Men’s Hockey Profiles

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MATT YEATS (No. 1)

Vital stats: Goalie, senior, 6-0, 187; Innisfail, Alberta

Career highlights: Has lowest Maine career save percentage at .902 and is tied with Garth Snow for lowest goals-against average at 2.55; team MVP last season; had .903 save percentage in five postseason games a year ago; Hockey East All-Tourney choice two years ago

Career numbers: 69 games, 39-18-8 record, 2.55 GAA, .902 save percentage

Coach’s comments: “Matt is an experienced goalie who plays his position real well. He puts himself in the right place at the right time. He makes the game look easy. He’s real competitive.”

Personal: Born April 6, 1979; son of Robert and Janice Yeats; ninth-round draft choice of Los Angeles in 1998; majoring in kinesiology and physical education

CLIFF LOYA (No. 2)

Vital stats: Defenseman, junior, 6-2, 202; Pittsburgh, Pa.

Career highlights: Scored only goal in 5-4 overtime win at Merrimack on Feb. 23; was plus-seven a year ago; five assists as a freshman with four coming over his last five games; had assist on tying goal in Maine’s 5-2 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal win over Michigan in 1999-2000

Career numbers: 74 games, 1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points

Coach’s comments: “He’s a tough defenseman who plays the body consistently. He will be counted upon to step up as one of the leaders in the junior class. He’s very smart defensively.”

Personal: Born May 8, 1981; son of Cliff and Susan Loya; business major; seventh-round draft pick of Chicago in 2000

PETER METCALF (No. 4)

Vital stats: Defenseman, senior, 6-0, 200; Pembroke, Mass.

Career highlights: Two-time captain; All-Hockey East honorable mention last season; led team with plus-19; had game-winning goals in important late-season wins over New Hampshire and Providence; goal and six assists in first seven games this year; Hockey East All-Rookie team three years ago; two-time Maine Scholar-Athlete Award winner

Career numbers: 111 games, 16-49-65

Coach’s comments: “He’s a great competitor. He’s tough. He plays his best at the key moments in big games. He seems to thrive on those types of situations which is a good trait for a captain. He’s a real good leader.”

Personal: Born Feb. 25, 1979; son of Judy and Peter Metcalf; business major; sister Erine played for Northeastern hockey team; ninth-round draft choice of Toronto in 1999

TROY BARNES (No. 6)

Vital stats: Defenseman, freshman, 5-11, 185; Pembroke, Ontario

Career highlights: Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Most Outstanding Defenseman last season and runner-up in MVP voting; played for Pembroke Lumber Kings and chosen to All-Star team; notched first point in 6-3 win over UMass-Lowell

Career numbers: 5, 0-1-1

Coach’s comments: “He’s a good offensive defenseman. He needs to get a little stronger and improve defensively. He has a lot of hockey smarts. He will help us offensively.”

Personal: Born April 12, 1981; son of Cathy and Wayne Barnes

DON RICHARDSON

(No. 7)

Vital stats: Winger, junior, 5-5, 161; Holbrook, N.Y.

Career highlights: Three assists in Maine’s two-game sweep of Northeastern in Hockey East quarterfinal series last season; top-scoring freshman at University of Vermont with 15 points during 1998-99 season before transferring to Maine

Career numbers: 51, 7-12-19

Coach’s comments: “He is very quick. He can make plays. He wants the puck and he competes. He could come on to help us.”

Personal: Born March 17, 1979; son of Donald and Catherine Richardson; business major

ROBERT LISCAK

(No. 10)

Vital stats: Center, junior, 6-0, 192; Skalica, Slovakia

Career highlights: Two power-play goals, a shorthanded goal, and even-strength score already this season; 11 goals while playing all 39 games a year ago

Career numbers: 73, 21-18-39

Coach’s comments: “He’s a real smart centerman who is good on faceoffs. He sees the ice very well and he is aware defensively. He’s a good checking line guy. He gets his share of points, too. He’s a good penalty-killer and he’s good on the power play.”

Personal: Born April 4, 1978; son of Robert and Alena Liscak; liberal arts major.

LUCAS LAWSON

(No. 11)

Vital stats: Junior, winger, 6-1, 200; Braeside, Ontario

Career highlights: Three of his nine goals were game-winners last year; plus-six this season including plus-four vs. UMass-Lowell; winner of Stein Award given to team humorist; had tying goal in 5-4 overtime win over Providence in Hockey East quarterfinals two years ago

Career numbers: 69, 12-17-29

Coach’s comments: “He has good speed and he’s a big kid. We’re looking for him to be more physical.”

