With only a handful of games left in the season, the University of Maine’s softball team is looking to finish the season strong. Among the many strengths of this team is their senior leadership. With a class of six seniors, captains like fourth-year left fielder Emily “EmJ” Fogel, hold the team together.

Fogel, a native of Vienna, Virginia, has been playing the game of softball since the age of 9 when she began to play travel ball. After her four-year stint as a starting outfielder and catcher at James Madison High School, she began to look to the future with softball in mind. Out of the 13 universities she visited, she chose UMaine to be her home for the next four years.

She was recruited by Coach Deb Smith, who retired from coaching just weeks after Fogel was recruited. The team stuck together and ran practices as a team until the current coach, Lynn Coutts, was hired to replace Smith. Amidst all the turmoil in the front office, the Black Bears held together and earned a berth in the America East playoffs.

“That was the first and only year so far that I’ve gone to the America East Conference tournament,” Fogel said, reflecting on her first year, “We really showed up and surprised a lot of people, including ourselves.”

Fogel has led the team this season on the field, at the plate and in the dugout. She showed this a couple weeks ago against the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks, going 7-12 with two doubles, three runs batted in and scoring three runs during the series. At one point, she had six straight hits.

After her impressive series, Fogel is batting .333 with 18 RBIs and 10 runs scored. She currently sits in second on the team in batting average and is tied for the team lead in RBIs.

“That weekend I took a different approach to the plate. I think that I was more relaxed… I’m seeing [the ball] well and I was calm happy to be there and having fun,” Fogel said.

This relaxed approach to the plate contributes to her leadership style as a captain. She is the organizer and the loud one in the dugout, getting her teammates fired up or getting them honed in at the task at hand.

“I’m a talker. I’m the loud one in the dugout trying to keep everyone positive. I’m very much an organizer, doing some background, behind the scenes work,” Fogel said.

Whatever she and the two other captains, fourth-years Jessica Burk and Kristen Koslosky, have done as leaders is working, because the team has battled their way to the third place rank in America East. After a successful weekend sweep of Lowell, Fogel knows her team is ready for the home stretch.

“It’s huge for our confidence,” Fogel said on the Lowell sweep. “Our team is young, so not many of them know what it feels like to sweep a team. It’s a huge confidence booster, and it lets all the younger players believe in themselves a little more.”

Fogel said that the team is finding the right time to get going, winning six of their last 10 games.

“We’re doing really well and coming into our own at the right point in the season,” Fogel said, “I think this year is one of our best years for sure.”

This year has been successful for the Black Bears, whose defense and pitching are ranked highest in the conference. The young team is full of energy, according to Fogel and have met the expectations that were set at the beginning of the season.

“We were expected to be pretty scrappy, we were expected to hit well and be strong defensively and so far we’ve done those things. I think offensively we can be better, but as a group, we’re still learning,” Fogel said.

The team will have to learn how to handle one of the best teams in America East for their upcoming series, before finishing the rest of the season playing some of the bottom feeders in the conference.

“We’re the girls who have to work for runs,” Fogel said on the team’s offensive dynamic looking ahead, “We need to do our own part to make [the offense] happen. Once we start doing things it will start to click. I think it will have a snowball effect.”

Specifically looking to their next series, Fogel made it clear that the offense has to get working early and then produce often.

“We have to score first, score early, and score often. We need to make sure theirs we are helping our pitchers,” Fogel said, “We need to have enough runs so that our pitchers feel confident. They’re confident if we’re confident as a defense, but that all starts with scoring runs.”

If Fogel is able to hit like she did in the Lowell series, then the team should have no problem with giving their pitchers run support. Her role as a captain and offensive powerhouse aside, Fogel is just enjoying her time playing collegiate softball.

“As long as I am playing, I am having fun,” Fogel said.

The fun continues at home for the Black Bears as they will host the Hartford Hawks on April 25 and 26 in their final home series of the year.

The University of Maine track and field teams competed at the 2015 edition of the Wildcat Invitational at the University of New Hampshire on Saturday. Maine came away from the event with 16 first place finishes between the men’s and women’s teams.

On the men’s side, the Black Bears success started on the field, where North Yarmouth native and fourth-year thrower Alexander Parenteau captured the top spot in the javelin throw with a distance of 58.22 meters. Fellow Maine native and first-year thrower Adam Lufkin secured his first collegiate victory in outdoor track by hurling the discus 42 meters.

Maine also won the high jump and triple jump events. With the victory in the triple jump, third-year and Maine native Julian Hubbard continues his outdoor winning streak.

The Black Bears’ success also spilled over onto the track for the running events. Maine got it started at the distance races, taking home first place in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Old Town resident Jake Leithiser placed first in the 800-meter race. Maine also got the top spot in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4×400-meter relay.

Other Black Bear notable finishes included a second and third place finish in the javelin, as Maine would sweep the podium. Maine was also able to secure a second place finish in the hammer throw and discus. Maine was unable to get first place in the pole vault, but was able to hold onto second and third place finishes.

In the running events, the Black Bears had a third place finish in the 3000-meter race, as well as a second and third place finish in the 1500-meters. In the shorter race, the 200-meter dash, Maine sprinter Mozai Nelson placed second. Maine had two podium finishes, second and third, in the 5000-meter race to close out the meet.

On the women’s side, the success continued for the Black Bears. On the field, fourth-year thrower Robyn McFetters continued to impress with her first place finish in the hammer throw with a distance of 53.43 meters. Also placing first in discus for the second straight meet was second-year Ashley Donohoe, with a throw of 43.13 meters. Maine also took home the win in the triple jump.

On the track, Maine was dominant in the mid-range distances and relays. Maine took home first place in both the 4×100-meter and the 4×400-meter relays. For Maine, it was their second straight week taking the top spot in the 4×400. Maine natives Teal Jackson and Jaclyn Masters won the 400-meter and 800-meter races respectively.

