Eric Weinrich was the consummate professional. Quietly efficient. Dependable. Resourceful. Durable.

Weinrich typified the stay-at-home defenseman.

The 39-year-old Gardiner native, who formally announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Monday, played 17 seasons and 1,238 games (including playoffs) for eight teams.

He appeared in at least 75 games in 13 of his final 15 seasons.

Much of that can be attributed to off-season conditioning.

Weinrich, who will be an assistant coach for the AHL’s Portland Pirates this season, was part of the breakthrough recruiting class at the University of Maine that transformed the Black Bears from a cellar-dweller into a nationally prominent program.

It is still among the nation’s elite with eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

The late Shawn Walsh and recruiting coordinator/assistant Jay Leach sent a message to the rest of the college hockey world by landing high-profile recruits Weinrich, Jack Capuano, Shawn Anderson and Bob Corkum to headline the class that began playing at Maine in 1985-86.

Weinrich, Capuano, Anderson and Corkum were all NHL draft choices and all wound up playing in the NHL. University of New Hampshire transfer Mike Golden was another key member of that class.

Other elite players followed them to Maine in future years.

Maine made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986-87 and its first Frozen Four appearance in 1987-88.

Weinrich returned from the 1988 Olympics to help lead the Bears to the Frozen Four. He made a dramatic return to the lineup, notching two goals and an assist in his first 11:52 of a 10-2 win over Providence on Feb. 28.

Weinrich has regularly returned to Maine alumni weekends and has contributed to the school financially.

The 1986-87 All-American has always been a great ambassador for the university.

He is a classy, intelligent individual who puts his family first.

Weinrich, wife Tracy and children Ben and Emily can finally stay put in their Yarmouth home rather than returning to the Philadelphia area for the season.

Senior League Series needs boost

The Senior League World Series opens Sunday.

Ten teams from all over the world will vie for the championship, which will be held at Bangor’s Mansfield Stadium for the fifth straight year.

It is a terrific event and has provided an economic boost to the area. It has introduced people from all over the world to Bangor and Maine.

But it hasn’t been well-attended.

It’s understandable.

We don’t have a large population base. Pro franchises have failed here.

It’s a difficult time with school on the horizon and people on vacation.

So stadium manager Dave Mansfield and tourney director Mike Brooker have smartly taken steps to generate more interest.

They have hired Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications to promote it and Bangor East Side Little League president Dale Duff has scheduled a full day of activities Saturday, including a stadium tour, a baseball-softball clinic, a concert, opening ceremonies and a fireworks display.

Hopefully, these measures will help attendance and attract corporate sponsorship.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.