The second season has begun.
The University of Maine’s nationally-ranked hockey team didn’t finish the regular season on a high note, losing 5-1 and rallying for a 2-2 tie at UMass last weekend.
But that is in the rearview mirror now as the Black Bears await the results of Wednesday night’s Hockey East first round games to see who they will be hosting in Saturday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal at the Alfond Arena.
That list of possible quarterfinal opponents consists of seventh seed UMass Lowell, eighth seed Merrimack, ninth seed Northeastern or 10th seed New Hampshire.
“We’re proud of the effort we put in during the first season but now it’s time for the second season and our playoff run,” said senior defenseman and co-captain David Breazeale.
UMaine head coach Ben Barr said the UMass series shouldn’t detract from what has been accomplished so far, but he also pointed out that his Black Bears can’t afford to play like they did last weekend if they are going to make a long playoff run.
“Did we play our best in our last game? No. But we have to take confidence into the postseason knowing that the guys put a lot of good work into the regular season and did some really good things,” said Barr, whose team is ranked fourth in one national poll and fifth in the other and has already sewn up a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth with its 21-7-6 record.
Maine finished second in Hockey East after being picked fourth in the preseason poll by the league’s coaches.
The 21-7-6 record is the program’s best since the 2003-04 team went 33-8-3. And the second place Hockey East finish is the best since the 2005-06 team tied for second.
“There wasn’t one area in which we played well last weekend,” said Barr, who is in his fourth year as head coach. “We were average in everything we did and that obviously wasn’t good enough. And it won’t be good enough in any other games we play. We have to find ourselves again and that’s what we’re working on this week.”
The former UMass associate head coach and recruiting coordinator noted that they were playing a very good UMass team that was desperate for wins because it is on the bubble when it comes to landing an NCAA Tournament berth.
He also said that the Mullins Center, which is 10 feet wider than Alfond Arena and most other rinks, has always posed problems for visiting teams.
“There is more room on the outside and UMass always has players who can skate so you feel like you’re chasing the game the whole time,” said Barr.
But that’s all in the past now.
“We need to focus on playing a better brand of hockey,” said Barr. “We have to get aggressive again. The strength of this team is its character and work ethic.”
Barr said his team needs to have an “underdog mentality” regardless of where it finished in the Hockey East standings.
“If we have that chip on our shoulders, we play the game the right way,” Barr said. “When we’re carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders because we’re a highly ranked team, it makes the game a little harder,” he explained.
UMaine senior center and alternate captain Harrison Scott said the Black Bears were “hanging back a little last weekend” and playing it safe against UMass.
“But our game is aggressive, it’s ruthless, it’s relentless. That’s what we’re getting back to this week,” Scott said.
UMaine is “focused on having fun, trusting our process and not putting so much pressure on ourselves,” Scott added.
Co-captain Breazeale had a similar message.
“We need to get back to our identity. We were back on our heels a little bit but we want to be on our toes and dictate the play,” said Breazeale.
Junior left wing Owen Fowler said the team “learned a lot of things throughout the year,” had some comebacks, played well and is excited for the playoffs.
“It favors our style which is playing hard and aggressive and finishing checks all around,” Fowler said about the postseason.
“We’re a much better team when we’re aggressive and playing with no fear,” added junior defenseman Brandon Holt.
Holt also said the team is a little rejuvenated and “hitting the ground running like it’s day one again.”
Barr said his message to his players is simple.
“Just go out and play hard. Play free,” said Barr.