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Maine recruits offensive forward

The University of Maine men’s hockey coaching staff went after Jack Quinlivan while he was hot.

The 19-year-old forward had 15 points for the 495 Stars 18U team last weekend at the Labor Day Face-Off in Massachusetts.

Associate Head Coach Jay Leach recruited Quinlivan prior to the tournament when he visited Orono two weeks ago.

“The campus was very nice. I liked it a lot,” Quinlivan said. “I am looking to go into business for a major, and they have a very good business program. That was another add-on that really boosted my decision. I was very impressed with the community, and it was too hard to pass up.”

He also said he likes the coaching staff wants to win now, and he loves winning. His 495 Stars 18U team won the Labor Day Face-Off tournament, which hosted the top midget programs across New England. He helped Shrewsbury High School to a Division III (Mass.) State Championship in 2014 as a junior.

Hockey East rival UMass-Lowell and Army were also interested in his services. He also had interest from Amherst College and Wesleyan College, which are Division III schools that play in NESCAC.

Shrewsbury head coach Stephen Turnblom said Jack is a hard-working kid.

“He’s a kid that works very hard,” Turnblom said. “He’s one of those kids that applies himself in the offseason. When I heard the news, I said ‘if anyone deserves this he does because he really works hard.”

With Shrewsbury High School, he had 14 goals and 25 assists in 22 games this past season. Turnblom said Quinlivan was a factor in all four seasons with the Colonials.

For the upcoming season, he’s attending Albany Academy in Albany, N.Y. which plays in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. Depending on how the season goes he will either join the Black Bears in 2016. If he doesn’t join the Black Bears in 2016, he plans to play a year of juniors either in the USHL or the BCHL and join Maine in 2017.

“This past year, I played Division III high school hockey in Massachusetts, this is a big step up for me,” Quinlivan said. “I think prep hockey is only going to make a better hockey player. The sky is the limit for me.”

He credits Albany Academy coach Brett Riley for getting him looks at colleges this summer. He chose a year of prep school hockey over juniors this season because he wanted to stay in the classroom, and he liked what direction the hockey program at Albany Academy was going in.

His biggest strengths are his shooting and skating skills.

“I am a really good skater, and I have a really quick shot, coach Leach said,” Quinlivan said. “I have quick hands so in the corners. I can move around well and find open guys. I am a two-way player, I just don’t play offense, I like to play defense that Maine really looks at two-way players. They like complete hockey players.

Quinlivan, who stands at 6-feet-0, 175 pounds, will look at getting bigger and stronger this season

“One thing he still needs to work on is when to move the puck,” Turnblom said. “He was such a good player with us, and his skill level was above a lot of (players). He could take (the puck) past (players). I think when he plays against better players, he will learn to move the puck a little more – get to open ice and get it back to be more of a threat. We tried to get him to do that last year in his season year, and he was coming around. I think that’s the biggest thing, and I think the coaches will help with that.”

Quinlivan’s commitment to the University of Maine contingent upon being accepted into the school and meeting NCAA eligibility requirements.

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