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The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team has passed just about every test thrown its way this season. The Black Bears have won at Northeastern University and Boston University, knocked off University of New Hampshire in overtime and survived a scare from Quinnipiac University last Tuesday night at Alfond Arena, winning 2-1 on Robert Liscak’s game-winner with just 3:39 left in the third period.
UMaine was rewarded Monday for passing all of these tests with a No. 1 national ranking from the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Coaches Poll, edging out UNH by only two points.
The Black Bears are ranked third by the U.S. College Hockey Online Poll, which ranks North Dakota (12-1-1) as the nation’s top team, with UNH (9-2-2) second.
This weekend, UMaine travels to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to put their 10-1-1 overall record, and perfect 4-0-0 Hockey East mark, to the test in a two-game series against the Boston College Eagles Friday and Saturday night at Conte Forum.
After going 8-0-1 in their first nine games, BC (9-2-1, 6-1-0 Hockey East) is now ranked third in the USA Today poll, and fourth in the USCHO poll. The Eagles have lost two of their last three, both in overtime. On Nov. 19, the Eagles dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to UNH, and last Tuesday the Eagles were shocked by Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. 5-4.
Despite BC’s recent troubles, UMaine coach Tim Whitehead knows the Eagles will provide a stiff challenge, and he sees his team as the underdog.
“It will be a great challenge,” Whitehead said. “I like the scenario of going on the road. They are a very strong team, but we will be a good opponent.”
Coach Jerry York’s Eagles bring back a wealth of talent at every position from a team that struggled to a .500 record last season.
BC’s top forward line is one of the most dangerous in the nation. It includes juniors Tony Voce (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points) and Ben Eaves (4-10-14) and Eaves’ younger brother, freshman Patrick Eaves (9-7-16). The younger Eaves is tied for the team lead in scoring and was named Hockey East Rookie of the Month for October.
see MEN’S HOCKEY page 19
BC also had many other talented forwards, including sophomores Ryan Shannon (5-11-16), Dave Spina (6-6-12) and freshman Chris Collins (3-8-11).
Defensively, the Eagles are led by junior J.D. Forrest (2-11-13). Other key players include junior Brett Peterson (3-2-5) and freshman Ben Lovejoy (0-5-5).
“They are a real talented team,” Whitehead said. “But we are a very good defensive team, and we think we match up well against them. This is an opportunity for us to show that we are every bit as good as they are.”
Part of the reason UMaine has been so good defensively is the goaltending. Freshman Jimmy Howard was honored by Hockey East Monday as both the conference Rookie and Goaltender of the Month for November. He was a perfect 5-0-0 during the month and notched two shutouts. His goals against average of 1.33 is third best in the nation, and his save percentage of .949 is second best in the nation.
Despite Howard’s fantastic play, Whitehead will stick with a goalie rotation between Howard and sophomore Frank Doyle.
“Frank’s playing very well, too,” Whitehead said. “He was hurt, so he missed a turn in the rotation. [Howard and Doyle] are both playing well, so we want them both to get as much ice time as possible.”
BC also platoons in net between senior Tim Kelleher and sophomore Matti Kaltiainen. Kelleher has played six games and is 6-0-0 with a 2.50 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and two shutouts. Kaltiainen, a fourth-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 2001, is 3-2-1 in six games with a 2.59 goals against average and an .875 save percentage.
It is Kelleher’s turn in the rotation, so Whitehead expects to see him in net Friday, though his team is preparing for both.
One change over the Thanksgiving break for UMaine was moving defenseman Paul Lynch to forward.
“We’re looking to find a way to get Paul in the lineup,” Whitehead said. “We’ve stayed relatively healthy on defense, so ice time has been tough to come by. We feel he is a very good hockey player, but he needs ice time to get better. He plays well when he’s in there, but he hasn’t seen a lot of games. We know we can put him back on defense again at a moment’s notice, we just want him to practice and get better at forward.”
Bangor Daily News