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UM men’s hockey is perfect in first five

By Jeff Mannix

Posted on Monday, October 27th, 2003, 12:00 am

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For just the fourth time in the program’s history, and the first since the 1999-2000 season, the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team has started a season with a 5-0-0 record. The Black Bears remained perfect by winning both games of a two-game non-conference series with the St. Lawrence Saints this weekend in Canton, N.Y., with a come-from-behind 3-2 win Friday night and a 7-2 thrashing on Saturday.

Sophomore netminder Jimmy Howard started Friday night’s game with butterflies, as a huge contingent from his hometown of Ogdensburg, N.Y., a mere 15 miles from Canton, were on hand at Appleton Arena to see him play.

Early on, Howard was not himself. He gave up a power play goal just 3:34 into the game on a tip by John Zeiler that gave the Saints a 1-0 lead. UMaine tied the score with Ben Murphy’s first of the year from Dustin Penner and Prestin Ryan at 10:39 of the first, but St. Lawrence took the lead back on another power play goal, another tip-in, this time from T.J. Trevelyan at 17:26. Howard stopped four of six shots in the first period and UMaine carried a deficit into the second.

After that, Howard settled in and didn’t allow another goal. After UMaine had an 11-6 shots advantage in the first, St. Lawrence outshot UMaine 13-12 in a scoreless second period.

In the third, though, the Black Bears played one of their better periods of the season and equalized the score early on the man advantage.

Greg Moore one-timed a Michel Leveille feed past St. Lawrence’s standout goalie Kevin Ackley to the tie the score at two just 1:28 into the third period.

UMaine got plenty of chances after that, but Ackley stymied them until late in the game, when freshman Keith Johnson netted a big goal in his second game in a Black Bear uniform.

After Jon Jankus fought to keep the puck in the Saints’ zone, Johnson found it at the point and backhanded it on net. The shot skidded through traffic and past the screened Ackley to give the Bears a 3-2 lead with just 4:57 left.

UMaine then had to kill off a penalty in the closing minutes, but Howard was up to the task, keeping UMaine undefeated. He stopped 22 shots in the win, while Ackley made 35 saves for the loss.

After being outworked in the first period Friday, UMaine answered the bell from the opening faceoff Saturday and never looked back.

The Black Bears potted three goals in the span of 5:06 in the first period. Colin Shields scored his fourth of the year at 4:44 to open the scoring, followed by Moore’s third at 7:06. Then Troy Barnes scored his first of the season on a four-on-three power play at 9:50 to make it 3-0.

Saints captain Rich Peverley got one back, beating Frank Doyle at 14:28 of the first to make it 3-1 UMaine.

St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh replaced starting goalie Ackley with junior Mike McKenna to start the second. He made plenty of key saves, as did Doyle. Things began to get out of hand in the second when Trevelyan was given five minutes and a game disqualification for hitting from behind. Junior Derek Damon scored his third of the year on the ensuing power play at 13:49 to give UMaine a 4-1 lead.

After a five-minute high sticking penalty to defenseman Mike Madill gave UMaine a two-man advantage at the start of the third, Damon cashed in again only 14 seconds in to extend the Black Bear lead. Todd Jackson then netted his fifth goal of the year at 6:12, his third shorthanded goal of the year, and the team’s fourth. Johnson capped the scoring for UMaine at 15:51. Simon Watson put one in for the Saints late to make 7-2 Black Bears. Doyle made 20 saves in net for his third win of the year.

UMaine next plays in its Hockey East opener at home Thursday night against Merrimack.