enlarge Photo courtesy of University of Maine

Gustav Nyquist leads the Black Bears with nine goals and seven assists in 16 games. Left off Sweden’s junior national team, he’ll head to Florida with Maine over winter break.

COMING UP

WHO: Maine (10-5-1) vs. Colgate (4-7-3)

WHAT: First round, Florida College Classic tournament

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Estero, Fla.

ORONO — When University of Maine forward Gustav Nyquist learned he wouldn't get the chance to represent his native Sweden at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships, he admitted that, yes, he was disappointed. But then he considered the consolation prize.

"Of course, that's a dream I've had for a year now and I wanted to make the team," Nyquist said. "But it wasn't the case this time. Of course I wanted to be there, but now I get to go to Florida. That's going to be awesome."

At the same time the junior championships will be played in Ottawa, Nyquist and the Black Bears will be playing hockey in December in a much warmer climate. So Nyquist isn't complaining too much as Maine prepares for the Florida College Classic tournament in Estero, Fla. The Black Bears (10-5-1) open the tournament Dec. 27 against Colgate (4-7-3) and will face either No. 9 Cornell or St. Cloud State the following day.

Nyquist has emerged as one of Hockey East's top freshmen scorers. In 16 games, he leads the Black Bears with nine goals and seven assists and is one of the top freshman goal-scorers in the country, behind Denver's Luke Salazar (11 goals).

Nyquist said he's had few challenges in his first few months at Maine, socially and academically. But on the ice, Nyquist had to adjust to the college game.

"The game's much more physical here," Nyquist said. "I've learned a lot since I came here. You've got a lot less time with the puck when you get it but I think my linemates (Tanner House and Brian Flynn) have been helping me out a lot this year. They're a big part of my success."

Nyquist, House (five goals, five assists) and Flynn (five goals, six assists) have accounted for 35 percent of Maine's 106 total points (38 goals, 68 assists) in its first 16 games.

"What's been great is that we've been able to establish a legitimate top line with the way (they) have come together," said Maine Coach Tim Whitehead. "They work very hard, they pressure the puck consistently and relentlessly. They backcheck hard and they don't hurt us on defense. For an offensive line, that's unusual to see, especially with two freshmen."

The opposition has taken notice of the 19-year-old native of Malmo, Sweden, as he has become used to being double-teamed lately.

But Whitehead said Nyquist has been successful so far in handling the physical aspect of the college game.

"That's one of the best parts of his game, is his ability to play in traffic," Whitehead said. "He's not necessarily a physical player, in that he's running around and hitting people, but he will go in any situation with courage and win the puck. Not just go in and taking it, but winning it, coming out, and getting separation."

Flynn agreed.

"He wins every battle, every loose puck in the corners, he does a great job on the power play and he's the total package," Flynn said. "As a linemate he's really easy to play with, you give him the puck and he's going to do something with it; he'll get in the zone and create some offense from there."

A fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in this year's NHL entry draft, Nyquist was selected by an organization that is known for developing some of the NHL's top European impact players.

Jim Nill, Detroit's assistant general manager, explained that the Red Wings shifted part of their focus in player development to European prospects in the late 1990s.

But Nill said the Red Wings also don't like to rush their draft picks into their minor league system. Nyquist, he believes, is best suited right now to developing his game at the college level – a step above junior hockey, one of the proving grounds for NHL prospects, and a step below the professional level.

"He's showed that he's got good skills and that he's putting up points," Nill said. "He's got four years to play at Maine and to continue to develop. One thing we find with kids is that they've...