Too inconsistent and not good enough when it mattered most is the final story on the 2025-26 Maine men’s hockey team. #4 seed Boston College scored twice in a 39 second span in the first period, and got some key saves from their freshman goaltender Louka Cloutier to blank the defending conference champion and #5 seeded Black Bears 5-0 in a Hockey East Quarterfinal played Friday night at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Teddy Stiga got the Eagles all they ended up needing at 4:49 of the first period. Luka Radivojevic fired the puck from center ice off the end boards behind the Black Bears net, while at the same time Stiga took off into the offensive zone. The carom came right onto Stigas stick in the low slot as he fired it past Mathis Rousseau that turned out to be the game winner. James Hagens would score to double the advantage at 5:28. Maine had at least five Grade A chances in the second including one off the post by Thomas Pichette, and Cloutier was able to do just enough on the other opportunities to keep his team up by a pair of goals. A heads up play by Ryan Conmy pretty much put it away for BC early in the third period. Conmy rushed in on Pichette who had the puck in his defensive zone, and knocked it off his stick into the corner. Conmy, the former UNH Wildcat, was first on it and backhanded a pass into the low slot that was one-timed into the back of the net by Oskar Jellvik at 1:34. The Black Bears, desperately trying to dig out of a three goal deficit, would pull Rousseau for an extra attacker with 4:50 remaining. Dean Letourneau scored just 15 seconds later. With Rousseau at the bench again, Hagens also punched one into an empty cage with 2:06 to go that ended the scoring.
Hagens had two goals and one assist in helping Boston College snap a four game losing skid and advance in the postseason. Letourneau had the empty netter late and also added an assist. Cloutier made 18 saves for his third shutout of the season, and was especially big in that second period. The Eagles, ranked #17 nationally in the most recent USCHO poll, are now 20-14-1 and will play next Friday at TD Garden in the Hockey East Semifinals with a time and opponent to be announced. Brandon Holt and Owen Fowler, two of the seniors, led the team in shots on goal with four a piece in the defeat. After winning four games in a row towards the end of the regular season to grab a bye into the quarterfinals, the Black Bears who were trying to defend their league title and get an automatic bid to a third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, were outscored 10-3 in their final two contests played. The freshman Rousseau made 21 stops, and started the final six games of the year ahead of junior Albin Boija. Along with Holt, the team will also lose seniors Brandon Chabrier, Grayson Arnott, and Thomas Freel. Fowler has said he intends to return as he has one more year of eligibility. It can also be expected to lose players within the transfer portal. Maine ends this season unranked and with a final record of 18-14-3 (12-12-1 vs. Hockey East opponents).
Photo courtesy of UMaine Athletics
