ORONO – He didn’t make a splash at Maine like Greg Moore did. He never attended the national development camp, and was a full two years older than Moore by the time he made his debut with the Black Bears, also as a freshman.
He hasn’t been drafted by an NHL team and doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey this season, but it doesn’t faze him.
Sure, he cares about Moore, his teammate for six of the last eight years at St. Dom’s and again at Maine, but Bangor native Derek Damon isn’t worried about the rest. he is just happy to have been able to play for Maine.
“It’s been awesome,” said Damon. “At first I didn’t really know if I would have the opportunity to come up here and play, but when I got it, I couldn’t really pass on that. Over four years, five years, you’ve seen a progression. I feel like I’ve progressed in all four years I’ve played.”
Like Moore, Damon is excited, nervous and even a little nostalgic as he prepares to play in his final season as a Black Bear.
“It’s been a great four years, it’s kind of been an up-and-down four years,” said Damon. “Every game I play here is going to be closer and closer to my last game here. It’s going to be sad here when it’s my last game. Greg and I have played together for a long time now, and it’s going to be sad playing in my last game with him and all of the other guys that have been here for four years.”
As sad as Damon might be, his parents’ will likely also shed a tear or two.
“My parents are probably going to be even sadder,” said Damon. “They’ve been able to watch every game I’ve played here for four years, and I doubt they’ll be able to next year when I’m playing somewhere else. I feel more upset for them because they’ve loved being able to watch.”
Damon said that while he hasn’t received any contract offers as a free agent (he has not been drafted by an NHL team), he sees that as a big opportunity.
“Being a free agent is actually better for me in the long run because now 30 teams can bid on me instead of one,” said Damon. “For some people like Greg, it’s not going to matter because he’s going to be playing in the NHL next year or the year after anyway, but for me, hopefully I have a big year this year.”
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