There are some new faces in the NHL playoffs this year, and a lot of familiar ones that didn’t make the cut.

The defending champion Los Angeles Kings failed to make the playoffs this year, along with the Boston Bruins, who are seemingly always in the playoffs. Many analysts had high expectations for the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche as well, but both teams had poor seasons and were far away from playoff contention.

With the field set, there are plenty of good matchups to be played and an exciting NHL postseason awaits us.

There are two first-round matchups in both conferences that I am particularly intrigued with.

In the west, the Nashville Predators first-round matchup is against the Chicago Blackhawks. Both teams are stacked with talented players, and some of the best goaltending the NHL has to offer. I think there is clear potential for the winner of this series to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The other matchup on this side is the Vancouver Canucks against the Calgary Flames. Calgary has a host of young, talented players on their team, including Johnny Gaudreau, and earned their first playoff win since 2009 in the opening game of this series. Vancouver has the experience, but the Flames are hot, and it may be their year to upset some teams and emerge as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.

On the other side of the playoff bracket, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings will face off in the opening round, as well as the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders. Both the Lightning and Red Wings are equipped with young, talented netminders, both alumnus of the University of Maine in Ben Bishop for the Lightning and Jimmy Howard for the Red Wings.

Howard has had somewhat of an off year, being pulled at one point in the season, but is back in net for Detroit. Bishop has had a good year for the Lightning, winning 40 games in the regular season, and their high-powered offense might get the best of Howard in this series.

Washington has the advantage over the Islanders in experience and wealth of talented players as well, but the Islanders took game one and they might have enough to take the series. John Tavares is a premier center and goal-scorer in the NHL, and their goaltending has finally been stabilized with the addition of Jaroslav Halak. They also have a great defensive scheme with guys like Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy, who they traded for to improve their net front presence. This team is built to go deep in the playoffs.

The one seeds in this bracket shouldn’t have too much difficulty making it by the first-round of action, but the Ottawa Senators have been on a hot streak as of late. Sadly for them, they have to face the hottest goaltender in hockey in Carey Price, who racked up 44 wins during the regular season between the posts for Montreal. Although the Senators are hot, Montreal is too well-rounded of a team across the board to give up a first round series to Ottawa, but there’s potential for the series to be extended to six or seven games.

The Blackhawks by far have the toughest road to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but at this time of year, it’s so hard to bet against them. They have the deepest roster in hockey and the most goal scorers. Their defense is stout and goaltender Corey Crawford has proved what he can do in playoff hockey. They’ll have to upend the Predators in the first round, and then likely take on the St. Louis Blues to reach the Western Conference final, but this is no feat they haven’t done before.

Montreal will have to face the winner of the Lightning and Red Wings in the second round, but they have the talent to beat out whomever they face and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. There, I predict they will face the Rangers, which will be a grueling seven game series. The Rangers are an extremely talented bunch as well, but goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has battled injuries this season, and won’t be in rhythm to go the distance for New York this postseason.

Look for the Canadiens and the Blackhawks to face off in the Stanley Cup Finals, with the Canadiens hoisting the Stanley Cup after a six game series.

The fourth-year Westbrook native is a starting left-handed pitcher, an infielder and the fourth batter in the lineup for the Black Bears.

Head Coach Steve Trimper considers this squad to be Heath’s team, and touted him as the best leader he’s ever had in more than 20 years of coaching.

Heath is the face of a program that has had great success throughout his four years as a Black Bear. He’s an impact player that can change the course of a game with just one swing, and his versatility as a player gives Coach Trimper a wide variety of options for his lineup each game.

“I just go out there every day and try to help the team win, whether it’s playing defense, outfield, first base, or on the mound pitching. Whichever opportunity I get to help the team win, I go for it,” Heath said.

So far this season, Heath and his Black Bears squad has faced a lot of adversity. Their early spring trip to Florida wasn’t as successful as they had hoped, and a slew of games have been rained, or snowed out. Staying in rhythm isn’t too difficult for Heath, who has remained consistent on the mound and at the plate all season and hopes to help his teammates do the same.

“I think this year I’m hitting better than other years, I’m pretty healthy right now. As a team we’ve started out slow, but we’ve gotten better as the year has gone on. We need to play better defense right now, do better at the little things, and play like we know how to. I still have faith in this team, I know we have a good squad, and I think we’ll turn it around,” Heath said.

Currently the Black Bears sit at 10-17 overall and 1-4 in the America East conference. They dropped early games against conference foes Hartford and Albany, and a pair of games against Stony Brook. To get a playoff berth, Maine needs to rebound in the conference and begin winning games.

“I’m looking forward to our next Hartford series. I didn’t pitch particularly well in that game last time, and we didn’t play well as a team either. Our last two games against them got rained out, so I’m looking forward to getting a chance to play them and show them what kind of team we really are,” Heath said.

Heath has posted solid number so far this season. On the mound, he’s 3-3 with 31 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. At bat, he’s tallied a team high two home runs, 20 RBI and a .287 batting average.

Off the field, Heath puts a lot of work into his schoolwork and has to juggle many responsibilities, just like any other student athlete at Maine. He’s studying business management but is undecided whether he will pursue a career in that field or continue to play baseball after graduation. With five classes, practices and games, things can get pretty hectic in Heath’s daily schedule. However, his love for baseball keeps him motivated this time of year, and it’s something that he lives for.

“It’s a lot of work this time of year. I feel like I’m always at the field either working on my swing or getting treatment in the training room. We have practice or games almost every day, so you have to be able to manage your time. You have to put effort into your school work, practice hard, and get enough sleep, or it will catch up to you. But I wouldn’t rather be doing anything else. It’s awesome playing here. We’re all blessed with this opportunity,” Heath said.

Heath began playing baseball at the age of three out in the backyard with his father, Michael, who turned his son on to the sport at a young age and helped develop his game. His years of experience have made him so well-rounded, and perhaps the biggest asset on Maine’s roster.

Looking forward, Heath is hopeful of what this team can accomplish before the end of the season.

“We just have to take things one game at a time. I expect us to continue to improve and work really hard at what we haven’t been doing well. I expect us to start winning more games in conference to get us a playoff berth, and I expect us to give the conference title a run,” he said.

Coach Trimper set the team goal this season to getting five percent better every day, rather than setting larger goals like making it to a regional or winning the conference title. This mentality has resonated well with Heath and the rest of the team. Heath believes that if the team can achieve this, they will be a hard to compete with when playoffs come.

“It’s a great mentality to have because we’ve dealt with a lot of adversity,” Heath said.

“If you go out there with that attitude every day, whether it’s practice or a game, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing if you’re getting better, learning something, and working hard. If we do this every single day we’ll be playing our best ball at the end of the season when the playoffs roll around. It’s an attitude that creates success with this team, having a good attitude and work ethic, and trying to be a better ball player than you were yesterday. It speaks for itself and hopefully the results show with this group of guys.”

Heath and his Black Bears return to action on Tuesday, April 14 for a match against University of Maine Presque Isle at 5 p.m., looking to right the ship and get on course for a winning season.

The University of Maine baseball team lost a single game on Saturday afternoon before splitting a doubleheader with conference rival UMass Lowell. The Black Bears lost 4-3 in extra innings on Saturday, before winning 5-4 and falling 10-6 on Sunday. With the losses, Maine falls to last place in the America East Conference.