Personal: Born Aug. 10, 1979; son of Paul and Audrey Lawson; communications major

TODD JACKSON (No. 13)

Vital stats: Sophomore, winger, 6-0, 170; Cortland, N.Y.

Career highlights: Second-leading freshman scorer on team last season with 12 points in 39 games; already has seven points this season; two goals and an assist in season-opening 9-1 win over Bowling Green; leads team in plus-minus at plus-six

Career numbers: 46, 6-13-19

Coach’s comments: “He has great speed. He’s a good defensive forward who also brings a lot to our team offensively. He has stepped up his game. He trains hard so it’s no accident he has improved.”

Personal: Born April 10, 1981; son of Robin and John Jackson; liberal arts major; won Dorothy Wilson Peace writing competition this fall for a poem entitled ‘The Place’; eighth-round draft pick of Detroit in 2000

GRAY SHANEBERGER

(No. 14)

Vital stats: Junior, winger, 6-4, 225; Sewell, N.J.

Career highlights: Two assists in season-opening win over Bowling Green; first Bear to win Hockey East’s Top Scholar Athlete Award last year; won Dale Lick Academic Achievement Award last year and Richard Britt Most Inspirational Player Award two years ago

Career numbers: 44, 5-3-8

Coach’s comments: “He’s having a good year. He hasn’t played a lot in the past, but he gives us an element we need which is a physical presence. He’s a big kid who can skate well and hit. We’re going to give him the opportunity to be a power forward.”

Personal: Born May 23, 1980; son of Judy and Bill Davidson; natural resources major

NIKO DIMITRAKOS

(No. 15)

Vital stats: Senior, winger, 5-11, 200; Somerville, Mass.

Career highlights: Seven multiple-point games last season and two already this season; seven game-winning goals over sophomore and junior seasons; Hockey East Tournament MVP two years ago with five points in four games; only freshman chosen to Frozen Four All-Tourney team three years ago

Career numbers: 102, 31-55-86

Coach’s comments: “He paid the price over the summer to get in good shape. He wants to make an impact this year. He’s a very good athlete who has real good hockey sense and poise with the puck. He’s a fluid skater. He’s a rare talent.”

Personal: Born May 21, 1979; son of Emmanuil and Maria Dimitrakos; communications major; fifth-round draft pick of San Jose in 1999; dropped body fat from 18.5 percent to 6 percent in offseason

MARTIN KARIYA

(No. 16)

Vital stats: Junior, center, 5-9, 170; North Vancouver, British Columbia

Career highlights: Assistant captain; leading scorer a year ago with 12-24-36 in 39 games; three assists in two NCAA Tournament games a year ago; his plus-11 was best among Maine’s forwards and third-best on team; had 11 multiple-point games to lead team; received Richard Britt Most Inspirational Player Award

Career numbers: 71, 22-45-67

Coach’s comments: “He has tremendous focus and concentration. He executes like very few others can at the college level. He has really elevated his game already this year. He will become one of the top players in the league as the year goes on.”

Personal: Born Oct. 5, 1981; son of T.K. and Sharon Kariya; older brothers Paul and Steve played hockey at Maine and sister Noriko played field hockey; mathematics major

BEN MURPHY

(No. 17)

Vital stats: Freshman, center, 5-9, 170; North Andover, Mass.

Career highlights: Game-winning assist in first college game vs. Bowling Green; Hockey Night in Boston scoring leader the past two summers; HNIB MVP in 2000; Cushing Academy MVP last year; first team All-New England Prep School League choice

Career numbers: 4, 0-1-1

Coach’s comments: “He has great hockey sense. He isn’t big or flashy, but he has real good sense and he can move the puck. He’s a real smart player with a positive attitude who is going to be a real good college player.”

Personal: Born Nov. 21, 1981; son of Ellen and Fran Murphy; finance and economics major

JOHN RONAN

(No. 18)

Vital stats: Freshman, winger, 5-10, 202; Braintree, Mass.

Career highlights: Power-play goal in first college game before shoulder separation sidelined him; captain and MVP of former Bear Dave LaCouture’s Walpole Junior Stars team a year ago that won the Eastern Junior Hockey League championship

Career numbers: 1, 0-1-1

Coach’s comments: “We’ve missed him the last couple of weekends. He made an immediate impact as a freshman. He has good hockey sense, good size and a heavy shot. He’s a physical player.”

Personal: Born July 6, 1980; son of Denise and John Ronan

CAMERON LYALL

(No. 20)

Vital stats: Sophomore, center, 5-11, 170; Ajax, Ontario

Career highlights: Was plus-three in 12 games last season while centering the fourth line; led his Ajax Axemen in scoring and was an Ontario Hockey Association All-Star two years ago

Career numbers: 15, 0-1-1

Coach’s comments: “He’s a smart and versatile player. He’s a good skater and puckhandler who is pretty smart defensively. He can play center or wing. He has good skills.”

