The University of Maine Black Bears men’s ice hockey team continues to rack up recruits for the 2011-2012 season.

On Wednesday, the team received a commitment from Muskegon Lumberjacks captain John Parker.

“A week and a half ago an opportunity came up to play at Maine and I was very interested, and I committed yesterday,” John Parker said on Thursday.

He was looking to spend another year in the United States Hockey League before this opportunity came up for the 19-year old.

“I was certainly looking at that option.” Parker said of spending another year in the premiere junior hockey league in the United States. “I wasn’t in a hurry to make a decision, but an offer from Maine, it’s indescribable. When that jumps in front of you, you can’t say no.”

“It’s a top program in the collegiate level and it was an easy decision for me.”

The 5’11, 185-pound forward from Greenbrook, New Jersey enjoyed his best season in the United States Hockey League in 2010-2011. After spending the previous two years with the Indiana Ice, he was picked by Muskegon in last year’s expansion draft, and had nine goals and 22 assists in 58 games.

“My first year in (Indiana) we won the Clark Cup (USHL Championship), and it was really nice to get experience,” Parker stated. I played one year in Indy after that and I moved to Muskegon in the expansion draft. Going to an expansion team I thought it would be difficult, but we did alright. We made the playoffs and we had a great year.”

“I was glad to be the captain of the Lumberjacks and having two years under my belt was good and it helped me throughout the whole year to lead the guys.”

Muskegon head coach Kevin Patrick had wave reviews of his captain.

“John Parker is a phenomenal kid,” Patrick said. “He’s an excellent young man. He was our captain this year. He came in with good experience in the USHL with his time with Indiana. For our first year as an expansion team he did a great job by leading by example, setting the standard, and setting the pace both on and off the ice.”

Parker describes himself as a defensive centerman.

“I would describe myself as a defensive-forward, who could also play both offensive and defensive.”

Patrick said he’s an all-around player.

“He can play in any type of situation,” Patrick said. “He’s a great skater, so he can play the pace, which allows him to play and be successful in a lot of different situations. He’s strong over the puck, he shoots the puck very well and he competes.”

“He saw time on our power play and our penalty kill units. He will be a key penalty killer at the next level.”

Patrick said Parker needs to get accustomed to the next level.

“One of the biggest things when you go up a level, the level of play and pace of play, things happen quicker,” Patrick stated. “Part of the adjustment is getting use to playing at the (NCAA) level with bigger and stronger players. He’s very strong and moves well, but he will be playing with players that are big and strong.”

Just like fellow USHL player and 2011 Maine recruit Stuart Higgins, Parker was highly sought after at the age of 15 and made a commitment to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for the 2010-2011 season. Parker and the Minutemen thought the best thing for both parties was to go on their own separate ways.

“We didn’t see eye-to-eye anymore and decided it would better to part ways,” Parker said. “I am just very excited to be a Black Bear.

Maine was in the running for Parker’s services when he was a young teenager.

“I visited there a couple of times,” he said. “I know Coach (Tim) Whitehead very well. When I was younger, Maine was one of the top schools I was looking at and decided to go to UMass. Maine sounds good now.”

Parker didn’t let looking for new school during the second half affect his on ice play according to Patrick.

“He was controlling the things he could and taking care of his on ice performance of being a leader,” Patrick said. “He just kept saying to me ‘I want to find the right fit. I had an opportunity and it wasn’t the right fit. I made a change and make sure I find the right fit’.”

NOTES: Former Maine forward Jim Montgomery was named USHL General Manager of the year as he guided the Dubuque Fighting Saints to the Clark Cup final which starts on Friday. He’s finishing up his first year as head coach and GM of the expansion Fighting Saints.