Balzano leads Black Bears in loss

The University of Maine baseball team dropped the first game of a three game weekend series, losing in extra innings by a score of 4-3 to America East conference foe UMass-Lowell. Maine rallied with a two-run shot by fourth-year outfielder Sam Balzano in the seventh inning to knot the score at 3-3. The River Hawks responded with a walk-off double by second-year outfielder Ian Strom in the bottom of the 10th to upend the Black Bears.

The River Hawks stormed to an early 3-0 lead, tallying three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Black Bears first-year starting pitcher Justin Courtney walked third-year outfielder Joe Consolmagno to get the River Hawks on base. Fourth-year shortstop Danny Mendick doubled to bring in Consolmagno to take a 1-0 lead, and fourth-year infielder Matthew Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners. UMass-Lowell took a 3-0 lead when fourth-year outfielder Jimmy Ricoy batted in Mendick and Sanchez on a single deep to right field.

Courtney bounced back after a difficult first inning to shut out the River Hawks until he was relieved in the sixth inning.

Third-year infielder Bussey got Maine on the board in the top of the sixth inning with a triple, and scored when the Black Bears hit into a double play.

Maine knotted the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh with Balzano’s double to center field. Third-year catcher Kevin Stypulkowski singled to right field to get on base, and fourth-year outfielder Brian Doran was walked. River Hawks first-year pitcher Nick Kuzia threw a wild pitch, which advanced both runners into scoring position before Balzano doubled to center, completing the Black Bears rally.

Neither team was able to score another run in regulation. Strom ended the game in the bottom of the 10th on a walk-off double on third-year reliever Logan Fullmer.

Consolmagno started the inning with a single, and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mendick. Fullmer walked Sanchez, looking for an easy force out on Strom to end the inning. Strom got a piece of a sinker and sent it down into the right field corner, bringing in Consolmagno to end the game 4-3.

River Hawks starting first-year pitcher Andrew Ryan gave up only one earned run in six innings of work. Fourth-year reliever Christian Lavoie earned the win with two shutout innings at the end of the game.

Black Bears bounce back

Maine responded in the first half of Sunday’s doubleheader and defeated the River Hawks 5-4. Fourth-year outfielder Brian Doran hit a two RBI homerun in the fourth inning to lift the Black Bears over the River Hawks.

Each team tallied a run in the opening inning. The River Hawks took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Matthew Sanchez singled deep into center field, bringing in fourth-year fielders Luke Reynolds and Kelly Rooney.

Maine responded in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Fourth-year shortstop Luke Morrill doubled to lead off the inning, and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Morrill came home on an error to bring the Black Bears within a run, down 3-2. Third-year catcher Jonathan Salcedo reached first base on a throwing error by Sanchez. Doran connected with a pitch from River Hawks fourth-year starting pitcher Geoff Degroot, sending it deep into right field and over the wall to take a 4-3 Black Bears lead.

Ian Strom hit a sac fly for the River Hawks in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing in Danny Mendick to knot the score at 4-4.

Sam Balzano flied out to the infield in the top of the sixth inning, running in fourth-year outfielder Steven Adam to give the Black Bears a 5-4 lead. The River Hawks failed to respond for the remainder of the contest.

Fourth-year pitcher Jacob Gosselin-Deschesnes earned the win for the Black Bears, moving to 2-1 on the mound for the season. The Black Bears starter, fourth-year Scott Heath struck out one batter in four and a third innings of work. Degroot earned the loss for the River Hawks, moving to 1-2 on the season.

UMaine falls in last game

In the back half of the doubleheader, the River Hawks owned all nine innings of play and beat Maine by a score of 10-6. A four run inning in the bottom of the fourth assisted by a two RBI double by Danny Mendick lifted the River Hawks, who never looked back.

UMass Lowell jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ian Strom doubled to center field bringing in Mendick and Sanchez to give the River Hawks an early advantage.

Maine responded when third-year first baseman Brenden Geary reached home plate when fourth-year outfielder Brian Doran singled down the first base line, cutting the River Hawks lead in half at 2-1.

The Black Bears knotted the score at 2-2 in the fourth inning, but that was as close as they would get from there onward. Geary doubled right of center field in the inning, bringing in fourth-year shortstop Luke Morrill to even the score.

In the bottom of the fourth, the River Hawks exploded for four runs. Maine third-year relief pitcher Charlie Butler struggled with the River Hawks batting in the inning, giving up two RBI doubles. Fourth-year outfielder Luke Reynolds doubled down the right field line to bring in second-year catcher Brice Erickson for a 3-2 lead. Matthew Sanchez grounded out to first base, bringing in Reynolds to extend the River Hawks lead 4-2. Mendick offered his two RBI double to left center field, bringing in first-year infielder Ben Prada and Geoff DeGroot for a commanding 6-2 UMass Lowell lead.

Morrill connected with a double deep to right center field on a pitch from River Hawks fourth-year starting pitcher Kevin Veilleux in the top of the fifth inning to bring in third-year Shane Bussey and Sam Balzano, inching the Black Bears closer at 6-4.

UMass Lowell opened up its lead in the bottom of the inning, gaining two more runs on the Black Bears. Reynolds singled to right field to bring in Joe Consolmagno, and Sanchez singled to third base allowing Reynolds to score, increasing the River Hawks cushion at 8-4.

Geary brought in third-year infielder Brett Chappell batting into a fielder’s choice to cut the lead down to 8-5 in the top of the seventh inning.

Kelly Rooney grounded out on a bunt in the bottom of the inning to bring in Consolmagno to extend the River Hawks lead yet again. Sanchez tripled late in the inning to bring Consolmagno home for a commanding 10-5 lead.

Balzano singled to left field in the top of the ninth inning to bring in Geary, but the Black Bears were closed out by Strom who made a relief effort on the mound for the last one 1/3 innings.

Veilleux earned the win for the River Hawks, striking out one batter on four earned runs in six and a third innings. Black Bears third-year starter Jake Marks falls to 1-4 on the season with the loss.

Maine returns to action on Tuesday afternoon when they face off against the University of Maine Presque Isle at Mahaney Diamond at 5 p.m.

ESPN released a list of their top 20 players in the last 20 years last week, and to any real sports fan, it was an embarrassment.

The list featured a host of athletes that were caught using performance enhancing drugs and other illegal substances, and it completely omitted several tremendous players. Overall, the list was a popularity contest. The only hockey player on their list was Sidney Crosby, who took 20th place overall, despite there being so many more well-accomplished hockey players in the last 20 years other than Crosby.

So, I offer my own list. One that grades athletes from 1995-2015 based on a slew of different categories, including overall statistics, milestone career accomplishments, championship titles, longevity of their career, and relevancy in their respective sports.

20) Jaromir Jagr (NHL)

Jagr is 43 years old and still significant in the NHL, being traded to the Florida Panthers just before the trade deadline this year from the New Jersey Devils. It doesn’t matter how old this guy is, he’ll play forever. While his two titles with the Penguins came before 1995, he won four straight Art Ross trophies as the top point-scorer in the league from 1997-2001. Fourteen years later, his wrist shot is as accurate as ever. He has the experience to grind out tough minutes in playoff hockey, and is an impact player no matter what roster he is on. The longevity of his career speaks volumes about his athletic abilities.

19) Curtis Martin (NFL)

It only took Curtis Martin 11 years to become the fourth overall leading rusher in NFL history. He averaged four yards per-carry throughout his career and was an absolute workhorse for the New York Jets. I think Patriots fans still might be upset they lost this guy early in his career. He averaged nearly 100 yards per game throughout his career, totaling 14,101 career yards before he hung up his cleats. The way pro football has transformed into a passing league over the years, we might not see someone put up numbers like this again.