Personal: Born Aug. 8, 1980; son of Sophie and Neil Lyall; liberal arts major

COLIN SHIELDS (No. 21)

Vital stats: Sophomore, winger, 5-11, 176, Glasgow, Scotland

Career highlights: Seven goals in first seven games represents one of best starts in Maine’s 25-year history; six goals for Great Britain in World B Pool Championships in Slovenia last spring, also had three assists and was third on the British team in scoring; led North American Hockey League in scoring two years ago for Cleveland; two-time NAHL all star; played on three British World Junior Championship teams

Career numbers: 7, 7-1-8

Coach’s comments: “He is off to a good start. He has been a great addition because scoring is one of the areas we needed to improve upon from last year. He’s got a great shot and he gets it off quickly. His shot will go through goalies because they won’t be set. And he doesn’t hesitate to shoot.”

Personal: Born Jan. 27, 1980; son of Margaret and Martin Shields; business major; redshirt last season; sixth-round draft choice of Philadelphia in 2000

TOMMY REIMANN

(No. 22)

Vital stats: Junior, defenseman-center, 5-11, 185; Blaine, Minn.

Career highlights: First career hat trick in 6-3 win over UMass-Lowell Saturday; also has five assists; has returned to center after being moved to defense; had a pair of two-goal games a year ago; MVP of the 2000 Black Bear Classic; six points in Maine’s five postseason games two years ago; chosen the team’s Most Improved Player after season

Career numbers: 66, 10-28-38

Coach’s comments: “He’s a smart player who has great poise with the puck. Playing defense has helped the defensive aspect of his game. He has become a well-rounded player. You’ll see him on the point on the power play.”

Personal: Born Aug. 7, 1978; son of Lloyd Reimann and Judy Berg; brother Mike plays minor league hockey in Texas; communications major; sat out 1998-99 as a redshirt; won national scoring title in 1997-98 with 113 points in 54 games for the Billings Bulls and was Junior Player of the Year finalist

JON JANKUS (No. 23)

Vital stats: Freshman, defenseman-winger, 5-9, 190; Stoney Creek, Ontario

Career highlights: 2000 Ontario Hockey Association Rookie of the Year for the Hamilton Kilty B’s; played both forward and defense for Hamilton

Career numbers: 5, 0-0-0

Coach’s comments: “He’s a tough forward who has a little bit of a scoring touch. He’s a heavy hitter and we need that.”

Personal: Born March 12, 1983; son of Anna and Algi Jankus

PRESTIN RYAN (No. 24)

Vital stats: Sophomore, defenseman, 6-0, 190, Arcola, Saskatchewan

Career highlights: Notched game-winning goal in first collegiate game, a 5-1 triumph at North Dakota; was a redshirt last year; plus-two in first three games; Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s best defenseman in 2000; two-time SJHL all-star

Career numbers: 4, 1-2-3

Coach’s comments: “He has been a good addition. He passes like a pro and has a heavy shot like Ronan and Shields. He has good offensive sense and the ability to play physical as well.”

Personal: Born June 29, 1980; son of Cindy and Barrie Ryan

PAUL FALCO (No. 26)

Vital stats: Freshman, winger, 5-11, 196; Weymouth, Mass.

Career highlights: Played only 13 regular-season games for Walpole Stars due to knee injury last year but registered 26 points; had 14 points in playoffs; Eastern Junior Hockey League all-star in 1999-2000

Career numbers: 1, 0-0-0

Coach’s comments: “He skates pretty well and I’m hoping he can provide us with a physical presence.”

Personal: Born April 26, 1981; son of Paulette and Kendall Falco

MICHAEL SCHUTTE

(No. 27)

Vital stats: Junior, winger, 6-2, 200; Burlington, Ontario

Career highlights: Goal and two assists in season-opening win over Bowling Green; 11 goals and 7 assists over Maine’s last 12 games a year ago after being moved from defense to wing; 15 goals led the Bears last year, also collected 10 assists; led team with seven power-play goals; named to the NCAA All-Eastern Regional team for his tying goal against Minnesota and Maine’s lone goal vs. BC

Career numbers: 66, 18-19-37

Coach’s comments: “He has a good touch around the net for a big man. He has good awareness in traffic. He can collect a puck and get it off under pressure. He’s good defensively because he was a defenseman. He’s a good well-rounded player.”

