GORHAM – Dan Sullivan could have wallowed, and he could have asked why he was the one to get hurt and not someone else. He could have questioned what the cost of being injured and losing playing time really was.
Instead, Sullivan committed himself to returning to the University of Maine men’s hockey lineup. The freshman goalie admitted that in the wake of a knee injury that forced him to sit out seven games, he had internal doubts.
Additional Photos
But Jon Swavely, a freshman center and Sullivan’s roommate, saw what Sullivan did to commit to returning.
“Just like anybody else, he wanted to be out there really bad, helping the team,” Swavely said. “He was completely dedicated to coming back stronger, and getting better and getting healthier. To see him come back and be stronger and better as a goalie, it inspired the whole team. It really motivates the rest of us to protect him.”
Sullivan’s return wasn’t immediately smooth; he gave up three goals on six shots before being pulled in a 7-2 loss Feb. 11 to Vermont. But in the following five games, Sullivan re-established himself as Maine’s No. 1 goalie.
The 22-year-old from York, Pa., has helped the No. 14 Black Bears to five straight wins. Last weekend he set the school record for consecutive shutout time at 202 minutes, 48 seconds.
Sullivan is second in Hockey East with a 2.28 goals-against average in 17 games, and is expected to be in goal tonight when Maine finishes the regular season with a two-game series at Massachusetts.
“We all have a lot of confidence in Dan,” Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said. “He plays with a lot of composure, a lot of poise, and he doesn’t get rattled. He’s great at making the first save, and remains calm in making the second and third saves. I’ve been really impressed with how he carries himself.”
The Black Bears need to maintain their momentum, not just for the playoffs but for potential playoff seeding.
“It’s going to be about consistency,” Sullivan said. “Staying focused and playing the way we’ve played over the past couple weekends. The defensive efforts have really won us some games.”
Even with the start of the Hockey East playoffs a week away, Sullivan is prioritizing the final weekend of the regular season.
“The most important thing, whether it matters or not, is to try to win both of those games,” said Sullivan, who is 9-5-1. “Those are going to be important games as far as trying to keep rolling.”
After injuring his knee prior to Maine’s 4-3 overtime victory Jan. 14 against Providence, Sullivan was confined to watching games from the stands.
That, he said, was difficult.
Over the course of nearly a month, missing practice each day for another round of treatment wasn’t easy, either. But Sullivan gained a new appreciation for his time on the ice.
“Maybe that experience he had helped him out,” left wing Brian Flynn said.
“He’s really taken care of himself down this last stretch.”
Maine is in fifth place in Hockey East with 30 points, three behind fourth-place Merrimack and four behind third-place Boston University.
The Black Bears can finish as high as third or remain in fifth, pending the outcome of this weekend’s games.
But it’s no coincidence that the Black Bears are playing some of their strongest hockey right now.
In addition to Sullivan’s return, Maine has recommitted itself to team defense and to a more strategic team offense, factors that make Sullivan’s responsibilities a little easier.
In Sullivan’s last four games, Maine is averaging 4.5 goals, 37.8 shots on goal and has held its two opponents — UMass-Lowell and Merrimack — to one goal on 82 shots.
“Coming down the final stretch for the playoffs, it’s important to have one guy that you’re going to stick with for the remainder of the season, and he’s been the guy to step up,” Flynn said.
“He’s just really consistent. You pretty much know what you’re going to get every night with him and he’s not going to let in a weak goal. You need a guy like that.”
Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be reached at 791-6415 or at:
rlenzi@pressherald.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story