Maine freshman Colin Shields has been declared ineligible for the season as a result of a standard eligibility check by the school’s compliance office.
While playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) last year, Shields briefly took full-time course work at a junior college. This rendered him a transfer student under NCAA rules and therefore subject to a one-year waiting period.
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Shields was expected to be the Black Bears’ top freshman after leading the NAHL in scoring. He remains enrolled at Maine and continues to practice with the team. He will become eligible at the start of next season.
“It’s tough to lose a kid of that caliber,” said Maine interim head coach Gene Reilly. “But this is hockey — you move on.”
USCHO arena reporter Jim Leonard contributed to this story.
