UM’s Janik signs with NHL’s Sabres

Top University of Maine defenseman Doug Janik has signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres and will not return to the Black Bears, UMaine hockey coach Shawn Walsh said Sunday night.

Walsh said the Sabres are expected to announce Janik’s signing today. The deal was worked out Friday.

Walsh would not disclose specifics of the contract, but did say that it was for “a lot of money.”

“If he were my son, he’s got to take it,” he added. “It got to the point where it was too good to pass up.”

Janik will likely play for the Rochester Americans, an American Hockey League team and the Sabres’ top minor-league affiliate.

“I’m just very happy for him,” Walsh said. “He’s been a stabilizing force for us for the past two years.”

The Sabres picked Janik, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder from Agawam, Mass., in the second round of the 1999 NHL draft (55th overall).

Janik, who would have been a senior this year, led all defensemen last season with 18 points (3-15-18). His has a plus/minus rating of -2.

He has 12 goals, 42 assists and 171 penalty minutes in 110 career games.

In May, Janik was named a team captain for the 2001-2002 season.

He was a member the Black Bears’ 1999 national championship team and played on the U.S. National Developmental Team.

Janik was a New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star Team selection for the 1999-2000 season, and was named All-Hockey East Team honorable mention and was the runner-up for Best Defensive Defenseman that year.

Janik is the second returning defenseman to leave the team since the end of the season. Augusta’s Eric Turgeon, who graduated with a civil engineering degree in May, decided to pass up on his final year of eligibility to pursue some job offers.

Walsh said he has several players he’s looking to fill the holes in the defense, including current players Peter Metcalf, Francis Nault, Cliff Loya and redshirt Prestin Ryan.

“They’ll all be impact defensemen,” Walsh said. “Plus we’ll have [freshman] Paul Lynch, who will step right in.”