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NCAA Tournament
West Regional
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 26 2:30 p.m.
Mariucci Arena
It has finally arrived.
All season, the University of Maine men’s ice hockey squad has played for that one crystallizing moment. One chance to immortalize themselves. One opportunity to prove their worth, their character, and most importantly their heart. And on Saturday afternoon that chance finally becomes a reality.
In a game only fit for post-season play, the Black Bears are headed to Minneapolis, Minn. for a first round match-up against top seeded Minnesota in the West regional of the NCAA Tournament. Essentially a home game for Minnesota, the two teams will lock heads at University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena. The Gophers earned the chance to play at home after winning a bid to host the regional last season.
UMaine arrives in the region as the number four seed, while the Gophers stand as the number one overall seed. This is UMaine’s seventh straight NCAA tournament appearance.
The winner of the decision will go on to play the winner of Cornell and Ohio State for a chance to punch a ticket to Columbus, Ohio and Frozen Four.
The engagement marks the two squad’s first post-season meeting since 2002′s thrilling National Championship game, which ended in a 4-3 overtime victory for the Gohpers.
For the Black Bears the contest also stands as testament to their midseason turnaround that quieted their critics. As late as February, UMaine was considered on the bubble for the NCAA tournament. A season sweep of UMass-Lowell catapulted the Black Bears back into contention. The second half reservation is something many of the Black Bears feel could give them a great boost coming into their first round match-up. Senior Matthew Deschamps took time Wednesday to comment on this.
“I think there is a really, really good mix of emotions in the locker room right now,” said Deschamps. “We all know that we have achieved something by crawling our way back into things and we know that we control our own destiny.”
Deschamps believes his team is prepared for the test that lies ahead.
“I think we are ready, we have been practicing well,” said Deschamps. “Its a great time of the year, we are all excited. You can’t ask for anything better than being in the NCAA tournament.”
Minnesota enters the game currently ranked seventh in both the USA Today-USA Hockey Magazine and USCHO-CSTV polls, with a record of 26-14-1. The Gophers went 17-10-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, garnering them third place. UMaine is ranked No. 12 in both polls at 20-12-7 on the season and 13-6-5 in Hockey East.
The daunting challenge of facing a top seed on their home ice is something the Black Bears are looking forward to.
“We are excited about this challenge,” said forward Derek Damon. “I think some people are counting us out which is okay. Us guys in the locker room know that we are going out there without any pressure.”
“I think everyone is feeling good about it,” said freshman Billy Ryan. “Playing them in their own rink is going to be challenging but I think we’re up for it after how we have been playing.”
“As a four seed your not expected to win that first game so it would be a big upset if you do,” said sophomore Mike Lundin. “I think that is to our advantage, because when you are the favorite it is harder to play.”
Lundin, a native of Minnesota, was elated when news broke of the game.
“Obviously, when I heard I was pretty excited,” said Lundin. “This week has been pretty long anticipating this game, not only because it’s in Minnesota but also because of how big of a game it is.”
The game will be UMaine’s first post-season appearance since last year’s heartbreaking defeat in the National Championship .
“Getting so close and knowing that feeling makes us all want to get back there so bad,” said Lundin. “We all want to do it again.”
UMaine holds a 12-9-0 lead in the series, while at Mariucci Arena, the Black Bears are 2-5 overall with their last win coming in 1997. The Black Bears hold a lead in post-season competition as well, with a 5-4 mark.
“Certainly with Minnesota, you would have to be blind to not see they are a great hockey team,” said Whitehead.
The Gophers, coming off a fourth place finish in the WCHA tournament, will be lead into battle by sophomore Danny Irmen who is tied for the team lead in goals with 24. Irmen has 19 assists as well, for 43 points. The Gophers offensive assault will also be highlighted by the one-two punch of Ryan Potulny and junior Gino Guyer. Potulny is tied for the team high with 25 goals and has 17 assists, while Guyer has registered 11 goals and 19 assists.
“They are really skilled all around,” said Lundin. “They had an up and down kind of year like us but they also have something to prove.”
“They use their speed to their advantage,” said Damon. “Hopefully we can match their speed and intensity. They have a lot to offer.”
In net, for Minnesota, sophomore Kellen Briggs has played in 31 games and has a 2.51 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Backing up Briggs, is senior Justin Johnson who has posted a 2.34 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
Deschamps commented on the unpredictability of the Minnesota lineup.
“You never know until you get the lineups for the game that night,” said Deschamps. “You have to worry about what’s in front, you can’t worry about who is in and who is not. They have a really good team, whether they have five guys injured or not. Every single guy on their team is talented and the same can be said about our team. ”
In the opposing net will be Jimmy Howard, with a 1.96 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.
Whitehead touched upon the red hot Howard and his ability to take over a game in the post-season.
“I am really proud of Jimmy and how he has fought through some up and downs,” said Whitehead. “He is really playing at his best, he is like our ace pitcher, our star quarterback, he is our elite guy back there.”
“Clearly Jimmy is our leader but at the same time we have become a defensive team and that has helped us go toe to toe with the best teams in the country,” said Whitehead.
UMaine played one of the best teams in the country last Friday in the form of Boston College. The Black Bears took the Eagles to double overtime in the Hockey East Tournament Semifinal before succumbing to a 2-1 score.
“We have really come a long way since the beginning of the year,” said Ryan. “People started counting us out but we just took the number one team in the country to two overtimes.”
“We have played teams like Minnesota and gone toe-to-toe with them,” said Whitehead.
Minnesota plays on a Olympic ice surface which could offer them an advantage in the contest.
“It gives a lot more chances,” said Moore about the larger ice surface. “You have a lot more time to make plays. A lot of the flow of the game changes. It’s easier to drive wide and there is more rooms on the walls and especially on the crowds. ”
“It’s going to help us out a lot,” said Damon. “When ever you’re on Olympic ice, its faster than you think. You don’t need to panic with the puck like on smaller surfaces.”
The Black Bears will be with freshman Rob Bellamy who broke his wrist in practice last week, sophomore Brent Shepheard is expected to make his return to the lineup shortly. For the Gophers, star forward Tyler Hirsch, who has 11 goals and 33 assists, will be sidelined.
The game is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. The winner of the two opening round games in the region will play in the final on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
“We have to get right on them quick and put one in,” said Damon, “but if we don’t its not the end of the world. We just got to make sure they are not breathing down our defensemen’s necks.”
Bangor Daily News