UM hockey stars head for pro careers

Three senior members of last year’s University of Maine hockey team are now a step closer to playing in the National Hockey League, and a fourth is headed to Europe to play professionally.

Goalie Scott King signed a three-year contract with the Detroit Redwings on Friday.

Defenseman Jim Burke came to terms on a one-year deal plus an option year with the Hartford Whalers Monday.

Defenseman Christian Lalonde came to terms on a multi-year pact with the Pittsburgh Penguins Monday.

And center Guy Perron recently signed a one-year contract with a one-year option with Vasby in Sweden.

King received a $120,000 signing bonus and a minimum of $50,000 a year at the minor league level, $125,000 a year if he makes the Redwings club.

“This is something I’ve worked for all my life,” said King, who graduated with a degree in biology this year. “I’m very pleased. And I still have a career to go back to if hockey doesn’t work out. I’ll give it three years, which is the duration of the contract. If it’s not going well, then I’ll start pursuing medicine or marine biology.”

King, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Kamloops, British Columbia, amassed a record of 17-7-2 for Maine last season, built on a 2.63 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. He was named first-team All-Hockey East. He was drafted in the 10th round by Detroit in 1986.

“Scott King has had a fabulous college career and is ready to turn pro,” said Detroit General Manager Jim DeVellano. “We hope he can eventually make it to Detroit and play in the National Hockey League.”

While Burke and Lalonde have come to terms, neither had actually signed contracts with their NHL clubs as of Monday.

Burke, a 6-3, 215-pound native of Newton, Mass., has been offered a $25,000 signing bonus and is guaranteed $25,000 for his first year at the minor league level, $100,000 if he makes the Whalers.

“I’m pretty relieved right now,” said Burke, who scored six goals and handed out 23 assists his senior season at Maine and was drafted by Hartford in 1988. “At the beginning of the summer, I wasn’t sure it would happen.”

Lalonde, a 6-1, 200-pound native of LaSalle, Quebec, could not be reached for comment. He successfully made the switch to defense last season after playing forward his first three seasons at Maine. He scored two goals and had 13 assists for 15 points for the Bears. Lalonde was not drafted but will sign as a free agent.

A source close to the negotiations said Lalonde can expect a minimum $20,000 signing bonus and $30,000 a year at the minor-league level from Pittsburgh.

Perron, a 5-9, 170-pound senior from Laval, Quebec, was fishing in Canada and unavailable for comment. He scored 13 goals and had 13 assists for Maine last season. He turned down an undisclosed offer from the Boston Bruins to accept the Vasby offer.

“I’m happy for all four players involved because their hard work over four years certainly created the improvement they each showed,” said UM hockey coach Shawn Walsh, who has now seen 18 of his players sign pro contracts in five years. “I’m equally pleased they all have completed their degrees so they have something to fall back on in case their careers don’t work out.”