The last time Niko Dimitrakos played in a hockey game was April 6.

That was the day the frustrated Bears were eliminated from the NCAA Frozen Four by eventual national champion North Dakota 2-0.

Unfortunately for Dimitrakos, that was just the start of a frustrating seven months. The junior right winger broke his left wrist during training camp and missed Maine’s first eight games.

But Dimitrakos returns to the lineup Friday night when the Bears travel to face UMass-Lowell in a Hockey East game at Tsongas Arena.

“I’m happy to get back and play a game. I haven’t played in so long. I’ve missed college hockey and the atmosphere. It’s good to be playing close to home [Somerville, Mass.]. I’ll have a lot of my family there,” said Dimitrakos, who is Maine’s leading returning scorer off last year’s team with 11 goals and 16 assists in 32 games.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to contribute offensively. But I talked to coach [Shawn Walsh] and he told me even if I don’t get a point, I can help out defensively by working hard on the backcheck. I can do a lot of the little things to help the team win. I’m not going to worry about scoring. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself. If the points come, they come,” added Dimitrakos.

Walsh said Dimitrakos can provide his team with instant offense, “but he’s got to play both ends of the ice. We’ve got to make sure if he doesn’t score, he still help the team.”

He will be on a line with sophomore Chris Heisten at center and senior Dan Kerluke at left wing.

“It’s a real good line,” said Dimitrakos. “Danny is a sniper and he’s seeing the ice better this year. Chris is off to a great start. Hopefully, I’ll be able to contribute to make the line better.”

Dimitrakos will also see duty on the power play and could even get some penalty-killing time.

“I’m ready for the power play. I think I can handle it. It should be fine. And penalty-killing will help keep me in the game,” said Dimitrakos, who notched 12 points in his last 11 games a year ago.

Dimitrakos said his wrist is “80-90 percent” healthy and his wind is getting better.

“I’m getting better every day. I feel a lot stronger. I’m getting my legs and wind back. It was tough at first but it’s starting to come around,” said Dimitrakos. “It’ll take me three to five games to get back to 100 percent because I’ve missed so much.”

Dimitrakos recently missed a week of skating with tonsillitis.

Heisten feels having Dimitrakos back will give the team a lift.

“He gives me another weapon,” said Heisten.

UMass-Lowell coach Tim Whitehead said Dimitrakos is a concern.

“He’s a talented hockey player. He’s a threat when he’s on the ice. He has good speed and good skills and he’s the type of guy who can make the big play. We’re definitely going to have to keep him in check,” said Whitehead.