Even the most ardent supporters of the Maine Mariners will need to keep a roster handy early in the season. The Mariners began practice for the upcoming ECHL season Tuesday morning at Troubh Arena with a number of new players.
Gone is defenseman and team captain Connor Doherty, who signed with the Florida Everblades this summer, the three-time defending ECHL champion. Also gone to the Everblades is forward Alex Kile, who led the Mariners with 37 goals and 46 assists in 67 games last season. Seven of the top 10 scorers from last season have moved on, and Coach Terrence Wallin is eager to see how the retooled roster comes together.
“Something we were worrying about throughout the offseason was to get this new look, to get these fresh faces, get some fresh blood. We wanted to rebuild the infrastructure, honestly. So a lot of it was intentional,” Wallin said. “We’re looking forward to and excited about the guys who will rise to the top. We’ve signed guys who have been captains in a lot of different places, so I don’t think leadership will be an issue.”
The Mariners open the season at Cross Insurance Arena on Friday, Oct. 18 against the Wheeling Nailers. Maine is coming off a season in which it went 32-32-8 and placed fourth in the ECHL’s North Division, losing a seven-game series to the Adirondack Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Wallin, who is also the Mariners’ general manager, doesn’t feel like the cupboard was left bare by the roster changes. Forward Brooklyn Kalmikov had 21 goals and 28 assists last season. Owen Pederson, who was assigned to the Mariners out of the Providence Bruins camp Tuesday, had 13 goals and 12 assists last season. Wyllum Deveaux, who was invited to camp last season and was a longshot to make the team, had 13 goals and 11 assists.
“Expectations have definitely changed. I think definitely voids to fill, leadership-wise, from last year. A lot of key pieces left, but I think it’s exciting. For me, nothing really changes. I’m just going to keep being my best self every day,” said Deveaux, who played a pair of AHL preseason game this fall with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Springfield Thunderbirds.
Wallin also pointed to Patrick Guay, who had 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 25 games with the Savannah Ghost Pirates last season, as a potential offensive threat. Carter Johnson and Nick Jermain return to the Mariners after playing in Europe last season. Johnson had 15 goals and 33 assists in 72 games with Maine and Wheeling in the 2022-23 season, and Jermain had six goals in 24 games with the Mariners in 2022-23.
Johnson said he was glad he took the opportunity to play for the Dundee Stars in a British league last season, but was more glad to be back in Portland.
“It went well, but it didn’t feel like Maine. I wanted to come back here. Coach Wallin made the decision easy too. We get along great,” Johnson said. “(There’s) A lot of skill, a lot of compete here. I noticed right away the pace is high. Obviously a younger team, but everyone seems really eager.”
As for leadership, Wallin feels he has a number of players who could take on the “C” previously worn by Doherty. Along with Johnson and Deveaux, Wallin points at newcomer Christian Berger, a defenseman who was captain at Penn State last season, and forwards Christian Sarlo and Xander Lamppa, who both joined the team late last season after serving as alternate captains at Penn State with Berger.
“There’s some guys in the locker room that have been leaders. We have the entire Penn State leadership core from last season,” Wallin said.
Goalie Brad Arvanitis returns after posting a .920 save percentage and 2.71 goals-against average in 35 games last season.
“We’re going to have a good group here. This is an exciting time for all of us. We’re kind of in a new wave. It’s going to be a little bit of a test at first, but we’re going to get into shape right away and starting jelling as one,” Arvanitis said.
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