What If?
‘What If?’ That’s always the question, and it certainly was no different for Maine after its semifinal loss to Michigan State. Jim Connelly looks at the dreaded scenario.
Men’s D-I: Maine
Wednesday Notebook: Maine
As Maine’s top goaltender Ben Bishop sat injured during the stretch run, watching his Black Bears lose the final four games of the season, including the Hockey East quarterfinal series to Massachusetts, one thought sat in his mind. “Once we found out we were in the tournament, I really just wanted to get back out … Read more
There’s No Place Like Home For Bishop, Maine Men’s Hockey
At 6-7, University of Maine sophomore netminder Ben Bishop knows he is bound to turn heads when walking to and from class. He’s used to it. For the better part of 15 years, Bishop has grown accustomed to the stares. In his own words, it “comes with the territory.”
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
Familiarity Breeds Contempt Aesop must have been a sports fan. Sports is where that observation rings so true. How else can you explain how Maine and Massachusetts, two teams that have essentially ignored each other for years, despite being in the same conference, can suddenly grow into a rivalry this season? It started innocently enough. … Read more
Notebook: Maine Vs. St. Cloud
Ending The Drought Maine came into the NCAA tournament having lost four straight, all of them to Massachusetts: two to end the season and a sweep at the hands of UMass in the Hockey East tournament, the team the Black Bears face on Saturday. “How could you not respect a team that beat you four … Read more
Maine Man
Maine goaltender Ben Bishop missed four games after a groin injury against Merrimack. He came back strong — and stood tall — for Maine in the East Regional Semifinal as Russell Jaslow reports from Rochester.
The Magician
Michel Leveille has always known how to play the game of hockey. Now the entire country knows what he can do, Joe Haggerty reports.
2006-07 Maine Season Preview
Maine’s resilience shone through last year both as a program and as a team. After losing All-Everything goaltender Jimmy Howard, the Black Bears were expected by many to fall on comparatively tough times. Howard had stood head and shoulders above all others as the team’s go-to guy, its one indispensable part. Instead, Maine roared out … Read more
Briggs Suspended Three Games By Gophers
Minnesota senior goaltender Kellen Briggs has been suspended for three games due to an unspecified rules violation. Minnesota’s athletic department made the announcement in a brief statement Wednesday afternoon. Briggs will sit out the Golden Gophers’ Oct. 6 game against Maine and the Oct. 13-14 series against Wayne State. Briggs appeared in 32 games last … Read more
The Last Worry
Going into its NCAA semifinal contest against Wisconsin, Maine’s last worry was special teams. Many factors may have conspired to keep Black Bears coach Tim Whitehead awake at night, but neither the power play nor the penalty kill was among them. The penalty kill ranked first in the nation with an 89.1 percent success rate; … Read more
Damon and Moore: Maine Men
Hockey is alive and well in the state of Maine. Despite the loss by the Black Bears to Wisconsin, the state of Maine is on the upswing. You can thank Derek Damon and Greg Moore for that. These two Maine natives have raised the bar for hockey in the state by their play in Orono. … Read more
Semifinal Notebook: Maine
No one in the Maine camp is unaware of the task that lies ahead as the Black Bears face off against Wisconsin on what will feel like enemy ice. Maine, though, is no stranger to playing big games as a “road” team on allegedly “neutral” ice. In fact, this is the fifth year in a … Read more
Preview: Wisconsin-Maine
Wisconsin vs. Maine Thursday, 7 p.m. CT, Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wis. For one team in the second semifinal Thursday in Milwaukee, it’s a chance to reclaim past glories. For the other, it’s a familiar experience. Wisconsin’s season can be parsed neatly into three pieces: an incredible run to the top of the polls, followed by … Read more
Sweet Redemption
The historic 2005 Frozen Four saw the WCHA dominate the postseason. This time around, Jim Connelly says Maine helped show Hockey East’s not half-bad either.
Maine’s Damon Suspended For Regional Semifinal
Maine senior forward Derek Damon has been suspended for Saturday’s East Regional Semifinal game against Harvard for an unspecified team violation. Damon is Maine’s fourth-leading scorer with 33 points (14-19–33). Should Maine defeat Harvard, Damon will be eligible for Sunday’s East Regional Final.
No Worries
“No, I am not worried about that.” That was the response of Guy Perron when he was asked whether or not he wanted to be updated on the score of the Connecticut-New Hampshire game. More than 24 hours ago, this was a team that looked to be going to the playoffs. One win on Saturday. … Read more
United in Silence
Around 9:30 in the morning a phone call is made to more than ten or so rooms. “Good Morning! This is your wake-up call.” That is what everyone hears. For the average person a wake-up call is a way to start their day. For the Maine Black Bears, the wake-up call for them came a … Read more
The Last Road Trip
Just an hour away from their last road trip, captains Morgan Janusc and Cheryl White should be nervous. They should be the last ones to get on that bus. They should be the ones to stall the trip and hang on to some of the best years of their lives. But not hanging on to … Read more
UNH Suspends Seven For Friday’s Game At Maine
Seven New Hampshire players, including leading scorer Daniel Winnik and other top lamplighters, have been suspended for unspecified violations of team rules. The players involved were Winnik, Trevor Smith, Josh Ciocco, Brett Hemingway, Jerry Pollastrone, Greg Collins and Mike Radja, none of whom will be on the ice for the Wildcats’ Friday game against Hockey … Read more
Stopping Power
“Jimmy who?” Maine has found a pair of netminders to cushion the blow of a key offseason loss, Joe Haggerty says.