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For a little over one month, the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team has searched for consistency. On Sunday, after splitting the past four weekend’s series, the Black Bears got back into a groove when they disposed of underrated Providence College 8-4. The win helped the Black Bears garner their first weekend sweep since playing Niagara in week three. Coupled with the Black Bears 6-2 pummeling of the University of Massachusetts and last weekend’s defeat of University of Massachusetts-Lowell, the squad has their first three-game winning streak of the year.
With the sweep, the Black Bears, who are currently ranked No. 12 in the country in both the USA Today-USA Hockey Magazine poll and the USCHO-CSTV poll, improved to 8-6-0 on the year. More importantly, UMaine pushed their Hockey East conference record to 5-3-0.
Behind the return of Michel Leveille, the Black Bears were able to stifle a talented Friar attack that surprised Boston College on Friday with a stalemate. Leveille, who tallied a hat trick in his second game back after a shoulder injury, helped guide the Black Bears to the win.
Earlier on in the decision, UMaine dictated a feverish pace that the Friars were never able to combat. Mike Hamilton provided the first bit of foreshadowing when he sent a laser pass PC keeper Tyler Sims. The goal, which came at 7:56 in the period saw John Ronan and Josh Soares earn assists on the play. The Friars answered with a goal of their own when James Pemberton found the back of the net with just four seconds remaining in the period. The power play goal saw assists merited to Bill McCreary and Trevor Ludwing. PC carried a 16-to-six advantage in the shot department at the close of the period.
The Black Bears were able to open things up in the second period when Tim Maxwell scored with assists coming from Ronan and Soares. Four minutes later Soares added his own goal on the power play off a beautifullyplaced pass by Mike Hamiliton. UMaine continued to find success in the offensive zone when Leveille tallied his first goal of the game at 8:51. Billy Ryan and Mike Lundin recorded assists on the play. Leveille added his second goal later on in the period, at 16:50. With assists coming from Hamilton and Troy Barnes, UMaine had scored their second power play goal of the game.
The third period opened with Trevor Ludwig scoring on a power play opportunity only 36 seconds into play. Ludwig was assisted on the play by Chris Chaput and Chase Watson. The Friars quickly sneaked another puck past Howard when Chris Chaput scored at 4:06 with assists coming from Jamie Carroll and Ludwig. Leveille doused any hope of a Friar comeback at 4:39 when the play-maker found the net for his third goal of the decision. Brent Shepheard and Bret Tyler recorded assists on the hat trick goal. Keith Johnson and Wes Clark tallied the final two goals of the decision for UMaine, with assists coming from Tyler and Steve Mullin. Chase Watson registered a near-pointless goal at 11:42 of the period for the Friars.
The Black Bears were backed in net by Jimmy Howard, who hauled in 28 saves en route to the victory. Matt Lundin snatch two saves in less than five minutes of play, as well. For the Friars, Sims collected 31 saves for the lost. UMaine finished the match outshooting PC 39-34.
On Friday the Black Bears seized a surprisingly convincing 6-2 victory over UMass at Alfond Arena.
With the two stars of last season’s epic Hockey East championship battle, Jimmy Howard and Ben Murphy, hampered with injuries, the Black Bears relied on a potent offensive attack to lead them to the dominating win. The Black Bears were highlighted by the impressive play of senior captain John Ronan and sophomore Shepheard, who each finished the game with two goals. After the match UMaine head coach Tim Whitehead discussed his team’s victory.
“It was very satisfying to get a good win against a really good team,” said Whitehead. “One of the keys tonight was that we wanted to get back our home-ice ice-advantage, we have lost more games up here recently than we had in the past few years.”
“We played with a lot of passion, it was a good step for us,” said Whitehead. “I thought it was a good, solid team effort.”
From the first whistle, the Black Bears dictated a feverish pace that would climax in the second period, when UMaine tallied three pivotal goals that put the contest out of reach for the Minutemen. The second period’s offensive explosion saw Ronan score his first goal of the decision and sophomore Josh Soares register the eventual game-winner. The goal saw the talented forward snatch an easy rebound off Winer’s right pad, then, with barely any room to maneuver, sent a rocket into the far side of Winer’s net. Jon Jankus and Bret Tyler recorded their second assists of the game on the goal that came at 8:06 of the period to give the Black Bears a 3-2 advantage.
Ronan kicked off the scoring for the Black Bears in the period after receiving an excellent pass from Jankus while crossing into the Minuteman defensive zone. Ronan then proceeded to fire a shot over Winer’s glove and into the back of the mesh. Tyler also received an assist on the play that came at 3:57 of the second. After the game, Ronan discussed the play.
“That was a great transition play,” said Ronan. “We were working hard, and it showed out there on the ice.”
The early-period goal helped the Black Bears pull even with UMass, who grabbed their first lead of the game only moments earlier. At 1:54 in the first, P.J. Fenton recorded his second goal of the game when he sent a tap shot past a shaky Jimmy Howard in net. Fenton was assisted on the goal by teammate Dusty Demianiuk.
Keenan Hopson concluded the scoring in the period after skillfully weaving through the Minutemen defense forcing one-on-one with UMass goaltender Gabe Winer. Hopson then proceeded to find the back of the net after sending a rocket through the five hole on Winer. Bret Tyler and Josh recorded assists on the goal which came at 16:29 in the second. Whitehead also touched on what he felt was the difference in the second period.
“I feel the difference in the period was that we were able to finish the opportunities we had,” said Whitehead. “From there we were able to ride the momentum.”
The Black Bears added two more goals in the third on second string goalie Tim Warner, who replaced Winer at the start of the period. UMaine struck earlier, when Ronan notched his second goal of the game on a back-hander right in front of the net. The play, coming at 1:54 in the period, saw Soares and Tim Maxwell earn the assists. The final goal of the game came late in the match when Shepheard hammered home a rebound off a Michel Leveille shot. Tim Maxwell earned his third assist of the game on the play.
The Black Bears got on the scoreboard first in the game when Shepard recorded his fifth goal of the season at 8:28 in the first. Leveille and Hopson merited assists on the play. Although considerably outplayed throughout the opening period, UMass pulled even with UMaine at 16:41 when P.J. Fenton snatched a juicy rebound off Howard for an easy goal. Fenton was assisted by Matt Anderson and David Leaderer.
In net, for UMaine Howard picked up the victory after surrendering two goals and hauling in 10 quality saves. On the opposing side, UMass saw Winer collect 17 saves en route to the loss. The Minutemen would finish the match with Werner in net registering 14 saves.
