program in Ann Arbor, Mich. Last week, Moore was on the ice as the final seconds ticked away in the United States’ 4-3 win over Canada at the World Junior Championships in Finland, and he was honored on Saturday night at center ice in front of a large home crowd at Alfond Arena in Orono.
Among the other players down from Orono on Sunday were captain Todd Jackson, Colin Shields, Travis Wight, Steve Mullin and Randolph native Ray Jean.
Derek Damon, who played with Moore at St. Dom’s, was in Rockport on Sunday, closer to his home in Bangor.
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