Maine goaltender Scott Darling, suspended by the team three times in 16 months, has been dismissed from the Black Bears roster, the Portland Press Herald reported.
Coach Tim Whitehead told the Press Herald that the sophomore, a Phoenix Coyotes draft pick, planned to start a professional career.
“He’s not going to be back with the team this year,” Whitehead told the newspaper. “I’d set some guidelines for Scott to meet this spring and he was not able to follow through completely with those. Scott and I agreed that he make the move to pro hockey. It’s a new beginning for him.”
Darling was suspended for the Black Bears’ final two regular season games and the team’s five postseason games last season.
He started 26 games and appeared in 27 last season, posting a 15-6-3 record, 3.10 goals against average and .895 save percentage.
Maine is scheduled to have four goaltenders on the roster at the start of next season: sophomore Shawn Sirman, junior Josh Seeley and freshmen Dan Sullivan and Martin Ouellette.
