All three seniors from the University of Maine’s 2016-2017 men’s hockey team have now found a home in the professional ranks.
Forward Blaine Byron will continue his career with the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds next season. He recently signed a contract with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League.
Byron joins Cam Brown and Eric Schurhamer, both of whom embarked on their pro hockey careers by landing deals after leaving UMaine.
In 145 career games with the Black Bears, Byron scored 46 goals and registered 62 assists for 108 points. As a senior last season, UMaine’s assistant captain averaged 1.14 points per game on the strength of team-leading and career-highs in goals (18), assists (23) and points (41).
Byron was drafted in 2013 by the Pittsburgh Penguins but opted to become a free agent on Aug. 16.
Brown recently signed with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, an affiliate of the Penguins. The UMaine captain played in 146 career games, totaling 106 points on 23 goals and 83 assists. Brown’s team-leading 35 assists last season ranked third in Hockey East.
Brown initially had signed with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder and played in 13 games, notching two goals and eight assists.
Schurhamer, an assistant captain last season at UMaine, recently re-signed with the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL.
The defenseman played 12 games with the Los Angeles Kings affiliate and logged one goal and two assists for three points. In 126 career games for the Black Bears, the native of St. Paul, Minnesota, accrued 10 goals and 33 assists.