Bear feat: Steelheads tap Maine connection

Orono, Maine, and Boise, Idaho, are almost 3,000 miles apart, but that hasn't stopped University of Maine hockey players from making the trek to Qwest Arena.

From Dan Shermerhorn to Bobby Stewart, from Frank Doyle to Matt Yeats, it seems there's always at least one former Black Bear in a Steelheads uniform in any given season.

"The list goes on and on," said Travis Wight, a defenseman for the Steelheads, who beat Utah 4-1 at Qwest Arena on Saturday night. "When I came here I didn't realize so many Maine guys played here before me, so it was kind of cool to have that connection."

Wight contributed to that connection in the summer of 2007, when he helped Steelheads coach Derek Laxdal recruit forward Brent Shepheard to Idaho. The two had played three years together at Maine, which has made 11 appearances in the Frozen Four since 1988, winning championships in 1993 and 1999.

Unfortunately, the two also had something else in common: season-ending knee injuries.

"I only got to play in nine games last year," Shepheard said. "It was obviously frustrating, just coming out of college."

Wight played in 18 games before he was shelved for the season.

"The only positive is that we went through rehab together," Wight said.

Fast forward to this season, and the two players are back on the ice, where they've spent a lot of time on the same shifts.

"It's a lot better than being in the stands together," Wight said.

Better for them, and better for the team. Wight is tops on the Steelheads' roster with a plus/minus ratio of plus-5.

"The little things he does are why we won a championship (in 2007)," Laxdal said. "We missed him down the stretch last year. ... He's an incredible shot-blocker."

Wight has proven that he will do just about anything to stop those shots.

"It's unorthodox, and some would say awkward," Wight said. "But I like to think that I get the job done, and the fans seem to appreciate me. They notice that I make little plays that turn into a goal for us. I like that about the fans here."

Shepheard has pitched in with four goals and three assists in 21 games, and Laxdal thinks the best is yet to come for the 6-foot, 195-pound forward.

"Shep's basically a rookie this year," Laxdal said. "He seems to be getting better and better. By the end of the year he should be a real good power forward for us."

Laxdal said there's a common theme among players who come out of Maine: They're well-coached and they're hard workers.

Cal Ingraham, the most revered Black Bear to ever don a Steelies sweater, said he's glad that Wight and Shepheard are carrying on that tradition.

"They're hard-nosed, hard-working guys who aren't too flashy, but they make things happen" he said.