Notable finishers for the women included second place finishes in the hammer throw, shot put, triple jump and pole vault events. Shannon O’Neil placed second in the 400-meters and Black Bear sprinter Katelyn Guilmette raced her way to the No. 2 spot in the 100-meter dash. The Black Bears also held onto third place in the 800-meters, and Masters was able to secure a second place finish in the 200-meter dash.

Maine track and field will return to action on April 15 and 16 at the Holy Cross Multi Meet.

The University of Maine softball team swept the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks in three games of America East conference play over the weekend. The offense came to life for the Black Bears as Maine won three much-needed games. The Black Bears took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, and then closed out the series with a 6-3 win on Sunday.

Maine Takes Doubleheader

Game one of the doubleheader was dominated by fourth-year pitcher and Maine ace Alexis Bogdanovich, who tossed her fifth shutout of the season in an impressive 7-0 victory. Bogdanovich allowed just one hit after taking the no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth inning. She allowed just that one hit while striking out 13 on her way to her eighth victory of the year.

Maine got the offense rolling in the fourth inning, when they were finally able to figure out Lowell third-year pitcher Marielle Handley. Second-year shortstop Felicia Lennon had worked her way to third base when fourth-year left fielder EmJ Fogel doubled down the right field line to bring in the first run of the day. Fogel would go on to record six hits on the afternoon, going 6-8 with two doubles, three RBI and scoring two runs.

Maine would score again in the fifth when an error by the River Hawks’ second baseman allowed fourth-year second baseman Kristin Koslosky to cross the plate to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Black Bears would eventually put together a three run top of the sixth inning to officially put the game out of reach late. Fogel led off the inning with a single to right. She would eventually be knocked in by a Shelby Obert single. Fourth-year infielder Nikki Byron would continue to make things difficult for UMass, as she brought in Obert on a double. After Byron advanced to third on the throw home, first-year pinch hitter Faythe Goins recorded her first career RBI on an infield single to second.

Maine would tack on a pair of runs in the seventh inning to make the score 7-0. Third-year catcher Janelle Bouchard got things started with a double to left, and advanced to third on Fogel’s fourth hit of the game. Fourth-year pinch hitter Jessica Burk knocked in both Fogel and Bouchard on a double down the left field line.

Black Bears take it in extras

Game two was a much closer contest, requiring one extra inning of play before Maine came through in the top of the eighth.

Maine’s offense would get off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the first three innings. First-year right fielder Erika Leonard and first-year center fielder Rachel Carlson both reached before Leonard was knocked in by Lennon’s single. Carlson would be called out on a fielder’s choice play at second base, but Lennon would remain on base, and would later score on a single to left by Fogel to give Maine a 2-0 lead after one inning.

The River Hawks would answer back in the bottom of the second, cutting the Black Bear lead to one. Second-year right fielder Mikayle Powlowsky would reach on a fielder’s choice, which knocked in fourth-year center fielder Ariana Darcy from third.

The Black Bears would increase their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third when Lennon singled, stole second and then would score on a Fogel double. Second-year catcher Rachel Harvey would follow that hit with a double of her own, bringing Fogel in from second.

After that, Lowell would catch up to Maine second-year starter Erin Bogdanovich, who would exit the game after the fifth inning, giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits. She walked one while striking out three batters. Maine would go to the bullpen where first-year reliever Annie Kennedy.

Maine would not be outdone in the eighth, where Harvey led off the inning with a single, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Obert. Second-year pinch runner Chloe Douglass came into the game to run for Harvey at second, and would score on a hard hit ball to left by Goins, who was pinch hitting.

That gave the Black Bears the 5-4 lead. After Kennedy finished the bottom of the eighth, Maine got their second straight win.

Black Bears Complete the Sweep

Maine would finish off the River Hawks in game three of the conference series, getting the 6-3 victory. The Bogdanovich sisters would dominate the game in the circle, with Alexis getting the start and Erin getting her first save of the season.

The offense was still working well for the Black Bears, as Lennon started this off in the first inning with a solo home run to left to give Maine the early 1-0 lead. For Lennon, it was her second homer of the season.

Three straight errors by the Lowell defense allowed the Black Bears to extend their lead to 3-1 in the top of the third. First-year second baseman Sarah Coyne would reach on the first error, Carlson would reach on the second, and then Lennon would reach on a throwing error by Lowell, allowing Coyne to score. Carlson would score as well on a well planned double steal play, as Lowell elected to throw out Lennon at second and allow the run to score.

Maine would add one more run in the top of the fourth inning when Byron’s single up the middle brought in Burk from third. In the bottom of the inning, Lowell began staging a comeback, scoring three times. Third-year catcher Emilia Davies began the inning with a single, and would score on a RBI double by fourth-year third baseman Abby Jamieson. Fourth-year left fielder Ally Greene would cut the lead to 4-3 when her double to the gap in left center plated two.

Maine would settle down and tack on two more runs in the top of the sixth. Byron doubled to drive in her second run of the day and later scored on a Goins pinch hit single.

On the weekend, Maine improves to 15-15 (4-2 AE) and moves into third place in conference, while the Lowell River Hawks fall to 10-21 and have yet to record a win in conference in six attempts. The Black Bears will return home to host Stony brook University next weekend starting at 12 p.m.

Any University of Maine student will recognize the school’s mascot: Bananas T. Bear. Dressed in his traditional Maine jersey and hat, he is one of the most recognizable figures on campus. What many do not know is the extensive history behind our 101-year-old mascot. While he is no longer a live bear, Bananas continues to bring excitement and fun to any UMaine events that requires his services.

Maine’s mascot was not originally a black bear, but an elephant that was borrowed from a local clothing store in Bangor from 1903 until 1914. During the fall of 1914, Maine’s football team was struggling, and a local resident donated a live bear cub to the University to bring good luck to the team. When the cub, at that time named Jeff, was brought out onto the field, the crowd was said to have “gone bananas,” and the name Bananas has stuck ever since.

Maine had a live mascot until 1966, when a law passed by the state prohibited the use of live mascots. The Alpha Phi Omega fraternity then took up the task of being the “human Bananas.” Now known as the Alpha Delta fraternity, they still provide the mascot services to the University and the surrounding community.

