Maine Hockey Journal

Junior A Wrap-UP

It was a tough weekend for the Portland Junior Pirates of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League.  The loss their opener to the Northern Cyclones 3-2 on Saturday and lost a heartbreaker to the Boston Bulldogs 5-3 on Sunday.  Both games were played at the MHG Ice Center in Saco.

Derek Tomes got the Pirates to an early 1-0 lead Saturday. Connor Anthoine (committed to Vermont for 2011) and Kyle Weiland getting assists.  The Cyclones tied it with 2:20 remaining in the first.  Corbin Rosmarin got the tally.  The helpers went to Jay Pietrasiak and Evan Carriere.

David Nies made it 2-1 for the Cyclones early in the second with Kevin Vanous and Evan Carriere setting up the play.  Tom Gosselin tied the game at the 6:15 mark with Kyle Weiland getting the only assist.

Evan Carriere got his third point and the eventual game winner at the 8:13 mark of the third.  Kevin Vanous got his second assist and David Nies got his second point on the play.

On Sunday, the Bulldogs got out to the early lead in the first with a goal from Tucker Mullin.  Ryan Smith got the lone assist.  John Melancon tied the game at one at the 12:50 mark.  Mike Tarajos and Marc Ouimet got the assists.  Tom Gosselin would give the Pirates the 2-1 lead a minute later.

Ryan Boucher gave the Pirates the 3-1 lead just under the three minute mark in the second. Russ Franey got the lone assist. Elijah Cohen would get the Bulldogs within one before the period ended.  Chris Lewis assisted on the goal.

Eric Steinour would get a hat trick in the third for the Bulldogs.  Cody Gut assisted on all three and Trey Milstead added an assist on two of Steinour’s goals.

Brian Dumoulin and Two Maine Recruits Off to a Hot Start with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs

Former Biddeford standout, Brian Dumoulin added an assist in both of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs wins this past weekend in Eastern Junior Hockey League action.  Maine recruit Kelen Corkum had an assist in the Monarchs 5-2 victory over the Bridgewater Bandits on Saturday.  On Sunday, he had two goals in the 3-2 victory over the Valley Jr. Warriors.

Dumoulin visited Boston College on Friday; this is according to the Hockey Journal.

Corkum spent the last two seasons with the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Before joining the NTDP, he was a member of the Portland Junior Pirates organization.  His father is Bob Corkum, the former Black Bear and the current Black Bear assistant coach.

Pontus Hansson, one of the three Swedish players that Tim Whitehead recruited last winter, he started in net in Saturday’s game.  He made 34 saves in the 5-2 victory over Bridgewater.

Hansson was going to be in Orono this season but couldn’t clear NCAA Clearinghouse.

It could be a blessing in disguise for the Black Bears.  Hansson was going to battle Scott Darling who’s an incoming freshman for the starting goalie job at Maine.  How much pressure would he have faced in Orono?  This kid would be trying to learn a new culture, managing classes, and playing a high level of hockey.  With the Monarchs he can learn the culture and play with no real pressure on him this season.

Last season with the Frolunda Indians of the Swedish SuperElit League, he had a 1.86 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.

Adam Shemansky another Maine recruit on the Monarchs didn’t play because of injuries.

Has Maine Lost Another Recruit?

This off-season has been a long one for the Black Bears.  Not only did they lose Guy Perron as an assistant coach to take a scouting position with the Colorado Avalanche but lost two of their recruits for the 2010 season.

Austin Watson who’s a highly touted forward from Michigan decommitted in June to sign with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.  Later in the summer, they lost defenseman Kevin Gagne to the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Now could they be losing Joey Diamond a 2009 recruit who participated in the Montreal Junior training camp as a free agent.  He didn’t play in any of their exhibition games but he was waived.  Usually free agent invitees are plan out cut.

Either way he has joined the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League.  In two games, he has three goals and three assists.

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