Lukas Peterson said playing college hockey was a dream of his.
He is getting his chance to realize his dream at the University of Maine and the freshman defenseman is off to a good start.
The five-foot-10, 168-pound native of Waldwick, New Jersey is on the smaller side for a college defenseman. But he’s already turned into a reliable performer for the Black Bears.
“I’ve been trying to work on the defensive side of my game. Being a smaller, offensive-minded defenseman, you have to take care of the defensive zone,” Peterson said. “I’m playing against bigger, stronger guys so I have to keep working on that every day.”
He did not play in the season-opener against Holy Cross but played the next night and had an assist against the Crusaders.
And he has been in the lineup ever since, being paired with senior co-captain Brandon Holt, a third team All-Hockey East selection a year ago and the runnerup to Boston College’s Eamon Powell for the league’s best defensive defenseman.
In his nine games, Peterson has produced five assists including two in an 8-5 win over Boston University. He has blocked 10 shots and is plus-five in plus-minus.
Players receive a plus-one if they are on the ice when their team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal and minus one if the other team scores on.
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He plays in all situations: the power play and the penalty kill as well taking his regular shift.
The 6-3-1 Black Bears, who are 3-1 in Hockey East and ranked eighth in one national poll and 10th in the other, entertain Vermont (3-5, 1-3) on Friday and Saturday nights and 7 and 7:30, respectively.
“It has been super fun,” said Peterson, who grew up about 30 miles outside of New York City. ”I’ve been learning from the older guys and having a blast.”
He has enjoyed being paired with Holt.
“He does everything right. I try to learn from him every day,” Peterson said about UMaine’s co-captain.
Holt said Peterson has been an exceptional partner.
“As an older guy, it’s great to see his growth,” Holt said about Peterson. “He is so dynamic. He has so much upside. He’s always looking to make a play and a lot of times he makes a good one.”
Like all younger players on the team, there is room for Peterson to grow defensively, Holt said.
“But you see a lot of grit in his game for a smaller guy and he defends really hard,” Holt added. “He has been a really good defender.”
UMaine head coach Ben Barr said Peterson has simplified the game and that has made him a better player.
“He has a lot of pop to his game,” Barr said. “He has a good stick, he’s quick and he’s feisty. He has gotten better every day.”
Peterson was the second-leading scorer among defensemen in the United States Hockey League last season with 44 points on eight goals and 36 assists in 62 games for the Green Bay Gamblers.
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“He has offensive ability. It’s just trying to find that line of not being a defensive liability while being an offensive guy. That takes time,” Barr said.
The Black Bears coach said he’s been fortunate to be around some of the best offensive defensemen in college.
“It’s an art to figure out when to take chances, when not to. When to hop into plays, when not to,” Barr continued. “He’s feeling that out and working through that. He’s a coachable player.
Holt also credited Peterson for being a very good skater.
“He has a lot of upside, he just has to keep working,” Barr said about the freshman.
Peterson said he constantly works on his skating and playmaking because those are the things a small defenseman needs to make it to the next level.
He considers himself a student of the game and his desire to learn and improve has helped make the transition from junior hockey to college hockey easier.
Peterson chose UMaine because of the coaching staff and the long list of impressive players who wore Black Bear colors.
And he loves playing at Alfond Arena.
“It’s the best arena I’ve ever played,” said Peterson.
He wants to contribute offensively, but he also knows he has to play well in the defensive zone and needs to continue to improve in all areas — including his strength.
“If I do the right things right and keep things simple, the points will come,” Peterson said.