Personal: Born July 28, 1979; son of Mike and Corinne Schutte; liberal arts major

MIKE MORRISON

(No. 30)

Vital stats: Senior, goalie, 6-3, 185; Medford, Mass.

Career highlights: 1.93 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage in four appearances this year; 46 saves in 5-1 win over North Dakota; named to JCPenney Classic and Governor’s Cup All-Tournament teams as a freshman

Career numbers: 38, 14-5-6, 2.21 GAA, .913 save percentage

Coach’s comments: “He is really coming into his own as a goalie. He is very focused and his concentration level is very good. He’s an outstanding athlete. He is flexible and strong and he is quick for a big man. He really enjoys competing.”

Personal: Born July 11, 1979; son of Jean and Kevin Morrison; business major; seventh-round draft choice of Edmonton Oilers

FRANCIS NAULT

(No. 31)

Vital stats: Sophomore, defenseman, 5-11, 192; Tracy, Quebec

Career highlights: Two goals and two assists in first four games before knee injury sidelined him; top freshman scorer on team a year ago with 2-11-13 in 31 games; Hockey East Rookie of the Month in December; game-winning goal and assist in only game he was used at forward; 1999-2000 Player of the Year in the Metropolitan Hockey League for the Connecticut Clippers

Career numbers: 35, 4-12-16

Coach’s comments: “He has real good hockey sense. He has good poise with the puck on the power play and he’s a smart penalty-killer. When he gets healthy, he’ll provide us with a good presence offensively and defensively.”

Personal: Born Feb. 14, 1979; son of Rose-Aime Ethier and Michel Nault; business major

MATT DESCHAMPS

(No. 32)

Vital stats: Freshman, defenseman, 6-0, 195; Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Career highlights: Shorthanded goal in his first college game, 3-2 loss at North Dakota; scored another vs. UMass-Lowell; plus-five in his first five games; selected Player of the Game in four straight games for the Walpole Junior Stars a year ago; captained Omaha Lancers in U.S. Junior Hockey League two years ago

Career numbers: 5, 2-0-2

Coach’s comments: “He has been a pleasant surprise. He is a mobile defenseman with good hockey sense and good size and that has allowed him to be able to play against the other teams’ top forwards.”

Personal: Born April 23, 1980; son of Patricia and Robert Deschamps; public management major

CHAD ANDERSON

(No. 37)

Vital stats: Freshman, winger, 5-10, 185; Fosston, Saskatchewan

Career highlights: Team-high 101 points in 57 games for Nipawin Hawks of Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League; Hawks’ MVP

Career numbers: 4, 0-0-0

Coach’s comments: “He has a good scoring touch and moves the puck well. He sees the ice well. He’s going to be a good college player.”

Personal: Born May 2, 1980; son of Kathie and Rick Anderson; business administration major

MATT GREYEYES

(No. 39)

Vital stats: Freshman, center, 5-9, 185; Edmonton, Alberta

Career highlights: Joined the Bears last January and was redshirted; 40 points in 39 games for Langley Hornets of British Columbia Junior Hockey League before coming to Maine; 45 goals and 91 points in 58 games for Langley the previous year

Career numbers: 0, 0-0-0

Coach’s comments: “He’s a smart centerman who sprinkles the puck around. He’s pretty good on faceoffs.”

Personal: Born Jan. 20, 1980; son of Roberta and Glenn Greyeyes; business administration major; fourth Native North American to play at Maine

PAUL LYNCH (No. 44)

Vital stats: Freshman, defenseman, 6-2, 194; Peabody, Mass.

Career highlights: Eastern Junior Hockey League All-Star selection last year with Valley Junior Warriors; had 143 penalty minutes in 21 games; chosen Hockey Night in Boston summer tournament’s top defenseman in 2000

Career numbers: 7, 0-0-0

Coach’s comments: “He’s a physical defenseman who is at his best when he keeps things simple by chipping the puck off the glass [and out of the defensive zone]. He’s out of the mold of Cliff Loya. He’s a defensive defenseman who should be a consistent hitter.”

Personal: Born April 23, 1982; son of Paul Lynch

CHRIS HEISTEN (No. 61)

Vital stats: Junior, center, 6-0, 194; Anchorage, Alaska

Career highlights: Assistant captain; had assist in season-opener; 19 assists were second on the team last year; third among forwards in plus-minus with a plus-8; led Maine’s freshmen in goals two years ago with 12

Career numbers: 70, 17-27-44

Coach’s comments: “He has good hockey sense who can score and make plays.”

Personal: Born March 26, 1978; son of Bob and Laura Dearth; public administration major; brother Barrett played two years at Maine and is playing for New York Rangers