ORONO – He was trying on his new Gatekeeper goalie pads before heading onto the Alfond Arena ice to instruct at the University of Maine’s hockey camp.

That was a good indicator of Black Bears second-team All-America goalie Jimmy Howard’s intentions this fall.

“I’m coming back,” said Howard, a second-round draft pick of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings last year. “I haven’t even talked to them [Red Wings personnel].”

Howard said he “can’t wait” to begin his junior season.

“I wish it was the fall already. I want to get right back into it. Summer is way too long,” said Howard, who had a remarkable sophomore season to help lead a youthful Maine team to the NCAA championship game.

Howard finished the season with a minuscule 1.19 goals-against average, a superb .956 save percentage and six shutouts. All are school records.

He had the nation’s lowest GAA and highest save percentage. He limited opponents to one goal or less in 15 of his 22 starts.

Howard has been busy working at the camp and training both on and off the ice in preparation for the season.

He has been focusing on his puckhandling and “my balance [on my skates].”

This season will provide a different type of challenge for Howard as he will be the full-time No. 1 goalie after sharing the duties with the departed Frank Doyle his first two seasons.

Freshman Matt Lundin, the younger brother of Maine defenseman Mike Lundin, will back him up.

“It’ll be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it,” said Howard.

He feels the Bears, who lost to Denver 1-0 in the NCAA title game, should again be in the thick of the hunt for the national title.

“We’ve got a solid group of forwards coming back, a solid group of defensemen, and we’ve got some guys coming who can definitely play,” said Howard.

Can he put up the numbers he did this past season?

“I don’t care [about statistics]. As long as we win, all the other stuff falls into place,” said Howard.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead said having Howard back will give the team a “big boost” and will enable freshman goalie Lundin to develop at his own pace instead of being forced into action immediately.

Soltys joins Black Bear staff

Eric Soltys will replace Guy Perron as the volunteer assistant coach for the University of Maine men’s hockey team.

Perron was named head coach of the Black Bear women’s hockey team.

Soltys, a native of Needham, Mass., spent the previous five years as an assistant coach at prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s has produced a number of Division I players, including former Maine defenseman Cliff Loya and Boston College’s Eaves brothers, Ben and Patrick.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s won three Midget AAA national championships in his five years.

“You couldn’t ask for a better situation,” said Soltys, who spent one season as a reserve goalie at the University of New Hampshire before signing a pro contract.

He said Maine has an outstanding reputation and the recruiting tandem of Grant Standbrook and Campbell Blair “is second to none.”

He expects to learn a lot and hopes to be on board for at least two seasons.

Whitehead said Soltys is an excellent addition to the coaching staff.

“He’s one of those people who gets things done. He has a lot of positive energy. He’s upbeat and very hardworking,” said Whitehead.

Soltys will work primarily with the Maine forwards and will also spend time with the goalies.

UM’s Williams All-American

University of Maine senior tailback Marcus Williams is among nine Atlantic 10 football players who have been named to The Sports Network’s 2004 I-AA Preseason All-America Team.

Williams was named to the Web site’s second team.

Offensive lineman Adam Bourget and linebacker Liam Ezekiel of Northeastern, along with Delaware cornerback Sidney Haugabrook, were first-team selections.

Williams is joined on the second team by A-10 representatives Darrell Adams and Ray Ventrone of Delaware, and linebackers Mondoe Davis of Delaware, Brian Hulea of Villanova, and P.D. Moore of league newcomer Towson.

Williams, a 5-foot-10, 227-pounder from Amherst, Mass., rushed for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while becoming the first UMaine running back to run for more than 1,000 yards in two different seasons.