MAINE vs. NEW BRUNSWICK
Time, site: Sunday, 4 p.m., Alfond Arena
Records: Maine 0-0, UNB 3-0
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 16-3-3, Maine 4-3 (OT) on Jan. 21
Key players (last year’s stats): Maine — C Devin Shore (14 goals, 29 assists), D Ben Hutton (15 & 14), LW Connor Leen (6 & 17), C Steven Swavely (10 & 10), C Cam Brown (4 & 15), D Jake Rutt (1 & 6), G Matt Morris (medical redshirt last year); UNB— C-W Philippe Maillet (16 & 25), C Cam Braes (11 & 12), W Cam Critchlow (9 & 11), D Jordan Murray (7 & 13), W Tyler Carroll (injured last year, 2 games played), G Chris Carrozzi (first year), G David Shantz (first year)
Game notes: The Varsity Reds won their fourth Canadian national championship in eight years in 2013 but got eliminated by St. Mary’s, three games to one, in the conference’s (Atlantic University Sport) best-of-five semifinal series last year. UNB won the regular season title with a 24-3-1 record and a conference-high 119 goals scored. Both teams are inexperienced in goal so their coaches will be eager to see their young goalies under fire. Four of the five goalies for the two teams are first-year players although Maine freshman Nik Nugnes spent the second semester practicing with the team a year ago. The Varsity Reds won three exhibition games entering a Saturday night game at Boston College. Eight freshmen will get their first taste of varsity action for the Black Bears in this exhibition contest while UNB has 16 first- or second-year players. The Varsity Reds are quick and skilled and will supply the Black Bears with a useful tuneup before they head to Alaska for season-opening games against Alaska-Anchorage and Alaska-Fairbanks.