It was a new situation for Anthony Calafiore.
The University of Maine’s freshman right wing didn’t play the first 17 games of the season.
He was a healthy scratch.
In his previous three seasons with the New Jersey Junior Titans of the North American Hockey League, he played an average of 59 games per season including playoffs.
Calafiore finally got his chance to take the ice in a 4-4 tie with Colgate on Jan. 6, playing on the fourth line. And even though he didn’t register a point, he impressed head coach Ben Barr.
He has remained in the lineup ever since, collecting his first point, an assist, in a 7-2 win over UMass Lowell on Jan. 20. Three games later, he notched his first goal and it turned out to be the game-winner in last Friday night’s 2-1 win over Providence College.
Calafiore said that sitting out for such a long stretch was a first in his career.
“But I think it’s good. I looked at it in a positive way and got stronger from it,” he said.
He tried to get better every day and said once you get the opportunity to play, “you do whatever you can to not come out (of the lineup). I try to do my best.”
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound native of Staten Island, New York was a productive scorer in juniors, registering 63 goals and 77 assists in 155 regular season games spanning three seasons for the Junior Titans.
But his role on the UMaine team entails finishing all of his checks, putting the puck deep into the offensive zone and getting it out of the defensive zone.
“Being hard (to play against) and playing simple can always be a part of my game. This is probably the first time I’m in a role where I have to be simple. That’s my job right now,” Calafiore said. “Doing that job every night is what is keeping me in (the lineup).”
Barr said when it comes to executing the little details of the game, Calafiore “might be our best forward right now.
“He gets every puck out of our zone, gets every puck (into the offensive zone) and he finishes every hit,” said Barr. “He is a very efficient player and he has to be because he isn’t blessed with six-foot-two, 200 pounds.
Barr said Calafiore’s goal was typical of what he brings to the team.
He drove to the net and stopped just outside the crease where he directed a precise pass from Grayson Arnott into the open net.
“That’s one of those little details he has been fantastic at. All the guys respect him for it as we do as a coaching staff,” said Barr.
“That felt good,” said Calafiore.
He is a physical player and explained that at his size he has to be fearless.
“He is such a hard worker and he is always throwing his body around,” said UMaine junior defenseman and co-captain David Breazeale. “He doesn’t care about his size or who he’s going up against. He’s got a bigger heart. He always gives 100 percent. He understands what he has to do and he goes out and does it.”
Calafiore said his work ethic comes from his upbringing in a working class environment in Staten Island.
“Growing up there builds a lot of character. You go to work every day and do your job. That’s it,” said Calafiore.
“He has taken advantage of every moment (of ice time) he gets,” said senior center and co-captain Lynden Breen. “He has really taken a step the past couple of weekends. He is getting a little more confident which is huge for him and for us as a team.”
He decided to come to UMaine so he could play for Barr.
“He’s one of the best coaches out there, if not the best, and being able to play for him and build something special is what I was looking for,” said Calafiore, who said he has learned a lot from Barr and the coaching staff.
He said playing at UMaine has been “awesome.
“We have a great group of guys. Our culture is unbelievable. Playing in front of these fans is amazing. I couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Calafiore.
Calafiore and the Black Bears will have their hands full this weekend when they travel to take on arch-rival New Hampshire in front of sell-out crowds at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
UMaine is 18-6-2 overall and 10-5-1 in Hockey East and ranked seventh in one national poll and eighth in another. UNH is 14-11-1 and 7-8-1 but is 9-3-1 at the Whittemore Center.
UMaine is 2-2 in its last four games while UNH is 1-3 in its last four.
UMaine won an earlier meeting 5-2 at Alfond Arena on Dec. 1.
UMaine continues to be led by the freshman Nadeau brothers, right winger Josh (15 goals, 22 assists) and younger brother and left winger Bradly (14 & 22) along with Breen (6 & 18). Brandon Chabrier (6 & 13) is the Black Bears’ top scoring defenseman and freshman Albin Boija has started the last three games in goal and is 5-2-1 on the season with a 1.62 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Senior Victor Ostman has a 13-4-1 record with a 2.66 GAA and an .897 save percentage.
UNH is also led in scoring by a freshman in Ryan Conmy (12 & 13). Cy LeClerc (9 & 11) and Morgan Winters (8 & 10) complement Conmy up front. Luke Reid (1 & 12) is the leading point-getter among defensemen and the goaltending tandem is junior Jakob Hellsten (9-8-1, 2.17, .905), a University of North Dakota transfer, and sophomore Tyler Muszelik (5-1, 3.38, .874).
