Youth movement hitting UMaine> Hockey coach seeking contributions from new players; Bears fourth in poll

ORONO – The infusion of youth is having positive repercussions both on and off the ice for the University of Maine hockey team.

There are 12 players who will be looking to make their debuts in a UMaine uniform this season. One other is awaiting word from the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse.

Defenseman Shawn Mansoff received the clearance from the Eligibility Clearinghouse on Thursday so Swedish defenseman Robert Ek is theawaiting approval.

“With a group this big, there’s a lot of enthusiasm and a great willingness to learn,” said senior center and assistant captain Dan Shermerhorn, who was one of two Bears selected to the All-Hockey East preseason team along with senior defenseman Jason Mansoff on Thursday. “You can see it in their eyes. There’s deep concentration when Coach [interim head coach Greg Cronin] explains a drill.”

“With all the negative things we have been through [via NCAA sanctions], it’s a real positive to see this kind of enthusiasm toward the hockey season,” added Shermerhorn. “It’s really upbeat. When you see some newcomer working his tail off in the corner, doing a drill as hard as he can, it pumps you up a bit and makes you want to do a little more.”

Cronin said without the likes of Jeff Tory, Tim Lovell, Brett Clark, and Jamie Thompson, there has been “much more competition for high-profile spots.”

“Last year, after Shawn [suspended head coach Shawn Walsh] left and we lost our opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament, five or six guys began harboring significant resentment toward the university and the NCAA,” said Cronin. “That took a lot of the bite out of their intensity and enthusiasm to play. We wound up doing more emotional massaging than coaching. Their lack of motivation and focus had a trickle-down effect on the personality of the entire team.”

Thee Bears were chosen fourth in the Hockey East preseason coaches poll behind Boston University, New Hampshire, and Boston College on Thursday.

Forward Bobby Stewart, who was a redshirt a year ago after transferring from Alaska-Anchorage, observed that the freshmen “are all in tremendous shape so they can adapt to our systems a lot easier.”

The first-year players know they have benefited from the defections of five veterans, and they said they want to take advantage of the newly available ice time. They also want to open some eyes across the country and know they have a tradition to uphold.

“Everybody is underestimating us,” said freshman forward Cory Larose from Campbellton, New Brunswick. “We want to do something pretty unexpected. We want to prove we deserve to be here, we deserve to play and, that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

“We know if we all work as hard as we can, we can make the whole team better,” said freshman forward Jason Price from Eden Prairie, Minn. “We also know we have to work as hard as we can or we won’t make the lineup.”

Former Waterville High School standout Bruce Genest excelled at Monday night’s walk-on tryout and has been added to the roster by Cronin.

Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ first fall baseball program at the University of Maine concluded this week.

The Bears went 5-1 against outside competition including America East rivals Northeastern and New Hampshire.

“We were able to get a true understanding of what we have talent-wise,” Kostacopoulos said. “The other thing we did was set some standards on what we need to do, not only athletically but academically.”

Kostacopoulos added that his team’s pitching and defense need to improve.

However, he said we “fooled around a lot with the infield trying to find the right combinations.” Three members of the starting rotation, Dave Foran, Andy Estabrook, and Josh Harriman, did not participate in the fall program because they are academically ineligible.

“I’m not depending on them this spring,” said Kostacopoulos. “They need to do a lot of work to get themselves eligible.”

However, he said if they become eligible, Foran and Estabrook would probably be his top two starters. Harriman, he said, would have to improve significantly to pitch in conference games.

Brian Wickett had a decent fall in relief and Kostacopoulos said he was extremely pleased with the performance turned in by senior closer Garrett Quinn.

Former center fielder and third baseman T.J. Sheedy has been moved to shortstop, but he could also return to third. With the exception of first baseman Jeff Longo, the other three infield jobs are up for grabs, although Sheedy will probably play short or third.

Veterans Rex Turner and Tony Bianchi will start in left and right, respectively, and transfer Jay Phillips will be the center fielder. Senior Nick Caiazzo will start behind the plate with Kregg Jarvais backing him up. Ron Coombs will be the fourth outfielder.