Freshman Bradly Nadeau scored his first two collegiate goals in the second period including the game winner on Thursday night, as the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team came to life after a slow start dominating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 4-1 in the two teams mutual season opener at the Alfond Arena in Orono.
RPI got off a quick start to stun a lively Alfond crowd. Liam Lesakowski was whistled for an interference penalty just 1:01 into the first period, giving the Engineers the early powerplay opportunity. The guests converted after a Maine defensive breakdown in their own zone, as Sutter Muzzatti found a wide open CJ Regula and Regula walked into the slot and beat Black Bears goalie Victor Ostman at 2:40 for a 1-0 lead. The hosts turned up the intensity after that, and despite not scoring in the opening stanza they had a 15-4 shots on goal edge.
The last two periods was a continuation of the pressure Maine had in the first, as they had a 42-9 shots on goal advantage over the last 40 minutes. Bradly Nadeau, the NHL draft pick of the Carolina Hurriances, scored his first career goal and the equalizer following up a Grayson Arnott shot at the left post at 1:19 of the second period. He wasn’t done though, as he then tallied the game winner on the powerplay 6:42 later picking up a rebound off a shot by Lynden Breen. Thomas Freel also assisted on the play. Breen made it 3-1 also on the powerplay 17 seconds into the third period, after an impressive rush down the right wing by Josh Nadeau who threw a one armed centering pass to the wide open Breen who tapped it in behind RPI goalie Jack Watson. Bradly Nadeau also got an assist to finish off a big three point night in his debut. Nolan Renwick ended the scoring just 31 seconds later, receiving a pass in the high slot from Brandon Chabrier and firing it past Watson with a well placed hard wristshot.
Ostman made 12 saves in the win for Maine, who ended up with 57 shots to just 13 for RPI. Bradly Nadeau had two goals and one assist, Breen had one goal and one assist, and Bradly’s brother Josh Nadeau had two assists in what was also his first college game to lead the way. Watson stood on his head for the Engineers out of the ECAC, registering 53 stops in the defeat. The Black Bears would go 2-7 on the powerplay, while RPI went 1-3. The teams meet again Friday night at 7 p.m. to finish off their two game non-conference series.
Recap by Chris Lessner/Photos by Anthony DelMonaco/Video of the game winning goal by Bradly Nadeau courtesy of Maine Men’s Hockey on Twitter
SAVE THAT PUCK!
Bradly Nadeau scores twice and adds an assist in his NCAA debut Ⓜ️ pic.twitter.com/afWNqhTNUS
— Maine Men’s Ice Hockey (@MaineIceHockey) October 13, 2023
