After slow start, Link looks solid for UMaine Bears

He was expected to emerge as a steady and reliable Division I defenseman this season. Instead, University of Maine junior Tony Link was mistake-prone and anything but reliable during training camp and the intrasquad and exhibition games.

But Link kept working on his game and he is now playing perhaps the best hockey of his college career as he prepares to play in the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. The 13-4-1 Bears play 10-8-4 Michigan State at 8 p.m. on Friday after Michigan, 12-5-3, and Michigan Tech, 8-11-2, open the tourney at 5 p.m.

Saturday’s consolation game is at 4 p.m. with the championship game to follow at 7:30 p.m..

Link is coming off an impressive performance in the Dexter Classic final as he had an assist on Steve Widmeyer’s game-winning goal and did not make a mistake that led to a Clarkson University scoring chance in Maine’s 8-4 triumph.

“Coach (Maine Coach Shawn Walsh) pointed out that I didn’t have any scoring chances against me and it made me feel good,” said Link. “It shows me that I was playing as well as I thought I was. Now I want to keep working on the offensive part of my game so I can help our forwards like they help me out defensively.”

“Tony’s confidence and concentration are much better,” said Walsh. “He has become one of our better players.”

Link said he always struggles during training camp because the players can’t begin on-ice workouts until the first week of October and “I need all the help I can with my skating. It takes me a while to come around.”

Link said he has been his own worst enemy at times.

“I want so badly to play well, when I don’t, it eats away at me,” said Link. “After talking to coach, I realized that it (his lack of confidence) was part of my problem so I’ve tried to get away from that as much as possible.”

He said Walsh has helped him overcome his lack of confidence “by showing confidence in me and using me in key situations. It keeps me into the game more.”

Link, who has 3 assists in 16 games, said he and his teammates are ready for the tournament.

“If we play our game, I know we can beat Michigan State,” said Link who hopes to keep playing well.

“I’ve played well the last three weekends and I’m really looking to have to good weekend this weekend to cap it off,” said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Anchorage, Alaska native.