18) Michael Strahan (NFL)

Strahan totaled 141.5 sacks in his 15-year football career, and was a force to be reckoned with wherever he lined up defensively for the New York Giants. He was the defensive player of the year in 2001 when he set the single season sack record in NFL history with 22.5. He also was the NFC defensive player of the year for a pair of seasons and won a Super Bowl in his final season in 2007, making him one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history.

17) Patrick Roy (NHL)

Many of Roy’s career accomplishments occurred before 1995, but you can’t knock this guy for what he did for the game of hockey. He is one of the greatest goalies to ever play the game, and he was still relevant during his last seasons in the sport. He won the Conn Smythe trophy in the 2000-2001 season as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Finals, leading the Colorado Avalanche to the title that year.

16) Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR)

Johnson is the greatest driver the sport has seen in the last 20 years, and if he wins a few more Sprint Cup titles, he may go down as the greatest of all time. Regardless of whether you consider NASCAR a professional sport or not, winning five straight championships in anything is difficult to accomplish. He did just that from 2006-2010 and has racked up 71 wins thus far in his career.

15) Lionel Messi (Soccer)

Messi has single-handedly made soccer relevant in the United States, attracting the attention of American soccer fans with his spectacular goal-scoring abilities. Messi was named the best soccer player in the world four consecutive times, from 2009-2012. There is no telling what this man will accomplish by the end of his career.

14) LeBron James (NBA)

This is where King James belongs. James has two titles and four MVP’s, which speaks volumes of his athletic ability, but he hasn’t done enough to win me over. There are still several players in the NBA who have won more titles and made more of an impact in the sport than LeBron has in the last 20 years. That’s not to say that LeBron won’t be the best to ever play by the end of his career, but it has still yet to be seen.

13) Mariano Rivera (MLB)

Where was this guy on ESPN’s list? He is the greatest closer to ever play professional baseball. He has 652 career saves and notched 1,173 strikeouts along the way. He saved at least 25 games in 15 consecutive seasons and had an ERA under 2.00 for 11 straight seasons, both records in the major leagues. Rivera was one of the most consistent player in the Yankees organization for nearly 20 years, and helped lead the team to five World Series pennants.

12) Tim Duncan (NBA)

The Big Fundamental. This guy has played pure basketball for 18 seasons in the NBA. He is probably the most technically sound big man to ever play the game. Duncan can kiss a shot off the glass from practically anywhere on the floor, and he’s a strong presence in the paint even at the age of 38. He’s won five championships and two MVP awards with the San Antonio Spurs.

11) Usain Bolt (Track)

He’s the fastest man on the planet, and one of the most accomplished runners we’ve ever seen. He was the first Olympic runner to win six gold medals in sprinting events. He is the first person in the world to hold both the 100 and 200-meter world records. Athlete is an understatement when it comes to Usain Bolt.

10) Serena Williams (Tennis)

What hasn’t Serena Williams accomplished in her tennis career? She’s the most accomplished woman to ever play the sport. She has 65 singles titles and 22 doubles titles in tennis, including one singles gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics and three doubles Olympic gold medals shared with her sister Venus.

9) Shaquille O’Neal (NBA)

Shaq, The Big Aristotle, The Big Cactus and the list of nicknames goes on. What a presence this guy was in the paint for the Magic, Lakers and Heat throughout his career. The only thing this guy couldn’t do on a basketball court was hit a free throw. Shaq won four titles, three of them consecutively between 2000-2002 with the Lakers. Nobody wanted to get between Shaq and the rim, and if they did, they’re probably on a poster in your bedroom.

8) Roger Federer (Tennis)

Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player to ever live. He’s won 84 singles titles throughout his career, including 17 grand slam titles, and eight doubles titles. Federer is one of seven tennis players ever to win all four major titles, including Wimbledon on seven occasions. He’s the only player ever to reach the finals in every Grand Slam tournament at least five times, easily making Federer a top ten athlete in the last 20 years.

7) Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Boxing)

Mayweather is a perfect 47-0 in the ring. Boxing is the toughest sport to play and to win 47 consecutive bouts shows how tremendous Mayweather is as an athlete. He’s yet to be seen in the ring against Manny Pacquiao, but the world will get its wish on May 2 of this year. Regardless of the outcome of that fight, Mayweather is one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen.

6) Derek Jeter (MLB)

Has there been a more consistent performer, in any professional sport over the last 20 years, than Derek Jeter? I don’t think so. This guy can get you a clutch hit when you need it and is one of the best shortstops to ever play baseball. He won five World Series pennants for the Yankees and blasted his 3000th career hit over the wall and into the stands in his 17th season. Baseball won’t be the same without him.

5) Tiger Woods (Golf)

A lot of scandals have encompassed Woods’ golf career in recent years, but this guy owned the sport for nearly a decade. He has the second most all time wins on the PGA circuit with 79, and has won 14 majors over his career. Woods has been the PGA Player of the Year 11 times. We’ve seen him put the green jacket on after the Master’s Tournament on four occasions. Tiger is the best golfer in the modern era. He’s significantly dropped off towards the end of his career, but Woods will remain a sports legend forever.

4) Michael Jordan (NBA)

I know, this one is hard to swallow, but hear me out. Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest athlete that American professional sports has ever seen, but we have to look at his body of work over the last 20 years. He won three straight titles at the end of the ‘90s, but after that, MJ just wasn’t the same wearing number 45 as he was wearing number 23. Still the greatest basketball player ever, but given the time constraints with this list, it’s hard to place him above the remaining athletes on this list.

3) Kobe Bryant (NBA)

Kobe has done it all in his career. He has five titles, all falling within the last 20 years. Two of them came without Shaq, which many thought he couldn’t do. Until his most recent injury plagued seasons, Bryant was a consistent performer for the Lakers, and one of, if not the best, in the league. If I need a basket with the game on the line, Kobe Bryant is my guy.

2) Tom Brady (NFL)

I’m not sure how ESPN had this guy in fourth on their list. As a Dolphins fan, it’s hard for me to accept this, but Tom Brady is the best football player we’ve seen in the last 20 years. His first Super Bowl title came in 2001, and his most recent came in 2015. He’s been incredible for the New England Patriots for so many years. He takes no-name wide receivers and turns them into pro-bowl players in only a season. Four Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl MVP’s. Honestly, it’s hard not to rank Brady first.

1) Martin Brodeur (NHL)

My blood was boiling when I saw that Brodeur was omitted from ESPN’s list. Brodeur is statistically the best goalie to ever play in NHL history. He’s won the Jennings trophy for fewest goals allowed in a season five different times, and the Vezina trophy for top goalie in the league on four occasions. Brodeur won two Stanley Cup titles with the New Jersey Devils, and holds nearly every major goalie statistic measured in the sport. In the regular season, he has 690 wins and 125 shutouts, along with 113 wins and 24 shutouts in playoff hockey. He is the greatest to ever play the toughest position of any professional sport, and for this, the best athlete we’ve seen in the last 20 years.

The University of Maine men’s hockey team swept the Merrimack College Warriors by scores of 4-3 and 5-3 last weekend at Lawler Arena in Andover, Massachusetts. Complete efforts on both nights by a slew of Black Bear players, including third-year captain Devin Shore, first-year wing Nolan Vesey and second-year forward Brian Morgan propelled Maine over their Hockey East conference rival.

