The University of Maine’s back-to-back sellout crowds of 5,125 for the two-game set on Homecoming weekend at Alfond Arena against No. 3 Quinnipiac last weekend left an impression on the Black Bears, whose 3-1 start is the program’s best since the 2006-07 team won its first seven games.
The 2006-07 team was the last one to reach the Frozen Four and there has been just one NCAA Tournament appearance since: the 2011-12 season when UMaine went 23-14-3 but lost in the first round to Minnesota-Duluth 5-2 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Maine has had just four crowds in excess of 5,000 including three sellouts in the three previous seasons combined.
Three of those crowds were registered against archrival New Hampshire including two of the sellouts. The other sellout came against Boston College in 2013-14.
Maine had drawn 3,859 and 3,909 for its season-opening series sweep of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) but the students were on their Columbus Day break. The students were back in full force in the balcony this past weekend.
Freshman right wing Ryan Smith and his line started both games so he heard his name over the public address system each night.
“I was pretty nervous. My heart was pounding through my chest because they were so loud,” said Smith. “I had a lot of big crowds playing juniors [United States Hockey League]. That kind of helped me calm down a little bit.
“But the way they do the chants and everything, it’s a whole different crowd because they’re so into it,” added Smith.
“It was a really cool experience,” said freshman center Patrick Shea. “It’s definitely an advantage. I would imagine it’s affecting the other team in a negative way.”
His father, Neil, played several games at Alfond Arena for Boston College between 1982-86.
“He said it was the toughest rink to play in,” said Patrick.
“It was unbelievable. I played in front of some big crowds last year in the USHL but the energy in the building was something I had never experienced before,” freshman right wing Mitch Fossier said.
“A lot of people said they hadn’t seen crowds like that since my freshman year,” said senior assistant captain Eric Schurhamer. “It was awesome to see it return to that. I loved it. And we did pretty well against [Quinnipiac], too, so hopefully it will be a good testament to how well our team will do down the road.
“Having a good start definitely helps, too,” he added.
Maine beat Quinnipiac 4-3 in overtime the first night and lost 3-2 in OT the second night.
“After we won the first game in overtime, that’s the loudest I had ever heard it,” said sophomore defenseman Rob Michel.
Maine won just one of its last nine home games a year ago (1-6-2).
“The community is huge here. So many people love Maine hockey and bleed (Maine) Blue. It’s great to have that support. It really drives the program,” said senior assistant captain and center Blaine Byron. “
Maine senior left wing and captain Cam Brown said that when they did the stick tap, which is a salute to the crowd after the Saturday night game, he looked at Byron and Schurhamer and they realized it had been a long time since they had heard the crowd as loud as it was that night.
Maine will visit Miami and Colgate for two-game sets the next two weekends before facing off against Boston College in Portland on Nov. 4 and in Orono the next night.