Maine Hockey: Pecararo reinstated after temporary suspension

Orono, Maine -- University of Maine head coach Red Gendron had suspended freshman forward Liam Pecararo from the men's hockey program temporarily, but has reinstated the Canton, Mass. native to the team.

Update/Retraction: The original reporting of this story was not completely accurate. Pecararo is back with the team after having been suspended temporarily and prevented from participating in team activities for a certain period. I apologize to Liam and the University of Maine hockey program for reporting his suspension as something more than it was.

"Liam was temporarily suspended from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules," said Gendron.

Pecararo was originally recruited by Dan Kerluke and Tim Whitehead during the prior regime's tenure in Orono, but remained on board once Gendron took over. Pecararo had three goals and six assists in 25 games, but had been a healthy scratch since the Notre Dame game on Feb. 7.

A product of Tim Lovell's Boston Advantage youth program, Pecararo played for two seasons with P.K. O'Handley's Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL. His game flourished in his second year in the top junior league in North America. He had 24 goals and 51 assists for 75 points in 66 games, including the post-season. Waterloo had the best record in the USHL during the regular season and lost in the USHL Clark Cup Finals to the Indiana Ice.

The Black Bears trail the University of Vermont 1-0 in the best-of-three Hockey East first round series that began in Burlington last night. Maine had a third period lead thanks to a Will Merchant power play goal 6:55 into the final period. However, the Catamounts stormed back with three unanswered goals to take the game, 4-2. Game two is tonight at 7 p.m.

--

Jeff Cox covers college, junior, high school and prep hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on Twitter @JeffCoxSports.