After losing the team’s top four scorers and players who produced 52.6% of its goals a year ago, University of Maine sixth-year head hockey coach Ben Barr and his staff brought in a number of players designed to help fill that void.
One of those players was UMass Lowell transfer right wing Lee Parks. Just four games into the season, he has already scored goals in his last three games. He has three goals and an assist over that span, including the game-winner in the second period of last Saturday’s 5-3 win over nationally ranked Quinnipiac.
That goal was set up by a perfectly placed cross-ice pass from linemate Will Gerrior, who has also been one of his best friends since eighth grade when they went to school together in the Ottawa suburbs and were teammates for one year.
Gerrior had made a similar pass to him the previous night resulting in UMaine’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to Quinnipiac.
Parks scored his first goal as a Black Bear in a 3-2 overtime loss to Holy Cross, netting the tying goal that forced the overtime with just 2:38 left in regulation. Sophomore defenseman Lukas Peterson had the only assist.
“I owe a lot to my teammates and what they’ve been doing for me around the puck and around the net. Gerrior has set me up pretty well a couple of times now,” said Parks, a native of Stittsville, Ontario. “It’s definitely more of a team effort than just me.”
Parks is a power forward, using his 6-foot-2, 209-pound frame to full advantage by winning puck battles and getting to the net.
“He is a great power forward,” UMaine defenseman Dru Krebs said. “He moves his feet well, he has good hands and he really drives the net. He is tenacious around the puck.”
Parks is physical and great in the corners, Barr said.
“He just has to believe he can do it. He is starting to show he can and believe in himself,” Barr added.
When Parks entered the NCAA transfer portal and got the opportunity to come to UMaine, he didn’t hesitate.
“It was something I knew I had to do,” Parks said. “With the team we have here and what we’re building and the tradition. Obviously the fans as well as an opportunity to play with one of my best friends. This was what was best for me, hockey-wise.”
Parks played in 69 games in his two seasons at UMass Lowell and garnered 14 goals and 14 assists.
He said he loved playing for UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin and his coaching staff and appreciated everything they did for him.
“I’m happy for the opportunity here and looking forward to it,” Parks said.
He has always been a productive scorer, notching 30 goals and 28 assists in 62 regular season games for the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League during the 2023-24 season. He amassed 23 goals and 25 assists in 50 games for the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League the previous year.
He has been happy with his start but noted that it’s early on in the season. And even though he has been a consistently prolific scorer, he pointed out that nothing comes easy.
“I spend a lot of time working on little things after practice,” he said.
He said everything has been amazing so far in his transition to UMaine.
“It’s everything I could have asked for. Everybody comes to the rink every day with the right attitude. We push each other to get better. We’re all working towards the goal of winning a championship,” Parks said.
Knowing he is one of the players being relied upon to put pucks in the net hasn’t put any additional pressure on him.
“I just have to be me. There are plenty of guys on this team who are capable of scoring goals. It’s a matter of executing when the time comes,” Parks said. “I’m sure as the season goes along, we will see a lot of players step up in different moments.”
Gerrior and Parks have been linemates for all four games. Gerrior has been the left wing and they have been centered by Jaden Lipinski for the first three games and Max Scott for the fourth.
Even though they played only one season together prior to coming to UMaine, Gerrior said they have trained together every summer since they were 15 and also hang out together.
Gerrior is now 22 and Parks turned 22 on Friday.
Gerrior thoroughly enjoys being on a line with him.
“It has been great. He makes it easy for me,” Gerrior said. “He is a big guy who can protect the puck well and move it. He’s a great player.”
The Black Bears are 2-2 and will have the weekend off before hosting ECAC team Colgate for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday nights, Oct. 23 and 24, at 7 p.m.
Parks said the win over Quinnipiac will be good for the team’s confidence but he also said there are still plenty of things to work on.
“You can’t be too happy about just one win because it’s a long season and we have to keep getting better,” Parks said.