UMaine takes down Merrimack

Third-year forward Devin Shore tallied a goal and an assist, and first-year wing Nolan Vesey notched a pair of assists to lift the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team over Merrimack College 4-3 Friday night in Andover, Massachusetts.

The Black Bears jumped out to a three goal lead in the second period before Merrimack would tally a goal and eventually battle back into the contest. Second-year goaltender Matt Morris stopped 26 pucks for Maine to secure the victory.

Maine’s first two goals came just 49 seconds apart in the opening period. Fourth-year assistant captain Stu Higgins won a faceoff and swept the puck to second-year wing Brady Campbell. Campbell skipped the puck back to first-year defender Mark Hamilton, who sent a slap shot from the point just inside the post for his first career goal, giving the Black Bears a 1-0 edge.

Skating up ice after the ensuing faceoff, second-year forward Brian Morgan chipped a pass to third-year wing Steven Swavely, who sent a wrist shot at Merrimack fourth-year netminder Rasmus Tirronen. Tirronen was unable to save the shot cleanly, and the puck bounced out to third-year defender Ben Hutton, who was trailing on the play. Hutton recovered the puck and pushed it by Tirronen for a 2-0 Black Bear lead.

Shore would score his 11th goal of the season for a 3-0 Maine lead early in the middle period. Battling for possession along the boards Vesey found second-year defender Dan Renouf who passed up ice to Shore, who was all alone in front of the Merrimack net. Shore deked left and before moving to his backhand and clapping the puck past Tirronen to lift the Black Bears to a 3-0 advantage.

Merrimack stormed back and notched a pair of consecutive goals to keep play competitive. Third-year forward John Gustafsson stole the puck in the Black Bears zone and wristed an unassisted goal by Morris to inch the Warriors closer at 3-1.

First-year forward Jace Hennig would find the back of the net before the end of the period for the Warriors as well. First-year forward Mathieu Tibbet skated into the slot and clapped a shot at Morris’ five hole. Morris tried to cover the puck but it squeaked through, and Hennig was there for Merrimack to poke the puck in and tighten the score at 3-2.

Maine’s third-year wing Will Merchant would tally the Black Bears game winning goal on a spectacular assist by Vesey. Vesey freed the puck with an aggressive forecheck steal from a Merrimack defender. Vesey chipped the puck into Merchant as he skated through the slot and wristed a shot over the glove of Tirronen and into the back of the net for a 4-2 Black Bears lead.

The Warriors would pull Tirronen in the final minute of the third period. Third-year wing Brian Christie found the back of the net for Merrimack with 17.8 seconds remaining in the contest, trailing just 4-3, but the Warriors couldn’t find the back of the net in the final seconds.

Team effort completes sweep

The Black Bears battled back from a two goal deficit early in the second period to defeat Merrimack 5-3 on Saturday afternoon. Maine tallied four consecutive goals in the middle period to beat out the Warriors and their aggressive start to the contest. Morris earned the start again for the Black Bears and stopped 28 shots to lift Maine.

Merrimack tallied two goals within 46 seconds of each other early in the second period, the first coming on the opening shift just 16 seconds in. Skating up ice after the faceoff, third-year forward Ben Bahe crossed the puck across the slot to second-year wing Hampus Gustafsson. Gustafsson skated into the left faceoff circle and wristed a shot top shelf on Morris to give Merrimack a 1-0 lead.

Hennig scored his 10th goal of the season and second of the weekend moments later. First-year forward Brett Seney passed to Hennig, who was posted up in the center of the slot. Hennig sent an initial shot that deflected off the chest of Morris and directly back into the slot at Hennig. Then, Hennig faked to his left and deked back to his right, clapping a backhand shot by Morris to extend the Merrimack lead to 2-0.

Maine responded with four consecutive goals before the end of the period, beginning with one from third-year wing Steven Swavely. Second-year defender Dan Renouf sent a slap shot from the point at the Merrimack net. In front of the Warriors netminder Rasmus Tirronen was Swavely, who deflected the puck into the back of the net from the slot to cut the Merrimack lead in half at 2-1.

The game tying goal for Maine came on the power play from first-year forward Cedric Lacroix. Second-year defender Eric Schurhamer sent a pass behind the net to Lacroix. Lacroix hesitated, and then skated in left of the crease and snuck the puck between Tirronen and the post to knot the score at 2-2.

Maine took the lead on a spectacular backhand shot by second-year forward Brian Morgan. Merrimack cleared the puck from their defensive end to mid-ice, where third-year defender Conor Riley corralled the puck. He chipped a quick pass to Morgan who skated in just right of the slot with speed. Morgan was shielding the puck from a Warrior defender as he neared the net when he unexpectedly sent a shot backhand off the shoulder of Tirronen and into the back of the net for a 3-2 Black Bear lead.

First-year wing Nolan Vesey capped off the Black Bears scoring in the second period. Shore skated up ice with speed and left the puck at the point for third-year defender Ben Hutton. Hutton grabbed the puck and skated into the slot, crossing the puck just before the crease to Vesey, who cut in from the left faceoff circle and slapped the puck into the back of the net for a 4-2 lead.

Gustafsson notched his second goal of the contest on the power play to bring Merrimack closer, but they were unable to climb back from the two goal deficit. Second-year wing Blaine Byron would tally an empty net goal late in the final period to secure the 5-3 win for Maine.

On the weekend, Morris improves to 6-6-2 in net for Maine and Tirronen falls to 10-9-2 for Merrimack.

Maine improves to eighth place in the Hockey East conference and returns to action next weekend at home in a pair of games against Northeastern. Puck drop on Friday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

On and off the ice, third-year captain Devin Shore leads the University of Maine men’s hockey program. Through the program’s rebuilding over the last few years, Shore has been a bright spot for the Black Bears and has attracted a lot of attention to the program.

Shore was drafted in the second round, 61st overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft, just before his collegiate career began at the University of Maine. Since then, he has been lighting up the score sheet and helping solidify the Black Bears as a legitimate contender in the competitive Hockey East Conference.

What separates Shore from other players at the collegiate level is his wide skill set. He has great vision, speed and hockey sense. In watching him play, you can tell that he knows where the puck is going to be, and you can almost guarantee he’ll get to it first. His vision makes him a superior playmaker; he can make skillful passes under duress and his wrist shot is a threat from anywhere on the ice.

“I think my biggest strengths on the ice are my hockey senses, playmaking ability, and puck protection. I enjoy being able to always be close to the puck and support it all over the ice. I try to make my teammates around me better,” Shore said.

Shore has been stellar for the Black Bears program since the beginning of his collegiate career. In his freshman season, he was a co-recipient of the Hockey East Top Scholar-Athlete award, posting a perfect 4.0 GPA. He’s also won a Maine Scholar-Athlete Award and has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team each year as a Black Bear. He also lead the team in scoring that season, the first freshman to do so since Gustav Nyquist, who is now a right wing on the Detroit Red Wings.

Before Maine, Shore played minor league hockey in his hometown of Ajax, Ontario for the Ajax/Pickering Raiders. Then he ventured to The Hill Academy in Ontario for a year of prep school before playing one season for the Whitby Fury in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).

Shore’s love for the sport started as a kid when he was just two, learning how to skate on frozen ponds and rivers in Ajax. He played his first organized game of hockey at four years old with the help and motivation of his father, who first encouraged him to lace up the skates and give hockey a chance.

“My dad first encouraged me to put on a pair of skates and get into the game,” Shore said.

