Say you are driving along College Avenue and somehow end up crashing into Alfond Arena. Chances are that you will hit a solid wall…by the name of Scottie Darling. Darling is a star on a team that, to many, has overachieved this season returning the Maine hockey program to relevance. On February 20th, Maine will take the ice against UMass Lowell. Maine, having a wonderful season, is 11-8-2 and controls 3rd place in the East Hockey standings. Lowell isn’t too far away at 8-10-2. This game is a real deal breaker with both teams hoping for a NCAA Tournament berth. Maine hasn’t made a Frozen Four since 2004, and you, as well as I, know that they want to make it back badly this year.
Maine Hockey has its fair share of stars and future NHLers in the locker room as we speak. In the 2008 entry draft, Nick Pryor was selected in the seventh round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, 208th overall by the Anaheim Ducks. One can only assume his bright career will continue to flourish. Along with Nick, Gustav Nyquist, a star forward, was drafted in the fourth round, 121st overall, in 2008 by the Detroit Red Wings. And to wrap up our future NHL players, we have Scottie Darling. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 153rd overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes. Darling, along with the many accolades he has received throughout his career, is the only Maine goalie to record a shutout in his very first start against Alaska back in October.
A team loaded with All Star talent, a coach with something to prove, and many questions unanswered going forward, Maine Hockey is just heating up. February 20th should be a night to remember.
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