University of Maine men’s ice hockey coach Tim Whitehead has received National Letters of Intent from three incoming freshmen.

Forwards Mike Hamilton of Victoria, British Columbia; Josh Soares of Hamilton, Ontario; and defenseman Tom Zabkowicz of Greendale, Wis., will join the Black Bear hockey team this fall.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Hamilton had 42 goals and 51 assists last season for the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League, which named him a second-team all-league player.

“He’s fast, strong with a scoring touch, and he is a real leader,” Whitehead said.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Soares led the Provincial Junior A Hockey League in scoring with 56 goals and 68 assists in 56 games. He was named team MVP of the Hamilton Kilty Bees in the Ontario Hockey Association.

“He is a strong, physical presence and has great hands around the net,” said Whitehead.

Zabkowicz is 6-0 and 175 pounds. He led Culver Academy of Indiana in scoring with 24 goals and 40 assists in 47 games.

“He is a great skater with the ability and confidence to make plays and impact on the power play,” Whitehead said.

Maine’s Mushaluk is a rarity

It is rare to find a sophomore being named a captain or assistant captain of a team and even more rare when they haven’t played a minute for that team.

That is what has occurred at the University of Maine when defenseman Jeff Mushaluk, a transfer from Lake Superior State University, was named an assistant hockey captain for next season.

He practiced with the team this past season but couldn’t play due to the NCAA transfer rule.

“It was definitely an honor. I didn’t know I had that much respect in the [locker] room,” said Mushaluk.

He said the loss of Francis Nault to an NCAA ruling and Cliff Loya to graduation means “our top two defensemen will be gone. That will mean a big opportunity for those of us coming in. I can’t wait. This has been the longest year of my life.”

Mushaluk said coach Tim Whitehead told him to be an impact player in practice.

“He wanted the guys to think ‘We can’t wait for this guy to play. He takes things seriously.’ That’s the way I approached it,” said Mushaluk, who was tied for seventh on the Lakers in scoring his freshman year with two goals and six assists in 36 games.

“The players responded to how he prepared himself on and off the ice. He earned their respect,” said Whitehead.

At the annual hockey banquet last week, several awards were given out with center Marty Kariya earning three of them: Most Valuable Player, Never-Give-Up, and the Academic Achievement Award.

The others were: Three-Star Award for play in home games (Lucas Lawson), Unsung Hero (Gray Shaneberger), Best Defensive Player (Cliff Loya), Most Improved Player (Loya and Cam Lyall), Rookie of the Year (Jim Howard), Stein Award to team comedian (Chris Heisten), Coaches Award (John Ronan), and Most Honored Opponent (Boston College center Ben Eaves).

The winner of the Best Fan Award went to Marcelle Coffin.