“He would never have forced me into doing something I didn’t want. However, as a lifetime hockey fan himself, he definitely encouraged it. Lucky for him, I fell in love with the game right away.”

His love and passion for the game of hockey is evident on the ice. Shore’s intensity never lets up, both offensively and defensively. One of Shore’s mentors throughout life was, surprisingly, his long-time lacrosse coach, Derek Keenan. Keenan taught Shore that you can get better every day and always improve your play, no matter the sport.

“Keenan coached me in lacrosse every summer as a kid,” Shore said. “I have learned so much from him not only about lacrosse, but what it means to compete and have that inner drive to get better every day. He is definitely one of my idols.”

Not only can Shore score points, but he’s a well-rounded defender. He’s aggressive on the forecheck and can race from one end of the ice to the other and thwart the breakaway opportunities of his opponents. Because of his strong passion for the game, Shore is always trying to get better. Specifically, he’s looking to improve his two-way play for the pros.

“I continue to work on my foot speed and explosive power so I can get out of the gate quicker,” Shore said. “I take a lot of pride in my defensive game, so I am always looking to improve my two-way game.”

This season, Shore’s stats have declined, but he’s still been impactful on the ice, and his play has transformed under head coach Red Gendron. Gendron took helm of the program in 2013. That season, Shore tallied 43 points on 14 goals and 29 assists. This season, he’s managed a team-leading 29 points on 11 goals and 18 assists. Across the board, numbers are down, but Shore remains consistent and enjoys playing under Gendron.

“Coach Gendron has immense passion for the game of hockey. He loves to win and demands the most out of his players,” Shore said.

“His intensity drives us to be better. It’s an honor to play for someone who has such a passion for Maine Hockey and everyone involved with the program. He inspires us to represent this program proudly by giving everything we have every single night.”

To the dismay of Maine fans, this may be Shore’s last season with the Black Bears. His talents will likely land him playing for the Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate in the near future. But for Shore, playing for Maine has been a privilege, and something he could never forget, even if he’s heading onto professional hockey.

“The most positive thing I would attribute to my experience at UMaine would be the privilege of playing in front of the Alfond crowd,” Shore said. “It truly is indescribable. Their passion for Maine hockey is inspiring, and it is an honor to wear the Maine sweater every night and represent our fans and this state. I believe it is the best place to play a hockey game, period.”

When he moves on, Shore will be remembered for his charismatic play and dedication to the Black Bears program. Nobody knows how long it will be until we see another player of his caliber suited up again for the Black Bears.

“I want to be remembered for my passion for the game of hockey,” Shore said.

“When I leave this institution, I want people to say ‘he simply loved to play hockey.’ I would love for people to say I was a great ambassador for Maine Hockey and that I represented the program with class and respect. I want to be remembered for being a good person off the ice as much as my on-ice contributions.”

It won’t be hard for fans to remember this, and if anything it, will be hard to forget all that Shore has done for the Black Bears program. Since the beginning, he’s been an exemplary role model of the University of Maine and the foundation of a struggling program that needed a Devin Shore on its roster to become relevant again.

Alfie Michaud wasn’t sure where to turn after the end of his 15-year career in professional hockey. He contemplated playing another year overseas in Europe, but a unique opportunity brought the former University of Maine goalie back to Maine.

Torn between hanging up the skates and pursuing hockey interests elsewhere, Michaud reached out to Brad Church, the chief operating officer of the Portland Pirates, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes. In just one week, Michaud went from undecided to being the coach of the Portland Junior Pirates’ Under-18 team, and the goalie coach for the Portland Pirates.

“I planned on playing overseas, but it all happened so quickly,” Michaud said about the move to the Pirates organization.

“First, I talked to [Brad] Church and we had a good meeting. I got the job for the junior team and learned that the Pirates needed a goalie coach. Then I met with the head coach and general manager Ray Edwards and got the job.”

Before he knew it, Michaud was commuting 87 miles from his home in Vienna to the Pirates training facilities in Saco to work with his new players and peers. His knowledge and experience of the game made him an ideal fit for the Pirates, and so far, the change has been successful for both Michaud and the Pirates.

The Junior Pirates won the state Tier 2 title and will be playing in the national tournament in March. The Pirates are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division. Starting goaltender Mike McKenna is posting solid numbers under Michaud, tallying a 2.15 GAA and .932 save percentage, ranked 10th overall on theahl.com

“There’s a great coaching staff here, and I’m just trying to learn all I can,” Michaud said.

“I have a great group of goalies to work with, and I’m learning from them and the other coaches here too. It’s nice watching good players and just soaking it all in.”

The most rewarding aspect of coaching the Pirates for Michaud has been his ability to work with one of his childhood heroes, Sean Burke. Burke is the assistant general manager and goalie coach of the Arizona Coyotes, and was part of the interview process in Michaud’s hiring.

“He’s done a lot of good work with the players he’s coached. He’s always been a mentor of mine, and it’s really an honor to work under him,” Michaud said.

Before his brief stint in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and years of professional play overseas, Michaud played between the posts for the University of Maine Black Bears during their last NCAA title in 1998-99, and was named the Most Valuable Player of that tournament.

The entire 1998-99 squad was recently honored at the Alfond Arena in November of last year, marking the team’s 15th anniversary of their NCAA title. Michaud has fond memories of that team and what they accomplished for the University of Maine.

“We were a special, tight-knit group,” Michaud said.

“I had a lot of great friends on that team. Playing for Coach [Shawn] Walsh was a wonderful experience. We never wanted to let each other down. As he would have said it, ‘you care so much about these guys, you would have gave them your left arm.’”

Michaud recalled his first encounter with the Maine coaching staff, and how they helped get the most out of their players.

“I went to Maine because of Walsh’s assistant coach Grant Standbrook, he recruited me,” Michaud said.

“I didn’t talk to Walsh until I committed. They made it fun for us. Walsh was a stickler for detail, very demanding, but also very fair. If you came in and worked every day, you were going to get to play. He was ahead of his time in how he managed his players. He could push the right buttons and get a response from anyone. The two of them together was a great team.”

Looking forward, Michaud is excited about coaching and the new experiences it will bring him. Despite hurrying into his new job, he’s humbled with where he is now with the Pirates organization and is anxious to continue his new career.

“I’m a coach now, and I’d love to continue coaching,” he said. “I’m no different than anyone else. I’d like to move up the ranks. One day I’d love to have that opportunity, but I’m really happy where I am now. It’s been a big change but I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m going to grind it out down here with Portland and keep learning.”

The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team fought hard last weekend against the University of Notre Dame, tieing Friday night before getting blown out 5-1 Saturday. The Black Bears are now 10-7-3 and 5-9-2 in conference play.

UMaine skates to tie

The University of Maine men’s hockey team went into overtime for the third consecutive game, tying the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by a score of 4-4 on Friday night at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears third-year captain Devin Shore and second-year forward Brady Campbell tallied big goals to help lift Maine from a first period deficit.

Campbell’s goal was his first of the season and came early in the second period.The Black Bears were battling back from 3-2 when Campbell found the back of the net on a miraculous play by linemate and fourth-year assistant captain Stu Higgins.

Higgins skated up ice, catching the Fighting Irish on a line change with only one defender in Notre Dame’s defensive zone. Higgins fired a pair of shots that deflected off the legs of a Notre Dame defender. The Fighting Irish’s second-year goaltender Chad Katunar lost sight of the puck in the exchange. Campbell was trailing Higgins on the play and recovered the loose puck, knocking it in as he fell to the ice to even the score at 3-3.

