When last we saw Brian Billett in June, he was marching down the aisle in the Kennebunk High gymnasium, decked out in blue cap and gown, and clutching his hard earned high school diploma.

Much has happened to the Boston College bound goaltender since then.

Some good, some bad.

The bad came in the form of a sprained MCL in his knee, which cost him valuable playing time with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, with whom he is spending a third season before heading to the Heights.

“It was the second day of practice,” Billett said. “I went down into a butterfly. I caught the puck, and I came down on it. The whole thing popped.”

Surgery was deemed unnecessary, but a month-long sit down was prescribed.

The respite seemed to do the trick, and since returning to action, Billett has helped keep the NHJM’s rolling through the EJHL.

The Monarchs have compiled an impressive 20-1-2 mark, with Billett going undefeated (9-0-1) since his return.

The best part is that Billett has been pain free since stepping back into the crease.

“I feel a lot better,” he said. “The knee is the last issue I have to worry about. I just want to get better for next year.”

This wasn’t the first time that Billett has had to shrug off the injury bug.

He missed a month last year with an ankle sprain, and the layoff may have cost him a selection in the NHL Entry Draft last June.

Billett had appeared on the NHL’s mid-term rankings, but his name was omitted from the end of season list.

And his name wasn’t called during the NHL’s seven-round draft.

Then again, neither was Sergei Bobrovsky’s, and he’s filling the Philadelphia Flyer net quite nicely.

Billett said that he used the snub in a positive way.

“It gave me more fire,” he said. “I just wanted to get back on the ice and show them all why it was a mistake not to pick me. I think it’s just another form of motivation, on top of the motivation that I had in myself.”

Dumoulin shouldering more time

Boston College sophomore defenseman Brian Dumoulin is lugging a growing load of responsibility on those Biddeford broad shoulders of his.

One way to tell is by his ice time.

Dumoulin logged a jaw dropping 29 minutes in the Eagles’ 4-0 win over Maine, last Friday, the first of a two-game sweep over the then third ranked Black Bears.

That means plenty of special teams time, much more than he saw early in his freshman season, last year.

“That’s one thing you can do when you keep the game simple,” Dumoulin said, “and you don’t try to do too much with the puck. One thing we emphasize is short shifts. You don’t want to get out of there, because they (opponents) can turn nothing into something.”

While keeping his eyes on the task at hand ”“ helping BC maintain its focus on defending its national title ”“ Dumoulin is also hoping to land a spot on the U.S. squad for 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, which gets underway Dec. 26 in Buffalo, N.Y.

Dumoulin had a very impressive preliminary camp in August, having made the initial cut down from 45 to 27 players.

However, with a handful of cuts yet to be made, he says he’s doing all he can before the team assembles next month to insure his spot on the Red, White, and Blue blue line.

“I’m pretty sure I have another invite,” he said. “But you’re never safe. You just have to keep playing well.”

Pair of Pirates get the call

A pair of Portland Pirates, forwards Luke Adam and Colin Stuart, were summoned by the parent Buffalo Sabres, Monday, to help bolster the injury riddled club.

For Adam, the Pirates leading scorer, it’s his third call up, while Stuart, who previously saw big league time with the Atlanta Thrashers, is making his first trip to Buffalo. ”¦ The UMaine women will be making their annual downstate appearance tonight, when they’ll meet the University of New Hampshire at the Colisee in Lewiston. Good seats are said to be available for that clash. The team will also take part in a girls hockey clinic, to be held Wednesday morning (9:30-11 a.m.), also at the Colisee. There is still room for those wishing to attend. Interested coaches and players should contact Danika Lamontagne at 783-2009 ext. 202. There is a $10 fee per participant. ”¦ The high school season gets underway in earnest on Friday, when the Biddeford girls will open their third varsity campaign against Scarborough.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.