UM hockey team lands goal scorer for ’08-09 season Abbott makes verbal commitment

Spencer Abbott, the leading goal scorer in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine next fall.

Abbott has scored 24 goals in 26 games for the Hamilton Red Wings and he has also notched 17 assists. He has 10 power-play goals and five game-winners.

“He’s a gifted goal scorer and playmaker,” said Hamilton President and General Manager Robert Turnbull. “He’s extremely strong on the puck and he’s got excellent skating skills that allow him to play much bigger than his size [5-foot-10, 165 pounds]. [Former Maine standout] Josh Soares was a record-setting scorer in the league but Spencer has a quicker release [on his shot].”

The 19-year-old Abbott said he is “very excited” about coming to Maine.

“I can’t wait,” said Abbott, who chose Maine over Northeastern and Niagara University.

He said there were several reasons behind his decision.

“The campus is unbelievable and the crowd, the atmosphere and stuff are pretty cool,” said Abbott, who also wanted to join former Hamilton teammate Josh Van Dyk, a freshman defenseman.

In addition, Abbott pointed out that Maine has always had “a really good team and a lot of their guys go on to play pro hockey.”

Abbott, a scholarship player, will come to Maine pending his admission to the school and meeting the requirements put forth by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

UM lists women’s hockey signees

Four women’s ice hockey players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Maine next fall: forwards Dawn Sullivan (Enfield, Nova Scotia) and Dominique Goutsis (Coquitlam, British Columbia); defenseman Melissa Gagnon (St. Gilles, Quebec) and goaltender Candice Currier (Goffstown, N.H.).

Their coming to Maine is contingent upon their acceptance into the school and compliance with NCAA Clearinghouse requirements.

In a press release issued by the university, Maine first-year coach Dan Lichterman called Sullivan “a solid two-way forward who shoots and moves the puck well. She is a player with tremendous character and we envision her to be a future leader.”

She was an assistant captain for Team Nova Scotia in the Canada Games and attends the Berkshire School (Mass.) where she has also played soccer and lacrosse.

He said Goutsis is a “quick little forward who is very agile and provides a lot of energy up front. She creates great angles for herself and her teammates with her speed.” Goutsis plays for the Pacific Steelers and also played soccer, field hockey and softball in high school.

Gagnon, according to Lichterman, has “great vision and moves the puck well offensively. She adds great depth to our defensive corps.” She plays for Dawson College and was named to the Canadian Collegiate All-Star team last year.

She has played for Team Quebec in the Canadian Championships, winning a silver medal, and in the Canada Games, notching a bronze medal. She has 25 points in 35 games spanning last season and this season.

Lichterman said the 5-foot-10 Currier is “very athletic. She’s a great competitor and is very passionate about the game. She will add great depth to our goaltending.” She plays for the North American Hockey Academy (Vt.) and was the defensive player of the year last season when she posted a 27-6-3 record, a 1.97 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

She is captaining this year’s team.

Bowdoin’s Gilbride wins 300th

Bowdoin College men’s basketball coach Tim Gilbride reached a coaching milestone last week when his Polar Bears defeated the University of New England. He became the ninth active coach in the NCAA Division III New England ranks to earn his 300th career victory.

Gilbride is now in his 23rd season as the Polar Bears head coach. He has the best career winning percentage of any Bowdoin men’s basketball coach and is also the career wins leader with an overall record of 302-235 (.562) through Tuesday.

Gilbride also coached Bowdoin’s men’s soccer team and in 1998, became the only NCAA coach in any division to lead both a men’s soccer team and men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament the same academic year.

The Polar Bears, who suffered their first loss of the season (77-59 to St. Joseph’s College) Sunday, got off to a quick start, winning their first three games and are now 4-1 overall.