Mustangs Sign Auburn Native Feldman

Mustangs Sign Auburn Native Feldman

Auburn, ME - The Central Maine Community College ice hockey team has added some depth between the pipes for the 2019-2020 season, Mustangs head coach Matt Buotte has announced. Ben Feldman, an Auburn native who most recently tended the twine for the Maine Wild, looks to join a crease that is already loaded with talent.

Feldman posted a pair of wins and an .855 save percentage in his final year with the Wild. Prior to playing juniors he had excelled at Edward Little High School in Auburn, leading his team to playoff berth in his senior year in 2016-17 while posting a .903 SV%. He received honorable mention honors for Class A North that year as one of the top goaltenders in the state of Maine.

"Ben is going to add a lot of skill to our crease," said Buotte of his latest signing. "I've known Ben for a long time, working with him on and off for the better part of a decade. Adding him in with Anthony [Tilelli] and Jacob [Strout] is going to give us a very, very competitive goaltending tandem. I'm really excited to see what he's going to add to our program."

If the last name sounds familiar, it should--Feldman's father, Lane, is currently an assistant coach with the Mustangs. He says that being around the team to support his father made the decision to attend CMCC an easy one.

"I've been around the team in some form for a while now" said Feldman. "I'm pretty familiar with most of the returning guys. I've really enjoyed the campus and all of the staff that I've interacted with so far."

Feldman, who saw limited action with the Wild in 2018-19 as the team rotated six goaltenders, is itching for the opportunity for a bigger role.

"I think I can bring a lot to the team," said Feldman, looking ahead to a fresh start. "Not playing as much as I had hoped last year pushed me even harder to become a better goaltender. It also taught me to face a lot of adversity that maybe I hadn't in the past. It's made me a better person. I just want to come every day and bring my best, and hopefully some leadership as well."

Feldman plans on studying education with the hopes of becoming a history teacher. He intends to pursue a Bachelor's degree when his time in Auburn runs up. He's not looking too far ahead, however--there are games to be won in the interim.

"I can't wait to get started," said Feldman of the opportunity. "I'm really looking forward to playing under Coach Buotte again. I grew up playing for him and we've both watched each other grow up. Now playing at the collegiate level I think it can really show what both he and I have grown into."

Buotte agrees.

"Ben has a huge heart, he's a great kid," said the second year coach. "I'm honored to get to work with him again. It's very humbling when a player of Ben's quality wants to come play for your team, but I think that says a lot about where our program is headed. Ben is joining at the perfect time where his abilities on and off the ice are really going to make a difference. He'll have great opportunities here at the rink and away from it and I'm excited to watch him continue to take advantage of them."