UM’s Jim Montgomery doesn’t mind not entering the limelight

Power Play Supplement

University of Maine Coach Shawn Walsh calls sophomore center Jim Montgomery his team’s “unsung hero.”

“Everybody talks about (Jean-Yves) Roy and (Scott) Pellerin,” said Walsh. “Jimmy has been `Mister Consistent’ for us. He may be the most underrated player in Hockey East.”

Montgomery, Maine’s second-leading scorer last year (26 goals, 34 assists) and so far this year (7 and 15), doesn’t mind being left out of the limelight.

“When I see guys like (Northern Michigan’s Daryl) Plandowski shadowing Jean-Yves and the attention other teams give to Pelly and Roby (Martin Robitaille), I’m glad I don’t get that,” said Montgomery. “I don’t get the bruises they get.”

“What’s important to me is having our players know I’m contributing and helping the team,” said Montgomery. “That’s what I’m happy about.”

Montgomery owns the distinction of being the only Bear to have registered at least a point in every one of Maine’s first 12 games.

“It has a lot to do with the way Coach (Walsh) has used me,” said Montgomery. “He’s used me in a lot of key situations like the power play and 5-on-3. You aren’t going to get as many points if you aren’t on those units. And I love my linemates (right winger Roy and left winger Brian Downey). If you love your linemates, it’s fun to go to practice and fun in the games. I know where they’re going to be.”

“We’ve had a fair amount of success, but not as much as we’d like,” added Montgomery.

Montgomery came to Maine from Pembroke of the Central Ontario Hockey League, where he had 80 goals and 143 assists during the 1988-89 season. Downey was his linemate, and he had 87 goals and 117 assists in 56 games.

Montgomery chose Maine over four other Division I schools, including Hockey East teams Providence, MerrimackA and New Hampshire.

He said the key ingredients in his decision were the Alfond Arena, the crowds, the fact that “so many non-hockey people knew who I was before I got here,” and the persistence of Walsh and his staff.

“He (Walsh) flew in to see me play in the middle of the season and wrote me a personal letter,” said Montgomery. “No one else went to that extreme.”

He also said a lot of people told him he wouldn’t play at Maine, and he “liked the challenge” of proving them wrong.

“I knew there was a lot of talent at Maine, there were a lot of extra bodies, but competition is one way to improve yourself, even if you aren’t playing,” said Montgomery. “The competitive attitude and work ethic help you improve.”

Montgomery got off to a great start at Maine with goals in five of his first six games, and that continued for the rest of the season. He ended the season as the fifth-leading freshman scorer in Maine’s 13-year hockey history and was chosen to the Hockey East All-Freshman team.

“I’m never really satisfied with the way I’m playing, but when I look back at what previous great freshman did at Maine and I almost equalled it, I guess I did have quite a good year,” said Montgomery.

Montgomery gave a lot of credit to the Maine coaching staff.

“I remember when I was struggling, the coaches stuck with me,” said Montgomery. “All the coaches helped me out in different ways. If I lose my confidence, I’m not effective. But they didn’t let me lose my confidence.”

Just because he had a great freshman year, Montgomery felt there was plenty of room for improvement.

“I wanted to improve my strength and my ability to protect the puck,” said Montgomery. “I got knocked off the puck quite a bit. I also wanted to work on my endurance. It wasn’t good last year.”