Freshman Josh Nadeau scored two goals including the game winner and assisted on another on Saturday evening as the University of Maine topped UNH 3-2 in a men’s college hockey exhibition contest played at Colby College in Waterville.
Nadeau opened the scoring on a feed from his brother Bradly 6:41 into the first period. After a scoreless middle stanza, Maine went up 2-0 when Lynden Breen scored 20 seconds into the third period on the powerplay. UNH came back to tie it on goals by Stiven Sardarian and Nick Ring, before Josh Nadeau won it with his second of the game by tallying just 1:34 after the Ring goal and with just 1:50 left in regulation as the Black Bears took a victory in their lone pre-season tuneup. Victor Ostman made 22 saves in net, while Breen also had three points with his goal and two assists and Bradly Nadeau finished with two helpers as well. Bradly is a future NHL draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes.
The exhibition game was a charity fundraiser to help support the Alfond Youth and Community Center in Waterville, which is the only merged Boys and Girls Club YMCA in the United States.
Maine opens their 2023-24 regular season on Thursday and Friday night when they host RPI at the Alfond Arena in Orono. The drop of the puck for both nights is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Recap by Chris Lessner/Photos courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco
