Transfer Djurasevic shines for Maine men's hockey team

The University of Maine men's hockey team has found success this season thanks to key transfer players. Among them is sophomore defenseman Frank Djurasevic. He came to Maine from Merrimack and has made a significant impact on both defense and offense. Djurasevic has scored seven goals and provided 20 assists, totaling 27 points. This is the most points by a Maine defenseman in a season since 2013-14. He recently contributed in a big way during a quarterfinal game, scoring a goal and an assist in a 7-1 victory over UMass Lowell. Djurasevic expressed his happiness with his decision to transfer, stating it has exceeded his expectations. Maine will compete against Northeastern in the Hockey East semifinal. Northeastern has a few players with local ties, including captain Jack Williams, who hails from Biddeford. Williams is the leading scorer for his team and has performed well against Maine this season. Regardless of the outcome in the tournament, Hockey East is expected to have strong representation in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Six teams from the conference are currently ranked in the top 11, and a seventh team, Northeastern, could also qualify. This scenario could lead to a record number of teams from one conference in the NCAA tournament. Hockey East recently announced its major award winners. Ryan Leonard from Boston College was named Player of the Year. Cole Hutson from Boston University received the Rookie of the Year award. Mike Cavanaugh, the UConn coach, was named Coach of the Year. Ben Barr, Maine's coach, was a finalist for this award for the second consecutive year.