Incoming Maine freshman feels the NHL Draft

University of Maine goalie Jimmy Howard and right winger Greg Moore weren’t the only Black Bears to be selected in the NHL draft two weekends ago.

Incoming freshman right winger Mike Hamilton, the second leading scorer for the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League, was selected in the sixth round by the Atlanta Thrashers.

He was the 175th overall selection.

“I was pretty happy,” said Hamilton, a native of Vancouver. “I had talked to an Atlanta scout before the draft. He asked me a few questions. I didn’t know whether or not they were going to draft me. I didn’t know what to expect.”

The 20-year-old Hamilton was Merritt’s second-leading scorer this past season with 28 goals and 38 assists for 66 points in 57 games.

He was pleased to go in the sixth round and said being drafted will give him more incentive entering his first season at Maine.

“It makes me even more eager to play. I’m really excited about coming to Maine,” added the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Hamilton.

He is fully aware that the Bears have lost six senior forwards and jobs will be up for grabs.

“It’s a good situation to come into. Hopefully, I’ll get some ice time,” said Hamilton.

He added that he hopes to improve “every aspect of my game” over the summer.

UM fielding tough schedule

The University of Maine’s field hockey team, coming off a 15-4 season and an appearance in the America East championship game, will have an ambitious non-league schedule this fall to go with its challenging league schedule.

The Bears will make a season-opening trip to Philadelphia and two excursions to the metropolitan Baltimore-Washington D.C. area.

They will play four teams that were nationally ranked or at least received votes in the final National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll: Northeastern (8th), Boston University (23rd), New Hampshire (27th) and Ohio State (29th).

Maine was tied for 25th with Delaware in the final poll.

Maine, which will have to replace five starters and three of its top four scorers, will open in Philadelphia against Davidson and Temple on Aug. 30-31.

Maine will visit Georgetown (Washington D.C.) and Towson State (Baltimore) on Sept. 20-21 and will play Ohio State at the University of Maryland on Oct. 4 before taking on first-year America East member Maryland-Baltimore County the next day.

Maine 12-year head coach Terry Kix, who has signed six recruits to National Letters of Intent, will have seven home games at Morse Field including the home opener against Fairfield University (Conn.) on Sept. 5.

“I am very excited about our schedule,” said Kix in a press release. “It will be a challenging schedule that will movitave us with several nationally prominent teams.”

UM’s Williams All-American

University of Maine junior tailback Marcus Williams has been named to The Sports Network’s 2003 preseason Division I-AA All-America second team.

Williams led Maine and the Atlantic 10 Conference in rushing with 1,406 yards last season. He was one of eight A-10 players named to the squad.

Other A-10 players were first team picks Rich Musinski of William & Mary, Joe Wilson of Richmond and Renauld Williams of Hofstra. Second teamers are Massachusetts’ Valdamar Brower, Northeastern’s Liam Ezekiel, Villanova’s Matt Chila, and Delaware’s Jason Nerys.