It would have been easy for Steven Swavely to follow the family tradition and become a basketball star.
“I think my dad was a 1,000-point scorer in high school and my uncle was a 1,000-point scorer at a Division III school. My grandfathers were also basketball players,” said Swavely, the captain of the University of Maine men’s hockey team.
Swavely admitted that he has some basketball skills, but hockey has always been his first love beginning at age 6.
Older brother Jon Swavely played hockey, and he followed in his brother’s footsteps all the way to Maine.
They played together for two seasons in Orono.
“He really showed me the way,” said Steven Swavely. “I owe a lot of my success to him and what he has done for me.”
Being the captain is special to Swavely, and he hopes the team can build on its two impressive ties against Michigan State and No. 1 North Dakota last weekend when the Black Bears visit Union College (New York) for a two-game set this weekend.
“[Being chosen captain] means a lot to me. It’s a privilege,” said the senior center.
Swavely wants a memorable senior year and will do everything he can to erase the memories of last season’s disappointing 14-22-3 record.
Maine has made only one NCAA appearance the last eight seasons after nine consecutive berths.
“I want to put Maine back on top of the national college [map],” said Swavely.
His statistics have improved every season. He has gone from 14 points as a freshman to 20 as a sophomore and 28 a year ago, when he was tied with Cam Brown for second on the team behind Devin Shore.
He intends to lead through his work ethic and his voice.
“A leader has to be vocal. He has to say the right things at the right time. You have to encourage your teammates. You have to be positive and make sure they’re doing all the right things on the ice,” said Swavely, who captained his junior team, the New Jersey Hitmen.
“You couldn’t have a better guy to lead this team with the things he does in all aspects,” said junior center and alternate captain Brown. “He’s vocal in the locker room, he’ll score goals, he’ll make a big play, he’ll block a shot, he’ll finish a check. He’ll do whatever it takes to help the team.”
Swavely, 23, didn’t register a point last weekend, but he turned in two solid performances while playing in all situations. He had a team-high eight shots on goal against Michigan State and hit the post twice on the same shift.
“I’ve worked a lot on my shot and on trying to get if off quicker,” said Swavely, who is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.
“He plays with an edge like some of their former players back during their heyday,” said Union coach Rick Bennett. “He makes tremendous cutbacks down low. He’s tough to play against.”
Swavely knows his team will have its hands full with Union, the 2013-2014 national champs.
“They gave us trouble in Alfond last year, and we want to get a little revenge. They have a lot of offensive weapons. We’re going to have to be strong in the defensive zone. And we have to bury our opportunities,” Swavely said.