ORONO, Maine – Forward Lynden Breen of the University of Maine men's ice hockey team has signed a contract with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hershey Bears for the 2025-26 season, as announced on Wednesday by the organization. The Bears are the top affiliate of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Washington Capitals. Breen will now join the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) for the remainder of the season.
 
Breen, a two-time captain, finished his Maine career with 115 points on 49 goals and 66 assists. The graduate student recorded seven goals and six assists in his final season as a Black Bear. He missed 16 games due to a fractured fibula and surgery before working back for the final nine games of the season. Breen, who also wore an 'A' as a junior, scored the opening goal in the 2025 Hockey East Tournament championship game to stake Maine to its first tournament title since 2004.
 
The Saint, John, New Brunswick native had a career-best .522 face-off winning percentage in 2024-5 and won 1,298 draws in his Maine career. Breen had four game-winning goals, four short-handed goals and 11 power-play goals as a Black Bear.