Sports

UM men’s hockey to take on BC, UNH

By Jeff Mannix

Posted on Nov. 06, 2003, at 12:00 a.m.

If you thought last weekend’s home date with No. 7 Boston University was a tough test for the top-ranked University of Maine men’s ice hockey team, you haven’t seen anything yet.

The challenges only get tougher as the Black Bears put their 7-0-0 record (2-0-0 Hockey East) on the line in a pair of conference road games against two top-five opponents this weekend. It starts Friday at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass., when UMaine faces the No. 5 Boston College Eagles. If that wasn’t hard enough, it will be followed up on Saturday night by a trip to the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H., where the Bears will take on the third-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats.

UMaine’s first month was arguably the best beginning month in program history as this year’s team has won the most games to start a season ever. Individual players got some recognition for helping that effort. Freshman defenseman Mike Lundin was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week as he scored his first goal for the Black Bears in Saturday’s win. The 18-year-old freshman from Apple Valley, Minn., has surprised many by how fast he has adjusted to the college game.

“It’s rare for a defenseman to get recognition,” said UMaine coach Tim Whitehead. “It’s easy to recognize the offensive guys, for obvious reasons, so I think it was good for Mike to get Rookie of the Week.”

Senior captain Todd Jackson was named the Hockey East Player of the Month for October. He scored seven goals, including four shorthanded goals, and three assists for 10 points.

“It’s always good to get recognition when you play well, especially for Jackson,” said Whitehead. “He’s hasn’t scored a lot of points in the past, but he has worked real hard to improve all aspects of his game.”

Goalies Jimmy Howard and Frank Doyle shared the Hockey East Goalie of the Month honor, as the two had almost identical numbers for October. Howard was 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA, a .941 save percentage, and one shutout, while Doyle was also 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA, a .942 save percentage, and one shutout.

UMaine gets a good chance to see a top-flight offensive team in the BC Eagles. Coach Jerry York’s team was 3-2-1 overall heading into last night’s Hockey East opener against UMass-Lowell. The Eagles were ranked No. 1 in the country for one week before it blew a 4-2 lead heading into the third period and lost 6-4 at North Dakota on Oct 17.

Before last night’s game the Eagles lost a heartbreaker at home on Oct. 24 to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1-0.

Despite some early struggles, BC can throw out four lines that can all score, practically at will. It will be up to UMaine to put together a full 60-minute effort for a win.

“I’m sure they’ll be clicking on all cylinders and with a game on Wednesday, they will be in game mode,” Whitehead said. “They are good at all positions.

“We can’t take any shifts off,” Whitehead said. “We can’t have parts of the game where we lack focus. We need to put together a complete game. If we have three or four down shifts, that can be the difference in the game. We have to be thorough in our game plan and consistent from shift to shift.”

The Eagles should have their best player, senior captain Ben Eaves (2-4-6), as well as junior forward Dave Spina (1-1-2) back from injuries. BC’s other top front liners include senior Tony Voce (4-2-6) and Team USA World Junior selection sophomore Patrick Eaves (1-3-4).

BC’s defense is also one of the best units in the country, but is overshadowed by the team’s offensive prowess. Leading the group of blue liners is senior J.D Forrest, who only played three games so far and has one goal. Other key players will be junior Greg Lauze (1-1-2), a transfer from Merrimack, and 6-foot-4-inch junior bruiser Andrew Alberts.

In net, BC will have junior Matti Kaltiainen. He is 3-2-1 this season with a 2.32 GAA and an .887 save percentage.

The pressure gets turned up a notch on Saturday when UMaine will have to face a throng of white-clad fans at what has come to be known as “The House of Horrors” to many UMaine fans, since the Black Bears have only won one game at the Whittemore Center (last year’s 3-2 overtime triumph), since 1998.

“The Whittemore Center is a great place to play,” said Whitehead, who has had great success there as an opposing coach not only at UMaine, but at UMass-Lowell previously. “It’s a great environment. Personally, it’s the kind of place I like to play. When the music gets going in there, there’s not much you have to say to get the guys going for the game. We’ll be ready.”

The task will be made harder, but not impossible, by UMaine’s tough game the night before at BC.

“Hopefully it will help us, because they will have a similar game to ours at BU Friday,” Whitehead said. “I think UNH is in the same boat as us, in that respect.”

Coach Dick Umile’s Wildcats are 4-1-0 (1-0-0 Hockey East) to start the year. It can be argued that UNH’s forwards are even deeper than BC’s talented group. UNH has had two players tally four goals in a game already this year. Senior Steve Saviano (7-3-10) scored four against Canisius on Oct. 24, while reigning Hockey East Rookie of the Month Jacob Micflikier (6-2-8) netted four last Friday at home against in a 9-2 win over Union.

Other key forwards include the junior trio of Preston Callander (1-7-8), Justin Aikens (3-4-7) and Sean Collins (2-4-6).

UNH’s defense is also strong, with three tough combinations. Seniors Mike Lubesnick (0-3-3), and Mick Mounsey (0-1-1) are the stalwarts of the group, getting help from sophomore Brian Yandle (3-2-5), and senior Tim Horst (2-2-4).

Despite UNH’s talent at other positions, UNH hockey is defined by its All-American senior goalie, Mike Ayers.

“It’s important to screen him and not let him see the puck,” Whitehead said. “If a goalie is that good, it’s hard to beat him clean if he sees the puck, and Mike is real good. We’ll have to drive the net and keep guys in front of him.”

Ayers is 3-1-0 with a 2.06 GAA and an .899 save percentage and one shutout this year.

UMaine’s games on both Friday and Saturday night will be played at 7 p.m.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2003, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.