THE OUTLOOK- The University of Maine Mens Ice Hockey team comes into the 2017-18 season with many unanswered questions. The team finished last in Hockey East last season at 5-15-2, 11-21-4 overall. The Black Bears were swept out of the Hockey East playoffs in the first round by Vermont, the fifth year in a row that Maine has been a first round exit from the league playoffs. Since 2007 in fact, Maine has finished with a .500 or worse overall record six times.
Goal scoring and goaltending once again will be key, and is an area of concern coming into this season. Last year, the Bears finished ninth in goal scoring in the league, and last (11th) in goals allowed. Maine in the preseason was picked last in Hockey East, where they finished the 2016-17 season.
DEPARTURES/RETURNERS/ADDITIONS- Gone are the likes of forwards Blaine Byron and Cam Brown who led the team in scoring a year ago. Byron tallied 18 goals and 23 assists, while Brown had four goals and a team high 35 assists. Also departing was steady blue line defenseman Eric Shurhamer, and goalie Matt Morris who logged nearly 3000 minutes between the pipes in the last three seasons.
Maine does have optimism though as they will be returning Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick and senior Nolan Vesey (13 G, 10 A). Joining Vesey will be juniors Brendan Robbins (6 G, 13 A), and defenseman Rob Michel (9 G, 10 A). After a solid freshman year and some games under their belts the Bears hope to get even more production out of sophomores Chase Pearson (14 G, 8 A), Mitch Fossier (8 G, 8 A), Patrick Shea (5 G, 11 A), Ryan Smith (4 G, 6 A), and Patrick Holway (4 G, 9 A). In net junior Rob McGovern returns after posting a .912 save percentage in 24 games last year.
Key additions include freshman forward Emil Westerlund, defenseman Brady Keeper, and goalie Jeremy Swayman, who should challenge McGovern for playing time. Maine will have 20 players total between the freshman and sophomore class this season.
THE BOTTOM LINE/PREDICTION- Maine has the players and talent to win games, but the key component will be the goal scoring and goaltending, in which the Bears have struggled alot with in the last few seasons. Picked to finish last in the league is a stretch for the second year in a row, and I see the Black Bears fighting for a number eight seed and a first round playoff series at the Alfond come March. With the three strong juniors coming back (Robbins, Michel, McGovern), and the senior Vesey, along with the very strong sophomores, plus the incoming class we should see a bit more improvement in this years addition of the team. I have them with one more win than 2016-17 overall, and two more wins in league play. With that said, I see the 2017-18 Maine team finishing 12-19-3 overall and 7-15-2 in Hockey East, and being right around the eighth or ninth seed at regular season end.
Maine opens the season October 6th and 7th when they host UConn for a weekend opening Hockey East series. The Bears play six straight games at home to begin the 17-18 campaign, including a matchup with perennial national power Minnesota-Deluth on October 27th and 28th. UMD was the runner up in the national title game last season, after a close 3-2 loss to Jimmy Montgomery and the Denver Pioneers. Maine doesn’t face a team away from the Alfond until November 3rd and 4th when they travel to UMass-Lowell.