“The first bear [suit] was made by Robert Smullin,” Alpha Delta President Peter Sprague said. “We created the first suit with the help of Gamma Sigma Sigma. We had that suit for at least 10 years or so and then we started making new suits. Since then, we have had six different suits.”

All of the old Bananas suits can be seen in the Spirit Room, a room in the Memorial Union that holds all of the old Bananas suits.

“We were the ones who gave the university the timeline because stuff was getting lost and misplaced through the years. Luckily we have members who are well versed in our history that established a timeline for them and to keep it accurate,” Sprague said.

All of the brothers of Alpha Delta have been Bananas at some point in their collegiate career. In his history, human Bananas has been portrayed by between 800-900 different brothers according to Sprague.

“[The brothers] are encouraged to be Bananas at least once, even if they never do it again, it’s an experience to have,” Andrew Snyder, the Bananas Chairman of Alpha Delta, said.

Those lucky few that are allowed to don the three piece back bear costume have plenty to do. Bananas is always in attendance at every men’s and women’s hockey game, men’s and women’s basketball games, baseball, softball and then any other university event that should need a mascot. The schedule is an all year affair, as there are even up to 30 summer events that Bananas attends, like parades, town days and orientation weekends.

Bananas’s schedule is mostly organized by Snyder, operated on a weekly basis.

“The busiest week we’ve had was at least 12 events,” Snyder said on Bananas’s schedule. All of the scheduling aside, Bananas does get to go to some interesting places.

In 2012, Bananas attended and participated in a cheerleading competition with the UMaine cheerleaders. Aside from all of the sports venues on campus, Bananas has made trips to Fenway Park to play in the mascot hockey game following Frozen Fenway.

“We go to mascot games down in Boston. Anywhere you see a lot of mascots, Bananas will be there,” Sprague said on the Mascot Games, “Usually Bananas plays goalie for the mascot hockey game because our head is so large that doing a lot of skating is difficult.”

There are only three brothers who can be skating Bananas according to Snyder, but the good news for those brothers is that they can be Bananas in a cool environment. The suit was not built with ventilation in mind, and it can get uncomfortable for the wearer.

“Very hot. Very sweaty,” Snyder said on being inside the Bananas suit. “Every once and a while, when your walking, you’ll have drops of sweat that run down your forehead and you’ll have to tilt your head to make sure that it doesn’t get into your eyes. It’s miserable if that happens, you can’t see anything.”

In coordination with the University of Maine’s 150th anniversary, there are big plans for Bananas.

“For the 150th anniversary we’re unveiling a new suit in the Fall,” Sprague said.

This unveiling will be the first since 2004, when the current Bananas mascot suit was introduced at a UMaine football game. There will also be a grand opening of the Spirit Room in the Union, along with a new publication of “History of the Maine Bear,” a publication describing the history of Bananas and his role at the university through the years.

Despite the changes in appearance, Bananas will continue to attend events at the University of Maine for years to come.

As the National Hockey League regular season winds to a close in the next week, 16 teams will look to extend their season into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For some squads, their playoff fate has already been sealed as seven teams have already made the playoffs. For the other nine teams, these final games will be very important for their playoff picture.

As of right now, the last five playoff spots in the Eastern Conference are still up for grabs, with two teams still in the hunt for the wild card spots, while the Western conference has four playoff spots remaining, also with two other teams in the wild card hunt. Most teams have about four or fewer games remaining in the season, which for some teams are vital to their chances, but for the purposes of predictions these would be the opening round playoff matchup if the season ended today or the standings do not change in the following week.

Eastern Conference

Montreal Canadiens v. Pittsburgh Penguins (Atlantic Division Winner v. 1st Wild Card Team)

The Canadiens have been on a roll for the entire season, and they took hold of their first place rank in conference and never let go. With a record of 47-21-8, this team does not lose often. They also have playoff experience in goal and on their ice, as Carey Price, PK Subban and Max Pacioretty continue to lead their team to victory. The Habs made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before being knocked off the by New York Rangers in six games.

The Penguins have struggled in the playoffs in the last few years and are currently sputtering to the finish line this season tied for the wild card spot with the Boston Bruins. Pittsburgh did not make it out of the quarterfinals last season, and that was when they were a division winner playing a wild card team. Not that the situation has reversed itself, the Pens will probably not make it out of the first round. There is only so much Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can do when goaltending has been what sinks them in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Lightning v. Detroit Red Wings (2nd Division Seed v. 3rd Division Seed)

This series should prove to be one of the best in the east, both teams featuring University of Maine hockey alumni in net; Ben Bishop for the Lighting and Jimmy Howard for the Wings. The Bolts have found success this season, working to a 48-24-8 record. They are led in scoring by their captain Steven Stamkos, who will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Tampa Bay has played well against top teams like the Habs, and are currently tied for the second place with Montreal. Look for that to be a second round matchup in a few weeks.

After an early exit in the first round last season, Howard, Gustav Nyquist and company will look to dominate the ice with their speed and overall talent. With both goalies posting similar stats, and each team hiding so many weapons, this series could need all seven games.

New York Rangers v. Boston Bruins (Conference Winner v. 2nd Wild Card)

This series could change a bit, seeing as both the Bruins and the Penguins are tied for this final spot. For now, the Bruins are in possession of the final playoff spot in the conference, holding off both the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers. The Rangers have had a successful season, claiming the Eastern Conference crown and looking for revenge after taking a loss in the Stanley Cup finals last season. They are currently on a three-game winning streak and continue to dominate to the final horn.

As for the B’s, they have been less than stellar this season, but have pulled things together in the finals stretch. Tuukka Rask has been their rock between the pipes, but they need to find the back of the net if they want to be successful in the playoffs. Boston lost to their bitter rivals Montreal in game seven of the second round last year, and will look to put up a fight once again. The B’s have plenty of playoff experience and are deep in all four lines with stellar goaltending.

