UMaine receives a boost> All-American tory to play in tournament

University of Maine All-American junior defenseman and captain Jeff Tory had been expected to miss at least two weeks after suffering sprained ligaments in his right knee during a collision with teammate Tony Frenette in a 6-1 win over UMass-Lowell on Dec. 8.

But Tory has been skating with a knee brace since Dec. 13 and he will be in the lineup when Maine plays Union College of the ECAC in Friday’s 8 p.m. game at the J.C. Penney Classic.

The national junior (under 20 years of age) teams from Sweden and Switzerland, prepping for the World Junior Championships at various rinks in Massachusetts beginning later this month, will play in the 5 p.m. opener.

Saturday’s game times are 4 and 7 p.m.

“The knee has come along better than expected,” said Tory. “The swelling is completely gone, and the more I skate, the more mobility I get back.”

He said it took a little time to adjust to the brace.

“The first couple of days, it was weird. It’s a lot bigger [than I expected] and it’s a little bit restrictive. But it gives good support. I’m getting used to it and I like it now,” said Tory.

Tory was scheduled to play for Team Canada in the Spengler Cup Tournament starting next week, but he told them a week and a half ago that he wouldn’t be able to play.

“I was kind of disappointed because I really wanted to go. I went two years ago and it was a great trip. But, a week and a half ago, I was such a question mark. I initially thought I’d have no possible chance of playing,” said Tory. “I didn’t think it would be fair to Team Canada.”

“Even if I had gone, I don’t think it would have been a smart thing to do,” added Tory, Maine’s third-leading scorer with two goals and 16 assists in 18 games. “If it doesn’t feel well on Friday night, I’ll stay and rehab it. If it didn’t feel good over in Switzerland, Canada wouldn’t have been able to call a guy up.”

Tory has both goals and 11 of his assists on the power play, which he quarterbacks from the point.

With All-American goalie Blair Allison abroad with the Canadian Spengler Cup team, freshman Matt Blaine from Brewer High School will back up senior Blair Marsh on Friday night and sophomore transfer Eric Geoffroy of Lewiston will be the backup starting Saturday when he becomes eligible.

“I’m definitely ready. I’m really looking forward to playing,” said Marsh, who has a 3-0 record, an 0.90 goals against average and a .964 save percentage. He beat Union 4-1 on Oct. 28.

Marsh, who will play at least four of the seven exhibitions against Canadian colleges before Allison returns, said he is confident that Geoffroy or Blaine could do the job if something happened to him.

“Eric has really improved. He’s been coming on strong. He’s going to be solid,” said Marsh. “Matt has been with us only a few weeks. But he looks good, too.”

Two former Bangor High School teammates are having productive seasons for their respective college teams.

First-year defenseman Eddie Hannan is playing on the power-play and penalty-killing units as well as a regular shift at Saint Anselm College (N.H.) and has two assists in seven games.

Sophomore left winger Chris Shepley has a goal in six games for nationally ranked Colby College and is one of the Mule penalty-killers.