Maine Recruits Having Success in the Playoffs

Four incoming freshmen were apart of Championship Teams.

First Brian Flynn (F) and Mark Nemec (D) of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (EJHL) won the USA Tier III Junior A Championship. They defeated the New Jersey Hitmen (EJHL) 5-2 to capture the title. Flynn had three goals and three assists in five games. Mark Nemec had a goal and two assists in five games.

Across the pond, the Frolunda Under 20 Team won the Swedish Elit Championship. Pontus Hansson (G) and Theo Andersson (F) were apart of the team. Hansson had 2.23 goals against average and a .909 save percentage in eight games. Andersson had three goals and two assisist in eight games. Three 2007 draft picks had more points then Andersson on Frolunda. Two St. Louis Blues draft picks Simon Hjalmarsson who was a second round pick had 12 points and Lars Eller who went 13th overall had 10 points. Joakim Andersson who went in the third round to the Detroit Red Wings had nine points. Gustav Nyquist of Malmo was the third leading scorer in the playoffs with ten points including five goals in seven games. He will be heading to Maine also.

Mark Anthoine's Chicago Steel will face Scott Darling's Indiana Ice in the first round of the United States Hockey League Playoffs. Will O'Neill and Joey Diamond will suit up for the Omaha Lancers in the playoffs. They face the Lincoln Stars. The USHL Playoffs start on Thursday.

After a five goal performance at the National Team Development Program' Final 40 camp, Austin Watson hasn't been offered a spot on the team. He also had a shootout goal in that same game.

Kevin Gagne is listed to go in the second round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Midget Draft in June. This is according to the QMJHL's Central Scouting Service. If he plays in the QMJHL he will lose his NCAA Eligibility. Brian Dumoulin of Biddeford High School and Brian Billet of North Yarmouth Academy were also mentioned in the report.

That's My Take

Nathan Fournier

(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)