Since the “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid in 1980, overall interest in hockey in the United States has grown by leaps and bounds. Entering the 2015- 16 season, 23.1 percent of NHL players were U.S. born. Although the figure is an all-time high, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and Biddeford native Brian Dumoulin is the only current player who was born in Maine and just the sixth NHL player from the state in 40 years.

Defying remote odds, Dumoulin has become a stabilizing force in his first full season in Pittsburgh, leading the team in games played (67) while bringing a championship pedigree to the steel city.

Unlike most people, Dumoulin quickly found his calling by taking a liking to hockey as a youngster due to the speed and intensity of the sport. His mentor throughout his formative years was Jamie Gagnon, a former player at Biddeford High School during the 1990s. Gagnon’s guidance and support helped Dumoulin develop the necessary skills to compete at the next level.

“He was awesome,” Dumoulin said. “He did a good job making me love the game and have passion for it. He was always there off the ice for me (even if) I needed help with homework. He was a huge mentor early on and I thank him for it.”

Dumoulin followed in his mentor’s footsteps winning two championships at Biddeford High School and earned a bronze medal as an amateur in the 2011 World Junior Championships.

His winning credentials would serve him well with the Boston College Eagles where he teamed with future NHL standout Chris Kreider, who he later faced in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. “It’s always fun when you play against guys you played with in the past. Chris Kreider is a great hockey player. He’s got all of the tools and to play against him in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was a dream come true,” Dumoulin continued.

At Boston College, Dumoulin distinguished himself as he made the Frozen Four All- Tournament team in consecutive years, en route to two Division I National Championships. As Dumoulin became ready to embark on his pro career, the Carolina Hurricanes traded his rights with Brandon Sutter to the Pittsburgh Penguins for former first round selection Jordan Staal three years after being taken 51st overall in the 2009 draft.

The trade provided a fresh opportunity and a chance to develop under one of the top development staffs in the game. Spending three years at Scranton Wilkes-Barre of the AHL, Dumoulin recorded 15 goals and 63 assists in 188 games at the minor league level. Playing for future New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes, Dumoulin experienced his most complete season in 2014- 15 with 33 points in 62 games played and finished seventh in the AHL with a plus-25 showing. After playing with confidence in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the New York Rangers last spring, Dumoulin earned a one-way contract from the Penguins and became the only current NHL player born in Maine.

“Defensively, Hynes taught me what it was like to be hard on the puck and separate from the body and play quickly out of our zone. He did a good job developing me out of college,” said Dumoulin.

Last summer, Dumoulin worked diligently with Jon Hutcheon of High End Hockey in Tewskbury, Massachusetts, focusing on his transitional skating and agility before embarking on his first NHL season. Hutcheon explains that Dumoulin benefitted from extra development time in the minor leagues and was able to hone his skills.

“I think for Brian it was good to have three seasons in the AHL before becoming a full-time defenseman. He’s a mature kid and knew exactly what needed to be done to become a full-time NHL player,” said Hutcheon.

Playing for new head coach Mike Sullivan, Dumoulin has been one of the most consistent defenseman on the team, appearing in every game and bolstering the Penguins’ second defensive pairing with seasoned veteran Trevor Daley, who the Penguins acquired earlier this season from the Dallas Stars.

“He’s a good young player who has grown both on offense and defense. I think he can help us in both areas. He’s a big kid who is positionally sound and has a high intellect, which allows him to read plays well and defend,” Sullivan said of Dumoulin.

Entering the season, some were uncertain whether Dumoulin would have an established role behind veteran defensemen Kris Letang, Olli Maata, and Ian Cole. Despite his youth, Dumoulin has used his 6-foot-4 frame to defend in his own zone and offer ample protection in front of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. After a rough start to the season, the Penguins have found themselves back in familiar territory, sitting 7th in the Eastern Conference playoff picture as Dumoulin grows into a seasoned veteran with the poise and determination of a man who defies long odds and comes out on top.