The Journey North.

It’s not only a clever mantra coined by the UMaine Athletic Department to evoke the daunting trip deep into the heart of the Pine Tree State that opposition teams face when tasked to do battle with the Black Bears on a frozen sheet all the way up in Orono.

It represents the step-by-step process of returning the state’s most beloved team back to their perch at the top of the College Hockey world.

A Journey North not only on the standing’s board, but in reigniting a fanbase that has long been yearning for the fruits of success once commonplace around these parts in the 90s and early 2000s.

Maine Men’s Hockey Head Coach Ben Barr, now in his fourth season at the Black Bears’ helm, is certainly no stranger to taking a struggling hockey program all the way to the top. All the way north.

Barr, a skilled recruiter, played a pivotal role in finding the right puzzle pieces needed to turn three struggling programs not only into contenders, but National Champions. Union in 2014, Providence the following year, and Massachusetts in 2021; each have Barr’s fingerprints all over the trophy of College Hockey’s ultimate prize.

But Barr understands that the process to get to the top is a journey, often as long and winding as the backroads of Maine.

“You’re going to have your ups and downs as we obviously have had these first couple of years and we’ll continue to have. It’s not always going to be a straight shot to the top, it doesn’t work like that in our world.” Barr said.

It certainly hasn’t only been sunshine and rainbows for Barr during his first three years in Orono. In his first campaign, he had to endure an eight-game winless streak before

the first win under his tutelage in a 7-22-4 season that saw the Black Bears end up in the basement of the Hockey East standings.

An eight-win improvement the season after pushed Maine into the middle of the pack and gave the fanbase the hope that a new dawn was on the horizon. But a bitterly disappointing loss on home ice to last-place Vermont in the first round of the conference playoffs reminded Black Bear Nation that the Journey North was to be as winding as ever.

Then last season happened.

The year of Maine’s renaissance.

Another eight-win improvement soared the Black Bears to heights the program hadn’t seen in over a decade.

Lynden Breen scores Maine's lone goal at TD Garden against BU.

Maine, with a 23-12-2 record, skyrocketed back onto the radar of College Hockey’s elite teams. Their swashbuckling, high-octane play, and highlight reel offense led the Black Bears to their first appearance at Boston’s TD Garden in the Hockey East semifinals since 2012. The team’s stellar season earned them ranking as the 5th best team in the entire nation and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 as well.

Nonetheless, back-to-back losses to end the season, the first to Boston University in the Hockey East semifinal and then the following weekend to Cornell in the Regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament, left the sharp taste of disappointment in Maine mouths.

“We didn’t get the job done. It was disappointing and we had to sit on that for five months, to think about it and grow from it.” Barr recalled. “That left a sting, we felt that we were right there.”

While last season didn’t have the fairytale ending the team’s players, staff, and fans had hoped for, it put Maine back on the map.

The Bear had awakened from hibernation.

Correlated with the team’s gradual improvement on the ice over the past few seasons, a notable rise in fervor and fandom has exploded. Last season, Alfond Arena saw an average 37% (1,358 per game) attendance increase from the 2022-23 season, which kept the Alfond bursting at capacity night in and night out, selling 99% total capacity for the season.

The fanatical support from Black Bear Nation boiled over in the storied old barn's final home game of the season, when a rip-roaring atmosphere helped carry Maine to a 5-0 explosive playoff victory over Border Battle rival, New Hampshire.

“I think back to the last game of the year, the playoff game, that was as loud of a building as I’ve ever been in and that’s at any level. It was truly special.” Barr remembered.

The Alfond was rocking before Maine's playoff game against UNH.

Maine’s not so secret weapon

It’s no wonder that the program’s resurgent on-ice success has reinvigorated Black Bear Nation’s support and clamor. In sports, it’s no secret that a winning team greatly boosts the excitement and attendance of a fanbase. But in Barr’s mind, it works the other way as well.

A symbiotic relationship between the team and the fans feeds off the energy the other one brings. The better the on-ice performance, the more raucous the Alfond atmosphere becomes. And the more the fans shake the Alfond’s rafters, the more adrenaline courses through the home team's legs.

It’s a synergistic connection that feeds off the other, using each other as fuel. In Barr’s words, “our biggest advantage here is the Alfond.”

The impact that the famous Alfond atmosphere has on the team’s success cannot be understated.

