As a freshman, New Jersey second-round draft pick Eric Weinrich of Gardiner and his youthful University of Maine teammates had their struggles. But the following year, Weinrich became an All-Hockey East and a second-team Eastern All-American. He played for the U.S. Olympic Team, returned to finish his junior year at Maine, and signed with New Jersey that summer.

Sophomore Jason Weinrich is carrying on the Weinrich tradition at Maine, but he must deal with the added pressure of being Eric’s younger brother.

“I’ve always played with the tag of being Eric’s little brother,” said the third of Jack and Sandra Weinrich’s three sons. “I put it out of my mind.”

“That’s never bothered Jason,” said Sandra Weinrich. “Eric loved it at Maine and that’s the only place Jason wanted to go. Eric has been his idol.”

Jason is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, making him two inches taller and 10 pounds heavier than Eric.

Personality-wise, Mrs. Weinrich said, “Jason is a little looser, he’s a really happy kid. He doesn’t worry about much. Eric is a little more intense and serious.”

After playing in 14 games as a freshman (1 goal, 1 assist), Jason Weinrich returned to Maine as the No. 7 or No. 8 defenseman on the depth chart.

But he has played very well and has not only become a regular, he is even on a power-play unit and kills penalties.

He had two power-play assists in the 4-0 win over Boston College, giving him three assists in three games.

“Last year was a big adjustment year. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Weinrich. “I did what I could to help the team. Even though I didn’t play that much, I felt I learned something new every shift. And I thought the practices were just as good as the games (when it came to learning). I developed my confidence in the practices.”

His confidence also received a big boost when he was pressed into service and played well in the Hockey East title game, a 4-3 overtime loss to Boston University.

Weinrich said his primary fault was he hung on to the puck too long which resulted in turnovers.

“If you hang on to the puck for more than two or three seconds, the opposing forwards are right on you,” said Weinrich. “Now I just get it to our forwards as quickly as possible. Our forwards are so good.”

“Jason has improved a lot,” said Bear RW Jean-Yves Roy. “Last year he was shy and afraid to make a mistake. He’s more aggressive and more confident this year.”

Weinrich put himself through a rigorous training regimen this summer and he skated as much as he could. He took skating lessons from Julie Worgull, who had also given lessons to Eric.

“I gained 10 pounds and got a little quicker,” said Weinrich, who talks to Eric and middle brother Alex, a defenseman at Merrimack, on a regular basis.

“I send Eric videotapes of our games and he gives me pointers,” said Jason. “Alex also gives me some tips.”

Maine Coach Shawn Walsh said Weinrich has “good hands, a booming shot and excellent offensive instincts. He’s been solid defensively. He’s eliminated the mistakes he made a year ago when he would occasionally make low-percentage plays. He’s sticking to the basics this year.”

“Jason has always had the skills and now he has his confidence,” said New York Rangers scout Dave McNab, whose team drafted him in the sixth round in 1990. “We’re very happy with his progress.”

Jason Weinrich is living proof what can be attained with hard work and confidence.

I knew he was a hard worker – that has always been a Weinrich trait – so I figured he would be a contributor at some point in his career.

But I thought it might take until his junior year until he did so. He seemed all arms and legs last year and his hesistancy in his decison-making got him in trouble. I figured it would take two years for him to fill out and get comfortable in the rigors of Division I hockey.

He has come a long way in one year and the fact he is subjected to some of the best forwards in college hockey day in and day out in practice should accelerate his improvement.

He also knows he will have to continue to work hard because nothing is guaranteed at Maine.