Orono, Maine--- University of Maine men's ice hockey coach Tim Whitehead announced on Thursday that Brian Flynn and Will O'Neill have been named captains for the 2011-2012 season. Both will be seniors for the upcoming season.
Flynn and O'Neil will replace seniors Tanner House and Jeff Dimmen. House was a two-year captain and recently signed a pro contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Dimmen was a two-year assistant captain.
Flynn has seen action in 113 career games for the Black Bears, including the last 112 consecutive games. He has 51 goals and 57 assists for 108 career points. Flynn scored a team-high 20 goals last season and dished out 16 assists for 36 points. He scored five power play goals and led the team in game-winning goals with four. Earlier this month, Flynn earned the Hockey East Len Ceglarski Award, given at the end of the season to one player in Hockey East for sportsmanship. Flynn was whistled for just four penalties for eight minutes last season.
O'Neill, a fixture on the blueline the past three seasons, has played in 101 career games. He has 16 goals and 52 assists for 68 career points. He played in 28 games this season, missing eight games with an injury. He tallied four goals and added 17 assists for 21 points.
Spencer Abbott and Mike Cornell will serve assistant captains.
This season, junior Gustav Nyquist also served as an assistant captain before signing a contract recently with the Detroit Red Wings.
Abbott has played in 112 career games with 33 goals and 51 assists for 84 career points. He saw action in all 36 games this past season and finished second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points. He lead the Black Bears with eight power play goals and also notched a pair of game-winners.
Cornell, a defenseman, has played in 55 games his first two years with the Black Bears. He has a goal and 10 assists for 11 career points. This year, Cornell played in 29 goals and scored a goal and added seven assists for eight points.
Whitehead also announced Thursday that sophomore goalie Shawn Sirman and freshman forward Kelen Corkum will not return next season.
Sirman was 4-2-3 with an .894 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average in 12 games this season. In eight games last season, Sirman was 1-6 with an .832 save percentage and a 5.19 goals-against average.
Whitehead will turn to a two-goalie system next season with Martin Ouellette and Dan Sullivan, and Josh Seeley of Howland will be the third goalie on the roster.
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