University of Maine recruit Devin Shore was projected to be selected in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft last weekend.

The Ajax, Ontario native just squeaked in as the final pick (61st overall) in the second round taken by the Dallas Stars.

“There were a ton of different emotions,” said Shore. “It was relieving, exciting and stressful. It was an incredible feeling to hear my name called. At the same time, it opened my eyes that there’s so much work to do, but it was good to kick back one week and enjoy the fun.”

The 6-0, 194-pound, left winger has followed up a 58 point (29 goals, 29 assists) regular season campaign with the Whitby Fury of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, adding six goals, 22 assists for 28 points in the playoffs.

He also played for Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge where he had two goals and four assists in four games as he won a silver medal.

“He’s a talented young player who has a good future ahead of him,” said Dallas Stars’ Director of Player Personnel Les Jackson. “Going to Maine will be good for him. He has some things to work on and I think that’s a good program for him to advance.”

As the highest rated Tier II Junior “A” player currently playing in one of the 11 Canadian Junior Hockey League’s heading into the draft, Shore was glad to be the first CJHL player selected.

“I didn’t pay attention to all those lists, but it was a huge honor to be the first Tier II player taken,” Shore said. “At the end of the day, as a player going the college route, it doesn’t matter where you are selected. Just get that foot in the door and it’s what you do after the next few years.”

Playing in the OJHL allowed Dallas just to focus on Shore during the season when they scouted him.

“It was pretty simple,” Jackson said of scouting Shore. “It was easy to see his attributes were and how he expressed his game. With the different levels (of junior hockey) it’s sometimes challenging, but we have (scouts) who have a history watching guys at different levels and get a feel how (a certain player) impacts the game. He’s one of those players that impacted the game every time we went there.”

“It was really easy to notice his talents and attributes.”

Throughout the season there has been speculation the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League will make an attempt to sign him and forgo attending Maine by signing with the major junior team.

“There was definitely the pressure,” said Shore on potentially going to Barrie. “My decision to go the college wasn’t a decision that I made overnight. In the back of my mind, I remain confident in the decision I made was the best for me.”

The Stars won’t sway his decision to stay home in Ontario.

“We find with players who have a passion to play. It doesn’t matter where they play,” Jackson said. “If they have desire to be players they will find their way (to the NHL). That wasn’t a factor one way or another. He’s committed to Maine and we are cool with that. I think it’s a good opportunity. Maine has a good history developing players.”

The second Maine recruit to get drafted Saturday was Ben Hutton, who spent this season with the Kemptville 73′s and Nepean Raiders of the Central Canadian Hockey League. He had 11 goals and 32 assists in 57 games. He added five goals and eight in 18 games with the Raiders.

He was also a teammate of Shore at the World Junior “A” Challenge where he had a goal and two assists in four contests.

NOTES: Ryan Cloonan, a 2014 Maine recruit, is taking part in USA Hockey’s National Select 17′s this week. He has two assists in three games. Winthrop native and uncommitted Mark Dufour has no points in three games.

B.J. Salerno, a 2013 or 2014 recruit will be playing for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League this upcoming year. He had seven goals and 18 assists in 46 games with the North York Rangers of the OJHL this season. He will be joined by 2013 recruit Eric Schurhamer in Waterloo. Cloonan and Ryan Pecararo are both scheduled to play in Waterloo in the 2013-‘14 season.