594 days. That is the last time the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team played in front of fans at Alfond Arena in Orono. That will change Friday night as the Black Bears open their 2021-22 home schedule by welcoming in the Pioneers of Sacred Heart for the start of a two game non-conference series.
Maine (0-2) opened their season with a pair of competitive losses at #17 Nebraska-Omaha two weeks ago by scores of 4-1 and 5-3. The final tallies weren’t indicative of how tightly the Black Bears played though against the Mavericks, as both games on both nights were tied headed into the third period. Maine got contributions from six different point scorers on the weekend, and will hope to continue that trend this weekend against the Pioneers from the Atlantic Hockey Association. Sacred Heart (1-3) enters the weekend off a split at Boston University last weekend, as their schedule so far has also included losses to the University of Connecticut and Merrimack College.
Friday night the faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m., while Saturdays drop of the puck is slated for 5 p.m. All fans in attendance for UMaine men’s and women’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s basketball home games this season will need wear a mask and show proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of the games.
