ORONO, Maine — Former men's hockey forward Blaine Byron will join the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL next season after inking a deal with the affiliate for the NHL's Florida Panthers on Friday. With Byron's signing, all three seniors from Maine's 2016-17 squad have signed with professional teams.
 
Cam Brown and Eric Schurhamer, who both got a taste of professional hockey immediately following the end of the 2016-17 season, have also signed deals for the upcoming 2017-18 season.
 
In 145 career games, Byron scored 46 goals and 62 assists for 108 points. As a senior in 2016-17, the assistant captain averaged 1.14 points per game on the strength of team-leading and career-highs in goals (18), assists (23) and points (41). Byron was drafted in 2013 by the Pittsburgh Penguins but opted to become a free agent on Aug. 16.
 
Brown recently signed with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The captain played in 146 games for the Black Bears, totaling 106 points on 23 goals and 83 assists. Brown's team-leading 35 assists this past season placed him third overall in Hockey East. Brown got a taste of professional ice hockey immediately following the season, signing on with the ECHL's Adirondack Thunder and playing in 13 games while racking up 10 points on two goals and eight assists.
 
Schurhamer, who served as an assistant captain last season, recently re-signed with the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL. The defenseman played 12 games with the Los Angeles King affiliate last spring, netting one goal and two assists for three points. In 126 career games for the Black Bears, the St. Paul, Minn., native accrued 43 points and 10 goals for 33 assists.   
 
-UMaine-