ORONO, Maine — There is no question the University of Maine men’s hockey team needs a better year from senior forward Blaine Byron if it is to improve on last season’s 8-24-6 record.
The Black Bears have already shown positive signs with a 3-2-1 start that included a 4-3 overtime win over No. 3 Quinnipiac.
They hope to continue that trend and erase the memories of last Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Miami University (Ohio) when they visit 0-3-2 Colgate University this weekend.
Byron was the team’s leading scorer a year ago with 24 points on eight goals and 16 assists. But that was three points less than the previous season.
He has two goals and an assist so far this season, but UMaine head coach Red Gendron said his stat line is deceiving.
“He has played very well,” said Gendron. “He hasn’t gotten a whole lot of results in terms of scoring, but he is a better player than he was a year ago in every way.”
The native of Manotick, Ontario, has always been crafty with the puck, but his slender 6-foot-1, 186-pound frame has made it challenging for him to protect the puck against bigger defensemen.
“We were looking at a picture of him when he was a freshman, and he was young, and we compared it to now. He has changed so much,” grinned senior captain and linemate Cam Brown. “He is so much bigger and stronger now. He has really become a man.”
Improving his strength through weight training has been a focal point for the Pittsburgh Penguins sixth-round draft pick.
“I need to be stronger on the pucks. I can’t get pushed off the puck. I’ve got to be able to fend guys off,” said Byron, who is an assistant captain. “If you can create that extra time and space between you and the defender, you can create more more chances for your teammates as well.”
His other emphasis was improving his shot.
“I want to be more accurate and precise with it,” said Byron, who has 30 goals and 40 assists in 115 career games.
Even though he hasn’t put up the numbers he would have liked to so far, he said he has been creating a lot of chances. He is tied for fourth on the team with 16 shots on goal.
“As long as I keep getting chances, it means I’m doing something right. The time will come when, hopefully, they’ll start going in more,” Byron said.
He is pleased with the team’s start although he admitted that the team didn’t play well in the loss at Miami. He wants to have a memorable senior year.
“It’s your last year so you want to leave some kind of mark on the program,” said the 21-year-old Byron. “We can do something special and make a run and have a lot bigger year than last year.
“We have guys who can come into the lineup and make big impacts every night. You never know who is going to be the guy to step up and have a big night,” said Byron.