MAINE vs. MONCTON

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records (last year): Maine 20-12-7 (overall), Moncton 7-14-4 (league play)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 2-0, Maine 5-0 on Oct. 23, 1998

Key players: Maine – C Martin Kariya (12 goals, 24 assists), LW Michael Schutte (15 & 10), RW Niko Dimitrakos (11 & 14), C Chris Heisten (5 & 19), D Peter Metcalf (5 & 9), D Francis Nault (2 & 11), G Matt Yeats (18-9-4, 2.40 goals-against average, .897 save percentage); Moncton – W Carl Prudhomme (18 & 17), C Christian Drolet (11 & 19), W Yannick Tremblay (12 & 17), W Marc Lamontagne (13 & 10), D Serge Dube (1 & 8), D David Bilodeau (1 & 6), G Jonathan Pelletier (first year)

Outlook: The Blue Eagles return seven of their eight leading scorers and most of their defense corps but all three goalies have departed. They have players who have played Major Junior hockey and Moncton is a much older team than Maine. They have some proven snipers who will test Maine’s young defense. The Bears will have a speed advantage and should be more explosive than they’ve been in several years. They should test Moncton’s young goalies. Maine interim head coach Tim Whitehead will make his debut behind the bench in place of the late Shawn Walsh.