“It has an incredible effect. I think it’s one of the most important parts of our program.” Barr continues. “Even if it gives us just an extra five percent, that might make the difference in the game, especially in Hockey East when every game for the most part is so tight.”

For many Mainers, spending a Friday or Saturday night packed tightly into Alfond Arena is about so much more than just going to see a hockey game. It’s a gathering space for the community to come together during the long, dark winters.

The Alfond erupts during Maine's opening night win over RPI.

“They look forward to going there, not just for the hockey, obviously the hockey is part of it, but it’s the community. It’s where they see a lot of their friends, where they see a lot of people they haven’t seen for a few months. So that is so important and it’s such a cool thing to have because that’s not the case for all programs in college hockey or pro sports. If you’re in a big city, you are up against how many other Division I colleges or pro sports, that kind of stuff.” Barr said.

The Maine hockey program means more to the school, community, and entire state than it does in most other places and this stature has emerged as an important factor in drawing top talents to Orono. In the transformed landscape of college athletics with new rules regarding the transfer portal and especially NIL (name, image, and likeness) — which now allows for school’s to provide financial incentives to lure prospective student athletes to join their teams — Maine’s rich hockey culture has become exponentially more important than it already was.

“We’re not going to be a Big Ten school where we have unlimited resources for everything. But we have something that’s hopefully even more special and I think we’ll find our niche in the new NCAA world.” Barr explained. “The one thing that can make us stand out amongst our peers in that gameday experience is the Alfond.”

A large reason for the Black Bears resurgence of the past few years is an understanding from Barr, his staff, and his players of the unique importance the program has not only in the local community, but for the entire state of Maine. For Barr, a chief focus of his job is bringing the right type of people into the program, individuals that understand the critical role they play in the stewardship of something much greater than themselves

“That goes back to the history of this program, it has a different feeling than anything I’ve had at different schools. I think it’s really important that we have the right people in our program to make sure that we respect that and take care of that.” Barr explained. “It’s something that’s very humbling for our staff and our players and everyone around the program and school. It’s definitely something we have to take into account when we’re trying to figure out who comes in and who’s a part of Black Bear hockey.”

This distinct experience of witnessing the fever-pitched Alfond atmosphere alongside Orono's heralded hockey heritage has already had a direct impact in attracting the type of people who fit the culture of the program and will help enhance it. It’s no surprise that three of the four newest Black Bears coming over through the transfer portal this offseason experienced what the Alfond had to offer firsthand as opposition players last year.

“Every single one of them, that’s what they talked about. Like ‘when we played up there, that was incredible; as soon as we left, I wanted to play there.’” Barr said.

The Student Section chirps Boston College before a game in which the Black Bears knock-off #1 BC.

Long gone are the days when rumors about tearing down the Alfond for a new arena swirled. Without the Alfond, Maine hockey would lose the special ingredient that makes it one of the crown jewels of not just College Hockey, but hockey in general. 

It’s not just the staff, players, and fans that understand the unparalleled role the Alfond and its fans play in maintaining the lifeblood of Maine Hockey. The University’s administration has taken notice as well and is devoted to safekeeping the magic it produces.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the University’s multimillion dollar commitment to upgrading and enhancing Alfond Arena and the adjoining Shawn Walsh Hockey Center. In large part due to the Harold Alfond Foundation’s generous investment, a large-scale renovation is taking place to ensure that the Maine men’s and women’s hockey programs will have state-of-the-art facilities, rivaling any in College Hockey. This commitment to the revitalization and enhancement of the Alfond is crucial to ensuring that the hockey programs’ greatest asset is able to match any in the nation.

“I think we’ll have the facilities for the student athletes that compare with the rest of our league. As nice as the game day atmosphere is, we’ve been behind with the rest of that stuff with the improvements with the rest of our league and across the country for the top programs. So, I think we’ll be right up there with that and then it’s up to us to make sure our culture and our environment is second to none because that gameday [experience] will sell itself as long as we keep doing our job.” Barr explained.

Taking the next step

As Mainers know all too well, the further North you go, the harder the journey becomes. Rough terrain, rugged logging roads, and the seemingly endless wilderness of the County make the final push to the northernmost tippy top of the state the most grueling and challenging.

For the Black Bears it’s a similar sentiment. It will be no easy task to push the envelope, raise themselves to the next level, and improve upon last year's remarkable success. 

