"I think my team came out with the right attitude of being a defensive team first, and then the goals will come," he said. "It definitely wasn't a lone effort by me, but I think my teammates really helped me out, and it was good to get the win."
The Anchorage, Alaska, native was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week following his stellar performance against the Terriers, marking his third weekly honor of the season. He was also named Hockey East Rookie of the Week on November 20 and Hockey East Player of the Week on December 11.
"It's really nice to see that, and it's good to be recognized by the league, but it is a really high-level league, and it's a battle each weekend, so I'm taking it one game at a time," Swayman said. "Whatever it takes to get a win, that is what I am going to do. If you do get recognized, it is a plus, but I'm really just focused on getting two points each night for my team."
The 6-foot-3 netminder has been able to quickly adapt to college hockey, but he said that he was surprised by certain aspects of the game and is continuing to learn more each day.
"It is a lot faster than junior hockey, that is for sure," said Swayman, who played for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL prior to attending Maine. "Guys are bigger, more physical, and they make skilled plays when you're not expecting it.
"I think the biggest thing I have learned in college hockey is just the mental preparation. Each game is a new game. You really can't go off of your old records. If you did have a good game the night before, it really doesn't matter unless you finish the weekend. I just feel like the mental aspect of the game has been really important, and that is what I have tried to improve on."
Just one day prior to his shutout against BU, Swayman was in Buffalo, earning a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was between the pipes for the final minutes of the 9-3 win over the Czech Republic in the bronze-medal game, stopping all four shots he faced.
"It is a tremendous honor," Swayman said. "I have always wanted to put on the USA sweater, and finally getting to do it my last year of eligibility was extremely humbling, and I will never forget the experience. I feel like I have made friends and brothers for life on that team in the short time we had together."
