Maine’s Roy wins Three Star Award

Sophomore right winger Jean-Yves Roy has won the NEWS’ Three Star Award for his performance in University of Maine home games this season.

Roy shared the honor with linemate Jim Montgomery a year ago.

The honor is based on a points system. Any Maine player chosen the first star in a home game receives three points; a second star is worth two points, and a third star selection earns that player one point.

It is chosen by media representatives.

Roy racked up 22 points to outdistance his other linemate, sophomore left winger Brian Downey, and junior center Martin Robitaille by nine points. Freshman goalie Mike Dunham was fourth with 11 points followed by Montgomery (10); sophomore goalie Garth Snow and junior defenseman Keith Carney (9 apiece); junior LW Scott Pellerin (8); freshman C-RW Patrice Tardif (5); sophomore center Randy Olson, freshman defenseman Chris Imes and sophomore LW Kent Salfi (3); sophomore C-RW Justin Tomberlin (2) and sophomore LW Martin Mercier (1).

Roy received stars in 11 of Maine’s 23 Alfond Arena games in helping lead the Bears to a 20-1-2 home record. He was the first star in three games, the second star in five, and the third star in three more games.

He was the first star in the 7-5 win over Brown in their Dexter Hockey Classic semifinal on Dec. 21, notching 2 goals and an assist; the 3-1 win over Northeastern on Jan. 12 when he figured in all three goals with two goals and an assist, and the 2-1 victory over Boston College on Jan. 15 when he had 2 goals and an assist.

His second-star status occurred in wins over the Air Force Academy (7-1, 1 goal, 2 assists); both Miami of Ohio wins (11-4, 1 goal, 2 assists; 10-1, 2 goals, 1 assist); Boston University (4-0, 2 & 1) and the second Minnesota NCAA playoff game (1 goal, 1 assist).

He was the third star in the 5-4 loss to Lowell with 1 goal and 2 assists; the 4-0 win over New Hampshire with the game-winning goal and the 4-2 win over Boston University (1 & 2).

Roy was one of four players who were chosen the first star a team-leading three times this season with the others being Robitaille, Downey and Dunham.

– – –

Even though they have spent a lot of money to watch their team lose three NCAA Tournament semifinals, University of Maine hockey fans are not about to lose faith in the Bears.

“I’m just happy they’ve made it to the Final Four this many years,” said Orrington’s Jim Swett. “There’s no better show in town.”

Swett added, “I have total confidence that they will win it all next year or the year after.”

“Look how many years (15) it took Northern Michigan to win a national championship,” said Bangor’s Alan Miller. “It takes years to develop a program to win a national championship.”

He admitted that he was a “little more disappointed this year than in previous years because I thought this team was going to win the national championship.”

He agreed with Swett in that a national championship is right around the corner.

Hampden’s Stan MacMillan said “I think we’re very fortunate to have a great coach and a great hockey program. The team played as hard as it could against Northern Michigan, it was a fair game and they beat us fair and square.”

Orrington’s Larry Burke said he thought the team had a “great year” and exceeded expectations by reaching the Final Four.

“At the first of the year, I didn’t expect them to get as far as they did because they had such a young team with only one senior,” said Burke.

– – –

Speaking of the one senior, defenseman Brian Straub is a free agent and is looking to continue his career in the pro ranks next season.

“I hope to get a chance to play here (in North America), but I still have Europe on my mind, too,” said Straub, who was raised in Bricktown, N.J., before his family moved to Bozeman, Mont., when he was a teenager. “I feel I can play here (in at least the minor leagues) next year.”

Straub, who transferred to Maine from the University of North Dakota where he was cut as a freshman, finished his two-year Maine career with 13 goals and 39 assists in 85 games. He had 6 & 25 in 42 games this season and was a team-leading plus-33.

“I’m so glad I ended up at Maine,” said the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Straub. “It was well worth it.”

– – –

Roy was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team along with Northern Michigan goalie Bill Pye, defensemen Brad Werenka and Lou Melone and center Scott Beattie and Boston University right winger Tony Amonte. Beattie was the Most Valuable Player.