For Barr and his team, this off-season has been less focused on trying to take a giant leap forward like in seasons past, but instead on finding the incremental improvements required to refine their performance in all areas, both on and off the ice.

The Black Bears certainly aren’t resting on their laurels.

“It’s not going to be good enough just to be as good as we were last year. We need five, ten percent extra and that’s our job as a staff is to make sure we’re pushing these guys to get a little better every year.” Barr said.

The team has spent countless hours in the weight room all summer long working with Director of Sports Performance Codi Fitzgerald. It’s not only been with a focus on gaining muscle, but on increasing any physical edge they can add, such as speed, mobility, and agility.

“We rely on him [Fitzgerald] to really help our players and then we rely on our players to be honest with themselves, "hey, can I make a 2% improvement here or a 1% improvement there,’” Barr explained.

It’s no secret that last year the Black Bears struggled when facing big and heavy teams that could grind their opposition to a pulp. These teams' well-structured defenses and physical in-your-face defending halted Maine’s usually high-flying, speed oriented offense. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Maine’s season-ending loss to Cornell, as the Black Bears attack ground to a halt against the Big Red wall.

Last season the Black Bears were the 9th heaviest and tied for 10th tallest team in their 11-team conference. While many fans in the offseason were calling for a focus on bringing in players with greater size to combat their struggles against these robust defenses, Barr doesn’t see his team’s size as the reason for their falters against these types of sides.

“I don’t put a lot of thought into how big or how small we are. We struggled in those games because it got us out of our flow and out of our comfort zone and then we were a little immature in dealing with that at times.” Barr explained. “We lost the game [against Cornell] obviously, but I don’t think it was because we weren’t big enough, I think it was because we didn’t execute in situations that we needed to execute in and they did.”

In Barr's view, much of what needs to improve in order to remedy his team's shortcomings comes down to developing the mental aspect of the game. Pushing the team out of their comfort zone every day in practice is key for Maine to overcome the trials and tribulations every season is bound to bring. For Barr, the biggest need for improvement this season is an increased level of execution in all areas of the ice. Whether that is putting the puck in the back of the net, the goaltender making a critical save, or finding a teammate's stick for a breakout pass up ice to relieve the pressure, execution will be the name of the game if the Black Bears are to be able to rise to the next level.

Maine huddles before their series at UNH. The Wildcats swept the Black Bears, a low point of the season.

“We didn’t execute and a lot of that is mental. That’s the next step we have to take and we spend a lot of time on that. [In practice] we create the environments on the ice where we’re trying to push them out of their comfort zone mentally. That’s part of our culture and our program and I think we have the right guys here that welcome that.” Barr said.

Given all the noise the Black Bears made last season, it’s no surprise that the rest of the nation sat up and took notice of the magic that's brewing in Orono. After such a season, the Black Bears will now have a target on their backs, as every team they face will want to say they were able to take down mighty Maine. A win over the Black Bears, especially at the Alfond, could be a season defining moment for many teams and that incentive will bring out the best, night in and night out, from Maine’s adversaries. Dealing with the pressure of facing an opponent’s best every time they step out on the ice will be a crucial aspect of sharpening the Black Bears' mental game. Likewise, it will be a challenge to shift from their usual role of wily underdog to the unfamiliar position of being one of the teams to beat.

“Being able to execute and handle every game, not that every game hasn’t been difficult for the last three years, but now it’s a different world where teams are coming in here thinking, if they can steal a game here [at the Alfond], that’s going to be a huge win for them. So that’s a different mental approach, knowing that we’re going to get every team’s best shot. Everybody’s going to get up to play Maine again, and maybe that hasn’t been the case for a while.” Barr acknowledged.

But for the Black Bears, there won’t just be pressure coming from the opposition, but from a fanbase now expecting immediate on-ice success after the highs of last season. While Barr acknowledges that there is an added level of pressure and expectation on himself and the team this season, he understands that the team has no control over what the world outside of the dressing room is saying and tries to tune it out. Nonetheless, Barr relishes the new circumstance the team's success has created, given its lack of expectations in the past.

“Three years ago, we never talked about even winning a game, we were just trying to get into the ballpark, then we got in the ballpark a couple of years ago. Last year we had a chance to do something and that’s what we’re trying to do. To get it done. What a great opportunity to enter a season where we expect that out of ourselves. That’s the next step, we have to take it.” Barr explained.

