Maine's 2008 Recruiting Class

Not to long ago, I talked about the 2010 Recruiting Class. What about the upcoming class for the Black Bears? It’s a strong class, it doesn’t have too many five star recruits as the 2010 class but it’s the turning point of the Maine program. Lately the program has been recruiting twenty year old freshman. Simon Danis-Pepin a junior but he’s still the youngest player on the team. As of today the oldest incoming freshman recruit will be 19. A couple players will turn 20 during the season. This isn’t including Kevin Sallow who’s transferring from Dartmouth.

Maine also learned that Kelen Corkum, the son of former Black Bear Bob Corkum will be coming in 2009. He was suppose be in the 2008 recruiting class. He left the United States National Development Team Program earlier this month after suffering an injury. The USNTDP brings the top players to Ann Arbor, Michigan to play together. He will be joining the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs of the Tier III Junior A Eastern Junior Hockey League next season.

Here’s the list of the 2008 Recruits.

Ryan Hegarty Defenseman

Age: 17

Team: USNTDP Under 18 Team

2007-2008 Season: 30 games-5 goals-5 assists-10 points-30 penalty minutes

Photo Courtesy of the NAHL page at pointstreak.com.

Will O'Neill Defenseman

Age: 19

Team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)

2007-2008 Season: 40 games-3 goals-10 assists-13 points-66 penalty minutes

Photo Courtesy of the Omaha Lancers Website.

Mark Nemec Defenseman

Age: 19

Team: New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (EJHL)

2007-2008 Season: 39 games-1 goal-7 assists-8

points-32 penalty minutes

Photo Courtesy of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs.

Spencer Abbott Forward

Age: 19

Team: Hamilton Red Wings (OPJHL)

2007-2008 Season: 48 games-42 goals-41 assists-83 points-42 penalty minutes

Photo Courtesy of the Hamilton Red Wings.

Gustav Nyquist Forward

Age: 18

Team: Malmo (Sweden Under 20 SuperElit League)

2007-2008 Season: 20 games-9

goals-20 assists-29 points-18 penalty minutes

Photo Courtesy of Elite Prospects.

Joey Diamond Forward

Age: 18

Team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)

2007-2008 Season: 22 games-8 goals-5 assists-13 points-33 penalty

minutes

Photo Courtesy of the Omaha Lancers Website.

Scott Darling Goalie

Age: 19

Team: Indiana (USHL)

2007-2008 Season: 28 games-20

wins-5 losses-1 Overtime loss-2.95 Goals Against Average-.908 Save Percentage

Photo Courtesy of the Indiana Ice.

Mark Anthoine Forward

Age: 17

Team: Chicago Steel (USHL)

2007-2008 Season: 34 games-8 goals-10 assists-18 points-48 penalty minutes

I talked to Mark in December, and asked him when he’s coming to Orono. At that time he told me he didn’t know if he would be joining the Black Bears in 2008 or in 2009.

Photo Courtesy of pointstreak.com.

That’s My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)