The University of Maine men’s hockey program has landed a highly-skilled forward from Gander, Newfoundland, for the 2017-18 season.
Adam Dawe, who is 5-foot-7 and 146-pounds, had 18 goals and 14 assists in 35 games for Notre Dame’s Midget team in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League. He has verbally committed to attend Maine on a hockey scholarship.
The 16-year-old Dawe will be joined at Maine by his Notre Dame teammate, Ethan Crossman, who hails from Sackville, New Brunswick. Crossman will come to Maine for the 2017-18 season.
Jeremy Mylymok, the hockey coordinator for the Athol Murray College of the Notre Dame Prep School, said Dawe will be a “perfect college player.”
“He is really skilled and has great vision. He’s fun to watch,” said Mylymok, who is a former pro hockey teammate of several former Black Bears including Cal Ingraham. “He has the ability to beat guys one-on-one if he needs to. At the same time, he sees the ice exceptionally well and has a great touch on the puck so he can get it to an open teammate.”
Mylymok also said Dawe is fearless.
“He’s small, but he doesn’t play small,” said Mylymok. “He’ll cut in to the high traffic areas and take guys on physically in the corners. He’ll pay the price to get to the net and set up his teammates.”
Dawe, a center who has captained the Newfoundland Under-16 team, had 10 goals and three assists in six games at the Canada Winter Games. He also had two goals and five assists in five games at the Gatorade Challenge.
Dawe said he chose Maine because he “heard great things about the place. Everybody loves hockey there and it gets really wild.”
Dawe was selected in the Quebec Major Junior League draft but said he intends to play at Maine.
If a player plays Major Junior hockey, he is considered a pro in the eyes of the NCAA and can’t play college hockey.
“I want to play in college. One of the players I look up to is [former Boston College star and Hobey Baker Award winner] Johnny Gaudreau. It sounds like fun,” said Dawe, who also acknowledged that Maine is the closest school to his hometown.
He said he is going to return to Notre Dame and will work on his strength and speed in preparation for his coming to Maine.
Crossman had seven goals and 19 assists in 34 games at Notre Dame.
“He’s a powerful kid with a real good shot. He’s really strong in the corners and has a very high compete level,” said Mylymok. “He was the most physically fit player on our team.”
The 5-9, 154-pound Crossman also is expected to return to Notre Dame. He is 16.
He also was selected in the Quebec Major Junior draft.
Their coming to Maine is contingent upon being accepted into the school and meeting NCAA eligibility requirements.