Lynden Breen races up ice on a breakaway that he converts in Maine's sweep over Merrimack.

The Black Bears success up to this point has been built on outworking their opponents, which is an ethos embedded in the team's culture. Continuing a focus on honing incremental improvements to the physical and mental sides of their game could exponentially transform the power of this culture and the successes it can bring.

“I hope teams that play against us feel that they’re going to be in for as physical and pressure packed of a game that we can possibly put on them. And if we can get that advantage with our work effort, hopefully we have the players that can make the plays and put the puck in the back of the net more than the other team.”

A deep pack of Bears

Another weakness that opponents were able to exploit last year was Maine’s lack of quality depth, especially at the forward positions. By shutting down Maine’s top couple of lines, opposing sides could largely negate the Black Bears' entire attacking prowess. This was especially apparent when Maine was on the road, when the home team had the last change and could match up their best defenders and focus their efforts on trying to halt Maine’s top-scoring lines. 

When the opposition was able to halt the Black Bears’ top six point producers (Bradly Nadeau 46 points, Josh Nadeau 45, Lynden Breen 30, Harrison Scott 27, Donovan Houle 24, and Thomas Freel 22), Maine often did not have enough offensive firepower to reliably spell them (Maine’s next highest forward point producer was Ben Poisson with 15).

Three of these six players left Maine in the summer — senior Donovan Houle signed professionally for San Jose’s AHL affiliate, graduate student Ben Poisson left the team after his fifth season with the program, and freshman phenom Bradly Nadeau signed professionally with the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. The three of them combined for a whopping 85 points last season — one third of the team’s combined points tally — and left a large hole in the team that needs filling.

“I mean you are not going to replace Brad [Nadeau]. And Donovan Houle was a huge part of our program for the past couple of years, he was so effective. He might not have had the same crazy scoring numbers, but the effect he had on the game was awesome. And the same with Benny Poisson. He was a really good player and here for a long time, so those guys will definitely be missed.” Barr said.

The Black Bears line up before their game at Vermont.

Along with Bradly Nadeau, Houle, and Poisson, this offseason saw plenty of changeover, including goaltenders Victor Ostman, who signed professionally with Seattle, and Connor Androloweicz, who graduated. As well as a plethora of forwards leaving in the transfer portal: Reid Pabich (Sacred Heart), Parker Lindauer (Union), Félix Trudeau (Sacred Heart), and Cole Hanson (Mercer). Defenseman Ryan Hopkins also left the program in the summer.

But the transfer portal also allowed the Black Bears the chance to retool with plenty of experience and skill.

Talented veteran forward Ross Mitton #17 put up an impressive 30 points last season at Colgate and was the standout player for the Raiders when they came to Orono last

season, providing Colgate with an impressive mix of size and speed from right-wing. Mitton was a part of the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp in July.

Junior left-winger Owen Fowler #12 also joined Maine during the summer, coming over from UMass-Lowell. Fowler missed the entirety of last season with an injury, but the year before that, he totaled 12 points in his first 33 games of collegiate play.

“Owen Fowler, who's a really good player, didn’t play last year so it’s going to take him a little bit of time to get those game legs back after sitting out a whole year and nursing an injury.” Barr said.

Talor Makar #18, the younger brother of NHL superstar Cale Makar, joined from UMass where he was recruited by Barr himself. A 7th round draft pick by Colorado in 2021, Makar will be the Black Bears lone NHL Draft pick on the roster. A versatile power-forward with a big frame — listed as 6’4” 210lbs — can play as both left-wing and center. Barr, who has been close with the Makar family for some time now, is hoping for a breakout year from the Alberta native who registered 9 points in 36 games for the Minutemen last season.

“We hope that he has his best season of College Hockey this year.” Barr said about Makar. “That’s the goal. Our job is to get the most out of him. He’s a big kid who has a ton of upside. He probably hasn’t reached his potential yet; our job is to pull that out of him.”

And finally, Frank Djurasevic #44, a defenseman who played his freshman year at Merrimack last season, played a ton of minutes every night for the Warriors and will help solidify the Black Bears’ already solid blueline. Djurasevic was invited to the Winnipeg Jets Development Camp this summer.

Other newcomers to the Black Bears include a talented freshmen class, all but one which committed to Maine under Barr and his staff’s reign.

Forward Charlie Russell #11 is technically a sophomore after playing seven games for Clarkson last season before returning to juniors to put up 22 points in 37 games in the USHL.