New York Islanders v. Washington Capitals (2nd Division Seed v. 3rd Division Seed)

The Islanders have had a very successful season, and they will meet a tough opponent in the first round in the Washington Capitals. The Caps have flown under the radar as one of the best teams in the East, and will look to put up a fight after missing the playoffs last season. NYI struggles to win just four games in the month of March, and look to finish strong on the shoulders of their top scorer and points leader, John Tavares.

The Capitals should always be in contention with a man like Alex Ovechkin on the squad. The Great Eight leads the team in goals with 52, he will be a tough man to stop. Braden Holtby has been pretty good for the Caps in net this season, and will be tested by a solid Islander offense in the first round. But Washington has proven they can beat up on good teams, recently taking down the conference leading Rangers 5-2.

Western Conference

Nashville Predators v. Minnesota Wild (Division Winner v. 1st Wild Card)

The Predators have held on to their top spot in their division for quite some time now, not letting an injury to their top goaltender keep them from slipping in the standings. With Pekka Rinne playing top notch hockey, the Predators can ride him into the later rounds. Their offense has also been productive, as points leader Mike Ribero keeps Nashville dangerous.

The Wild have been lagging behind the rest of the Western Conference but since Jan. 15  have been on a 26-6-2 run. That kind of momentum is hard to stop, especially when you have a goalie in Devan Dubnyk posting a 1.74 goals against average. The Wild also have the no. 1 penalty kill in the NHL, which will prove to be helpful in the playoffs when every chance could mean the difference in the game.

St. Louis Blues v. Chicago Blackhawks (2nd Division Seed v. 3rd Division Seed)

Fans of hockey will be salivating over this series. Only one point separates two of the best teams in the league that will go head to head in the first round in the top matchup of the Western Conference. The Blues have been a well put together team all year, led offensively by Vladimir Tarasenko and backed by a solid goaltender in Brian Elliott.

The Blackhawks can never be counted out in the playoffs, after winning the Stanley Cup in 2010 and 2013, and were one game away from making another appearance last season. Jonathan Towes continues to impress and lead the Hawk’s potent offense, along with Patrick Kane and the many names of the other talented players on this team. In net, two time champion Corey Crawford has plenty of playoff experience and knows how to win.

Anaheim Ducks v. Los Angeles Kings (Conference Winner v. 2nd Wild Card)

This series features the Western Conference champs versus the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Ducks put together another strong year, and will look to use their favorable seeding to advance further than the second round. The Ducks were defeated in the conference semifinals by the Kings last year, and this would be the perfect time to exact revenge. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry lead the offense that is close to clinching the President’s Trophy after entering the final week of play with a league leading 107 points.

The Kings’ return to the playoffs is not what they hoped it would be after a Stanley Cup win last year. Jonathan Quick has not been the lights-out goalie he has been in the last few seasons, but he is still capable in putting together a playoff run. The Kings are fourth in the league in goals against, so their defense will have to hold if they are looking to make another run at the cup.

Vancouver Canucks v. Calgary Flames (2nd Division Seed v. 3rd Division Seed)

The Canucks are clinging onto a playoff spot in the division while the tight race in the West continues. The Canucks have not made the playoffs since the 2012-13 season where they lost to the San Jose Sharks in the first round. The Sedin twins continue to impress and Daniel is the leader in points and assists for this Vancouver squad. Ryan Miller has been the man between the pipes for the Canucks, but judging by his experiences with Buffalo, he is far from perfect. With a solid defense and a top 10 scoring offense in front of him, the Canucks might make it out of the first few rounds.

The Flames have not been a relevant playoff team since the 2008-09 season where they were disposed of in the first round by Chicago. Calgary has gotten a breath of fresh air coming from young players like Johnny Gaudreau who has been lighting up the scoreboard. This team does not have that many big names, but they have notched a few big wins recently including a 5-2 win over Nashville in March.

The University of Maine women’s ice hockey team dropped both of their Hockey East conference games to the No. 1 Boston College (BC) Eagles at Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Maine was shut out on Friday night, losing 6-0, then dropped a 4-1 decision Saturday. With the wins, the Eagles have clinched the WHEA regular season title for the second straight year.

Black Bears Shut Out

The first game of the two game series did not fare well for the Black Bears, as they were shut out by the Eagles, 6-0.

BC began the scoring in the first period, when Eagles first-year forward Toni Ann Miano passed the puck to her linemate third-year forward Dana Trivigno who was crashing the net. Trivigno tipped the Miano pass past Maine goaltender Meghann Treacy to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Maine would hang on for the remainder of the period, and BC would go into the intermission with that 1-0 lead.

The Eagles would add to their lead in the last three minutes of the second period. After the Eagles gained the zone, third-year forward Alex Carpenter held the puck to the glove side of Treacy, and despite the pressure by Black Bear fourth-year forward Jennifer More. Carpenter slid the puck through the slot to a wide open first-year forward Kenzie Kent who fired the puck past Treacy on the stick side to give BC a 2-0 lead.

The third period would be dominated by the Eagles who would score four goals. The first goal was scored by Miano after the Black Bears failed to clear the zone just 50 seconds into the period. As Maine second-year forward Emilie Brigham tried to clear the zone, Kent played the body and knocked the puck loose. Miano intercepted the puck at the top of the slot and fired a shot through traffic that beat Treacy low on the glove side.

BC would score again at the 2:14 mark off a faceoff in the offensive zone. Trivigno would win the the face-off back to first-year defenseman Kali Flanagan who took a wrist shot from the right point, that beat Treacy high to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.

Maine first-year defenseman Mikayla Rogers took a penalty for tripping at 7:31 of the period. Eagles third-year forward Haley Skarupa scored her 26th goal of the season on the ensuing power play just 23 seconds later. Carpenter held the puck at the blue line, and then passed it over to Trivigno, who took a shot from the top of the far circle. Her shot found its way to Skarupa through traffic in front of Treacy, and Skarupa was able to get a piece of the puck and it slid past Treacy for BC’s fifth goal of the night.

BC would cap the scoring in the last minute of the game, when second-year forward Haley McLean followed up on a rebound to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead. McLean took the initial shot from the far faceoff dot that was saved by Treacy. The rebound was collected by third-year forward Meghan Grieves that was also saved by Treacy, but that rebound went right to McLean who fired it into the net.

