University of Maine hockey linemates and seniors Taylor Makar and Nolan Renwick are heading west to begin their professional careers in the American Hockey League.
The AHL is one notch below the National Hockey League.
Left winger Makar was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round (220th overall pick) in 2021 and will play for the Colorado Eagles while center Renwick, who is undrafted, signed a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and will play for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
They both signed amateur tryout contracts for the remainder of this year and will be under contract for the 2025-26 season as well.
Makar’s brother, Cale, is an NHL All-Star defenseman with the Avalanche and has won the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s best defenseman.
Both are looking forward to their opportunities.
“I’m very excited. It’s an opportunity to get better, meet new people and play more hockey,” said the six-foot-three, 212-pound Renwick who added that it was sad saying goodbye to friends and teammates.
Makar said he is “one step closer” to playing with his older brother.
“There is still a lot of work to do but I’m closer to making that happen and it would be a dream come true, for sure,” said the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Makar.
Both are 24 years old and are coming off career seasons for Hockey East tournament champion Black Bears, who had their season ended with a 5-1 loss to Frozen Four team Penn State in the Allentown Regional last Friday night.
Makar, who transferred to UMaine after spending three seasons at UMass, set single-season personal bests for goals (18), assists (12), game-winning goals (6), power play goals (2), shorthanded goals (2) and shots on goal (100).
He had 12 goals in his last 16 games.
He led the team in game-winning goals and tied for the lead in shorthanded goals.
He was tied for the team lead in goals and second in points and he was also second in plus-minus behind Renwick at plus-24. Renwick was plus-25.
Players receive a plus-one if they are on the ice when their team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal and a minus-one if the opponent scores one.
Makar had 15 goals and 7 assists in 85 career games at UMass.
Renwick, an alternate captain for the Black Bears, had a career-high in points (24) and assists (15) and tied his career-high in goals with nine.
He scored the game-winner in double overtime to give UMaine a 4-3 victory over Northeastern in their Hockey East semifinal.
He concluded his four-year UMaine career with 24 goals and 42 assists for 66 points in 132 games.
Both said playing at UMaine prepared them very well for their pro careers.
“It was huge for me,” said Makar. “I learned a lot from the coaching staff and was able to turn myself into more of a power forward.”
He said getting the opportunity to play on a line with Renwick and either Ross Mitton or Charlie Russell was beneficial as was playing with the rest of his teammates.
“It was awesome. I couldn’t have done it without them. Coming to Maine was a great step for me,” said Makar, a native of Calgary, Alberta.
Renwick said he is “very prepared” and feels his game should translate well to the pro game in that he can do a variety of things to help his new team, as he did for the Black Bears.
In addition to improving his on-ice skills, Renwick said playing at UMaine “really helped me with the mental side of my game.”
Renwick is from Milestone, Saskatchewan.