Fellow forward Thomas Pichette #29 played with the Nadeau brothers for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL two years ago. An exciting prospect from Québec, Pichette can play both on the wing or at center.

Hailing from Finland, Russian/Finnish right-winger Oskar Komarov #38 tallied 39 points in 53 games last year in the BCHL for the Langley Rivermen in his first season in North America.

Lone freshman defenseman Brian Morse #7, a California native also played in the BCHL last season, his second year representing the Chilliwack Chiefs.

While Barr notes that his Freshman class is full of talent, the program is now at the stage where they aren’t necessarily relying on the rookies to become instant stars for the team from day one.

The Black Bears huddle before a game at Northeastern.

“It’s going to be a harder alignment to make this year than it was two, three years ago.” Barr explained. “But I think they are all hard-working kids, good kids that have improved a lot this summer and will really add to our depth. Hopefully over time, and however long that takes, could maybe become difference-makers.”

The incoming freshmen alongside the group of experienced transfers will intensify a culture of competitiveness throughout the squad for the limited ice-time. This intrasquad competition will bring out the best from every member of the team, knowing that they’ll have to bring their A-game during every practice and game to fight for a spot in the lineup. Not only will it raise the standards around the dressing room, but the deep squad will make sure that every player who touches the ice during a game will have had to earn their spot and trust from coaches and teammates alike.  This is a piece that may have been missing in recent seasons.

“[Two years ago] we felt that we had two [quality forward] lines at the end of that year and we lost in the First Round of the playoffs. I thought last season at the end of the year we were closer to three. It got us to wherever we got and ultimately that wasn’t good enough.” Barr said. “It does feel like we are as deep as we’ve been since our staff has been here. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. That’s up to every one of our individuals to get the job done now.”

Barr stresses the necessity from all of his returning players to elevate their game in all aspects, so as to not stay stagnant and lose their spots in the lineup.

In terms of returning forward options Barr will have a wealth of attacking talent in his arsenal.

An obvious place to start is with right-winger Josh Nadeau #20, who’s tremendous freshman season with Maine earned him a boatload of awards including Hockey East Third-Team All-Star and who was among an elite group named as finalists for the prestigious Hobey Baker. The New Brunswick native’s 1.22 points-per-game was the 6th best among all College Hockey rookies last season and the highest among non-drafted Freshmen. Having put on 12 pounds of muscle this summer, Nadeau also gained tons of experience this offseason, impressing in both the Carolina Hurricanes development camp and the Montréal Canadiens camp, the team he watched growing up. This will be Nadeau’s first season since 2020/21 playing without brother Bradly.

Fellow New Brunswick native, center Lynden Breen #27, chose to return to the Black Bears for his fifth and final year of college eligibility. Breen, one of the core pieces to the team on and off the ice, adapted his role from goal scorer to an indispensable playmaker last season, totaling 30 points for the Black Bears. Breen will co-captain the team for the second consecutive season.

Sophomore Sully Scholle #14 had a big impact during his first year at Maine. A left-handed shot who often plays on his off-wing side, Scholle possesses one of the best shots on the team, lighting the lamp 7 times last season.

Perhaps the biggest surprise last year was the breakout season for Harrison Scott #22, who came over from Bentley in the transfer portal last offseason. A gritty, hard-working center who excels at the faceoff dot, he has a tremendous amount of influence on the game and represents the style of play Barr wants from his team to a tee. Scott’s 27 points earned him an invitation to the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp as well as the role as an alternate team captain.

“He gave our program a shot in the arm last year and he never really had a bad game.” Barr said about Scott. “His work ethic is phenomenal, he is extremely serious on and off the ice with everything he does, he’s a great student.”

Fellow senior center Nolan Renwick #24 will look to get back on track this season after a campaign marred by ankle injury last season. Growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan, his hard-nosed, gritty style of play can have a tremendous impact for the team, as was seen during his last healthy season, two-years ago, when he was Maine’s 3rd highest points earner with 20 points during the 2022/23 season. His return to form late last season was a critical spark enabling the team to pull itself out of a February rut and earned him his second straight year as an alternate captain.