The Eagles dominated Maine throughout the game outshooting them 45-9, including a 17-1 third period. BC goaltender Katie Burt made all nine saves for her 25th win of the season. It was also her eighth shutout of the season. Treacy took her 14th loss of the season, making 39 saves in the process. Maine would go 0-2 on the power play while BC would score once on six chances.

Eagles Finish Sweep

BC continued their winning ways on Saturday, getting the 4-1 win against the Black Bears. The two teams battled through a scoreless first period, BC outshot Maine 14-3, and even hit the post, but Treacy held her ground between the pipes.

The Eagles would score the first goal of the game at 7:57 of the second period. After the puck was dumped into the Black Bear defensive zone, Trivigno collected the puck, made a move on the defender and then passed the puck to fourth-year forward Kate Leary who put the puck past Treacy to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Carpenter would score just under two minutes later, that would eventually prove to be the game winner. Carpenter received a pass from Skarupa in front of the net, and was able to beat Treacy five-hole to put the Eagles up by two. For Carpenter, the goal ended a four game scoring drought.

BC would add to their lead at the 16 minute mark of the second period. After third-year defenseman Kaliya Johnson controlled the puck on the blue line, she fired a wrist shot towards the front of the net. That’s where second-year forward Andie Anastos was waiting in front of the net. She redirected the puck past Treacy to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Maine would score their only goal of the weekend at 18:23 of the second period. First-year forward Brooke Stacey received a pass from fourth-year forward Katy Massey in the offensive zone. Stacy’s shot snuck past BC first-year goaltender Gabriella Switaj, who saw time in net after fourth-year goalie Taylor Blake saw time in the first half of the game.

The Eagles would get their final tally of the game late in the third period. BC would outshoot Maine 16-4 in the third, but Carpenter was the only Eagle to get one past Treacy. Carpenter would net the goal off a feed from Kent to round out the scoring.

BC would outshoot Maine again, 46-13. Maine would not get more than six shots on goal in any period. Treacy would make 42 saves in the losing effort, while BC would play two different goalies in the game; Blake starting the game making five saves in just over 27 minutes. Switaj would take over for the rest of the game, making seven saves in the final 32 minutes. Both teams would be unable to score on the powerplay Maine going 0-3 and BC going 0-5.

After the weekend, Maine would fall to 10-16-3 (9-9-1 WHEA) and will fall into a tie for third in conference with the Northeastern Huskies. The Eagles improve to 29-1-1 (19-0-0 WHEA) and will clinch the WHEA regular season title for the second year in a row.

Maine will take to the ice again on Feb. 21 and 22 to play the final series of the year against the University of Connecticut at Alfond Arena. Preceding game two there will be a ceremony honoring the six graduating seniors. Puck drops at 2 p.m. for both games.

The University of Maine women’s ice hockey team fell to the University of Vermont (UVM) Catamounts 2-1 in overtime to drop their only game of the weekend at Alfond Arena.

This was the Black Bears’ third game of the season with UVM, beating them 3-0, and 2-1 at the Gutterson Field House back in November. UVM avoided the season sweep with the win and gained a valuable two points in Women’s Hockey East Association (WHEA) conference play.

The first period began with chances for both teams, as they battled to gain an advantage. Maine would open up the scoring at 17:43 on a goal that was deflected by first-year forward Victoria Hummel.

The play began on the rush, and Maine dumped the puck in behind Catamount second-year goaltender Madison Litchfield. Black Bear second-year forward Eve Boissonneault won the puck in the far corner, and reversed the puck to the point where it was collected by second-year defenseman Kristin Gilmour. Gilmour took a slapshot that was deflected off Hummel, who was screening the goalie, and went top shelf to give Maine the 1-0 lead.

For Hummel, it was her second goal of the season. Gilmour would record her third assist, even though she was originally given credit for the goal. Boissonneault would notch her second of the season.

“Eve [Boissonneault] had the puck, cycled it up along the wall from the blue [line],” Gilmour said on her assist in the first period, “I was screaming for her to dump it back to me and she did. I just put my head up and took a slapshot and it actually went off [Hummel’s] elbow and went in.”

The Catamounts would not be down for long, as UVM would tie the score at the beginning of the second period. Maine would take a penalty for too many men on the ice with just 48 seconds remaining in the first period. UVM would enter the second period on the  power play, and would score just 1:07 in.

First-year defenseman Amanda Drobot carried the puck into the Maine zone, and then dropped it back for fourth-year forward Brittany Zuback who was trailing the play. Zuback took a slapshot that was saved by Black Bear third-year goaltender Meghann Treacy, but the rebound was collected by UVM third-year forward Dayna Colang who roofed the puck past Treacy to tie the game at one.

For Colang, it was her 16th goal of the season and fourth in her last two games. Colang is also riding a five game scoring streak.

“We just had our forecheck going in the first 5-6 minutes of the game,” said UVM head coach Jim Plumer on the team’s offensive efforts during the game, “We just tried to stay balanced. Get pucks deep, stayed balanced and cycled, got [the puck] to the corners.”

Vermont would continue to have a strong second period, outshooting the Black Bears 20-9 in the period. Treacy would make a couple of key saves to keep the score even going into the third period.

UVM would dominate the third period as well, taking a total of 17 shots on net to Maine’s four. Once again, Treacy was strong between the pipes for the Black Bears, and the game would head into overtime.

After both teams got a couple of shots on goal during the first three minutes of overtime, the Catamounts would score to end the game on a breakaway by fourth-year forward Amanda Pelkey.

After breaking out of their own defensive zone, Catamount second-year defenseman Rachael Ade found Pelkey racing through center ice. After a burst of speed, Pelkey beat her defender and skated in on Treacy one-on-one. Pelkey made a forehand-backhand move and beat the diving Treacy high on the stick side to end the game.

“I thought we did a pretty good job,” Treacy said after the game. “We came out and we scored one and then they came back and we kept on battling. The third period showed that we never gave up… and they got a lucky break by a really fast kid.”

