Leveille returns for fifth year UMaine center to captain team, build resume for pro career

ORONO – Entering the off-season, Michel Leveille felt his chances of returning to Orono for a fifth year were “50-50.”

The University of Maine men’s hockey center had earned his degree in communications, with a minor in public relations. He planned to wait and see what kind of professional offers he would receive.

Leveille, who was an assistant captain last season and will be the captain this year, has returned to Orono and hopes to guide the Bears to a ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“My mindset was that I was coming back unless I got a decent offer. And nobody offered me a concrete contract,” said Leveille, the 2003-2004 Hockey East Rookie of the Year.

“I thought I’d get more offers than I did. But I didn’t, so I’m happy to be back with my friends for a fifth year. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Leveille, who was offered an opportunity to attend a try-out camp for rookies by the New York Rangers.

Leveille has 104 points (34 goals, 70 assists) in 113 career games and was the team’s third-leading scorer last season with 16 goals and 24 assists in 37 games.

He suffered a knee injury in a 3-2 loss to Boston University on Jan. 13 and missed five games. He played the rest of the season in a knee brace.

He had surgery in April to repair a partial ligament tear and he said the knee feels “really good.

“We’ve been doing a lot of testing and my strength [in the knee] is better than it was last year,” said the 25-year-old Leveille, a native of Levis, Quebec.

Maine junior defenseman Bret Tyler said he didn’t expect Leveille to return but he’s glad he did.

“He is the key to our team. He has been a captain for two years and he’s one of the best players in Hockey East if not the best player. He is an unbelievable leader on and off the ice. We all really respect him. We owe him a lot for coming back,” said Tyler.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead is equally elated.

“He’s such a great ambassador for our hockey program and he’s a heck of a player. He’s also a great leader,” said Whitehead.

Was the Maine coach surprised his star player returned?

“Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that I knew he had an opportunity to go. He’s an elite player. But no in the sense that I know this is a great decision for him. He’ll have an experience similar to [last year’s captain] Greg Moore last year in that he’ll be in a leadership position with an elite hockey team in a place that he loves with a group of guys he’d do anything for.

“This experience of being a leader and emerging as the go-to guy is something he’ll never regret,” said Whitehead.

“He understands that if he stays healthy this year he could really set himself up with a great situation in a year,” added Whitehead. “Why gamble and go to a tryout this fall in a less-than-strong contract situation when he could play this year and, at the very least, sign a solid contract for next year?”

Leveille said he wants to “make an impact on every single shift” and is excited about leading the team.

He said the veteran players have come back in good shape and “we have a good crew of freshmen.”

Maine has its first official on-ice practice Sept. 30 and opens the season Oct. 6 against Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.