The Black Bears’ third-and-final alternate captain is junior left-winger Thomas Freel #26. Born in Scotland but growing up in Ontario, Freel’s tenacity and work-ethic is one of the sparkplugs for this team while his playmaking abilities tallied 16 assists (tied for 4th best on the team) last year. Freel’s two goals in 19 seconds against Colgate last season, including a short-handed tally, earned Maine a memorable 4-4 comeback tie with the Raiders.

The Alfond erupts after Thomas Freel's second goal in 19 seconds against Colgate.

Although rumors surrounding Vermont native Nicholas Niemo #25, leaving the program swirled this offseason, the skilled right-winger opted to stay at Maine and fight
for his place in the lineup. Scoring twice in 18 games played last year in his first season as a Black Bear since transferring from Bentley, the junior will be looking for a breakout campaign in Orono this winter and has all the talent to do so.

Sophomore right-winger Anthony Calafiore #28 will also be looking to earn more ice-time this year. After sitting out for Maine’s first 18 games of the season, Calafiore made his collegiate debut on January 6th. Slotting in nicely in his first game, he earned his spot in the lineup for all of Maine’s remaining 20 games of the season.

Junior forward Aidan Carney #16 did not appear in any games for Maine last season.

On the blueline, it will be mainly the same faces that provided a solid base for the team last year. Ryan Hopkins, who played in 24 games for Maine last season is the only Black Bear defenseman to not return.

Now providing a great deal of experience on the backend, keeping Maine’s defense largely intact should provide the Black Bears with plenty of stability, which Barr explained is extra important to have at this position.

“You build your team from the net out. Your goaltending and your defense — I was a forward so I can say this — are the most important. They give you stability. Defensively you want to spend as little time in your own zone as possible and we’re confident in that group back there. That being said, we still have room to grow.” Barr said.

Although the blueline will largely stay the same, with 10 defensemen on the roster and usually only six or seven spots in the lineup for the d-men, competition for places should breed improvement from all defensemen.

“I think there’s more competition back there than there has been at any point I’ve been here, so that’s going to push some guys out of their comfort zone. For the first couple of years, a lot of the Freshmen, those guys played almost every night and it was kind of a given, but that’s not going to be the case anymore and that’s a good problem to have and it’s going to lead to some soul searching for some of our players. How do I get better to make sure my spot in the lineup is there every night?” Barr said.

Fighting it out for ice time with newcomers Morse and Djurasevic will be seven returning defensemen. Second-year co-Captain, senior David Breazeale #37, will lead the Black Bear blueliners. A crucial part of the team's heart and soul, Breazeale’s leadership qualities on and off the ice have been indispensable to Maine’s rise. A big body that can carry the puck up ice and shut down the nation’s best forwards, Breazeale’s sheer quality play on both sides of the puck earned the Michigan native an invite to the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp.

Another left-handed d-man, Brandon Holt #4, has continued to get better every season. Solid defensively, Holt’s offensive game vastly improved last season, including notching two huge goals in Maine’s remarkable comeback against UConn in Hartford. Holt was picked to join the development camp by the Anaheim Ducks this summer.

Often paired with Holt is junior Brandon Chabrier #15. An excellent skater, Chabrier excels at absorbing opponent’s offensive rushes, walking the point, and has silky smooth mitts for a defenseman, earning him the nickname from teammates last year as ‘the third Nadeau brother.’ Chabrier’s offensive threat was on full display away at UMass last season when he went coast-to-coast to score the game’s only goal.

Maine pours onto the ice to celebrate after Brandon Chabrier nets an overtime winner against Quinnipiac.

Although undersized for a defenseman, junior Luke Antonacci #3 more than holds his own. Best described as quietly efficient, Antonacci often goes underrated due to his lack of errors and ease with which he plays both sides of the puck excellently. His +16 was the best among Maine defensemen last season.

Maine’s biggest player, Liam Lesakowski #6, listed at 6’5” 225lbs, played in 34 games during his freshman season. Although sometimes prone to puck mistakes, the sophomore from New York has a lot of upside and could be a key part  of this Black Bears team as he grows in experience. Lesakowski was invited to the Anaheim Ducks Development Camp.

Fellow sophomore Bodie Nobes #34 played in 16 games last season, including starting as a 4th line forward for one game against UNH last season. Solid at holding the puck in at the point, Nobes will look to improve on his skating stride, which sometimes limited his ability last season.

And finally, Sophomore Jack Dalton #21 (changed from #2) rounds out the Maine d-men. Joining the team from juniors midway through the season last year, Dalton hopes that a full summer of working on the physical aspects of the game will level up his ability.