Treacy would have a career game despite the loss, making 53 saves. Litchfield would make 26 saves in the win. UVM outshot Maine 55-27, including launching 20 shots on goal in the second period alone. UVM would go 1-2 on the power play, and Maine would go the entire game without a man advantage, due to the discipline of the Catamounts.

Despite the loss, the Maine coaching staff was still proud of their team’s efforts in the game.

“I think, like always, our team battled to the end,” Maine assistant coach Sara Reichenbach said. “They worked really hard defensively in the second and third. I think in the first period… we got some good opportunities that we should have capitalized on and we had a nice goal. But in general, UVM battled hard. They threw everything they had at us.”

Reichenbach also explained the difference between the efforts in the first and the second periods were due to the fact that they stopped paying attention to detail.

“We stopped doing the little things that were giving us success in the first. In the second and third we stopped moving our feet and we stopped moving to support the puck,” Reichenbach said.

After the loss, the Black Bears fall to 10-14-3 (9-7-1 WHEA) and the Catamounts improve to 11-16-1 (4-13-0 WHEA).

“I don’t think [our mentality] is going to change,” Reichenbach said. “We think about how we want to one game at a time. It’s just being able to play our game with a lot of confidence, speed, and work ethic. That’s all we’re focusing on… it’s a matter of continuing what we’re doing.”

Maine will continue doing what they are doing on the road next weekend for an important conference series versus the BC Eagles. The puck drops at 2 p.m. for both games at Kelley Rink.

There are many traditions surrounding the University of Maine and the hockey program. Everything from the unique ceiling of the Alfond to the chants in the student section. Hockey has captured the hearts and minds of students and Mainers alike.

There is one tradition that has spanned the decades that is almost synonymous with Maine hockey: the men of the Naked Five. These five men run around the Alfond whenever a goal is scored in nothing but a pair of shorts with the letters M-A-I-N-E written on their chests.

The Naked Five have been present at men’s ice hockey games since the 1993 season. Their first game was the only loss of the season, as the Black Bears would go on to a 42-1-2 record and the NCAA National Championship. Back then, it was only the Naked Four, and the letters “AI” were written on one chest. The next game, another member was added so that each man would only have one letter.

Today’s Naked Five comprised of five UMaine standouts who are also hardcore hockey fans. Devon Biggie is the “M,” Jake Ward is the “A,”  Matt Dunning is the “I,” Cody Rubner is the “N,” and Gordon Potter is the “E.” These guys are not just hardcore hockey fans, but they follow Hockey East like it is their job.

“Usually the guys who do the Naked Five are dedicated hockey fans,” Biggie said, “They look at the stats, playoffs and Hockey East. It’s someone who’s not just a Maine fan, but a fan of Hockey East in general.”

This hockey fandom has made the Naked Five a significant part of the Maine student section during games. They were even awarded the “Most Dedicated Fans Award” by the Friends of Maine Hockey after last season.

“Our job is to keep the chants going, to keep the environment going and keep [the students] rowdy up there,” Rubner said about the Naked Five’s role during games. “The fans are crazy here and are into the game…I think that is what makes it so special. You’re really involved as a student here.”

Before the Naked Five even arrives at the Alfond, there is a specific process that occurs before every game know as “painting up.” The process begins at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, since three of the five letters are brothers of the fraternity. Each member gets one letter painted onto their chest; the “M,” “I,” and “N” are all blue with white outlines and the “A” and “E” are both white with blue outlines.

Aside from the large letters on their chests, there are many small details that go into painting up. For example, they also write a five to six word phrase on their backs in blue. In addition, the “A” always has a green shamrock symbol painted on their arm. The symbol honors the late head coach Shawn Walsh.

The two most senior members also get the captain’s “C” and assistant captain’s “A” just like on the uniforms of the players on the ice. Currently, the Naked Five are captained by Ward who is the “A” and the assistant captain is Potter, who is the “E.”

Once painting has been completed, the traditional shirtless run to the Alfond takes place.

“It is a tradition to run to the Alfond shirtless and to run back the same way after the game,” Biggie said.

Once in the Alfond, the Naked Five are given tickets to their reserved seats in the “Maine-iak” section. They participate in the chants and pregame dances done by the students section and then, they begin their watch for a Maine goal.

When a goal is scored, the Naked Five quickly exit the student section to begin their sprint around the Alfond. They go left for odd numbered goals, and right for even numbered goals. Led by “M” and the bell, they make their way around the concourse and then back up to the student section. They compete this routine during the game, but they even have routines for the intermissions in-between periods.

“We have it down to which water fountain we stop at each time. In the second intermission we go to the Friends of Maine Hockey lounge in the Walsh Center for a lap,” Rubner said.

After all is said and done, the Naked Five are a standing Maine hockey tradition, and has been passed down for years.

“It has become a tradition because the letters are passed down when you graduate… you hand it down to someone younger than you,” Biggie said.

Since four of the five men in the Naked Five are members of fraternities on campus, the letters are passed down within the brotherhood. Current Naked Five members say that they look to pass the letters down to people who are true Maine hockey fans, and who are passionate about the University and its teams.

“Coming from out of state, I wasn’t aware of all the traditions of Maine hockey until I went to my first game,” Biggie said, “I watch hockey like it’s my job, so when I went to my first game, I saw the [Naked Five] and thought, ‘I want to be one of those guys,’ and now here I am.”

Rubner was a little more surprised to get his letter from an older fraternity brother because of his age.

“I didn’t expect to get mine because I was so young. I’m only a second-year, so it was an honor,” Rubner said.

Young or old, the Naked Five are a crucial aspect of the Maine hockey experience. As fans, they are loyal to their team and university, and that loyalty will keep the tradition going as it is passed down year by year.

“Once you step into that arena you feel like a part of UMaine,” Rubner said about the atmosphere at hockey games. “It’s definitely a family. You are part of Black Bear Nation.”

