Men’s hockey

EVERBLADES COLLEGE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

MAINE vs. CLARKSON

Time, site: Wednesday, 5 p.m.; Teco Arena, Estero, Fla.

Records: Maine 7-6-4; Clarkson 4-4-3

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-5-1; Maine 7-2 on March 27, 1999

Key players: Maine – C Marty Kariya (5 goals, 8 assists), RW Matthias Trattnig (8 & 4), C Lucas Lawson (5 & 5), C Niko Dimitrakos (5 & 4), LW Dan Kerluke (3 & 6), D Doug Janik (1 & 6), G Matt Yeats (6-4-1 record, 2.35 GAA, .901 save percentage); Clarkson- D Kent Huskins (2 & 8), D-W Dave Reid (4 & 5), C Don Smith (2 & 6), RW Murray Kuntz (4 & 3), C Matt Poapst (4 & 3), D Kerry Ellis-Toddington (1 & 6), G Shawn Grant (4-3-1, 3.05, .897)

Outlook: The Knights haven’t played since dropping a 3-1 decision to Harvard on Dec. 2. Maine’s last game was a 3-2 triumph over UMass on Dec. 14. The Bears will be bolstered by the debut of University of Vermont transfer Donny Richardson, a right wing, and LW Brendan Donovan (lacerated kidney). Defenseman Peter Metcalf (knee) may return. Donovan and Metcalf have missed the last eight games. Both teams are laden with freshmen and sophomores and both have had their problems putting the puck in the net resulting in a bunch of close games. Maine is 1-3-4 in games decided by one goal or less while Clarkson is 1-2-3. In the nightcap, 5-3-2 Cornell takes on 10-5-1 Ohio State. OSU and Cornell are both 4-1-1 in their previous six games but OSU will be without second- and third-leading scorers Dave Steckel and R.J. Umberger, who are playing in the World Junior Championships. The Buckeyes will be led by leading scorer Jean-Francois Dufour (10 & 9), offensive-minded defenseman Andre Signoretti (3 & 10) and freshman goalie Mike Betz (9-5-1, 2.29, .917), who stopped 58 shots in a 3-2 overtime win at Maine on Oct. 27. Cornell has been led by LW Stephen Baby (3 & 7) and the goalie tandem of Matt Underhill (2-1-1, 1.23, .944) and Ian Burt (2-2-1, 1.74, .917).