The University of Maine hockey team enters the Christmas break on a five-game unbeaten streak in large part due to the stellar goaltending of freshman Jeremy Swayman.
Over the last three games, all wins, Swayman has stopped 134 of the 143 shots he’s faced. He stopped 95 shots during this past weekend’s sweep at Quinnipiac, including 50 in Friday’s comeback victory.
“It’s tough when you only have two to three shots a period and then all of a sudden you get bombarded. Having consistent rubber the whole game helps me. With my mental game, I just try to take it one shot at a time. Seeing a lot of rubber helps me stay in the game,” said Swayman.
After a rocky first collegiate outing, it’s been a steady climb for the Anchorage, Alaska, native who now holds a .927 save percentage for the Black Bears, a program that hasn't been above .500 at the semester break since the 2013-14 season.
“Coming from the beginning of the season, it’s been an upward slope for the rest of the team and me. It’s a team effort the whole way through. Seeing my guys compete as hard as they do, it makes me elevate my level of play,” Swayman explained.
Swayman, who is 7-3-1 as the starter, has the afforded luxury of working with assistant coach Alfie Michaud, a former Maine goaltender and 1999 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player who is in his first year as a full-time member of the Black Bear staff.
“I can’t speak enough about him. He’s been so beneficial to my game. I cannot thank him enough,” Swayman began. “We have a phenomenal relationship. Everything I ask he answers with great detail. It’s helped me coming into the college atmosphere.”
Swayman, who came straight to Orono as a true freshman out of Sioux Falls in the USHL, credits Michaud with improving his fundamentals, particularly staying quieter in the crease.
“He’s helped me simplify the game. He noticed I used to make erratic and unnecessary movements. He’s helped me read plays a lot better and communicate with my defense more to eliminate backdoor passes,” Swayman said.
“It’s helped the rest of the team and me shut down key scoring chances. It’s helped my mental game along with my physical play,” he continued.
Swayman stands at 6-feet-2, which is a benefit in the modern era of hockey where goalies now seemingly take up much of the net when they’re down in the butterfly.
“I’m an athletic goalie,” said Swayman of his style. “I challenge the puck when it’s necessary. I read plays pretty well. I use my size to my advantage especially for long shots and I try to use my athleticism to get to backdoor plays.”
As is the case with most good young hockey players, Swayman tries to pick up pointers from elite goaltenders at the NHL level.
“(Washington Capitals goalie) Braden Holtby has been a big role model to me. I love how he sees the play and how his movements are. His skating is a strong point to his game which I like to emulate. He has a lot of athleticism,” Swayman explained.
“Going into the next level, I’ve learned to learn from a lot of goalies. I look at (Boston Bruins goalie) Tuukka Rask with his flexibility and athleticism. I look at (Los Angeles Kings goalie) Jonathan Quick with his aggressive style,” added Swayman.
The past few years have been a quick ascension for Swayman. He went from playing midget and high school hockey in Alaska to joining the Pikes Peak Miners for the 2015-16 season. It’s where he first was noticed by the USHL with Sioux Falls drafting him that May.
He was still uncommitted until his hot start with the Stampede to begin the 2016-17 campaign. That’s when the Black Bears offered him a scholarship and a spot on the team for this season.
His continued strong play earned him recognition from NHL scouts. He was ultimately drafted in the fourth round of this past summer’s NHL draft by the Boston Bruins.
“It was a surreal experience. Every year I’ve really had a plan to get to that next level. Going into the year in my USHL season a big goal of mine was to get drafted,” said Swayman.
“I’m not satisfied yet because I’m not where I want to be at yet. It’s one season at a time. It’s a big goal of mine to get to the next level,” he added.
After being selected in June, Swayman attended the Bruins Development Camp in July, an experience that is still helping him this season.
“I learned so much. Bob Essensa, the goalie coach, really helped me a lot. He critiqued a couple of things that I use today in my game. All the coaching staff welcomed me with open arms,” Swayman explained.
“It was awesome being with the highly competitive and talented players that are part of the Bruins organization. Being around a NHL style of life was an extremely cool experience. I came out of that camp wanting it even more,” Swayman continued.
With professional hockey seemingly in his future, Swayman is continuing to earn accolades. He is one of three goaltenders to make the preliminary roster for the U.S. World Junior Championship team that will take to the ice later this month in Buffalo.
Swayman could be well on his way to joining the likes of Garth Snow, Mike Dunham, Jimmy Howard, Ben Bishop and Scott Darling -- all former Black Bears in the fraternity of NHL goaltenders.