The University of Maine women’s hockey team split a weekend series versus their rival the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Wildcats. Maine would open the series with a big 3-0 shutout win on Saturday and finish the series by dropping a close game 4-2. The Black Bears would earn just two points in the Women’s Hockey East standings, maintaining their number three ranking.

Treacy Shuts Out Wildcats

Maine’s first win of the weekend series was backed by a stellar performance by goaltender Meghann Treacy. The first 40 minutes were dominated by UNH, when the Wildcats outshot Maine 26-14. Treacy was strong in the opening two frames, turning away many quality scoring chances, including a point blank shot in the opening minute of the game.

Maine did get a few chances on the power play in the first period. UNH third-year forward Heather Kashman and first-year defenseman Amy Schlagel both went off for hooking, at 1:59 and 5:10 into the first period, respectively. The Wildcats would get a chance of their own in when second-year defenseman Anna Wright was called for cross checking at 18:18 of the first period.

Neither team was able to convert on the player advantage through the first two periods of play, each team getting two chances. The Wildcats did get the most shots on net during the second, but Treacy was there to keep the shutout intact.

Maine began the scoring in the third period on the power play. Schlagel took her second penalty of the game at 5:27 of the third, and about a minute and a half later, Maine had a 1-0 lead.

Maine first-year forward Victoria Hummel received a pass from fourth-year forward Hailey Browne down low on the right circle and began to skate the puck into the slot. While making the turn into the slot, she lost the puck It went right to first-year forward Brooke Stacey, who slid the puck past UNH goaltender Vilma Vaattovaara. For Stacey, it was her third goal of the season and second game winner in as many games.

Maine would strike again at even strength at 17:44, this time Browne converting on an odd man rush. Maine was able to create a four on one rush, and fourth-year captain Jennifer More found Browne who led the rush to the left circle and fired a shot top shelf that beat Vaattovaara to give the Black Bears the 2-0 lead.

UNH would pull Vaattovaara, in favor of the extra attacker, with just under two minutes to play. After some sustained offensive pressure by UNH, Maine third-year forward Audra Richards cleared the puck from the defensive zone that made its way all the way down the ice for the empty netter. It was the eighth goal of the season for Richards, which tied her for the team lead with More.

Maine was outshot 36-22 by the Wildcats. Treacy would stand tall in net, stopping all 36 shots to record her ninth win of the season and third shutout. Vaattovaara did not play a bad game either, making 19 saves on the 21 shots that she faced. Maine finished the night 1-3 on the power play while UNH went 0-2.

UNH Wins Close Game to Earn Split

This time, UNH opened up the scoring in the first period, striking at 11:45. First-year forward Brooke Avery received a pass from linemate and fourth-year defenseman Jess Ryan. Avery skated the puck into the left circle and then fired a shot that beat Treacy to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

UNH would add to their lead in the second period on the power play, after Wright took a penalty for checking at 7:53. The Wildcats made quick work of the Maine penalty kill, scoring just 13 seconds later. Schlagel passed the puck to third-year forward Nicoline Jensen who scored her fifth goal of the season to increase the lead to 2-0.

Just under a minute and a half into the third period, the Wildcats scored the game winner. Kashman would tally UNH’s third goal of the game when she broke into the Maine defensive zone off a feed from third-year forward Sarah Carlson. Kashman would make a few moves before putting the puck past Treacy.

After the third goal, Maine coach Richard Reichenbach pulled Treacy in favor of second-year backup goaltender Mariah Fujimagari.

After the score became 3-0, Maine began to claw their way back into the game. More would answer the Kashman goal just under two minutes later, when she received a pass from second-year forward Emilie Brigham. More would beat Vaattovaara for her team leading ninth goal of the season, and cut the UNH lead to 3-1.

Next, it was Brigham’s turn to score, and she would do so after receiving a pass from Stacey in the offensive zone. Brigham’s shot beat Vaattovaara high, and with a little under nine minutes remaining in the game, UNH’s lead was only 3-2.

UNH would respond late in the game, when second-year forward Jonna Curtis scored her team leading, 11th goal of the season with an assist from fourth-year forward Kayla Mork. That was the only goal Fujimagari would allow.

Despite a late power play opportunity for the Black Bears, the Wildcats would hold on to earn the split, even after Maine pulled Fujimagari for the extra attacker.

UNH’s victory was backed by a strong performance in net by Vaattovaara, who made 18 saves. Treacy would make 35 saves for Maine in 31:12, while Fujimagari would stop seven shots in 16:38. UNH outshot Maine again by a 46-20 margin. Both teams had two chances on the powerplay, Maine going 0-2 and UNH going 1-2.

After the weekend, the Black Bears are 10-13-3 (9-6-1 WHEA) and hold the no. 3 rank in Hockey East by a four points. They trail the Boston University Terriers by five points. The Wildcats are 8-18-1 (5-10-0 WHEA) and currently sit in sixth.

Maine has won three of their last five games and will look to continue their success at home for a conference game versus Vermont. Maine was able to beat Vermont twice at the Gutterson Fieldhouse in Nov, and will look to take game three of the series on Feb 7. The puck drops at 2 p.m. at the Alfond Arena.

At the halfway point of the lengthy National Hockey League season, the top teams in the league will begin to separate themselves from the pack. After looking at the teams at the top of the standing, breaking them down and comparing their schedules, statistics and other factors, here is a list of the top 10 NHL teams one week after the break.

1. St. Louis Blues; 2nd in Central Division, 3rd in Western Conference

The Blues have continued to impress during the 2014-15 season, jumping out to a 29-13-4 record before the All Star break. Currently, the Blues have won nine of their last 10 games, and the one loss was to Detroit in overtime. The Blues are led by their leading goal and points scorer, Vladimir Tarasenko, who has scored 24 goals with 24 assists on the season. The Blues are anchored by a pair of goaltenders in Brian Elliott and Jake Allen who both have a .900 plus save percentage and with Elliott posting a sub two goals against average (GAA).

The Blues continued to roll into the second half with a win over their division leading Nashville Predators, and then went on to beat the Carolina Hurricanes on the road. Their efforts have earned them the number one rank.

