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None of it mattered.
There were no stars of the game. No sold-out arena. No television audience. It was an exhibition game in the middle of November.
It wasn’t supposed to be front page material.
But then again, this wasn’t your typical exhibition scenario.
No, the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team needed this one. And at 16:44 into the first period Saturday night at Alfond Arena it showed.
With one quick shot to the net, junior Michel Leveille directed the team’s attention back to hockey and away from the strife that had taken over the team. The goal went on to tie the decision and spark a 7-2 victory over the U.S. under-18 team.
“It was a good ending to a rough week,” said freshman defenseman Bryan Plaszcz.
Early Monday morning, UMaine saw forwards Mike Hamilton and Wes Clark arrested for assault and aggravated criminal mischief. Only three days later, four more players were charged for criminal trespassing. Those players, Brent Shepheard, Travis Wight, Bret Tyler and Rob Bellamy, as well as Hamilton and Clark, were all suspended for Saturday’s decision against the U.S. under-18 squad. The suspensions had left the Black Bears reeling.
“It’s been a long week for everyone,” said junior Mike Lundin. “Our whole team has definitely been effected by the situation, so to come out there and focus on something else and get that out of your mind for awhile was nice.”
Leveille’s goal, which came with the Black Bears’ down 1-0, kicked off an offensive explosion.
“It was just a power play goal; a give-and-go with Jankus,” said Leveille. “He gave me a nice one timer pass and I got a good rip on it.”
From the start of the second period to the end, UMaine out shot Team USA 38-14. The offensive barge in the final two periods helped to erase a shaky opening ten minutes.
“We kind of took it easy the first couple minutes,” said Leveille. “Obviously they are a nice young team and they outplayed us.”
“I think we didn’t come out with the focus we should’ve; the focus we have for most games,” said Lundin.
Leveille connected the sluggish start to the exhibition match arriving in the middle of the season.
“It’s definitely weird to play an exhibition game in the middle of the season like that,” said Leveille. “We’ve been talking all week about how they are going to be good but it’s still in the back of our heads that ‘oh it’s going to be a exhibition game and be pretty easy, so I think that’s why we started slowly.”
At 5:14 of the second period, Plaszcz put the Black Bears up for good when he beat netminder Joe Palmer from the hash marks.
“Somehow Leveille got it and made a nice flat pass right into my wheel house and I put it on net,” said Plaszcz.
Travis Ramsey and Leveille registered assists on the play. Plaszcz, who has only played in three games this year, shined in the exhibition match.
“One of the big things about an exhibition game is you have an opportunity for some of those guys to play and I think they seized the opportunity and played well.”
UMaine’s eventual game-winner came at 9:04 of the second period.
On the ensuing play, Keenan Hopson redirected a point shot by Josh Soares on the power play.
The Black Bears had only one more blemish in the game.
Late in the second at 19:48, Luke Popko tallied his second goal of the season.
“I really admired how the U.S team played,” said Whitehead. “They are a very talented young group, extremely well-coached and disciplined and I admire how they had the courage to make plays in the game.”
Whitehead felt the goal could have been a momentum change.
“I think that was definitely a momentum swinger, but we were fine,” said Whitehead. “I thought our guys handled that well.”
Refusing to let his brother steal all the limelight, John Hopson recorded his only goal at 1:54 of the third period. Jon Jankus and Leveille garnered assists on the power play goal.
The Black Bears continued to roll on with Mike Lundin scoring at 2:39 of the third period.
Lundin discussed the goal after the game.
“I was just kind of waiting there in the slot on the weak side and Vince Laise just made a great pass and find me there in the slot,” said Lundin. “The guy came out and I was just trying to not get the shot blocked. I don’t think the goalie really ever saw it.”
UMaine smashed in two more from Moore and Soares at 11:10 and 12:39, respectively. With the score at 7-2 and the Black Bears milking a five point cushion, the fans and players got a much awaited apperance by third string netminder Ryan Shelly.
The second-year goalie from Gray, Maine, made his first collegiate appearance in the game. Along the way he hauled in three saves.
“It was real nice actually,” said Leveille about getting Shelly into the decision. “I love the fact that the crowd got into it. He doesn’t get a whole lot of ice time and its good to see him out there and having fun with us. He puts up so much time for us in practices and he never gets to play on the weekends, so it’s really fun to see him out there and we were all happy for him.”
Shelly replaced Matt Lundin, who recorded 19 saves in 53 minutes.
“It was great,” said Whitehead of Shelly. “I was really proud of Ryan. He is one of the best young men I have ever coached.”
Michael Carman opened the scoring for the U.S.-under 18 team and the contest at 16:01.
The team looked unfazed by the changes on the ice with Derek Damon filling the role left open by the suspended Mike Hamilton on the top line of Leveille and Greg Moore.
Hamilton and Clark are suspended indefinitely from the team for violating rules stated in the student athlete conduct code. Shepheard is out for three more games, while the rest can return next Sunday against Vermont.
“Even though they weren’t playing, they were focused on hockey,” said Lundin. “I am sure it was nice to get their minds off of it.”
Bangor Daily News