A year ago, Jim Montgomery was preparing to lead the University of Maine Black Bears to what would become a Magical Mystery Tour that produced a 42-1-2 record and the school’s first NCAA Division I championship.

One of the fringe benefits of his 95-point season was a three-year contract with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues that included a $160,000 signing bonus.

Montgomery’s NHL exhibition career couldn’t have gotten off to a more dramatic start as he scored with 15 seconds remaining to give the Blues a 2-2 tie with Tampa Bay in Lakeland, Fla., Friday night.

“I replaced the pulled goalie,” explained Montgomery. “Kevin Miller fed me a nice pass in front of the net.”

“It was really nice,” added Montgomery of the game. “I got a lot of quality ice time. I played on the power play and I killed penalties.”

Montgomery centered a line between 12-year NHL veteran Basil McRae and former Bowling Green All-American Nelson Emerson, the Blues’ fifth-leading point-getter a year ago.

“I’m having fun out there,” said Montgomery. “It’s been great so far. I relate it to my freshman year at Maine. It’s a new experience. My eyes are wide open. I can’t get enough of it.”

He said the talent level is a lot higher than it is in college.

“Everybody has skill to a different degree,” said Montgomery, who concluded his Black Bear career with 301 points in four seasons. “Everybody makes nice tape-to-tape passes.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Montgomery said he doesn’t feel out of place.

“I feel like I belong out there. I’m confident. I’ve been making the plays I made in college and I’m happy about that,” said Montgomery. “I thought I was effective against Tampa Bay. I created opportunities. They’ve got a lot of money invested in me and if I can continue to play the way I’ve been playing, I’ll have a good shot to stay in St. Louis.”

The physical strength of the players in the NHL is the biggest adjustment according to Montgomery but he intends to compensate for his lack of size by keeping his legs moving and relying on his smarts and his intense desire to succeed.

Montgomery, sporting a 12-stitch cut below his lip after taking a puck there during practice, is one of 18 former Black Bears who were invited to NHL training camps. Many more will be going to minor league camps and to Europe.

Matt DelGuidice, who was invited to Ottawa’s training camp, was released last week. Dave LaCouture has been sent down to Adirondack (AHL) by Detroit, and Dan Murphy was sent to Charlotte of the ECHL by Boston.