University of Maine head coach Red Gendron got a tip from a friend about a goalie playing in the USHL. He had to go and see what this kid was all about.

At the time, little did he know that Jeremy Swayman would soon be a program-changing goalie for Maine.

“We were hopeful, but there’s no guarantees, right? We knew he was good because we had seen him play a fair amount,” Gendron told Hockey Buzz. “We were pretty excited, it looked like he was going to be a good one and that’s how exactly how it turned out.”

Swayman arrived to Maine and immediately made an impact, appearing in 31 games as a true freshman.

“He was very mature right from the beginning and knew what he wanted to do—wanted to be a great player and was willing to do the work that was required,” said Gendron.

In total, Swayman played in 100 games across three seasons for the Black Bears. He went 47-34-18, had a 2.51 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.

“He’s a very competitive kid, he holds himself to a real high standard. He’s driven to be the best. When he doesn’t perform up to his very high standards, he doubles down on his effort,” said Gendron. “He spends time thinking about what he needs to do to be better. He’s very good that way.”

Swayman’s arrival in Orono turned things around for the Black Bears who had 19 combined wins in the two years before Swayman’s freshman year.

“The athleticism was undeniable. His ability to get across one side of the rink to another to make a save on those passes across the good ice,” said Gendron.

“His tracking, tracking of the puck, ability to read plays, how good he was at fighting through traffic to see pucks and get his body in front of it. All of those things that relate to this physical game were pure.”

Swayman’s best year on campus came in 2019-20 which also was Maine’s best season since 2011-12.

Leading the Black Bears to an 18-11-5 record, Swayman was named recipient of the Mike Richter award, awarded annually to college hockey’s top Division-1 goalie. He had a 2.07 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.

He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker award.

“He worked his tail off with the on-ice stuff and worked his tail off to keep right, always looking for an edge everywhere he could find it,” said Gendron. “As a coach, when you see that happen, you feel good.”

No one knew it at the time, but Swayman’s final game as a student-athlete came on Mar. 6, 2020. The junior goalie had just pitched a 48-save shutout against Providence and in the process clinched home-ice advantage for their Hockey East playoff series against the University of Connecticut.

It was one of the more important night’s in Swayman’s college career, but his focus wasn’t on what he did, instead focusing on a bigger accomplishment.

“He just pitched a 48-save shutout against a real good hockey team and was the difference in the game, we didn’t play well in that game. When the game was over he came out in the hallway outside of the locker room and this was something I didn’t even know. I said ‘Jeremy, unbelievable job,’ and he’d been on a run, had three shutouts in the last five games of the season—something like that,” said Gendron

“And he said ‘hey coach, congratulations.’ [I said] ‘you’re the one that did the job,” and he goes ‘you got your 100th win tonight, I’m happy for you.’ I didn’t know, I don’t look at that [stuff].”

Unfortunately for Swayman and the Black Bears, they never got to see how things would have played out. Days after Swayman’s shutout, the world was flipped upside down by COVID-19, canceling the Hockey East playoffs, and ensuing NCAA Tournament.

“Of course we all dream about the what ifs. Our team was ranked 14th in the country after that game and we were in position where we had given ourselves a chance at the NCAA Tournament as well as having home ice in the Hockey East Tournament,” said Gendron. “All things that are pretty special. From time-to-time I do think about it.”

With the season canceled, Swayman signed his entry level contract with the Bruins, the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Swayman made his professional hockey debut with the Providence Bruins this season where through nine games he’s 8-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.

With Tuukka Rask sidelined with a back injury, and Jaroslav Halak landing on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list, Swayman has been forced into a temporary NHL role.

Making his NHL debut Monday in Philadelphia, Swayman looked nothing like a 22-year old goalie with less than 10 games of professional hockey under his belt.

“He’s a person that’s humble and grateful for all the things that have come his way. When you have an attitude of gratitude, it’s a little easy to enjoy life and it was obvious the other night he was enjoying life,” Gendron said.

Swayman made 40 saves in total, 25 in the first period. Swayman was back between the pipes for the Bruins again on Thursday, this time making 31 saves.

“He’s a pro. Every kid that plays hockey can have an NHL attitude, you don’t have to have any talent, none to have an NHL attitude,” said Gendron.

“What that means is professionalism, preparation, sacrifice and putting your hockey ahead of certain other things—take care of your business. Not many people can bring themselves to that point—Jeremy Swayman had an NHL attitude long before he played the other night.”

Even last year playing in front of a much improved Black Bears team, most nights Swayman saw a lot of rubber. Three times in his college hockey career Swayman had nights with 50 or more saves.

“And with that kind of attitude, whether he sees 25 shots or he sees 50, he’s in it to win it and he’s going to be prepared,” said Gendron. “A lot of it has to do with the work he does on preparing his own mind.”

Gendron's first coaching gig came in 1979 when he was named assistant coach to Albie Brodeur at his alma mater, Berlin High School. He’s seen a lot of players come and go, some going on to success at higher levels including the AHL and NHL.

To this day, seeing his former players—like Swayman—find success at the game’s highest level feels just as good as it did in ’79.

“For me personally, I feel great joy,” said Gendron.

“When kids sit in my office in the recruiting process and we talk about the prospect of them coming to Maine, and we ask them what their dreams are in hockey, what their goals are in hockey, they tell you they want to play in the National Hockey League.”

It’s nice to know that in his final days, Gendron found joy in Swayman’s success.

*Updated 3:10 PM

Shortly after posting this blog, word broke that coach Gendron unexpectedly passed away Friday morning at the age 63 while golfing. Condolences to his family, friends and the entire hockey family at the University of Maine.

Join the Discussion: » 2 Comments » Post New Comment

» The End of an Era?

» Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman in Game 7?

» Home Not So Sweet Home

» Bruins Depth On Full Display In Sunrise Sweep

» Bruins Drop Game 2 After Ugly Performance