“I was just trying to do my best to keep my eye on it,” Campbell said. “ Somehow it ended up behind the goalie and I was able to just chip it in.”

The Black Bears third line of Campbell, Higgins and third-year wing Will Merchant were stellar throughout, combining for two goals and an assist in the contest.

“Campbell, Merchant and Higgins have played really well for a long time, and tonight they were superb again. They finally earned their just deserts,” Black Bears coach Red Gendron said.

Maine would take a 4-3 lead before the end of the middle period. Shore brought the puck up ice on a two on one opportunity. He decided to hold onto the puck and fired a wrist shot that deflected off the mask of Katunar and out to first-year defender Mark Hamilton. Hamilton fired a shot high at the net that Katunar awkwardly stood up to save. The puck dropped to the ice between his legs, and Shore was right there to clap the puck through his legs to take a 4-3 Maine lead.

“We captured momentum by using speed, puck movement, and winning battles. We never let our foot off the gas and that’s how we want to play,” Gendron said.

Notre Dame was able to fall back on their all-star, third-year wing Mario Lucia, who knotted the score in the final minute of the second period for the Fighting Irish after being battered 18-6 in shots throughout the middle period.

Second-year center Vince Hinostroza received a pass at the point and fired a slapshot at Black Bears second-year goaltender Matt Morris. The puck deflected off of Morris’ right pad and back into the slot. Lucia was battling for position down low with a Maine defender, finding the puck at the end of his stick and firing a rocket into the Black Bears net for a 4-4 tie.

“Momentum goals are always huge, that gave us a little life going into the third,” Notre Dame coach, Jeff Jackson said.

Neither team was able to tally a goal in the overtime.

“I think we played well enough to win, but a lot of the times the results don’t reflect how well you played,” Shore said. “It’s that time of year in a really deep league where points are precious.”

Gendron pulled starting first-year netminder Sean Romeo after giving up three goals in the first 13 minutes of action. Morris replaced him for the remainder of the contest and played well between the posts for the Black Bears, allowing only one goal in nearly an entire game of action.

Maine got on the board first, just five minutes into the opening period. An aggressive mid-ice forecheck earned the Black Bears a breakaway opportunity. Second-year forward Blaine Byron poked the puck away from a Notre Dame defender, and fourth-year wing Connor Leen tipped it back up ice to Byron as he skated alone towards the Notre Dame net. Byron hesitated and fired a wrist shot across the ice and through the five hole of Katunar for a 1-0 Maine lead.

Notre Dame would tally two consecutive goals before the Black Bears would respond on a goal by Will Merchant before the end of the period.

The first goal came on a 3-on-2 opportunity converted by first-year wing Anders Bjork. After thwarting a Black Bears offensive rush, Hinostroza stormed up ice and passed the puck from the right faceoff circle to first-year wing Anders Bjork in the center of the slot. Bjork fired a shot stick side that Romeo couldn’t save, knotting the score at 1-1.

The Fighting Irish tallied their second goal less than a minute later on an odd play by third-year defender Jordan Gross. Gross received a pass and fired a shot into a slew of traffic. The puck deflected off of several players, and eventually dribbled into the back of the net. Romeo lost sight of the puck in the action and it slid slowly into the Maine net for a 2-1 Notre Dame advantage.

Merchant scored on a tip-in from a puck that rebounded off of Katunar’s chest on a slapshot from third-year forward Steven Swavely.

Notre Dame regained the lead on a beautiful snipe by third-year defender Jordan Gross. Gross found the puck just left of the slot after a scrum for the puck in the corner. Gross lifted the puck over the shoulder of Romeo, who was hugging the right post. The puck somehow found its way through and into the back of the net for a 3-2 Fighting Irish lead at the end of the first.

“Some nights I sit here and I tell you how angry I am, but tonight we played well. It would have been nice to get two points instead of one, but that’s hockey,” Gendron said.

“I’m not happy unless we win, ever. But at the same time, I can’t sit here and say we played poorly. We played a real good game. We needed to get five goals, and we didn’t.”

Black Bears blown out

A defensive lapse in the final two minutes of the middle period decided Saturday’s conference bout between Notre Dame and the University of Maine. The Fighting Irish tallied three goals in 90 seconds to defeat Maine 5-1 at Alfond Arena. Second-year forward Vince Hinostroza finished with two goals and an assist to lift the Fighting Irish.

“We came out flat and didn’t pay attention to detail. We just fell apart in the second period,” Black Bears fourth-year wing Connor Leen said after the game.

Both teams entered the second period in a 1-1 tie. The majority of the period remained scoreless until Notre Dame exploded for three goals, a deficit too large for the Black Bears to respond to.

The first came from fourth-year wing Austin Wuthrich. Wuthrich received a pass at the left faceoff circle and fired a shot in traffic. The puck deflected off of a Notre Dame player and squeaked by Morris’ right pad to give the Fighting Irish a 2-1 lead.

“We had good puck possession the whole shift. A couple things opened up and we were finally able to capitalize. It was a good shift and that’s what we’ve wanted to do all weekend,” Wuthrich said.

Second-year center Vince Hinostroza tallied a second goal in the period just seconds later. A defensive zone turnover gave Hinostroza and second-year forward Anders Bjork a 2 on 1 opportunity against a Maine defender. Bjork passed right to Hinostoza who hesitated, and then fired a shot short side by Morris to increase the lead at 3-1.

“I saw the goalie sliding and I put it short side under his glove. I think he got a piece of it but it went in,” Hinostroza said.

It didn’t get better for the Black Bears from there. First-year forward Jake Evans would tally a third Notre Dame goal 40 seconds later. Evans received a pass in the slot from first-year center Connor Hurley and widened his path as he approached the Black Bears net. Then, Evans released a wrist shot that deflected off the skate of a Maine defender and through Morris’ five hole to propel Notre Dame to a 4-1 lead before the end of the period.

“We stuck with it all night. When we play four lines and control the puck, that’s Irish hockey,” Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson said.

Maine played well throughout the contest, but the disastrous end to the middle period ultimately lost them the game.

“That stretch is unacceptable. I should have had two of them, if not all of them. The last one was a weird bounce but it’s definitely one I want back,” Morris said.

Both teams tallied a goal in a back and forth opening period.

Notre Dame broke the scoreless tie just five minutes into the game. Hinostroza fired a shot from the slot at Black Bears second-year goaltender Matt Morris. The puck deflected off of Morris’ pad and back out into the slot. Third-year wing Mario Lucia recovered the puck and sent a rebound shot that Morris somehow blocked again. The puck slid right of the crease where Bjork recovered and clapped the puck by Morris to secure a 1-0 Notre Dame lead.

Maine would respond by tallying their only goal of the contest shortly after Bjork’s on a spectacular effort by fourth-year forward Connor Leen. Leen received a pass from Swavely behind the Notre Dame net. Leen skated behind and back out to the end line before firing a shot parallel with the net that deflected off the skate of Notre Dame first-year netminder Cal Petersen and into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.

The only chance the Black Bears had to put another on the board was thwarted when Petersen laid down to cover a puck shot by first-year wing Nolan Vesey. Vesey sent the shot from the right faceoff circle and connected with the post. The puck fell under Petersen and a scrum ensued in front of the Notre Dame net. Petersen laid back and covered the puck, despite the light flashing and the Black Bears horn sounding. The referees reviewed the play and confirmed the call on the ice of no goal.

Hinostroza tallied an empty net goal with a minute remaining to complete the 5-1 victory for Notre Dame.

