Taylor Makar joins the Black Bears after playing at one of Maine head coach Ben Barr’s previous stops at UMass.
“I have a history with Ben Barr. He recruited me to UMass before. I talked to him a lot. The other two coaches have been awesome, so I think it was the right fit for me,” said Makar, senior forward.
“We hope that he has his best year in college hockey this year. That’s the goal. Our job is to get the most we can out of him. He’s a big kid that has a ton of upside,” said Barr, head coach.
Makar is bringing a tough style to Orono.
“I’m looking to bring a power forward kind of play to this team, be a guy they can lean on (penalty kill) and power play, and just overall help the team getting us as far as we can,” said Makar.
“We’re hoping that he can be a guy that can step into that role as a power forward, hopefully,” said Barr.
His teammates are already seeing his impact in practice.
“He’s going to have a chance here to shine and show his skillset more than he might have where he was before. I think a change is good for a lot of people in some ways, and I think he’s going to take full advantage of that,” said Lynden Breen, graduate forward.
“All the freshmen and transfers that we brought in are not only great hockey players, but great people as well that really contribute positively to our culture,” said David Breazeale, senior defenseman.
Makar has learned a lot from his older brother, Cale, who’s won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.
“It’s just great learning all the little tips and tricks, always talking to each other, always grabbing something from his game,” said Makar.
Both the Makar brothers are Avalanche draft picks. Taylor explained how Maine will help his pro aspirations.
“I want to play that gritty style. We play fast here. I know in the NHL and pro it’s going to be a step up, so that’s why it’s great here,” said Makar.
Maybe someday the Makars will be on the same power play unit in the NHL.
Maine drops the puck on a new season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against American International College at Alfond Arena.
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