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Robert Ek said it will be “kind of exciting” to see who has been behind the facemasks of some of his opponents all of these years.
Cory Larose will be realizing one of his goals for the season.
University of Maine seniors Ek and Larose will leave Bangor International Airport Thursday morning at 6 for the two-game college senior all-star series between the U.S. collegians and Canadian university players in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Hamilton, Ontario on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, respectively.
“I don’t know too much about it but it should be a fun experience,” said Ek, who compiled six goals and 20 assists in his 120-game University of Maine career. “It’ll be fun to get to know some of those guys.”
Larose said, “I watched those games on TV last year and although some of the cream of the crop didn’t play in it like [Jason] Krog, Steve [Kariya] and David [Cullen], I thought there was a really good bunch of seniors.
“So it became a goal of mine entering the season. To be asked to play in it is an honor. There are a lot of seniors to choose from and it’s nice to be recognized,” added Larose, who ended his 146-game career with 180 points (61 goals, 119 assists) good for eighth on the school’s all-time scoring list.
Unfortunately for Larose, a butt-ending major and game disqualification in the 5-2 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal win over Michigan prevented him from playing in Maine’s season-ending 2-0 loss to North Dakota in the Frozen Four semifinals in Providence.
Larose and Boston University’s Chris Heron are good friends and he agreed with Ek in that it will be “interesting to get to know some of these guys in a different light” rather than as opponents.
The Campbellton, New Brunswick native said it will seem odd to be playing for the United States against Canada.
“I’ll feel like a traitor in a funny way,” quipped Larose. “But I’m just happy to be involved. I never thought this would happen so I want to take advantage.”
Ek pointed out that it will provide them with “another opportunity to get some exposure” from pro scouts and the 6-foot-4 native of Lulea, Sweden said it is a honor to represent the United States.
The team will practice once on Thursday and twice on Friday, according to Larose.
UMaine student-athletes reach out
Members of the University of Maine’s football, ice hockey, basketball, and field hockey teams are participating in two community service projects this week in greater Bangor.
On Wednesday, several student-athletes including football’s Ves Lugo, hockey players Brendan Walsh and Lucas Lawson, field hockey coach Terry Kix, basketball players Kristen McCormick and Chantal Macream and track performers Nicole Motil and Thinh Ly took part in Community Reading Day.
The athletes visited elementary schools in Brewer, Bangor and Carmel as part of the activity sponsored by the Maine Department of Education.
UMaine student-athletes also are taking part in National Student-Athlete Day, which covers both Wednesday and today. UMaine women’s basketball player Amy Vachon organized the Black Bears’ efforts in this event during which athletes are teaching sports skills and speaking about achieving goals in the classroom.
Today’s session is at Asa Adams School in Orono, while the players visited two Old Town schools Wednesday. Members of the football, women’s basketball and women’s hockey teams participated in these sessions.
Hockey team will meet Gov. King
University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh and 17 of his players will visit Gov. Angus King and members of the state Legislature today.
The Black Bears reached the Frozen Four for the second consecutive season, but were shut out by eventual national champion North Dakota 2-0 in the semifinals. Maine, which won the Hockey East Tournament title on March 18, finished at 27-8-5.
Maine won the national title in the 1998-99 season.
The group is expected to arrive in Augusta at 2 p.m., and it will tour the House of Representatives and Senate. The Bears will meet Gov. King in his office at 3:30 and will present him, Senate President Mark Lawrence and Speaker of the House G. Steven Rowe with autographed hockey sticks.
Maine senior right wing and captain Jim Leger will bring the Hockey Humanitarian Award he won last week. The award is presented annually to college hockey’s best citizen. Academic performance and community service are two of the prime criteria along with on-ice play.
Husson’s Breen is scholar-athlete
Husson College junior forward Matt Breen of Rockland has been named an NAIA national scholar-athlete.
He has attained a 3.5 grade-point average in the business administration program with his concentration in sports management.
On the court, the 6-foot-4 Breen averaged 11 points, 5.2 rebounds and two assists for the Maine Athletic Conference Tournament champions and NAIA National Tournament participants.
“We’re really pleased to have back-to-back national scholar-athletes,” said Husson coach Warren Caruso, referring to Mike McCaffrey (1998-99 season) and Breen. “That really speaks well for our program and the emphasis we place on academics.”
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