OPINION: As the 2025-26 men’s collegiate hockey season gets underway, teams across the country are preparing to face off. Teams like Boston University, the University of Denver and Michigan State are set to have standout seasons in the coming months. With deep rosters and great coaching, these teams always seem to rank high in the preseason polling.
While this is all well and good, let’s not forget about the defending Hockey East champions, our very own University of Maine Black Bears. Our players are gearing up for what looks to be a great season ahead, with returning stars like forwards Owen Fowler and Josh Nadeau, who last year each had 20 and 29 points, respectively.
The 2024-25 Second Team All-American goaltender Albin Boija is also back in the net for the Black Bears. Last season, Boija recorded an impressive .928 save percentage while only allowing a 1.83 goals against average and starting 37 games, helping the Black Bears go 23-8-6 during that time.
Aside from returning talents, we also have some great new pieces that are sure to make an impact. Pieces such as forward Jaden Lapinski, who was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2023, defenseman Luke Coughlin, who was drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2023 and Goaltender Mathis Rousseau, who last season went 11-4-0 for the Moncton Wildcats, helping them win the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Championship.
Ben Barr, returning for his fifth season as head coach, is sure to help lead the Black Bears to another great year. Last year during the 2024-25 season, he helped coach the Black Bears to their first Hockey East Championship since 2004. Having great players and talent on the ice is only half of the equation. A championship-caliber team must also have excellent coaching, and luckily for us, we have both.
Taking a look at our preseason Hockey East polling/rank also reflects this sentiment. According to the 2024-25 Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll, UMaine was picked fourth overall, earning a total of 87 points, only behind third place UConn (90), second place Providence (91) and finally Boston University in first with (105).
While you may think we don’t look as scary nationally, let’s not forget: Hockey East is undisputedly the headrest conference in all of college hockey. We play the hardest teams in the nation through the whole regular season so, it’s no surprise that we rank well nationally either.
Looking at our national ranking, we finished seventh in the entire country. Our boys have not only proved themselves within our own conference but also throughout the country. Think about this: Out of the entire collegiate world there are only six teams ahead of us and truth be told, we can beat all of them.
We can beat Western Michigan, Michigan State, the University of Denver and Penn State, teams that seemingly rank higher in the polling. UMaine Hockey is second to none and this season will show it. Go Black Bears.
