There are eight former UMaine Black Bears on opening night NHL rosters and if you add in coaches, sons of of former UMaine players and former Maine high school players the list is much longer.

The list starts with goalies - Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings), Ben Bishop (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Scott Darling (Chicago Blackhawks).

Two former Black Bears who turned pro after their junior year in Orono just two years ago, Ben Hutton (Vancouver Canucks) and Devin Shore (Dallas Stars) are on opening night rosters.

Former UMaine captain Brian Flynn skates again with the Montreal Canadiens.

Add in Gustav Nyquist (Detroit Red Wings) and Teddy Purcell (LA Kings).

Steve Santini is on the New Jersey Devils roster. He played at Boston College but his dad played for UMaine.

Brian Dumoulin played his high school hockey at Biddeford and he is with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And, when it comes to coaches, the New York Islanders take top prize. Former Black Bears include head coach Jack Capuano, assistants Greg Cronin and Bob Corkum. Goalie coach Mike Dunham. Garth Snow is Isles GM.

John Tortorella (Columbus Blue Jackets head coach) is a former Black Bear from the 1970's.

 

 

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