HEBRON — Duty. Honor. Country. Hockey.

Shane Hearn has developed a love for two things in his life, and he will be among the very few who will be allowed to pursue both dreams simultaneously next fall.

Hearn, an Auburn resident and senior at Hebron Academy, was officially accepted to enroll at the United States Military Academy at West Point. A prestigious honor in itself, Hearn, who has played five years of prep-school hockey at North Yarmouth Academy and Hebron, will also suit up for the Black Knights’ hockey team, making him the fourth Maine-based hockey player to commit to a Division I program for the fall of 2012.

“They actually called me, coach (Trever) Large called me personally, he told me, ‘I have some good news for you,'” Hearn said. “That was definitely a pleasant surprise.”

Hearn joins Connor Anthoine of Lewiston (Vermont), John Gillies of South Portland (Northeastern) and Brian Hart of Cumberland (Harvard) on the list of players committed to Division I programs.

“About a year ago, I had a friend who’d also gone here to Hebron. He went to play at Sacred Heart, and he was telling me all about the league and the way he was treated and the level of hockey, and it was all positive things,” Hearn said. “Then I got to talk with the coaches at Army. I saw the facilities at Tate Arena and it all just came together.”

Hearn played in 32 games for the Lumberjacks a year ago, registering 15 goals and 26 assists. Smaller in stature, Hearn said his conditioning allows him to continue to play physical while giving away some inches in height on many of the players against which he competes.

“The change in the game over the years, there’s less hooking and slashing and all that now. It’s a bit easier,” Hearn said. “At the same time, I really pride myself on my skating. that’s what I’ve really worked on.”

For help, Hearn has worked with Toronto Maple Leafs skating coach Graeme Townshend, with whom he has since developed a working relationship.

“I go around the country and work with Coach Townshend at camps,” Hearn said. “He’s really been a big help for me. He’s one of the reasons I’m able to play Division I.”

Army wasn’t the only hockey squad taking a look at Hearn, but ultimately, Hearn said, West Point offered him an opportunity no other school could: An opportunity to continue his hockey playing career while also serving the United States in the military.

“I was definitely looking for a challenge,” Hearn said. “I would say I’ve always been into the military, and as for the hockey piece, I was introduced to that program about a year and a half ago.”

The path to West Point, Hearn said, was paved with the help of his time at Hebron, which aided him not only athletically, but academically.

“You have to maintain good grades at Hebron if you want to even play hockey,” Hearn said. “That’s definitely helped get me ready for going to play in college.”

Army plays in the Atlantic Hockey conference, against schools like Connecticut, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara and fellow service academy Air Force.

Hearn will play under a new coach at Hebron this year, too. James LeBlanc, an assistant with the Lumberjacks for three seasons and a graduate of the prestigious prep school in 2002, takes over this season for Matt Plante.

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