Men’s College Hockey
MAINE vs. No. 2 UNION
Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 0-2, Union 2-0
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 7-2, Union 6-3 on 10/10/09
Key players: Maine — RW Blaine Byron (1 goal, 1 assist), D Conor Riley (0 & 2), C Cam Brown (0 & 2), C Devin Shore (1 & 0), D Ben Hutton (no points), G Matt Morris (0-1, 3.06 goals-against average, .897 save percentage), G Sean Romeo (0-1, 4.16, .810); Union — C Mike Vecchione (2 & 2), RW Sam Coatta (2 & 1), LW Daniel Ciampini (0 & 2), RW Michael Pontarelli (0 & 1), D Jeff Taylor (1 & 1), D Sebastien Gingras (1 & 0), G Colin Stevens (2-0, 2.00, .933)
Game notes: The Dutchmen have just two of their top seven scorers off last year’s NCAA championship team in this weekend’s lineup, Ciampini (23 & 18) and Vecchione (14 & 20). Vecchione was the ECAC Player of the Week last week for his two goals and two assists in wins over AIC (7-3) and New Hampshire (3-1). Vecchione and Ciampini again are linemates and the Black Bears must try to neutralize them. The Dutchmen have a big edge in experience between the pipes as Stevens has played 61 career games while Morris and Romeo have a combined eight career games. Stevens was 28-4-2 with a 2.05 GAA and a .929 save percentage in guiding Union to the national title. He is the only one of the four All-ECAC first teamers who is back. Maine’s power play went 0-for-9 in the two losses in Alaska: 3-1 to Alaska-Anchorage and 5-2 to Alaska-Fairbanks. Union has more shorthanded goals (3) this season than Maine has power-play goals (2) over its last nine games. Sophomore Gingras originally committed to Maine. The Dutchmen haven’t lost since a 2-1 setback at St. Lawrence on Jan. 31. They have won 14 straight and are unbeaten in 19 (18-0-1).