After a solid season last year as Robert Morris University’s third-leading scorer, Grant Hebert became a hockey orphan when the Pennsylvania school dropped its hockey program.
“That was heartbreaking. Both my brother and sister were playing hockey there and I was going to be a senior, and I was very close to my classmates,” Hebert said.
Two of Hebert’s former teammates from the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League, Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup and A.J. Drobot, were playing for the University of Maine.
So Hebert decided to join them.
Despite missing three games with a concussion and another due to a suspension for a hit on a Boston College player in November, Hebert is the team’s second-leading goal scorer with six. He had two goals and an assist in last Friday night’s 4-1 win over Boston College and was named the Hockey East Player of the Week.
“Things went from heartbreak to an exciting opportunity,” Hebert said. “[Schmidt-Svejstrup and Drobot] only had great things to say about Maine. And Hockey East is a very good conference and you want to go up against the best every night and this is one of the conferences you can do that.”
He has appeared in 18 games and has four assists to go with his six goals for 10 points, placing him fifth on the team in points.
Hebert, who last year at Robert Morris had 23 points on eight goals and 15 assists in 24 games, is considered “a good, all-around player” by UMaine first-year head coach Ben Barr.
“Whenever you bring in a transfer, you don’t know what you’re getting sometimes. You watch video. But he works way harder than I anticipated. That’s a credit to him,” Barr said. “He is a smart player with a good stick.”
Hebert is the left wing on a line centered by graduate student center Jack Quinlivan and with senior Schmidt-Svejstrup on the right wing.
That line combined for 11 of UMaine’s 37 shots in the win over BC. Schmidt-Svejstrup had a team-high six and Hebert had four to tie for second on the team.
Hebert said being named player of the week was a “special moment” but he credited his linemates with making it possible.
“Our line played well. We created a lot of energy and chances. They definitely helped me get the award and I’m thankful. Hopefully, we’ll follow that up this weekend,” said Hebert, a 6-foot-3, 192-pound native of St. Andrews West, Ontario.
He added that getting the win was more important than his award.
The Black Bears, 4-14-4 overall and 2-10-2 in the conference, are facing two teams on hot streaks this weekend when they visit Boston University (13-10-3, 9-6-3) and Merrimack College (12-11-1, 7-8) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
BU has won seven of its last eight and Merrimack, which will play New Hampshire on Friday night, has won five of its last six.
Hebert expects the Black Bears to get better.
“We want to show the rest of the league that we’re not a team you want to mess with going into the playoffs,” Hebert said. “I want to continue to get chances. Our line wants to generate a lot of chances and play well in the defensive zone.”
Linemates Lynden Breen (4 goals, 9 assists) and Donavan Houle (8 & 3) and defense partners Jakib Sirota (4 & 8) and David Breazeale (2 & 9) continue to pace the Black Bears in scoring. Goalie Victor Ostman has a 3-8-1 record, a 2.94 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
The swift-skating and highly skilled Terriers from BU feature Wilmer Skoog (8 & 11) and Robert Mastrosimone (9 & 9), along with defenseman Domenick Fensore (4 & 15). Two-time Hockey East Goalie of the Month Drew Commesso is with the U.S. Olympic team so Vinny Duplessis (1-2, 2.43, .885) has been filling in. BU has scored 15 goals in its last three games.
Merrimack, which split with UMaine in Orono in November, has been led by Max Newton (10 & 15), Filip Forsmark (9 & 12) and Hockey East Player of the Month Liam Walsh (6 & 14). Hugo Ollas (6-4, 2.34, .913) and Zachary Borgiel (6-6-1, 2.82, .896) have shared the goaltending.