In his five years at the University of Massachusetts, Ben Barr saw the team evolve.
He saw the Minutemen transform from a 5-29-2 team during his first season as assistant coach alongside first-year head coach Greg Carvel, to a team that went on to reach the NCAA championship game for the first time in school history and later win the NCAA title in 2021.
Barr will return to Amherst, Massachusetts, to face Carvel and the Minutemen for the first time this weekend, now as the first-year head coach at the University of Maine. The teams will play a two-game Hockey East set on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m.
UMass, ranked ninth in the country, is 15-8-2 overall and 10-4-2 in Hockey East, which is good enough for second place behind UMass Lowell.
UMaine is 4-16-4 and 2-10-2 and tied for last place with Vermont.
“Obviously, I had a great experience there,” said Barr, who worked with the defensemen at UMass last year and was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. “But I haven’t thought about [going back this weekend]. … There were a lot of good memories there but I’m going back there trying to win hockey games.”
Instead, he’s been focused on his own team and their upcoming stretch of eight regular season games heading into the playoffs.
The Black Bears have yet to win a game on the road this season.
“I want them to play every game like it’s their last game,” Barr said. “If they don’t, they’ll regret it for the rest of their lives.”
Barr said he learned a lot from Carvel, as he did from other coaches he worked with like Nate Leaman (Providence College) and Andy Murray (former Western Michigan coach).
“I’ve been fortunate to work with some great coaches,” said Barr. “Coaching with Greg was a lot different. He had a really good offensive mind and I learned a lot from him offensively. Relationship-wise, he cared a lot about his players, how they felt and how they were doing mentally.”
Carvel said there is no doubt in his mind that Barr will get the UMaine program turned around.
“Ben is a genuine person and that is really important in recruiting and coaching. You want players to respect and like you. Ben is very honest and oozes with integrity. He knows the game real well, he knows what it takes to win and has a very clear vision [of how to get it done],” said Carvel. “They may not win a national championship in three years but they will make strides every year.”
Barr said the series won’t be about a coach going against one of his mentors.
“It will be about their players against our players. I’m trying to build a program that can compete for championships,” Barr said. “We’re excited to get back out here and we’re looking for a better showing than last weekend.”
UMaine was humbled by Boston University 4-0 and Merrimack 5-0 last weekend.
Lynden Breen (4 goals, 9 assists), Donavan Houle (8 & 3) and defensemen Jakub Sirota (4 & 8) and David Breazeale (2 & 9) continue to lead the Black Bears in front of goalie Victor Ostman (3-10-1, 3.16 goals-against average, .900 save percentage).
UMass has been paced by Bobby Trivigno (14 & 16), Scott Morrow (10 & 16), defensemen Ryan Ufko (3 & 15) and Matthew Kessel (4 & 7) and goalie Matt Murray (14-7-2, 2.37, .921).