EHL Alumni Spotlight: UMaine Captains

Two EHL alumni will be sharing captaincy honors at the University of Maine during the 2013-2014 season recently. Senior Brice O’Connor (right) a former New Hampshire Jr. Monarch player was named team captain, while senior Mark Anthoine (left), a former AJHL all-star in 2006-07, was named as an assistant captain.

O’Connor, a defenseman, has played in 70 career games for the Black Bears. He has three goals and 13 assists for 16 career points. As a sophomore he scored arguably two of the biggest goals of the season for Maine. He scored the lone goal of the game in the season finale against New Hampshire which gave the Black Bears home ice in the 2012 Hockey East quarterfinals. He went on to score the game-winning goal in the third and final game of Maine’s quarterfinal series with Merrimack which propelled the Black Bears to the Hockey East semifinals at the TD Garden. O’Connor has also excels in the classroom, as he has been named a Maine Scholar-Athlete Award winner and also named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team.

“Brice was a true Monarch,” said Jr. Monarchs head coach Ryan Frew. “When, we as coaches, talk about the ultimate teammate, and a guy that you want in your room…he is that guy. Nobody worked harder to get better. I’m especially proud of him because he is a product of our system. We are talking about one of the best hockey families that New Hampshire has to offer. All three boys came through the Monarchs program and they are all still in touch, and great friends now. Brice will be more than ready for this new endeavor as a leader because he was born with that special gift to be the best. He demands respect because he leads in its truest form. I have recruits from this year’s EHL team headed to visit Maine and there is no better player to show them what it takes to be a success.”