ORONO — It was a memorable weekend for former University of Maine hockey players who returned for the 40th anniversary of the program.
Jack Semler, the head coach for the first seven years (1977-84) in the modern era, was among the returnees along with several players from that first team (1977-78).
Semler and players from all eras were introduced before the Friday and Saturday night games against the University of New Hampshire and they received warm ovations from the large crowds at Alfond Arena. Saturday night’s game was a sellout (5,165).
UMaine and UNH skated to 2-2 and 3-3 ties.
“It was like we never left,” said former four-year defenseman Tom LeBlond (1977-81) at a Dexter Lounge reception following Saturday’s game. “It’s funny. We were in Pat’s Pizza earlier and it was like a time warp. Nothing had changed at all. And that is, sort of, the great thing about it. They’ve made some additions to the rink and everything but it was the same great atmosphere..everyone enjoying each other’s company. I really enjoyed it.”
“When you hear they’re going to do something like this, it brings back memories from day one,” said Dan Sweeney, a former forward who was the only non-freshman on the 1977-78 team and wound up being a captain.
“It has been a while since I’ve been back and then, all of a sudden, as you get closer and closer on the drive up, your heart starts pounding a little faster. And when I came in and actually saw the place and saw the team play, it was phenomenal.”
Sweeney lives in Centerville, Massachusetts.
“The building is something else. The rink has always been special. It has a home feeling to it,” said Semler. “They’ve created a great atmosphere up here.”
Semler, guided his first four teams to a 78-47-2 record which was integral in generating interest for the sport and the program.
“It all came together for some reason,” said the 71-year-old Semler about his first four teams. “We lucked out. We had a team full of guys who skated hard. That’s what fans want to see: players giving it their all.”
It felt great to return to UMaine, former winger Scott Pellerin said.
“To watch the team play and the crowd … it brought back a lot of good memories. You could sense the energy in the crowd,” said Pellerin, UMaine’s first Hobey Baker Award winner (1992) who went on to play 536 regular season games in the NHL.
“I had a very good time. It was well-received. The fan base has always been wild and crazy,” former UM forward Jon Leach (77-81) said.
Semler and the former players said they were impressed by the current team, which is 12-9-4 overall and 6-6-3 in Hockey East.
“They played with intensity, they moved the puck well, they had a lot of opportunities. They missed the net a little bit tonight. But they generated energy. It was a well-played game,” said Pellerin, the director of player development for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
“They’re really headed in the right direction,” said Sweeney, who has followed the team ever since he graduated and knows the program has had its share of struggles for several years. “They work hard, they play for each other. I really liked what I saw.”
LeBlond feels the Black Bears have a “good team.
“They outplayed UNH for most of the night (Saturday) except the first 10 minutes. They kept the pressure on,” said LeBlond. “The puck went in for UNH tonight. They didn’t score work-hard kind of goals. They came off screens. Maybe the goalie (Jeremy Swayman) should have had the first one.
“I was impressed by the team and its size. You need size. They also have some kids who can (skate),” added LeBlond.
“(Head coach Red Gendron) is doing a great job. They’ve got some tough defensemen and really nifty forwards,” said Semler.”What can you say when they beat (Boston University) 3-0 on BU ice. They skate hard and they’re on a pretty good run (8-2-4 in their last 14).”
“The goalie (Swayman) is really good,” said former Black Bear goalie Scott King (1986-90), the school’s career leader among goalies in games played (110) and saves (2,463).
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