ORONO, Maine — The youthful University of Maine hockey team should be improved this season and likely won’t finish last in Hockey East as predicted by the Hockey East coaches in the preseason poll.
Getting to the Hockey East semifinals at the TD Garden in Boston would be a significant accomplishment for this team.
There is nowhere to go but up for coach Red Gendron’s Black Bears coming off a dismal 8-24-6 campaign on the heels of a 14-22-3 record during 2014-2015.
UMaine has won only 23 of its last 83 games (23-51-9) and is coming off back-to-back losing seasons at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears were 6-7-3 at home last season, 1-6-2 in their last nine games, and 8-9-2 the previous season.
One NCAA tournament appearance in nine years after a string of nine consecutive berths including an NCAA championship in 1999 has left the Alfond Arena faithful restless.
But just as the 2015-2016 team surprised fans with its struggles, going 5-15-2 in Hockey East, this team promises to surprise fans by overachieving.
Gendron, in his fourth season, finally has his preferred type of player on the roster. The few remaining players recruited by former head coach Tim Whitehead are Gendron-type players: Hard-nosed, blue-collar guys who practice as hard as they play.
UMaine won’t be among Hockey East’s top six teams skill-wise, but the program that had the third smallest roster (physical stature) in Division I in Gendron’s first season now has 15 players who are at least 6-foot-2 and 15 who weigh at least 190 pounds.
And they skate well, so the Black Bears should win more puck battles this season.
But there are deficiencies that have to be addressed.
UMaine was 59th among 60 Division I schools in shooting percentage a year ago (6.2 percent of shots resulted in goals) and the only player who scored more than nine goals, Will Merchant (13 goals), has graduated. They were 55th in scoring (2 goals per game).
Seniors Blaine Byron and Cam Brown and junior Nolan Vesey are poised to redeem themselves after disappointing seasons. Vesey slumped from 23 points in two years ago to 11 (5 goals, 6 assists) last season; Brown dropped off from 28 to 20 (8 & 12) and Byron had 24 (8 & 16) after posting 27 two years ago.
Byron was the team’s leading scorer and Brown was third. The other four among the top six scorers have departed.
They all impressed in Sunday’s 6-5 exhibition loss to St. Francis Xavier from Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
“The guys who struggled a bit to get results last year looked very good in the game,” Gendron said.
The highly-skilled Byron is stronger physically which should enable him to fight off checks better, keep possession of the puck longer and make more plays. Vesey has improved all aspects of his game and is playing with more confidence.
The tenacious Brown, who is always around the puck, has added a few pounds to his 5-7 frame without impacting his quickness and elusiveness. He must do a better job finishing his chances.
The team appears quicker overall, moves the puck faster and limits the opponents’ time and space with the puck.
The sophomore class, which supplied some valuable role players but only eight goals and 28 assists a year ago, should be much more prevalent on the scoresheet.
Up front, swift-skating Brendan Robbins played better that his stat line (4 & 7) and should be much more productive and 6-4 Danny Perez (2 & 6) and Dane Gibson (1 & 3) could take more prominent roles as sophomores.
Junior Cedric Lacroix (5 & 3) and redshirt junior Malcolm Hayes, who was a medical redshirt after having shoulder surgery, will supply a physical presence.
The six freshman forwards will all earn playing time, some more than others, and it will be important for them to be impactful.
Detroit Red Wings fifth-round draft pick Chase Pearson had 50 points in 55 games in the prestigious U.S. Hockey League and Mitchell Fossier had 40 in 60 games, so both should provide immediate help.
Florida Panthers seventh-round pick Patrick Shea (86 points in 46 games between Kimball Union Academy and the Boston Junior Bruins Selects), Jake Pappalardo (83 in 42 games between Proctor Academy and Junior Bruins) and Ryan Smith (24 in 60 games in USHL) were noticeable in the exhibition. Peter Housakos (54 points in 28 games at St. Mark’s School) has potential as a gritty third- or fourth-liner.
Freshman Tim Doherty could be a valuable addition up front depending upon his eligibility status. He began last fall at Brown University but left before playing a game. Swedish sophomore Robin Hoglund, a University of Minnesota transfer, could also provide some help when he becomes eligible after the first semester.
On defense, the loss of influential Dan Renouf will be felt. He passed up his senior year to sign with Detroit.
UMaine will be extremely young on the blue line with senior assistant captain Eric Schurhamer (2 & 8) and junior Mark Hamilton (0 & 6) the only upperclassmen. But the defense corps should be improved.
Rob Michel (0 & 8) had an exceptional freshman season and classmates Sam Becker (0 & 3) and Keith Muehlbauer (1 & 0) showed promise while earning playing time.
Red Wings sixth-round pick Patrick Holway, who has an exceptional shot from the point, and skillful Hungarian Junior National Teamer Oliver Herner, at 6-7, should help fill the offensive void left by Renouf’s departure.
Herner will miss a handful of games early due to an eligibility issue.
Redshirt freshman Stephen Cochrane, who stands 6-6, played well in the exhibition and will be very much in the mix.
The forwards will have to help the defense corps out by backchecking efficiently and intelligently.
UMaine was 50th nationally in team defense a year ago (3.39 gpg allowed) and that has to improve significantly.
Six-foot-four sophomore goaltender Rob McGovern (2-14-3, 2.78 goals-against average, .905 save percentage) will be the No. 1 and showed flashes of brilliance a year ago along with some growing pains. His agility has improved and he has the potential to steal some wins.
Senior Matt Morris (6-10-3, 3.54, .901 save percentage) is a capable backup and 6-8 freshman Stephen Mundinger is an intriguing option.
Special teams must improve after the power play was 46th (14.1 percent) and the penalty kill (78.5) was 52nd last year.
The nonconference schedule is more favorable this season. UMaine opens at home against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (18-15-7 last year) and NCAA national runner-up Quinnipiac (32-4-7) the next two weekends before going on the road for two-game sets with Miami (15-18-3) and Colgate (11-24-2).
UMaine played its first 10 games on the road or at neutral sites a year ago.
So while young, the Black Bears appear ready to make significant strides this season.