ORONO – Just five months ago, Niko Dimitrakos was playing in the NCAA championship game for his University of Maine Black Bears against the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. The Gophers won 4-3 in overtime.

Last Saturday night, he was wearing the colors of the San Jose Sharks as he played in his first NHL exhibition game at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The right winger didn’t score but the Sharks won 3-2.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Dimitrakos, who was a fifth round pick of the Sharks in 1999, signed a two-year deal with the team but wouldn’t disclose the terms of the contract. It is a two-way contract so he will be paid a lower wage in Cleveland than he would if he had made the Sharks roster.

He is one of 16 former Bears who reported to NHL training camps earlier this month.

“It was a good time,” said Dimitrakos, who was visiting his former teammates and working out in Orono before reporting to Cleveland on Sunday. “It was good to experience the NHL lifestyle with guys like Teemu Selanne, Owen Nolan and Patrick Marleau. I was a little in awe at first. Then I kind of settled in and once you get on the ice and get playing, you feel like you belong.”

Based on scrimmages and his play in the exhibition game, Dimitrakos said he is confident he can play in the NHL.

“I played pretty well in camp. It’s going to take a little bit of time. I have to go to Cleveland and prove myself,” said Dimitrakos, a second team Eastern All-American last year who is 24th on Maine’s all-time scoring list with 130 points in 139 games. “They [Sharks management] told me they were skeptical of my play along the boards coming into camp but, after camp, they told me they were pretty pleased with my puck protection.

“I came back strong. I worked out with Mike Boyle [of Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning centers] in Boston over the summer. I’ve worked out with him for two years and he gets me in real good shape. It helps me a lot,” said Dimitrakos, who led the Bears in scoring a year ago with 20 goals and 31 assists.

He said his first exhibition game was memorable.

“It was definitely good to get out there. I was kind of laughing. I was basically a little kid in a candy store,” said Dimitrakos. “To get to play with guys I watched growing up [was neat]. And there is a different feeling when you have an NHL logo on the back of your jersey. When I put that sweater on, I just couldn’t believe it. It was finally happening. It was nice to get all the gear, the sticks and skates and stuff, without having to beg for it.”

In addition to a regular shift, Dimitrakos got to see some power play minutes.

“I was happy with my play and the coaches were happy. I created chances and thought I did pretty well,” said the 23-year-old Dimitrakos.

He said the game itself is “much easier” than the college game.

“You don’t have to do too much. You play your position and everybody does their jobs. You don’t carry it too much in the neutral zone. It’s a move-the-puck kind of game. You headman the puck and guys will get it back to you. You’re going to get the puck when you don’t expect it so you have to get used to that stuff.

The pro game is more controlled. Everybody is on the same page. The college game is more hectic,” added Dimitrakos.

Keith Carney, Anaheim

Last year: Anaheim, 60 games, 5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points

*David Cullen, Minnesota

Last year: Phoenix/Minnesota, 17 games, 0-0-0

Springfield/Houston, AHL, 53 games, 6-19-25

**Niko Dimitrakos, San Jose

Last year: Maine, Hockey East, 43 games, 20-31-51

Mike Dunham, Nashville

Last year: Nashville, 58 games, 23-24-9, 2.61 goals-against average, .906 save percentage

Chris Ferraro, Washington

Last year: Washington, 1 game, 0-1-1

Portland, AHL, 2 games, 1-1-2

Peter Ferraro, Washington

Last year: Washington, 4 games, 0-1-1

Portland, AHL, 67 games, 21-37-58

#Ben Guite, Anaheim

Last year: Cincinnati, AHL, 78 games, 14-23-37

Barrett Heisten, Dallas

Last year: NY Rangers, 10 games, 0-0-0

Hartford/ Utah, AHL, 61 games, 14-10-24

Paul Kariya, Anaheim

Last year: Anaheim, 82 games, 32-25-57

Steve Kariya, Vancouver

Last year: 3 games, 0-1-1

Manitoba, AHL, 67 games, 25-37-62

*Cory Larose, Minnesota

Last year: Houston, AHL, 78 games, 32-32-64

&Peter Metcalf, Boston

Last year: Maine, Hockey East, 44 games, 9-41-50

Jim Montgomery, Dallas

Last year: Dallas, 8 games, 0-2-2

Utah, AHL, 71 games, 28-43-71

Scott Pellerin, Dallas

Last year: Boston/Dallas, 68 games, 4-10-14

Garth Snow, NY Islanders

Last year: NY Islanders, 25 games, 10-7-2 record, 2.71 GAA, .900 save percentage

Eric Weinrich, Philadelphia

Last year: 80 games, 4-20-24

* sent to Houston of AHL; ** sent to Cleveland of AHL; # sent to Cincinnati of AHL; & sent to Providence of AHL