Maine men’s hockey returns home and keeps rolling

Published by %s
January 5, 2024

The #7 Maine men’s ice hockey team returned to Alfond Arena Friday night to play in front of their home crowd for the first time since December 3. The Black Bears got goals from three different players and 30 saves in net from freshman Albin Boija to beat Colgate 3-1 in non-conference action in Orono.

Maine got the only goal of the first period, and it was some familiar names. Josh Nadeau kept a puck alive just inside the Colgate blue line, and found his brother Bradly Nadeau alone in the low slot. Bradly spun from backhand to forehand and found the back of the net over the shoulder glove side on netminder Carter Gylander at 5:26. Harrison Scott got the game winner 4:57 into the second. After his pass to Donovan Villeneuve-Houle was blocked back onto his stick, Scott took it around the net and wrapped it home on a backhander for a 2-0 Black Bears lead. Ryan Hopkins scored the final goal for the hosts at 19:08, as a faceoff win by Lynden Breen came back to him. Hopkins two or three strides inside the blue line fired a hard slapper through traffic that found its way into the cage. The Raiders found the scoreboard at 10:22 of the third period on a powerplay tally by Ryan McGuire, but it was too little too late as Maine won their seventh straight game.

Brandon Holt, Josh Nadeau, and Breen had one assist each in the win for Maine as their record improves to 13-3-1. Boija has now won both of his collegiate starts, and he also beat UNH 5-2 back on December 1. The Black Bears are now 7-0-1 at home this season, with their only loss being an actual tie losing just the extra conference point in a shootout against Boston College. Ross Mitton and Brett Chorske had an assist each on the goal by McGuire in the loss for Colgate. The Raiders out of the ECAC drop to 6-9-2. Gylander made 32 stops in net. Maine will look for the weekend sweep on Saturday night with puck drop set for 7 p.m.

Recap by Chris Lessner/Video courtesy of Maine Ice Hockey on X

Maine forward Harrison Scott battles for a loose puck during a win over UNH back on December 1. Scott scored a goal on Friday, as the Black Bears won their seventh straight game with a 3-1 victory over Colgate at Alfond Arena. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco 

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