ORONO, Maine — Nolan Vesey had an impressive freshman season.
He became just the third University of Maine freshman in 13 years to score double-digit goals when he scored 10 to go with 13 assists. He wound up as the team’s fifth-leading scorer.
Now he is looking to take his game to another level when the Black Bears open the season against Michigan State at the Ice Breaker Tournament at 8 p.m. Friday at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
Maine will face North Dakota at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Lake Superior State will play North Dakota on Friday and Michigan State on Saturday. Both games are at 4:30 p.m.
Vesey joined an elite group with his 10-goal freshman season. Current NHL players Gustav Nyquist (Detroit) and Brian Flynn (Montreal) were the last to do it during their 2008-09 season with the Black Bears. Nyquist had 13, and Flynn netted 12.
“They’re a couple of great players. It’s definitely cool,” said the left winger from North Reading, Massachusetts.
Vesey spent the summer gearing up for the season.
“Like any hockey player, you go into the summer trying to get better whether it be getting bigger, stronger or faster. I tried to do all three.This year I’m going to be counted on as an offensive presence every game. I can’t take any games off. And I’m going to shoot the puck a lot more,” said Vesey, who finished the season with four goals and three assists in his last nine games.
He took 48 shots and was just 12th on the team in that category.
He knows the Black Bears are facing a stiff challenge this weekend.
“It’s not going to be easy. We all know that. But we’re all looking forward to it, and we’re pretty confident,” he said.
Another player who will be stepping into a more elevated role will be junior right wing Blaine Byron, who improved his production by 11 points from his freshman year.
Like Vesey, Byron had a strong finish to the 2014-15 season with two goals and five assists in his last eight games.
“I gained confidence in my game. I was a little bit bigger and stronger, and it’s the same this year. I came back a little bit bigger and stronger than I was last year. I’m more comfortable and the coaching staff has more confidence in me so hopefully I can build on that this year,” said Byron, who was the team’s fourth leading scorer with 27 points on 12 goals and 15 assists.