The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team opens up another season this coming Saturday, October 5th when they travel to Providence, Rhode Island for a 4 p.m. Hockey East faceoff with the Providence College Friars.
After a 15-17-4 mark last season (11-9-4 in Hockey East) the Black Bears will be looking to rebuild their blue line where they have lost five defenseman from last year who played at least 33 games each. That may force a big year from returning starting goalie Jeremy Swayman (14-17-4, 2.77 goals against, .919 save percentage) if Maine has any plans to make it past the quarterfinals of the Hockey East playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. In March the Bears who were the #8 seed got eliminated in a pair of 2-1 games in the quarterfinals at #1 seed Northeastern with one loss coming in overtime, and the Huskies would go on to win the Hockey East title. Maine did receive votes in the top 20 USCHO.com preseason poll, and their first opponent in Providence is ranked #7 to start the season. The Black Bears ended a long winless streak against the Friars with a 3-1 win back on February 9 in Orono.
Maine goaltender Jeremy Swayman makes a save during action at Alfond Arena in January against Northeastern. Swayman figures to be a huge key to the Black Bears success when the new season gets underway this Saturday. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
Maine does return five out of its top eight scorers from last season led by Mitch Fossier (8 goals, 28 assists), Tim Doherty (9&8), and Eduards Tralmaks (8&9). Newcomer J.D. Greenway who transferred in from Wisconsin and is a third round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs is expected to help the defense immediately. He is one of 11 new Black Bears. Greenway is the brother of Jordan Greenway who played for Boston University and is now in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild.
Maine was picked to finish eighth in the preseason Hockey East coaches poll. The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs out of the 11 team league. Boston College was the top pick decisively to win the league this upcoming season. The Eagles finished seventh last season and lost to Northeastern in the championship game at TD Garden. After the single game Saturday at PC, Maine returns home to host an exhibition on Sunday at 4 p.m. against defending Canadian College champion New Brunswick. The Bears then get back into regular season play for the home openers on Friday and Saturday October 11th and 12th when the University of Alaska-Anchorage visits the Alfond for a pair of non-conference games beginning at 7 p.m.
Prediction- The Maine defense will be a trouble spot especially in the early going until everyone gets their skates under them and gets used to playing with one another. The likes of Fossier, Doherty, and Tralmaks will need to try and carry the offense on a team that has had plenty of trouble at times scoring goals. As always the special teams play will need to be solid. Swayman will need to be big in between the pipes again this season if the Black Bears want a chance at the Hockey East playoffs or to go any further. I see the final overall record being 13-17-4, 10-11-3 in Hockey East and in the picture to grab an eighth seed for the second straight year to be part of the Hockey East playoffs.
