Dumoulin makes triumphant return to Maine

PORTLAND — For many of the 5,527 in attendance at the Cumberland County Civic Center for Saturday night’s Portland Pirates game the 4-3 loss in overtime was a letdown. But for a couple dozen hockey fans, it was a memorable game. That’s because on the away bench, suited up for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, was Biddeford’s own Brian Dumoulin.

Saturday was Dumoulin’s first game in Maine as a professional hockey player, and many family and friends ”“ including his parents, younger sister and grandparents ”“ made the trip up from Biddeford to see his home-state debut. Dumoulin received a warm reception from the crowd when his named was announced by the public address announcer.

“It’s good. Obviously when you win, it makes it that much better,” Dumoulin said of getting the chance to play in his home state again. “It’s special coming back here and playing. I played some high school hockey state championship tournaments here. And it’s just good to be back here in Maine.”

Dumoulin was in the starting defensive pairing for the Penguins, and the opening faceoff ”“ won by the Penguin’s Zach Sill ”“ found the stick of the former Biddeford Tiger. Dumoulin’s first shift lasted just 50 seconds, but he said it was enough time to calm some of his nerves.

“(There’s) always a little bit of jitters when you come back home. You want to perform well and do well,” he said. “But it was nice for us to get the win in front of them.”

It’s been a solid, if unspectacular first professional season for Dumoulin, who was accustomed to personal and team success during his three seasons at Boston College. He has played in 57 games for the Penguins, more than any other defenseman on the team, but has the lowest plus/minus on the team with a -12 rating, impressive for a first-year player. However, the plus/minus rating has a lot to do with how many games he has played compared with his teammates. The Penguins have given up the second-fewest goals in the American Hockey League, and have the stingiest penalty kill.

It was in that situation that Dumoulin saw plenty of action. The Pirates went on the power play six times and scored just one goal, for which Dumoulin was on the bench. In total, he saw 19:19 of ice time, and had a -1 plus/minus rating, as the Pirates scored in a 4-on-4 situation late in the second period.

Dumoulin has scored four goals and picked up 14 assists ”“ including two in a win Sunday at Manchester ”“ so far this season. More importantly for Dumoulin, his team is in the playoff hunt.

“It’s exciting to be part of, especially my first year in pro hockey, is having that chase, and every game meaning something,” said Dumoulin. “So it’s been awesome for me, already from the beginning, to just be put in a competitive level, and for it to be a competitive situation.”

Dumoulin said there have been growing pains this season, which can be expected from a player making the jump from college to the pros. But he said he is starting to settle in and get accustomed to the rigors of a pro hockey season.

“Each and every day, more, yeah,” Dumoulin said about getting comfortable. “But there’s always things that I can improve upon, and work on, and get better at.”

It was Dumoulin’s first time playing on the Civic Center ice since his Biddeford High hockey team won a Western Maine Class A final in 2008. He said having won big games at the Civic Center before made Saturday’s win that much more memorable. As did having a rather large cheering section for an opposing player.

“It was really exciting. This was the first time that a lot of people got to see me playing pro, or even since college. It’s very exciting for me to come back and play, and to do well,” said Dumoulin. “And to have their support was very touching, very meaningful, and to see that many people come out and watch me is awesome, and I couldn’t be more happy.”

Dumoulin’s return trip to Portland isn’t too far into the future, as the Penguins return to play Portland this Saturday.

Sign In: