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When factoring in turnover on the roster and renovations to Alfond Arena, it seems possible that this incarnation of the University of Maine men’s hockey team is completely different from last year’s underachieving group.
“Personally, we try to put [last year] behind us,” senior center and captain Brian Flynn said. “We had a ton of skill but it didn’t go our way last year. We have a bunch of new guys and it will be a totally different lineup this year — and maybe that’s what we need.”
Flynn will be a huge part of this year’s team, even though he was prominently featured in last year’s squad. The Black Bears’ leading goal-scorer a year ago will take over the first-line center responsibilities, after the graduation of UMaine’s top-two centers, Tanner House and Robby Dee.
“[Playing center] will be a little adjustment,” Flynn said. “It’s a much bigger defensive role; I expect to play some more minutes.”
“We lost our top-two centers, so it’s important we insert a couple other guys to handle that position,” said UMaine men’s hockey head coach Tim Whitehead. “The center position is the most important of the three forward positions because they’re on the puck more than anyone, they take the faceoffs, they play down low in the defensive zone, they have to distribute the puck and they need to make good decisions on when to attack and when to defend.”
Senior forward Spencer Abbott will most likely be teaming up with Flynn on the Black Bears’ potent first line, as he was last year’s second-leading point scorer. The Hamilton, Ontario native understands that scoring is expected of this offensive unit, but argues games last year were won and lost with the play of team defense.
“People look at us to be the point-getters, if you want to say that,” Abbott said. “We need to put up our fair share of points, but we need to play some good defensive hockey so the younger players can learn from it for down the road.”
Abbott and Flynn don’t see an issue with shuffling positions and line-mates for the new season.
“We’re going to test it out — see how the line looks these first couple weeks,” Abbott said. “But I think Flynn will be fine at center.”
Flynn echoed the sentiment, citing the time spent playing together over the last couple years.
“I think me and Abbs are in the same boat,” Flynn said. “We’ve played a little together the past few years so I know there’s some chemistry there to pick up right away.”
The only non-senior on that front line, junior Joey Diamond, has a nose for the goal — 20 in his first two seasons — rivaled only by his nose for the penalty box, where he has spent over 200 minutes in his first two seasons.
Whitehead believes that having another year under his belt will help Diamond restrain his emotions.
“Each year that he has played for us gives him another year of experience,” Whitehead said. “So he understands the importance of controlling his emotions during the play and after the whistle. I’m very excited to see him take another step in that direction this year.”
Although Whitehead is hoping Diamond continues to mature on the ice, he wants his junior forward to continue to get healthy.
“First of all, the big thing for Diamond is staying healthy,” Whitehead said. “He had a chronically sprained ankle and it bothered him all year. We spent a lot of time with Joey to make sure he doesn’t put himself in a position where he reinjured that ankle.”
While the defense has suffered turnover from last season, all eyes are between the pipes — the Black Bears’ most glaring fault a year ago.
Goalie responsibilities last year were split among three goalies, with freshmen Dan Sullivan and Martin Ouellette starting 18 games and eight games respectively, and sophomore Shawn Sirman for nine starts.
With Sirman out of the picture this season, the job comes down to the two sophomores, and Whitehead has made one thing clear: It’s an open competition for starts, possibly moving throughout the entire season.
“Our mindset going into the year is that [Sullivan and Ouellette] are on even terms and we’ll be alternating them throughout the preseason and the month of October and perhaps the entire season,” Whitehead said. “We feel these two guys are going to take a very strong step this year and we want to give them both an opportunity to help the team this year.”
Ouellette had his moments last year, including a 5-0 shutout win at Providence College and holding Boston University to one goal in a 1-1 tie at the Alfond.
But Sullivan gained the majority of opportunities last season, with a leg injury interrupting the middle of his campaign. During the latter half of the season, Sullivan went over 200 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal.
The Black Bears have a difficult schedule this season, with a tough start against Hockey East Conference foes Merrimack College — who abruptly and convincingly ended the Black Bears’ last season.
Abbott is looking forward to the chance to enact revenge on Merrimack.
“Everyone’s excited to get out there and put them in their place; we need to make sure we don’t give them too much credit,” Abbott said.
Whitehead downplays the opportunity for payback, instead focusing on the importance of an early conference game, knowing that just one or two of these games can mean the difference between home ice and traveling.
“Any time you start the season with conference games, it puts extra importance on them,” Whitehead said.
After a home game with Northeastern University, the Black Bears turn around and hit the road for a much-anticipated two-game series at the University of North Dakota where the Fighting Sioux look to avenge the sweep from the Black Bears at the Alfond last year.
“Our first road trip will be a great one, traveling out to North Dakota,” Whitehead said. “After we swept them on our rink last year, I’m sure they’re very intent on doing the same thing to us. That will be a great challenge to see where we stack up with one of the top programs in the country.
Speaking of top programs, the Black Bears’ most anticipated game of the season — and of quite some time — is their meeting with the University of New Hampshire in the shadow of the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston.
In the annual Frozen Fenway, the Black Bears take on the Wildcats, while the University of Massachusetts challenges the University of Vermont — homage to the four state schools of Hockey East. Although the Black Bears forfeit a home game for the chance to travel to Beantown, Whitehead is insistent the pros outweigh the cons.
“It’s unfortunate we lose a home game, but then again we’re more than willing to do it,” Whitehead said. “The positives outweigh the negatives. It’s a great opportunity for our players and our program, and it’s a great opportunity for our university. This is a great move for the athletic department to get some exposure.”
Flynn — a Lynnfield, Mass. native — spoke more joyously about it.
“That’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Flynn said. “[Senior defensive captain Will O’Neill] and I went down there in the summer to check it out during the ceremony. It’s going to be exciting having a million people there and all your friends and family watching you.”
Regardless of Flynn’s misconception of Fenway Park’s capacity, the senior captain understands the pressure put on UMaine men’s hockey each year.
“Our expectations at Maine never change,” Flynn said. “We come with the mindset that we’re going to win as many titles as possible. Things don’t change here; we set the bar high and unfortunately, the last few years we haven’t reached our goals.
“But things are about to change.”
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