UM’s Tyler gets league honor

The University of Maine’s Bret Tyler, the top-scoring freshman defenseman in Hockey East with six goals and 14 assists in 35 games, has been named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team. He was the only Black Bear to be selected to an All-Hockey East team.

Junior goalie Jimmy Howard was an honorable mention and junior right wing Greg Moore was a co-runner-up for Best Defensive Forward.

“I really believe he’s the best freshman defenseman in the league,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “He’s a fierce competitor with the courage to make plays on offense, and he has the courage to block shots and make tough plays defensively. He has really emerged for us at the right moment.”

Tyler has collected five goals and nine assists in his last 15 games.

In addition to skating a regular shift, the 5-foot-8, 198-pound Tyler mans the point on one of Maine’s power-play units and leads the team in power-play assists with nine. He is fourth in power-play points with 11.

“He sees the ice so well, especially in the offensive zone. He’s not afraid to make a play and put the puck on net,” Howard said. “Sometimes I wonder how he gets some of those shots on net, but those are the types of shots that go in.”

Northeastern’s Keni Gibson was the first-team goalie pick and BU’s John Curry was the second-team choice.

Howard, a first team All-HE choice a year ago and a second team All-American, downplayed his omission from the first and second teams.

“That’s all out of my control. The voting is done by the coaches. Gibson and Curry deserve it, also. Both of them had tremendous seasons. This will add a little fire for me this weekend,” said Howard.

USM women in Final Four today

The University of Southern Maine women’s basketball team is in Virginia Beach, Va., today to compete in the NCAA Division III Final Four.

Coach Gary Fifield’s 30-2 Huskies take on 27-2 Millikin University of Decatur, Ill., in today’s 4 p.m. national semifinal. Scranton plays Randolph-Macon in the other semifinal at 6 p.m. with the winners advancing to Saturday’s 3 p.m. national championship game.

The third-place game is set for Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

USM is paced by junior forward Ashley Marble of Topsfield (13.7 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game) and All-America candidate Megan Myles of Auburn (13.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), along with junior guard Katie Frost of Brewer (8.8 ppg).