“Jack Dalton looks better. He came in halfway through the season last year. He's a good player. I think having the summer and the year to train and work on his body has been good for him.” Barr noted.

Lastly, Maine brings in two new goaltenders to fight for time between the pipes with sophomore Albin Boija #30. The Swedish netminder’s excellent rookie season took the starting job from Victor Ostman midway through last year. Boija, in his 16 games started, recorded a solid .916 save % and 2.01 goals-against-average, which was the third-best nationwide among goaltenders in his limited sample size. His stellar season earned him an invitation to the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp. Boija missed the NCAA Tournament game against Cornell due to illness.

The importance of strong goaltending is not lost on Barr who hopes to see, as with all aspects of his team, a marked improvement from his goalies. He believes that to win, you need your goaltenders to be the best.

“You look at Denver, they had the best goaltending in the nation at the end of the year [last season] and that brought them all the way to [winning] the championship. That’s something that we’re going to push these guys to do, but I think we have the people back there to do it, now it’s just a matter of executing.” Barr said.

While Boija will go into the season as the favorite to be the number one starter for the Black Bears, he will have plenty of competition for that spot throughout the season.

Latvian freshman Patriks Berzins #39 could be Boija’s top competitor for the starting role. Berzins was supposed to join the team last year, but the NCAA ruled him ineligible due to losing his amateur status, giving the goaltender a 20-game suspension. Although the decision to suspend Berzins was reversed, it was only a few days before last season would have started and Maine needed certainty, so they brought in a different goaltender to replace him, which ended up being Albin Boija.

Finally, another freshman goaltender, Gage Stewart #35, joined the team in the offseason. Stewart played for three different teams last season, posting solid numbers in the North American Hockey League, Metro Junior Hockey League, and Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Barr expects all of his goaltenders to statistically improve the program’s numbers in net from previous seasons.

“We haven’t had that [great goaltending numbers] the past couple of years. You look statistically at the end of the year and the numbers are average, so we have to get better. If we want to take that step as a program, just like everything else has to get a bit better as a whole. That’s not just individually on Albin or Patriks or Gage, that’s the numbers over the season for whoever is playing in net.” Barr said.

The Maine bench watches their season slip away during the Black Bears loss to Cornell.

The Maine Way

All aspects, in every area of the ice, will need to see significant improvement if Maine is to not only reach the elite level of conference heavyweights Boston College and Boston University, who are sure to be as formidable foes as last year, but to also stay ahead of the pack now hungrily snapping at  their coattails. According to College Hockey News’ Top Recruiting Classes, BC and BU have the #2 and #3 best incoming classes in the country, Providence is at #6 and Merrimack and Northeastern are also noted as being expected to markedly improve.

If you view the standard of a team by how many NHL draft picks they have on their roster, Maine is far and away one of the underdogs in Hockey East. BU has 13 NHL Draft picks on their team, BC has 12, Providence 11, UMass 9, Northeastern 7, Vermont 5, and UNH 4.

Maine just has the one in Taylor Makar.

But Barr and the Black Bears know that Draft picks don’t equal championships. Yale in 2013 only had one NHL Draft pick on their National Championship winning roster, as did Union in 2014, and Quinnipiac in 2022 only had three.

“I think we have a lot of similar players that on paper are the next level of guy that we believe can become that [championship winning] guy. I’ve seen this at a few different places where you get the right people and those people can become better than what anybody thinks they can be. And I think we have quite a few of those players here right now that aren’t worried about what we’re going up against every single night.”

While Barr knows his team on paper might get overlooked by outsiders when compared to the obvious firepower at other Hockey East schools, Maine isn’t trying to do things that way.

They’re focused on doing it a different way.

The Maine way.

“If we start trying to be what those teams are, we are going to be in for a lot of heartache and misery. We are who we are, we feel as though we are an extremely hard team to play against.” Barr said. “Our team feels as though we don’t have limits on what we can do.”

After all, this is Maine, where it’s just more special.

“This isn’t just the coach trying to make everyone feel good, but it means more to us, to this program than it means I think anywhere in the NCAA. We’re going to keep pushing to make sure that everyone that supports us can leave the Alfond proud every night.”

The Journey North continues. The best chapter is yet to be written.

Alfond Arena packed to the rafters during Maine's split with Providence.