“We needed to get elevated tonight. Last night we played a good game. We had to be focused and intense for the game tonight, but clearly that didn’t happen. We didn’t start well, and we didn’t play well in the second period,” Maine coach Red Gendron said.

The Black Bears return to action next weekend for a two game series at Merrimack College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The University of Maine men’s ice hockey teams appeared to be gaining some momentum before dropping going 1-0-1 last weekend against the University of Connecticut Huskies. The Black Bears are now 10-6-2 overall and 5-8-1 in the Hockey East Conference.

UMaine falls 2-1

The Black Bears dropped a heartbreaker to the University of Connecticut Huskies 2-1 in overtime. UConn had not played a game in the Alfond since the 2010-2011 season, which resulted in a 3-3 tie. With the loss, Maine moves down to ninth place in the Hockey East standings.

Game One began with a scoreless first period. Maine would get the better of the chances however, when a few point blank shots taken by first-year forward Liam Pecararo and second-year forward Brady Campbell were stopped by Huskies’ goaltender Rob Nichols.

“[Nichols] has been solid all year long…we’re happy with the way he’s been playing,” UConn Head Coach Mike Cavanaugh said, “but he’s also part of a team, and if it was five on zero, he would not be able to make the saves that he did.”

Maine first-year forward Malcolm Hayes almost caught UConn on a change halfway through the first period, but the puck got caught in his skates as he crossed the red line and the defense was able to catch up.

UConn would be the first to get on the board in the second period, when Black Bear goaltender Matt Morris turned over the puck behind his own net, leading to a goal for UConn.

After the puck was dumped into the Maine zone, Morris stopped the puck behind the net, thinking one of his defenseman would be there to break it out. But fourth-year UConn captain Ryan Tyson was there instead. Tyson passed the puck to the top of the crease, where third-year forward Patrick Kirkland was waiting. Kirkland took a shot that was stopped by Morris, but the rebound was poked out from under his arm, and fourth-year forward Cody Sharib poked it into the net to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

“It was a miscommunication,” Morris said on the Huskies’ first goal, “I didn’t hear the defenseman call a play, I thought he said ‘leave it.’ It’s my fault.”

Maine would get a golden opportunity on an odd man rush later in the period, when third-year defenseman Ben Hutton carried the puck into the offensive zone as part of a three on two. He ripped a slap shot that was headed top shelf, but Nichols was able to make the glove save to deny Maine of the tying goal. Backed by a strong defensive performance, UConn took the 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

Even Maine Head Coach Red Gendron commented on the strong effort put in by Nichols and the Huskies defense.

“We have to give credit to UConn, they played well,” Gendron said, “The University of Connecticut played an exceptional game and were backed by an outstanding goaltender.”

After dominating most of the third period, the Black Bears would find the back of the net with just 6:05 remaining in the game.

Black Bear third-year forward Steven Swavely took the initial shot on goal that was blocked in the slot. The rebound was chased down by Maine first-year forward Nolan Vesey who passed the puck to third-year forward and captain Devin Shore, who buried the rebound over the stick side shoulder of Nichols to tie the game at one apiece.

For Shore, it was his ninth goal of the season, which is tied for the team lead. He was also playing in his 100th consecutive game in a Maine sweater.

After fighting off a barrage of shots and odd man rushes by UConn, the Black Bears and Huskies went into the sudden-death overtime period tied 1-1.

After a turnover in the neutral zone, the Huskies brought the puck into the Maine zone on a two on one. UConn first-year forward Corey Ronan passed the puck to linemate and classmate Spencer Naas, who shot the puck from inside the left circle. The puck snuck under the blocker side arm of Morris and trickled into the net with just 20.3 seconds remaining.

For Naas, it was his 11th goal of the season and his fourth game winning goal for the Huskies. Despite the loss, Maine outshot UConn 42 to 35. Both goaltenders played well, Nichols stopping 41 shots for the Huskies in the win, and Morris making 33 saves in the loss. Both teams could not capitalize on the powerplay, Maine going 0-2, and UConn going 0-3 on the man advantage.

“What a college hockey game that was. I thought it was back and forth, both goaltenders were outstanding… it was the epitome of a great college hockey game,” Cavanaugh said after the game, “either team could have won that game.”

“We didn’t come out the way we wanted to, especially at home,” Shore said, “We dug ourselves a hole over the course of the game and payed for it in OT… We’ve got to do more, we didn’t get the job done, lucky for us we’ve got another shot on Sunday.”

Gendron was not pleased with his team’s performance on Friday night, because of the disconnect between the team’s game plan and the way it was executed during the game.

“We talked in the locker room about how we were going to play versus a team like that, and after the first period we weren’t doing that, so as a result, we didn’t succeed,” Gendron said after the game, “The University of Connecticut; if you don’t play them tough for a full 60 minutes they’ll wind up beating you…so to me, even though the game was lost with 20.3 seconds left, the game was lost in the first period.”

Black Bears draw

The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team relinquished an early 2-0 lead to tie the University of Connecticut Huskies 2-2 in Hartford on Sunday afternoon. Black Bears second-year forward Cam Brown and fourth-year defender Jake Rutt both tallied goals for Maine before first-year goaltender Sean Romeo allowed a pair Huskies goals to knot the contest.

Maine gained a 2-0 lead through the first half of the contest before the Huskies tallied two goals in under a minute to tie the Black Bears. The third and overtime period rendered no goals, moving the Black Bears to a 10-16-2 overall record and UConn to 8-12-6.

The opening period was back and forth with both teams generating scoring opportunities. Both Romeo and Huskies second-year netminder Rob Nichols were stout between the posts.

The Black Bears opened up a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the opening period. Third-year defender Conor Riley brought the puck to the net and fired a shot at Nichols. Nichols made the initial save, but the puck rebounded off his pad and back into the crease. Cam Brown recovered the puck for Maine in a scrum of players in front of the net and fired a shot by Nichols from point-blank range to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead before the first intermission Brown’s goal marked his seventh of the season.

Maine built on its lead near the halfway point of middle period. Second-year forward Blaine Byron stole the puck from a UConn defender at mid-ice and headed towards Nichols on a breakaway opportunity. Byron deked left and shot, but Nichols made the save with his right pad. Byron recovered the rebounding puck and skipped it to Rutt, who sent a shot by Nichols to secure a 2-0 lead.

The Huskies responded four minutes later and tallied two goals in the 12th minute of action in the second period to tie the contest.

Third-year forward Joey Ferriss passed the puck back to second-year Joona Kunnas in the offensive zone. Kunnas ripped a shot at Romeo, deflecting off Romeo’s pads and into a scrum of players in the crease. Fourth-year forward Ryan Tyson recovered the puck for UConn and fired the puck by the outreaching arm of Romeo to cut the Black Bears lead in half at 2-1.

UConn knotted the contest just 34 seconds later.

After the faceoff, Huskies third-year forward Shawn Pauly skated up ice and fired a shot at Romeo from the slot. Fourth-year forward Trevor Gerling skated into the crease from the side of the net to catch the rebound to the left of Romeo and chip the puck into the back of the net to tie the Black Bears 2-2.

Neither team was able to tally a goal in the third period or overtime, ending the contest at a 2-2 tie.

Both teams threw 32 shots on net, and both goalies made 30 saves. With the tie, Maine moves to 5-8-1 in Hockey East conference play and the Huskies move to 5-6-3. UConn owns eighth place in the conference and the Black Bears sit at 10th.

