By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer
With a pro career on the horizon, Greg Moore is staying “somewhat sane” during his dwindling days at Maine.

ORONO – With every drop of the puck, Greg Moore’s career at Maine gets a little closer to completion.

It’s a thought the Lisbon native has tried to avoid, but one he can’t help let drift through his mind on occasion.

“It’s been pretty emotional for me,” said Moore, “coming here as a little kid and to see it coming to an end now that we’re in the playoffs. Obviously, hopefully, I’ve got other things to look forward to, so that’s helping me keep somewhat sane right now. But it’s hard to look back at freshman year and look over my career. I definitely didn’t think of myself being in the spot I am right now, if I’d looked forward when I was a freshman.

“It’s been really exciting. It’s meant a lot to me to be able to play here. It will be tough when the final game comes.”

Moore not only played in a National Championship game as a sophomore, but was just the second Maine native to be named captain of the Black Bears. He also became the 45th player to surpass the 100-point mark and is the ninth Maine player to be a Hobey Baker finalist. The Black Bears have gone 103-41-17 during his career, and reached the NCAA tournament three times already.

“I think I did way more than I wanted to,” said Moore, who has 64 goals and 38 assists in 150 games. “My freshman year, it was a great team that we had. I was lucky enough to be in that lineup. I’d have never pictured my senior year being the captain and being as successful as I’ve been. It’s been a dream come true for me.”

It’s been a superb season for Moore, who could have turned pro after his junior year. It is a decision that has stood the test of time. He says it wasn’t a difficult choice to make, and he’s certainly happy with the course that he chose.

“I’ve had a lot of success,” said Moore. “It’s nice to have a good season. It’s four years of experience and each year it gets a little easier. It kind of feels like a fifth year for me because my senior year at USA, I was playing Division I too. So that kind of helped fast track me to be able to have a successful season.”

Moore leads the Black Bears with 26 goals. He’s served as the team captain during a season that hasn’t been without some struggles. The team was 15-9 at one point and overcame the suspension of players following an off-campus altercation. Moore says he hasn’t been burdened by the captain’s duties. He credits the coaching staff and the players for making his role that much easier.

“I don’t feel like there’s a lot of pressure on my shoulders,” said Moore. “Every season is a long season. You have your ups and downs. You’re going to have your downs. So you just learn from them. I think this year, it just makes us stronger.”

Had he turned pro, there’s no telling what kind of progress he might have made in the New York Ranger’s system, but Moore feels this season has been a great stepping stone. He’s proven himself as a leader and a go-to player. The recognition of being one of the nation’s top players is the reward.

“There were a lot of benefits,” said Moore. “There was the experience of being a captain, and the production I had in points. It was my career-best here at Maine. The confidence and a lot of areas of my game have improved too. Hopefully, that will prepare me better for the next level.”

Moore is among the candidates for the Hobey Baker award, given to the nation’s top collegiate hockey player. Scott Pellerin and Paul Kariya are the only Black Bears to have won the honor. Moore says he’s not even thinking about the award. His biggest concern is Boston College in Friday’s 8 p.m. Hockey East semifinal game.

“All I worry about is getting to the Garden and I’m just worried about our team,” said Moore. “We all want to do as well as we can as a team and try to get to the national championship. That’s all that’s on my mind right now.”

He’s not even thinking much beyond this season. He says the Rangers have had scouts at Maine games this season, but has had little contact with the club otherwise.

“I’ll prepare myself through the summer,” said Moore. “I’ll got to camp and see what happens. There’s no expectations. The Rangers haven’t told me what they expect of me. I’ll just do my best and see how everything ends up.”