UM’s offensive defensive leader Nault uses stickhandling, moves to make Black Bears’ points

University of Maine junior defenseman Francis Nault has “really emerged as our offensive leader on defense,” according to Black Bear head coach Tim Whitehead.

The statistics support Whitehead’s assertion.

Entering this weekend’s series at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., Nault was Hockey East’s second-leading point-getter among defenseman in all games.

He has seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 22 games, one point behind Boston College’s J.D. Forrest.

Offense has always come naturally for Nault, whose seven goals this season are a career high.

“He’s one of the best stickhandlers on the team,” said senior right wing Gray Shaneberger. “It’s like he has a magnet on his stick.”

Sophomore goalie Frank Doyle added, “He has some great moves. He makes guys look silly.”

Whitehead said one of the vital ingredients to Nault’s success is that he “plays with his head up.

“He sees the ice as well as any player I’ve ever worked with.”

Nault said his defense partner, sophomore Troy Barnes, and his teammates have been instrumental in his progress.

“Troy is awesome. This is our second year playing together and every time he gets the puck, I know what he’s going to do. We don’t talk a lot because we know what each of us is going to do. It is definitely a plus,” said Nault.

He also said the forwards have back checked effectively and “that has made our jobs easier.

“They support us real well so all we have to do is get the puck to them and they get it out of the [defensive] zone real fast,” said Nault.

And the play of first-year goalies Doyle and Jimmy Howard has been another plus.

“We never have a second thought about them. We know they’ll make the first save so all we have to do is make sure there aren’t any second shots. That, again, makes our jobs easier,” said Nault.

He said he has worked hard on improving his defense as well as developing his shot.

“My offensive game is pretty good. I know when to jump into the offense and when to stay back, but I’m always working on the defensive aspect,” said Nault, a 5-foot-11, 192-pound native of Tracy, Quebec. “And I’ve tried to shoot the puck more. Every time I have a clear shot, I try to wrist it on net. I’ll do anything I can to get it on net because we have good forwards who will screen the goalie.”

Nault, who had 23 points in 40 games a year ago and is a key component on the special teams, is solid defensively, according to Whitehead.

“He doesn’t play real physical but he’s a smart player who isn’t afraid to go back after the puck and take a hit to make a play,” said Whitehead.

Nault leads the Bears in plus-minus at plus-26. A player receives a plus-one if they are on the ice when their team scores an even-strength goal and a minus-one if they give one up.

Nault said he has focused on being more consistent this season and feels he needs to keep working hard to further improve all aspects of his game.

He said he and his teammates will have their hands full with the Warriors this weekend.

“They’re always hard to play in their barn. They’ll come at us aggressively on the forecheck. They’re a real tough team,” said Nault. “We have to play our game and focus on ourselves.”

That means smothering team defense; protecting the front of the net; capitalizing on transition opportunities and driving to the Warrior net.