Maxwell has helped wake up Bears’ offense

Tim Maxwell has been just what the doctor ordered for the University of Maine hockey team.

After averaging just 2.92 goals through their first 12 games, the Bears have averaged 6.3 over their last three and the freshman defenseman has figured in five of their 19 goals with two goals and three assists.

He will enter Saturday night’s game at Dartmouth College with two goals and five assists in just nine games. He has a goal and three assists on the power play and helps quarterback one of the units from the point.

“He is exactly what we needed,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “Tim has really emerged for us. He has brought us hockey sense and the ability to make plays under pressure. He gets pucks to the net from the point and he has scored a couple of big goals for us. He has the courage to try to make plays and you need that to get over the hump.”

Maxwell’s first goal tied UMass-Lowell 4-4 in the third period Maine eventually won 5-4. His second triggered a four-goal second-period flurry that led Maine past Providence 8-4 last Sunday.

Junior right wing Greg Moore said Maxwell sometimes reminds him of former Bear first team All-Hockey East defenseman Francis Nault.

“He has the presence of mind and the patience to be able to step around a defenseman and look for a spot on net,” said Moore. “He has a lot of poise and confidence with the puck and he makes good plays back there.”

Maxwell said he had been a forward until he was moved back to defense when he was a bantam (13-14 years old).

“They thought I saw the ice better and could make better plays back there,” explained Maxwell, who had 16 goals and 31 assists for the Sherwood Park Crusaders last year and was an Alberta Junior Hockey League All-Star.

He was in and out of the Maine lineup earlier this season but has played the last six games and gains more confidence with every game.

“I’ve been skating the puck a lot more and that’s been helping my play,” said Maxwell, who has always been offensive-minded.

“I still continue to jump into the play and try to make the good breakout passes,” said Maxwell.

Maine junior center Derek Damon said Maxwell’s instincts and penchant for jumping into the attack “adds so much to our offense. It takes pressure off the three forwards and gives us that extra boost. And he makes that great first pass to get us out of the defensive zone.”

Maxwell said there are times “the forwards aren’t clicking or the lines aren’t going well. That’s when you need the defense to step up. Maybe not every game but maybe every third game.”

He stands 5-foot-11 but weighs just 168 pounds and finds himself dealing with a steady dose of 200-pound forwards.

“I work on my strength every day. I try to use my legs a lot [in one-on-one battles] rather than my upper body. My legs are a lot stronger. Other than that, I just keep working hard,” said Maxwell.

“Offense starts in the defensive end. You’ve got to be solid defensively in order to get the puck in the offensive zone. I’ve been working harder in the defensive zone, I’ve been working on my positional play and that has helped out a lot,” he added.

“He needs to improve his defense but he knows that. Reading rushes, penalty-killing and protecting the front of our net. But that will come when he gets bigger and stronger,” said Whitehead.

Maxwell could play a pivotal role on Saturday because Dartmouth is one of the stingiest teams in the country, surrendering just two goals per game.

“Certainly if Tim could help us generate one extra goal [it could be key],” said Whitehead.