BOSTON — As the social hour wound down, Jimmy Howard stood in a windowed corner of the Royal Sonesta with a Maine media relations representative. Somewhere else in the room, head coach Tim Whitehead chatted with New Hampshire coach Dick Umile. That was the entire Maine contingent at the annual Hockey East Awards banquet. It’s a good thing that Howard decided to show up.
Thanks to a blazing start and consistent play as the season wound down, Howard was selected as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year on Thursday to go along with his selection to the All-Rookie team.
“This is a great feeling,” said Howard. “It would be better if we were all down here to play in the games this weekend, and to me that’s more important. But don’t get me wrong, these awards are nice, too.”
Other Maine players honored were forward Martin Kariya (All-Hockey East First Team/Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award), defenseman Francis Nault (All-Hockey East First Team), Lucas Lawson (All-Hockey East Second Team) and Cliff Loya (Old Time Hockey Defensive Defenseman of the year). Howard was the only player in attendance.
“I’ve been saying this from the beginning,” said Whitehead. “The reason Jimmy has been so good is because he has been consistent in everything that he does. His biggest strength is his focus. His is in a tough position to jump into, especially as a true freshman.”
As to his apparent struggles down the stretch, Howard isn’t too worried.
“That first part of the season, I was getting bounces off of legs that would go wide or into the corners,” said Howard. “Now they are coming in on me in the net and some of them are getting by. These awards and things are great, but I’d rather be on a winning team that lose and get a bunch of awards.”
Despite being bounced in the first round of the Hockey East tournament, the Black Bears will be making a trip to the NCAA tournament starting in two weeks. The only question mark left is where the Bears will play their games.
“It’s a credit to the whole team to see all of the awards they got tonight,” said Whitehead, “and without a question, we are where we are and we’re going to the NCAA’s because of our two first year goalies.”
Continuing to cast a palor over the festivities was the condition of Merrimack goaltender Joe Exter, who was hospitalized during the Warriors’ quarterfinal matchup with Boston College after colliding with headfirst with BC freshman Patrick Eaves’ knee.
All in attendance observed a moment of silence and everyone speaking, offered their thoughts to the wounded netminder. Exter received the Itech Three Stars Award and was named All-Hockey East Second Team.
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