University of Maine athletics news and notes
The #5 Maine men's hockey team finished a very successful first half of the season by sweeping Stonehill College last weekend. The Black Bears will be off for two more weeks until they play Bentley University in Portland on December 29. Maine carries a five game win streak and seven game unbeaten streak into the second half.
Here is a recap of the first half by our UMaine reporter Chris Lessner-
Maine men's hockey got one first place vote and moved up to #4 in the USCHO national poll released on Monday, December 16.
Full top 20 poll-
Maine men's and women's basketball return to action this weekend, as they begin to wrap up non-conference play ahead of the America East openers in early January.
Read the story here by our UMaine reporter Chris Lessner-
After the loss to Bentley University on Sunday in Portland, the Maine men's hockey team drops to #7 in the new USCHO poll released on Monday, December 30. The Black Bears also sit #7 in the current pairwise rankings. See the current polls below.
National Rankings- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Pairwise-
For the fifth time in his career, Baltimore Ravens fullback and former Maine football player Patrick Ricard has been named to the AFC Pro Bowl team. Ricard is the only former Black Bear with more than two Pro Bowl game appearances (Montell Owens- 2).
Story here from UMaine Athletics-
https://goblackbears.com/news/2025/1/2/football-ricard-earns-fifth-nfl-pro-bowl-selection.aspx
After a weekend split with defending national champion and #6 Denver, Maine stayed at #7 in the national poll released on Monday, January 6. The Pioneers also stayed at #6. The Black Bears are at #6 in the pairwise with 15 games left in the regular season all in Hockey East beginning this weekend at #8 UMass-Lowell. Here is the full national poll and pairwise rankings below:
National Rankings- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Pairwise- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/
After sweeping #8 UMass-Lowell on the road this past weekend, Maine men's hockey is now #3 in the pairwise rankings and have moved up from #7 to #5 in the country in the latest USCHO poll.
Pairwise rankings- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/
National Poll- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Some key women's Hockey East points up for grabs this weekend in Orono, as UNH visits Maine for a two game series.
Read the story here- https://easternmainesports.com/2025/01/23/some-key-womens-hockey-east-points-up-for-grabs-as-unh-visits-maine/
#6 Maine men's hockey after a week off returns to action at the Alfond Arena this Friday/Sunday when they host Northeastern and #20 UMass. The Black Bears will look for scoring punch, as they haven't scored more than two goals vs an opposing goalie since returning from Christmas Break on December 29 (7 games).
Read the preview here-
With the two wins this past weekend over Northeastern and UMass, Maine men's hockey moves from #6 to #5 in the country in the latest USCHO Poll released today February 3rd. The Black Bears are also #4 in the pairwise rankings which emulates the NCAA Tournament seedings.
USCHO Poll-
https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Pairwise Rankings-
The Maine baseball teams begins their season on February 14 at Louisiana Tech. The Black Bears, after missing the conference playoffs last spring, are hoping to return there in 2025 as Mahaney Diamond in Orono will host the America East Tournament May 20-24.
Read more here- https://easternmainesports.com/2025/02/05/maine-baseball-hoping-to-return-to-the-america-east-playoffs-as-their-season-starts-february-14/
It's a top 10 men's Hockey East showdown this weekend, as #5 Maine travels to #7 Providence College for a two game series beginning tonight at 7 p.m. It's the Black Bears first trip to Schneider Arena since they were swept in late February 2022.
Here is the preview-
Maine men's hockey stays at #5 in the country in the latest USCHO Poll. The Black Bears are at #4 in the pairwise rankings which emulates the NCAA Tournament seedings. Maine will host UNH for two games at the Alfond Arena this weekend.
Poll- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Pairwise- https://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/
#5 Maine men's hockey to renew their Border War rivalry with UNH this weekend, as the Wildcats travel into Alfond Arena for a two game series.
Read more about it here-
Maine sophomore Albin Boija was named one of the 10 semifinalists on Thursday by the Hockey Commissioners Association for the Mike Richter Award, which is given annually to the top goaltender in Division I men's ice hockey. Boija currently owns a 17-5-4 record with a 1.61 goals against average and a save percentage of .931 for #5 ranked Black Bears.
Story here-
