ORONO – Shawn Wansborough’s freshman season at the University of Maine was an eye-opener for him.

Not only was Division I a far cry from the Central Ontario Junior Hockey League and he admitted he was somewhat awed by Division I hockey, but he also had to overcome two surgeries on his left knee, one before and one during the season.

He still managed to rack up 14 goals and 21 assists in 36 games as Maine made it to the NCAA championship game.

This season, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Wansborough is opening eyes.

Through 17 games, the Deseronto, Ontario, native already has 15 goals to go with 7 assists, making him one of the nation’s leading goal scorers. BU’s Jay Pandolfo has 17 goals.

He has nine goals and three assists during Maine’s current seven-game winning streak including eight goals and an assist over the last five games.

“I have a lot more confidence this year,” said Wansborough, a right winger. “Before, I was always looking to give the puck to someone else because I didn’t think I could score. Now when I get a chance, I shoot it. I wanted to shoot the puck more this year.

“I’ve been going to the net a lot,” added Wansborough. “I’ve scored a lot of my goals by being around the net. Most of the time, you don’t score on the first shot. You have to go after the rebound.”

“He’s my kind of player,” said UMass-Lowell coach Bruce Crowder. “He isn’t a peripheral player. He goes into the corners, he digs the puck out, he does a little bit of everything. He’s a real complete player.”

Wansborough said he is doing a lot more of the little things this year.

“In breakouts last year, I used to get the puck and throw it as soon as I got it. A lot of times, it got picked off. Now I get it, I wait and I find [center Brad] Purdie. I’m more relaxed and that’s helping me a lot,” he said.

Wansborough said he feels a step quicker this season and credits that to the improvement in his knee.

“It slowed me down last year. I feel a lot better out there now,” said Wansborough, who has also gotten used to the knee brace he has to wear.

Maine coach Shawn Walsh said Wansborough is much quicker and Bear sophomore left winger Scott Parmentier, one of Wansborough’s linemates, said Wansborough “is a lot better with the puck. He’s been moving his feet better and he’s been beating people. He’s a better all-around player.”

Wansborough is very strong on his skates and protects the puck very well, according to Walsh and his teammates.

Wansborough doesn’t pick corners when he shoots, he tries to get his shots off as quickly as possible and tries to put them on net. That was a lesson taught to him by his father, Tony, who wanted him to emulate former New York Islander sniper Mike Bossy, who had 573 NHL goals in 752 games.

“My dad would tell me `I don’t care what people say, there’s no way Bossy’s picking corners. He’s just shooting it and if the goalie isn’t ready, he has a better chance of scoring,” recalled Wansborough.

The number nine he wears carries with it lofty credentials. It used to belong to Maine Hobey Baker Award winner and current Mighty Ducks of Anaheim star Paul Kariya.

“I liked the idea of putting on the number nine after Paul. I thought it would be a challenge,” said Wansborough. “But no matter where I went, I would have wanted the number nine.”

Wansborough chose Maine over Western Michigan, Miami-Ohio, Clarkson and RPI primarily because he liked the fact all of the members of the Maine coaching staff were utilized in the development of the players.

According to Walsh, Wansborough has been “our most consistent forward.”

Wansborough, who has been rewarded for all the extra work he puts in after practice according to junior center Dan Shermerhorn, said linemates Parmentier and Purdie have been instrumental in his success and he hopes Maine can go a step further this year.