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The challenges keep rolling in for the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team. Last weekend, the Black Bears had to go to Boston for games at Northeastern University, where they have struggled over the past few seasons, and at seventh-ranked Boston University.
UMaine (8-1-1, 3-0-0 Hockey East) won both games convincingly, but they will face another stiff challenge this weekend when they host the second-ranked University of New Hampshire Wildcats at Alfond Arena Friday night at 7 p.m.
One of the major reasons for the Black Bear’s success last weekend was the changing of all four forward line combinations.
“Sometimes you make switches in lines and they work, and sometimes they don’t. We were fortunate. We tweaked the lines at the right time, and they were successful,” head coach Tim Whitehead said. “We anticipated that [the old line combinations] might be getting a little stale.”
The line combos all season had been similar to what they were at the end of last season. A 1-0 win against UMass Nov. 9 prompted the line changes to generate more offense, and it worked.
Junior Colin Shields, who played with sophomore Ben Murphy (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points) and senior Robert Liscak during the weekend, still leads the team in goals with nine. He is tied for second in points with Liscak, who has three goals and nine assists for 12 points. Senior Martin Kariya, teamed with senior Lucas Lawson (4-5-9) and captain Chris Heisten (8-2-10) last weekend, is the team scoring leader with three goals and 12 assists for 15 points.
All three blueline combinations remained the same from the previous week. Those have junior Francis Nault with sophomore Troy Barnes, senior Cliff Loya teamed with freshman Travis Wight, and junior Prestin Ryan next to
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sophomore Matthew Deschamps.
UMaine’s only significant injury of the weekend was to sophomore goalie Frank Doyle, who pulled a calf muscle during the first period of Friday’s game at Northeastern. He decided not to play at the start of the second period.
“[Doyle] made a very good team decision to not go out there,” Whitehead said. “It’s one thing if a forward or a defenseman goes out and tries [to test an injury] for a few shifts, but it’s another thing if a goalie does.”
Whitehead expected Doyle to be practicing again by Wednesday, and said he should be ready to play Friday night. Whitehead will decide whether to start Doyle or freshman Jimmy Howard in net after today’s practice.
The second-ranked UNH Wildcats (7-1-2, 5-1-1 Hockey East), coached by Dick Umile, are riding a five-game winning streak. UNH is coming off a 3-2 overtime win Tuesday night at No. 1 Boston College, who was previously unbeaten. Sophomore forward Sean Collins (7-1-8) scored the game-winner the extra session.
UNH suffered a huge loss during the game though, when senior forward Colin Hemingway (7-9-16) was handed a one-game suspension. He was given a game disqualification penalty for fighting with Boston College freshman Patrick Eaves.
The Wildcats are loaded on offense. Senior Lanny Gare (6-13-19) is the team’s leading scorer. Other key players up front are Collins, junior Steve Saviano (2-8-10) and senior Jim Abbott (2-6-8).
The defense returns everyone from last year’s team, which was rated the best defense in Hockey East. Junior Tim Horst (3-4-7) is coming into his own this year. He will lead the experienced group that includes senior Kevin Truelson and juniors Mike Lubesnick and Mick Mounsey.
Junior Mike Ayers has played every game in goal so far this season. He is 7-1-2, with a 2.06 goals against average, a .932 save percentage and two shutouts.
“We welcome the challenge,” Whitehead said. “We’re ready for it. We’re anxious to play these Hockey East games. We know that UNH is going to be hungry, not only to make up for the end of last year, but they’re a real good team and they want to come here and make a statement.”
