Former University of Maine defenseman Dave Nonis became one of the National Hockey League’s youngest general managers last month when he was promoted by the Vancouver Canucks.

Former GM Brian Burke didn’t have his contract renewed.

Nonis had spent six years as the senior vice president and director of hockey operations under Burke. Nonis had previously worked with Burke at the NHL office in New York.

The 38-year-old Nonis grew up in nearby Burnaby, British Columbia, but said that won’t add to his stress level.

“I grew up wanting to play for the Canucks and this is the next-best thing,” said Nonis. “It’s a great feeling.”

“There won’t be any more pressure because I’m from here. There’s a lot of pressure in Canada in general. It’s not like some other NHL cities. Here you walk down the street and they’re talking about the game. There’s pressure to win. You’re under the microscope,” said Nonis.

Nonis said one thing that will make his job easier is the fact the team is much better than it was when he joined the organization.

“It’s not like I’ve inherited a 58-point team. We have a pretty good team. We can compete for a championship. There are a lot of positives,” said Nonis. “We don’t have to add eight or 10 players. We could use a player up front and one on defense.”

Vancouver won the Northwest Division with a 43-24-20-5 record but lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual finalist Calgary in seven games.

“We would have won the series if we had [Todd] Bertuzzi,” said Nonis, referring to the rugged winger who was suspended by the league for attacking Colorado’s Steve Moore from behind during a regular-season game.

Nonis is hopeful a collective bargaining agreement can be worked out to avoid a lockout or strike next season.

“I have to be optimistic. We need a new economic system,” said Nonis.

He would like to see more offense in the game and knows the NHL will continue trying to look at ways to open up the game.

“We need to make sure our skilled players have a chance to play [effectively],” said Nonis, who played at Maine from 1984-85 through 1987-88 and was one of the captains the last two years.

He said he is indebted to Burke for his help, guidance, and friendship and the fact he gave him a lot of responsibility.

Nonis hired current Maine coach Tim Whitehead to scout for the Canucks.

But Maine head coach Shawn Walsh, who was battling kidney cancer, asked Whitehead to join the Maine staff and Nonis let Whitehead out of his contract.

“It was the right thing to do,” said Nonis.

Walsh died on Sept. 24, 2001, and Whitehead became the interim head coach and then the head coach.

Whitehead has led the Bears to two NCAA championship game appearances in three years.

“Tim has done a good job,” said Nonis, who keeps tabs on his alma mater when time allows.