Maine at North Dakota

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 8:35 p.m., Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D.

Records: Maine 1-1, North Dakota 2-1

Series, last meeting: North Dakota leads 8-3-1; ND 4-2 on Oct. 14, 2000

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (3 goals, 1 assist), D Francis Nault (2 & 1), LW Todd Jackson (2 & 1), RW Niko Dimitrakos (0 & 2), C Marty Kariya (0 & 1), D Peter Metcalf (0 & 2), G Matt Yeats (1-1, 3.35 goals-against average, .800 save percentage) North Dakota – C David Lundbohm (4 & 3), LW Ryan Bayda (2 & 3), D Aaron Schneekloth (0 & 4), RW Kevin Spiewak (1 & 2), C Tim Skarperud (2 & 0), D Chad Mazurak (1 & 0), G Andy Kollar (2-1, 3.20, .902)

Outlook: The Bears will be without RWs John Ronan (separated shoulder) and Gray Shaneberger (broken rib). Chad Anderson and Don Richardson will take their places. UND is 2-0-1 against the Bears over their last three meetings including a tie and a win in Orono last year. The Sioux returned 16 players off last year’s NCAA finalists although four of their top five scorers have departed. Kollar was the WCHA’s Defensive Player of the Week as he stopped 55 of 57 shots in a 6-2, 2-0 sweep of Colorado College. He now possesses a career record of 36-6-4. The Bears will have to avoid defensive breakdowns that cost them in their 6-2 loss to St. Cloud State in the IceBreaker Cup Tournament final. Maine’s Prestin Ryan will make his debut on the blue line in the second game of the series after sitting out for a year and four games due to his Major Junior service. North Dakota has played its three previous games at the new Engelstad Arena.