MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Northeastern

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

Records: Maine 11-6-3 (5-2-1 Hockey East); NU 9-9-2 (3-6-1)

Series, last meeting: 32-32-12; Maine 8-4 on 11/16/01

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (18 goals, 9 assists), RW Niko Dimitrakos (9 & 14), C Martin Kariya (9 & 14), C Tom Reimann (8 & 14), D Peter Metcalf (2 & 19), D Francis Nault (3 & 8), G Mike Morrison (8-1-1, 2.07 goals-against average, .931); Northeastern – D Jim Fahey (9 & 18), LW Mike Ryan (14 & 10), C Chris Lynch (10 & 13), C Jason Guerriero (5 & 16), D Tim Judy (1 & 11), LW Willie Levesque (4 & 7), G Keni Gibson (6-3, 2.01, .924)

Outlook: Northeastern is 2-0-1 in its last three meetings with Maine at Matthews Arena. Both teams are veteran-laden at forward but young on defense. NU plays four first-year defensemen and Maine three. Kariya was the league’s player of the week for his four goals and assist in the 5-4 win over Providence and freshman Gibson was the defensive player of the week as he made 38 saves to supply Northeastern with its first shutout of Boston University (3-0) in 175 career meetings. Northeastern will have periods of sustained pressure in the offensive zone, so the Bears are going to have to keep the Huskies from the front of the net by playing well positionally. Maine will be without RW Donny Richardson (broken thumb) and C Chris Heisten (sprained ankle). Shields has a 12-game point streak (11 & 8).

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Vermont

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Roy Patrick Gymnasium, Burlington, Vt.

Records: Maine 4-9 (1-1 America East), Vermont 11-3 (4-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 62-38; Vermont 77-74 on 2/2/01

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (21.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.15 bpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (15.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-6 F Joe Campbell (5.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Vermont – 5-11 G T.J. Sorrentine (17.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-8 F Taylor Coppenrath (16.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-7 F Trevor Gaines (15.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg), 6-7 F Grant Anderson (7.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 6-1 G Andre Anderson (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears head to hostile Burlington – perhaps the toughest home venue in America East – without starter Rickey White, who is nursing a knee injury. Brown will likely get White’s minutes, and he’s a bigger scoring threat than White. But on defense and on the boards, White’s more effective. The Catamounts alternate their two post scorers – Gaines and Coppenrath – in a high-low set, and the Bears must figure out a way to keep Rowe guarding the low-post man. Sorrentine has emerged as one of the league’s top players and Jackson will have his hands full with a guard who can drive, dish and shoot the 3-pointer. Campbell and Brown are Maine’s perimeter threats. Freddy Petkus needs to hit a few shots and regain his confidence.