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Niko Dimitrakos noted the coincidence.
Five years ago, he began his college career for the University of Maine and that season culminated in a national championship.
He returned to Maine on Sunday and will play in Monday night’s American Hockey League All-Star game at Portland’s Cumberland County Civic Center.
The Cleveland Barons right wing, one of six rookies chosen to the Planet USA team, participated in the skills competition on Sunday night.
The Planet USA team, which also includes European players, will be co-captained by Portland Pirates twins Peter and Chris Ferraro, who helped the University of Maine to its first NCAA title in 1992-93.
They will take on the Canadian stars.
“It’s crazy. It’s weird how that worked out,” said Dimitrakos about the coincidence. “It’ll be nice to be back in Maine. I miss Maine. It’s going to be fun.”
The starting lineups were selected by the fans in online balloting but the rest of the players were selected by the coaches.
Dimitrakos was chosen by the coaches.
“To be picked by the coaches is definitely an honor,” said Dimitrakos, who entered the weekend leading the Barons in scoring with 41 points in 49 games and in power play goals with 10.
He was second on the team in goals (15) and assists (26).
The AHL’s rookie of the month for October has had his share of ups and downs in his first pro season.
In fact, his Barons lost 13 consecutive games from Dec. 21 to Jan. 17 and scored just 19 goals during that span.
“I never experienced anything like that at Maine,” said the 23-year-old Dimitrakos, who had 127 points (49 goals, 78 assists) in 135 games for the Black Bears. “I think I had only four points during the streak. But that’s going to happen. It’s a long season.”
The Barons were in last place in the AHL’s Western Conference’s Central Division.
The fifth round draft choice of the parent San Jose Sharks has been happy with his season overall. In addition to his regular shift, he has been playing the point on the power play after starting the season at the half-boards.
He thought he might have been called up by the parent Sharks by now since they’ve also had a rough season, finding themselves tied for third in the Pacific Division in the NHL’s Western Conference.
But he doesn’t dwell on it.
“I’ve just got to keep playing hard. I can’t worry about what they’re thinking [about me] in San Jose,” said Dimitrakos. “One of the things I learned from Coach [Shawn] Walsh was not to worry about things you can’t control. Just concern yourself with things you can control.”
Walsh was the former Maine coach who died of complications from kidney cancer in 2001.
He said the biggest adjustment has been the schedule and the travel.
“Our shortest bus ride is four hours,” said Dimitrakos. “And we’ll play three games in three nights and four games in five nights. That’s a lot different than college.”
One of the players he is looking forward to facing on Monday night is former University of New Hampshire star and Hobey Baker Award finalist Darren Haydar.
Dimitrakos said playing against a former Hockey East rival adds to the game.
One of his Barons teammates was former Northeastern University standout defenseman Jim Fahey, who was also chosen to the all-star team but was called up by the Sharks.
Dimitrakos will get to swap Maine stories with the Ferraro twins, who are having highly productive seasons with the Pirates.
Right wing Peter Ferraro was the AHL’s Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 26 after notching four goals and five assists in two games and tying a team record with a six-point game (2 goals, 4 assists) in a 7-4 win over the Providence Bruins.
Peter Ferraro had 15 goals and 26 assists in 31 games entering the weekend while center Chris had 8 & 22 in 26 games.
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