ORONO, Maine — They grew up playing hockey on boys teams in the Bangor area, which gave them some valuable training. Then they went to the Taft School in Connecticut to focus on playing for a high-level prep school girls hockey team in the hopes of continuing their careers in college.
The University of Maine, to be precise.
And it has all worked out nicely for Olivia King and twins Morgan and Ally Trimper.
The trio will be looking to help their Black Bears upset the No. 3-ranked Northeastern University Huskies in Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. Hockey East semifinal at Matthews Arena in Boston.
UMaine, the fifth seed, is 15-18-1 while top seed Northeastern is 28-4-2.
The Black Bears upset No. 4 Boston College 2-1 for their fourth straight quarterfinal road win over the past three seasons.
Northeastern eliminated No. 9 Merrimack 8-0.
The Trimpers, daughters of former University of Maine baseball head coach and current Stetson (Fla.) head coach Steve Trimper and wife Lisa, are juniors, while King is a sophomore.
The Trimpers played for the Bangor High School boys team and King, from Old Town, played for Old Town-Orono.
Morgan Trimper, a center, is tied for sixth on the team in scoring with six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 33 games. She came into the season with a goal and eight assists for nine points in 55 career games.
The 5-foot-4 Trimper centers a checking line between Jen Costa and Maddie Giordano or Alyssa Wruble.
Ally Trimper, the smallest Black Bear at 5-2, is a wing who plays on either the third or fourth line. She has a goal in 27 games and it was a game-winner in a recent 5-0 win over New Hampshire. She had one goal in 43 games her first two seasons.
King has three assists in 30 games after having a goal in 15 games her freshman season.
“I’ve known them since they were 11 or 12 years old,” UMaine head coach Richard Reichenbach said. “And for them to have the success they’ve had at this level against some of the best teams in the country is pretty special.”
All three said they are enjoying their time at UMaine and that they have continued to improve.
“I’ve grown a lot over the last three years,” Morgan Trimper said. “I’m playing the best hockey of my career and this is the best time to be doing it.”
She said she came into this season focusing on doing a better job possessing the puck.
“At this level, it’s easier to throw the puck up the ice which is what I did my first two years. But I’ve figured it out more and I’m more comfortable handling the puck. That has been the major part of my development this year,” Morgan Trimper said.
Morgan has the puck between 50 seconds and a minute and 20 seconds every game, which is the most of any player on the team, her coach said.
“She is definitely a leader on and off the ice. She works incredibly hard. She is really good, defensively. She is relentless in the defensive zone and she is tough in front of (the opponents’) net,” said Reichebach.
Like her sister, Ally Trimper said she has gotten more comfortable handling the puck.
“I’ve been holding onto it and making plays,” said Ally Trimper, who recalled getting rid of the puck quickly when she played boys high school hockey to avoid absorbing a hit. “I’m still adjusting but I’ve gotten a lot better.”
“Ally has really learned how to play at this level,” said Reichenbach who noted that she has continued to work on her puck skills.
King feels all aspects of her game have improved thanks to the positive environment within the hockey program.
“It’s really fun here. It’s easy to reach out to the coaches and get what you need. Everybody on the team wants what’s best for you. It’s such a privilege to be here. And to be here with Morgan and Ally is really cool,” King said.
“Olivia works hard. She puts in a lot of time working out in the offseason. She is one of our best-conditioned athletes,” Reichenbach said. “She has developed her shot, she is physical and she has explosive speed.
“She’s doing things now as a sophomore that I didn’t think she would do until her senior year,” he said.
King has been playing on a tandem with graduate student and captain Taylor Leech from Bowdoinham, the league’s Defender of the Week.
The three players said their teammates are very supportive and there is a healthy chemistry and culture that enables them to develop.
They know they have a monumental task on Wednesday with the firepower Northeastern has in the likes of Maureen Murphy (27 goals, 23 assists), Skylar Fontaine (7, 38), Chloe Aurard (19, 20), Swiss Olympian Alina Mueller (8, 24 in just 17 games) and Maddie Mills (15,14).
But they will be ready and they are excited.
“We know that in a one-game (knockout), anything can happen,” Morgan Trimper said.
UMaine has been led by Ida Kuoppalal (9, 14), Ali Beltz (5, 12), Celine Tedenby (7, 9), Ally Johnson (8, 7) and Leech (5, 10).