Maine faces test in Hockey East battles vs. Northeastern, BU

The warm-up period is over.

After earning a three-game sweep at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks last week, the University of Maine hockey team moves directly into the meat of the order this weekend in Boston.

Coach Shawn Walsh’s Black Bears open their Hockey East season Friday night against eighth-ranked Northeastern at Matthews Arena in Boston. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Boston University, the No. 1-ranked team in America, awaits Maine for a Sunday night contest at Walter Brown Arena.

Both games will be televised by NESN.

There will be no shortage of intensity in Beantown, as Maine is the home opener for both teams. Maine takes a 3-0 record into Friday’s game, which should provide Walsh with an immediate measuring stick of where the Bears stand.

“We’ll be decided underdogs in both those games,” Walsh said. “They’re by far the two top experienced teams in our league. I’m fully prepared that if we lose it’s not the end of the world,” Walsh said.

Coach Ben Smith’s 2-0 Huskies, who swept North Dakota last Friday and Saturday, lost only two lettermen off last season’s 20-12-7 squad, which lost a 6-5 overtime decision to eventual national champion Lake Superior State in the NCAA quarterfinals.

“Northeastern has five or six exceptional skill players,” Walsh said, mentioning senior forward J.F. Aube and senior defenseman Francois Bouchard as examples. “Because they have so many juniors and seniors, they’re moving their team toward being a skill team.”

While Maine continues to struggle with injuries, the Bears will be much stronger defensively with the return of sophomores Jason Mansoff and junior Jeff Tory. Mansoff is coming off a shoulder injury, while Tory sat out three games as a penalty for the three contests he played while ineligible last season.

“We have Mansoff and Tory back, and that really gives us a boost,” said Walsh, who plans to play the pair together.

The main concern for Walsh is that the Bears not allow the typically rowdy Boston crowds to distract them.

“The big thing we have to do is play intelligently, not get caught up whether we win or lose,” said Walsh, who stressed Maine must avoid getting into skirmishes and stay out of the penalty box to help neutralize the fans.

Maine will have enough to worry about Friday night playing in Matthews Arena, one of the smallest college ice surfaces in North America. The Bears’ series against UAF was played on an Olympic-size ice sheet.

“There are a lot of strange bounces, a lot of crashing and banging,” said Walsh, who this week put his team through drills with extra defensive players to get them used to the crowded feel of the NU rink.

The Bears are looking to continue the balanced offensive production they displayed last week. Maine had 12 different players score goals and four others provide assists against the Nanooks.

“That’s going to be the way we’ll be and that’s just fine,” Walsh said. “We need balance, and that will make us a difficult team to play against.”

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Matthews Arena, Boston

Records: Maine 3-0 (0-0 Hockey East); Northeastern 2-0 (0-0)

Key players: Maine – soph F Jamie Thompson (2 goals, 2 assists), soph C Tim Lovell (2-1), senior D Chris Imes (1-2), senior D Jacque Rodrigue (2-1), junior F Brad Purdie (1-2), junior G Blair Allison (3-0, 2.16 goals-against ave., .914 save pct.); Northeastern – junior F Jordon Shields (2-2), senior F J.F. Aube (2-1), senior F Jason Melong (2-1), senior F Eric Petersen (2-1), senior D Francois Bouchard, senior G Todd Reynolds (1-0, 5.57, .750), junior G Mike Veisor (1-0, 3.66, .891).

Outlook: The Huskies have the better of experience and their cozy home confines. Northeastern has scored eight of its 13 goals in the first period. Maine’s defense gets a boost with the return of Jason Mansoff and Chris Imes, but the Black Bears will be without defensemen Jeff Libby (torn knee ligaments) and Leo Wlasow (knee), along with forwards Barry Clukey (knee sprain), Mike Parmentier (shoulder), and Tony Tempestilli (shoulder). NU leads the all-time series 25-22-5, including the last four meetings.