ORONO, Maine — Goals haven’t been easy to come by for the University of Maine men’s hockey team this season.
The Black Bears are tied for 36th among 59 Division I teams in scoring with an average of 2.5 goals per game, and they have been held to three goals or less 18 times in 22 games.
But in recent weeks, the Black Bears have been getting some scoring help from their defense corps.
Defensemen scored four of their five goals in their 3-2 loss and 3-0 win at Massachusetts last weekend. During Maine’s recent 4-2 stretch, the blue-liners have chipped in with seven of the 21 goals.
The Alfond Arena faithful are hoping that trend continues this weekend when the Black Bears (7-14-1, 2-6 Hockey East) return to league play by hosting nationally-ranked UMass Lowell (14-4-3, 7-1-2 HE) on Friday night and Boston College (12-7-2, 5-4-2 HE) on Sunday afternoon at 3.
UMass Lowell is sixth and seventh in the two major polls while BC is 17th.
Maine junior center and captain Devin Shore said receiving goals from the defense corps could be important over the final 14 games.
“The deeper you can go to in getting your roster into the scoring column, it takes pressure off the guys you are looking upon to score,” said Shore. “That extra boost you get from defensemen scoring a goal or two could mean the difference between winning or losing. We obviously want our defensmen to get up into the rush.”
Sophomore Dan Renouf said head coach Red Gendron has been harping on the defensemen about jumping into the attack when the opportunity presents itself.
“If we’re able to pitch in with some goals, it could be huge for our team. We contributed last weekend,” said Renouf. “But we have to make sure we’re not a liability defensively.”
Renouf said they have worked on getting their shots on net and “walking the blue line” to get themselves into shooting position.
Junior Conor Riley, who had gone 86 games without a goal but now has two in his last three games, said Gendron wants his defenseman to “think shot first when we get the puck in the slot area,” and it has been a point of emphasis in practice.
Riley noted that since teams play such tight defense, if a defensmen can find an open seam in the offensive zone, it gives the forwards another passing option.
“If you can create a 4-on-3, it gives you a better chance to score,” said Riley, who is relieved that he has been able to put the puck in the net lately.
“There were a couple of times when I never thought I was going to score. I’d hit the post or see the puck go through the crease. But it’s just one of those things. You have to stick with it,” said Riley. “It took me a lot longer to score than I would have liked.”
He said he has more confidence in the offensive aspect of his game.
Shore said it’s awesome to see Riley put the puck in the net.
“He’s a great player. He was voted our best defensive player at the banquet last year and was very deserving of it. He doesn’t look for praise. Whether he scores goals or stops goals, he just wants to do what he can to help the team win,” said Shore.
Junior Ben Hutton leads the defense corps in goals with five, while Riley, Renouf and Eric Schurhamer have two apiece and Jake Rutt has one. Mark Hamilton has three assists and Billy Norman has one.
That represents 21.8 percent of Maine’s goal production.