The University of Maine men’s hockey team didn’t play like a Hockey East seventh-place team over the weekend in its 2-1 loss and 5-3 victory over Quinnipiac University, which came into the weekend ranked sixth in the country and is now seventh in one poll and eighth in the other.
UMaine was chosen seventh in the Hockey East preseason coaches poll.
The Black Bears probably deserved a better fate.
They shouldn’t have lost Friday night. They found themselves trailing 2-1 after the first period despite outshooting Quinnipiac 18-5.
But that’s hockey.
Energized by the enthusiastic crowd, as they were all weekend, they wound up with a 34-22 edge in shots over the course of the game.
Quinnipiac protected its lead effectively, showing why the Bobcats have played in the last seven NCAA Tournaments, including an NCAA championship run in 2023, and why they have been the ECAC regular season titlists the last six years.
They have averaged 29 wins the past five seasons and are the preseason favorite to win the regular season title again.
Rand Pecknold’s Bobcats have a lot of offensive skill, but they also know how to play team defense.
Quinnipiac had scored 16 goals in its previous two games against New Hampshire (10-2) and defending Hockey East tournament champ Merrimack (6-3) and UMaine limited the Bobcats to few high-percentage scoring chances throughout the evening.
The Black Bears, now 2-2, didn’t generate the number of high-percentage chances they could have with their superior offensive zone time and puck possession, but scoring is going to be a work in progress throughout the season.
This team isn’t blessed with a number of natural goal-scorers as only three forwards have scored more than seven goals in a college season: left wingers Owen Fowler and Tanner Klimpke and center Max Scott.
But the Black Bears can compensate by getting to the net front, winning puck battles in the offensive zone and putting shots on net — and that’s what they did Saturday night. They do have depth up front and work tirelessly.
It is a fun team to watch with its aggression and physicality.
The Black Bears do a good job swarming the puck and limiting the opponents’ time and space with it. They do occasionally get exposed, as they did on Ethan Wyttenbach’s game-winning breakaway goal Friday night. But that’s bound to happen.
On Saturday, UMaine rallied from a 3-2 deficit after Quinnipiac had overcome a pair of one-goal deficits to take a lead.
After allowing two goals on eight shots in the first period, senior Albin Boija saved 14 of 15 the rest of the way, including a couple of gems to backstop the victory.
He looked like the Boija of two years ago when he was a second team All-American. And he had to be, because the team wasn’t as sharp defensively as it was on Friday night.
Boija squared himself to the shooters, was on his angles and tracked the puck efficiently.
He could minimize his movement because he was in a good position and controlled his rebounds better.
If UMaine is going to contend for an NCAA Tournament berth, that is the type of goaltending they will need from Boija or Canisius transfer Petter Wickstrom Stumer.
Boija had his struggles last year, but his Saturday performance should give him confidence.
He had 20 stops in the Friday night loss and couldn’t be faulted on either goal.
The defense corps was impressive both nights, and UMaine sixth-year head coach Ben Barr said it is the most mobile defense corps he has had at UMaine.
That is so important when it comes to breaking the puck out of the zone. They have the ability to skate the puck out on their own, and they are also able to recover quickly if they get caught out of position.
In addition, the forwards are committed to helping out on the defensive side.
The Black Bears blocked 34 shots over the two nights.
Sophomore Lukas Peterson and junior transfer Isa Parekh have a real offensive flair to their games and the other blueliners can also chip in.
Barr has said from day one he really enjoys coaching this team and the work ethic and culture have been exceptional.
“We’ve learned a lot about ourselves in the first four games. We’re a .500 team right now. There is a lot of season in front of us and nobody in that locker room wants to be just average,” Barr said.
For Bemidji State transfer Parekh, who scored the tying goal Saturday, and UMass Lowell transfer right wing Lee Parks, who notched the game-winner, their first games playing for the Black Bears at a packed and rowdy Alfond Arena were special.
Parks did play a Hockey East playoff game for UMass Lowell at Alfond Arena two years ago. UMaine won 7-1.
“Standing on the line for player introductions, I was going ‘Oh my God.’ I had never played in a building like this. It was ridiculous,” said Parekh, who was chosen the Hockey East Defender of the Week. “It was amazing to see how loud the crowd gets when we get a [scoring] chance or score a goal. To see how into they are is great.”
Veteran forwards Owen Fowler, Charlie Russell, Max Scott and Sully Scholle all played well and Barr said he needs them to continue to be productive on a regular basis.
Only two players on the 28-man roster have yet to play: forward Ross Campbell, who has had mononucleosis, and third-string goalie Colin Ronan.
Campbell is expected to be ready for the two-game home series against Colgate in two weekends.
Twelve players have registered at least a point, and Parks has a three-game goal-scoring streak.
“You can’t name a better power forward than him right now,” Parekh said.
Junior defenseman Chris Romaine, who had to be helped off the ice after suffering a head injury following a hit by Alex Kostov in the first period of Saturday’s game, is listed as day-to-day by Barr.