Maine returns to action this Friday when they host Notre Dame for the first time at the Alfond Arena as a Hockey East conference opponent. The Fighting Irish are currently in fifth place in Hockey East. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Reunion

For University of Maine men’s ice hockey coach Dennis “Red” Gendron, coming back to UMaine was a homecoming affair. He earned his Master’s degree in education administration from the university during his time as an assistant coach from 1990-1993, coaching on the ’93 Black Bears National Championship team. Presented with the opportunity to coach the Black Bears again, coming back to the University of Maine was an easy decision for Gendron.

“To come back, on a personal level, is wonderful. I was a high school coach prior to coming here in 1990, and it’s always hard to get your foot in the door at any level beyond the level that you’re at,” Gendron said.

Gendron was brought on to the Black Bears program by Maine hockey coaching legend Shawn Walsh, seeing his promise as a coach after seasons of coaching championship teams at the high school level in St. Albans, Vermont. Gendron led Bellows Free Academy to four state championships in nine years. He also won two coach of the year awards over that span.

“I didn’t have the pedigree to get to this level. I had applied to several division one programs unsuccessfully, and Shawn Walsh gave me the opportunity to coach here. From this job I was able to move onto the New Jersey Devils, so I feel like I owe a lot to Maine Hockey and to this University academically as well,” Gendron said.

Gaining Coaching Experience

After his three seasons at Maine, Gendron went on to the NHL, where he served for several years with the New Jersey Devils organization. He began as a technological specialist during his first year with the organization, and then was quickly promoted to assistant coach. His first season of coaching under Devils head coach Jacques Lemaire resulted in the Devils’ first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, and Gendron’s name was engraved on the trophy.

“It’s a bit of a different atmosphere coaching in the NHL,” Gendron said. “From a coaches’ perspective, it’s an easier job in that you don’t have to scout and recruit, all you have to do is worry about coaching. They have full scouting staffs that make that decision, whereas here, it’s your job 12 months out of the year. The thing with pro hockey is that when the season is over, it’s over.”

Gendron remained in the organization for a number of years, coaching the Devils’ AHL affiliate Albany River Rats for a number of years before moving on to coaching junior hockey until 2005. Eventually he re-entered college hockey and joined the University of Massachusetts staff, helping bring the 2007 team to their first post-season tournament since the Minutemen rejoined division one in 1993.

Before his first stint at the University of Maine, Gendron returned to his hometown after completing his undergraduate degree at New England College. Red was hired as an assistant coach for both men’s hockey and baseball at his alma mater, Berlin High School in New Hampshire. After two years in Berlin, Gendron moved on to teach and coach at Bellows Free Academy (BFA). While at BFA, Gendron coached John LeClair, who went on to play 16 seasons in the NHL, earning first team all-star honors on two occasions, and is most known for his status on the “Legion of Doom” line for the Philadelphia Flyers in the late ’90s.

The Passions of Coaching, Teaching, and Family

Gendron has a passion for winning, but he’s even more passionate about coaching, teachingand positively impacting the lives of his players. His methods are so highly touted that USA Hockey uses his book, “Coaching Hockey Successfully,” as its advanced level manual for their hockey coaching education program.

“I like to teach and coach. Coaching is really just teaching, and the curriculum is a sport, a game, opposed to an academic subject,” Gendron said. “If you’re a coach, you want to win. If you’re a teacher, meaning you want to help people grow and get better, it doesn’t matter what level you’re coaching at.”

Throughout his coaching career, one distinct trait has followed him everywhere he’s coached: success. Success is likely how Gendron landed his job in Maine, and success is what will keep him here in the future.

A big part of his success is the support system he has at home, which includes his wife Jan and his two daughters, Katelyn and Allison, who have helped him keep his head up throughout his coaching career.

“My daughters turned out to be great young women. Partly because of my own stupidity and partly because of the demands of my career, I can’t take much of the credit for how good those kids turned out,” Gendron joked, as he often does. “That credit really belongs to Jan.”

More seriously, Gendron acknowledges the sacrifices his family has made in support of his career.

“There are a lot of sacrifices a coach’s wife has to make. Often times you’re not available to bring the kids to practice or some other activity, so the responsibilities and pressure falls upon your wife,” he said.

“People will say to me, ‘Coach, you’ve got three Stanley Cup rings and two NCAA championship rings,’ and all that, but I’ve also been fired three times,” Gendron added.

“When you get fired, the interesting thing is, there are certain people who were always your friend, or you thought were your friend. They have a lot less time for you when you’re on the outside looking in. But your wife and your children are always there, supporting you, reminding you that you’re pretty good at what you do. For me, my family, without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”

A Black Bear Again: Full Circle

With Gendron returning to Maine in 2013, the Black Bear community added a smart and loyal member that is dedicated to the success of all sports programs at the university, not just men’s hockey.

“Red bleeds blue,” UMaine women’s basketball coach Richard Barron said. “He is all UMaine all of the time. Red doesn’t just show lip service to supporting other teams.  He is at the games with his wife cheering. He doesn’t just talk about philanthropy with giving to the program, he leads by example, giving himself. Red doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk.”

Before games, you can find Gendron roaming the student line outside the Alfond Arena, shaking hands to thank fans for coming out to support their Black Bears. Often times you can hear him calling out, “Let’s make her rock tonight!” or “Let’s give ‘em a show!” amongst the swarms of people anxiously awaiting admittance.

“In addition to being a fierce competitor and a good coach, Red is also very smart, well-read, and engaged, making him someone who can relate to any person who is part of the UMaine community,” Barron said.

In Gendron’s first season at the helm of the Black Bears program, he helped the team improve to 16-15-4 from an 11-win season prior to his arrival. The young Black Bears squad currently sits at 8-15-1 on the season entering conference play. Sitting in 11th place in the conference, the Black Bears’ chances of post-season success is limited, but Gendron’s mindset on the season looking forward hasn’t changed at all.

“We’re thinking about winning. More importantly, we’re thinking about improving our process and preparation to win these games,” he said. “If we’re more prepared and more precise in what we do, we’re going to be successful.”

This, from the beginning, has been his mentality with the Black Bears team. The distinct message he gives to his players is of improvement, overcoming their mistakes, and mental toughness.

“We have to be in the exact position more frequently than we are right now. Passes can’t be a foot off, they need to be on the tape. When it’s time to shoot, it needs to be recognized and a quality shot has to be delivered. When it’s time to cover an opponent in a certain way, it has to be done at the right time. It’s really no more complicated than that, really,” Gendron said.

To begin this process, as Gendron says, takes mental toughness, which he’s preached the importance of to his players throughout the difficult season.

“When things get tight, which they always do at this level, you have to believe that if you stick to what works, the outcomes will favor you. To this point, as a group, we have not stuck to what works the way we need to be successful.”

The Black Bears have showed improvement, as they upset No. 17-ranked Hockey East opponent Boston College two weeks ago by a 4-2 score. Maine put together a complete 60 minute effort and upended their overmatched opponent. Then the Black Bears swept rival UNH by scores of 6-4 and 4-0 last weekend, putting together a three game winning streak against Hockey East conference rivals. With the late success, Gendron’s message may be getting through to his players.

“There’s a difference between hope and belief. Hope is what you do when you don’t have control, so you hope the outcome is in your favor. Belief has to do with control. I believe that if I do what I’m supposed to do, when I’m supposed to do it, the results that I seek will occur. Those two words are in some respects similar, but to me they’re almost exactly opposite.”