4 Bears named to HE all-star teams

The University of Maine placed four players on the All-Hockey East first, second, and rookie teams, the most since their national championship season of 1998-99. Maine didn’t have any last year.

Senior defenseman and captain Peter Metcalf and senior goalie Mike Morrison were first team selections, senior right wing Niko Dimitrakos was a second team choice, and right wing Colin Shields was chosen to the all-rookie team, it was announced Thursday at the league banquet in Cambridge, Mass.

The University of New Hampshire’s regular-season champion Wildcats swept the three major awards as Dick Umile was named Coach of the Year, senior center Darren Haydar was selected as Player of the Year, and left wing Sean Collins, Haydar’s linemate, was chosen Rookie of the Year.

Metcalf has led the Bears to a 22-9-7 season entering the Hockey East semifinals. He is second among the league’s defensemen in points with 43 (7 goals, 36 assists) and that also ties him for second on the team in points. He leads the team in plus-minus at plus-27.

His nine game-winning points tie him for the team lead. He had at least a goal or an assist in 26 games, including 12 multiple-point games.

“He is a fierce competitor and tremendous leader who can help you win a game in so many different ways,” said interim head coach Tim Whitehead.

Morrison, a backup for three years, won the starting job in November and compiled an 18-3-4 record, a 2.17 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage.

He held opponents to two goals or less in 15 of his starts.

“He has worked extremely hard and persevered,” said Whitehead.

The crafty and elusive Dimitrakos is Maine’s leading scorer with 46 points on 18 goals and 28 assists. He has also rung up 12 multiple-point games.

Shields is one of the league’s top snipers with 26 goals to go with 17 assists in 37 games. He leads the team in game-winning goals with five and power-play points with 21. He has had 14 multiple-point and seven multiple-goal games.