2. Montreal Canadiens; 2nd Atlantic Division, 2nd Eastern Conference

As a Bruins fan, it pains me to place the Habs this high on the list, but they have earned their spot. They entered the break with a 29-13-3 record, and finishing with two big wins versus the Islanders and Predators. With players like Max Pacioretty, Tomas Plekanec and PK Subban leading the way on offense, backed by a goalie like Carey Price, who has posted a 2.03 GAA, this team is hard to stop right now.

They opened the second half with three straight wins versus the Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers, this team has not skipped a beat over the All-Star break. Look for this team to make a deep playoff run come June.

3. Anaheim Ducks; 1st Pacific Division, 1st Western Conference

Despite being the top team in the west, the Ducks are not invincible. They opened the season with a strong first half, earning their division and conference leading record of 31-10-6. They are led in total points by forward Ryan Getzlaf with 50, but the nearest player to him only has 32. The Ducks are still high on the list because of their 7-1-0 month of January. Their goalie, Frederik Andersen, is still playing well between the pipes.

The Ducks fell to third on the list due to two big losses, a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks and then a 4-1 loss at home to the Chicago Blackhawks. But this team is down, but not out, and you can probably bet you’ll see the Ducks in the playoff bracket in a few months.

4. Chicago Blackhawks; 3rd Central Division, 4th Western Conference

The Blackhawks are never a team that should be counted out. With players like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Towes and Patrick Sharp, these guys are always dangerous. Not to mention having a man like Corey Crawford in net, who has played well despite being on the short end of a few close games.

It is because of a few bad losses that the ‘Hawks are only fourth on this list. Before the break they were 30-15-2, but have started the break at just 1-2, taking two tough losses to San Jose and the Los Angeles Kings that have set them back.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 1st Atlantic Division, 1st Eastern Conference

This team continues to play well after the break, going 30-14-4 start to the season. With three players that have scored over 40 points, including the deadly Steven Stamkos, this team is a force to be reckoned with. Their speed as a team and their relentless attack is often too much for teams to handle. And with Maine hockey alumnus Ben Bishop making over 1,000 saves and losing only eight games, this team is playing well.

They were set back by a 4-2 loss to Carolina to begin the second half, but have since bounced back to win their last two straight. They have a tough matchup against the Blues and Stars on the road.

6. Nashville Predators; 1st Central Division, 2nd Western Conference

The Predators have been a bit of a surprising team this season and have jumped into one of the top spots in the west with a 30-10-5. They are getting some production from Mike Ribeiro and second-year center Filip Forsberg, and we can not forget defenseman Shea Weber, who recorded the hardest shot at the NHL Skills competition with a 105 MPH slapshot.

The real problem for the Preds’ is the fact that their star goaltender, Pekka Rinne, who has posted a 1.96 GAA, was injured on Jan. 13. Since his injury, Nashville has been 2-2-2, giving up over three goals per game. They bounced back with a 4-3 win over Colorado Avalanche, but have lost two games in a row; one to the Blues and one to the Avalanche again. So without Rinne, this team could continue to slide down the standings.

7. Detroit Red Wings; 3rd Atlantic Division, 3rd Eastern Conference

Hockeytown, USA continues to impress as the season continues, and they have worked towards a 27-11-9 record. With talent like Henrik Zetterberg, Maine alumnus Gustav Nyquist and Pavel Datsyuk, this team is always dangerous and will put up a heck of a fight in every game. Former Maine goaltender Jimmy Howard has performed well this season, but has since gone down with a groin injury in January.

But since Howard’s injury, the Wings have won seven of their last eight games, and eights of their last 10. Without Howard, the Red Wings’ playoff hopes are up in the air, but so far so good, and they remain in the top 10.

8. New York Islanders; 1st Metropolitan Division, 4th Eastern Conference

The Islanders are another surprise team in the NHL this season. They finished the first half of their season with a 31-14-1 record, good enough for the top spot in their division. Captain John Tavares continues to score goals, leading the team with 23. The Isles are also anchored by a strong defense led by former Bruin Johnny Boychuk, who also has 25 points, 21 of which are assists. The Islanders have also won 32 games after only having played 49 this season, the second fewest in the NHL.

The Islanders took two hard losses to begin the second half, a 4-1 loss to Detroit and a 5-2 loss to Boston. But they did manage to put the Rangers down by a score of 4-1, so they will remain in the bottom half of the top 10.

9. New York Rangers; 3rd Metropolitan Division, 7th Eastern Conference

The Rangers were a dominant team in the first half, posting a 31-14-1 record. Their offense has been a tad sluggish at times, with Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis leading the way. Henrik Lundqvist is still an elite goalie, and is part of the reason why the Rangers are still on this list. The Rangers have won six of their last 10 games, but some of those losses have come to teams that they should be able to beat.

The Rangers began the second half with a big loss to their rival, the Islanders, but were able to beat the lowly Hurricanes. Their hard fought 1-0 loss to Montreal is one of the only reasons they stayed on this list. After barely beating the Ottawa Senators before the break, this team needs a few big wins to get back up in the rankings.

10. Boston Bruins; 4th Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference

Call me a homer, but the Bruins have turned their horrible start into potential playoff contention. The Bruins began the season with scoring inconsistencies and frankly, they looked pretty horrible. But they have since turned their offense around and have won eight of their last 10 games. Offense is still at a premium, Patrice Bergeron and Carl Soderberg topping the points total with 33 and 32 points respectively. But the B’s have some young talent, rookie David Pastrnak and Seth Griffith showing they can put the puck in the net. Tuukka Rask has been solid for Boston in net, making over 1100 saves en route to 22 wins.

The B’s have gained momentum since the break, winning both games versus talented opponents. Their most triumphant victory came on the road against the Islanders, winning the game 5-2. If Boston can continue to win big games and be consistent on offense, they could become a legitimate playoff team.

Anything can happen in the NHL and these rankings are subject to change. Anyone can beat anyone, and in one of the longest seasons in all of professional sports, every win counts as the final half of the season begins.