UMaine capsules

MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. UMass-Lowell

Time, site: Friday, Saturday, 7 p.m.; Tsongas Arena, Lowell, Mass.

Records: Maine 13-7-4 (7-3-2 Hockey East); UM-L 16-5-1 (8-4-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 46-21-2; Maine 6-3 on 11/3/01

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (20 goals, 9 assists), C Martin Kariya (11 & 15), RW Niko Dimitrakos (11 & 15), C Tommy Reimann (8 & 16), D Peter Metcalf (3 & 21), C Robert Liscak (10 & 10), G Mike Morrison (10-2-2, 2.08 goals-against average, .931 save percentage); UMass-Lowell – C Ed McGrane (12 & 9), C Anders Strome (9 & 5), D Darryl Green (4 & 10), RW Tom Rouleau (6 & 7), RW Stephen Slonina (6 & 5), LW Marc Concannon (3 & 8), G Cam McCormick (11-1-1, 1.10, .952)

Outlook: Maine is 4-0 at Tsongas Arena. McGrane has five goals in his last three games against Maine. The River Hawks will be without second- and third-leading scorers and linemates Yorick Treille and Laurent Meunier along with top-notch defenseman Baptiste Amar, who are with the French Olympic team. Maine will be without Donny Richardson (broken thumb), Chris Heisten (sprained ankle), and Gray Shaneberger (concussion). McCormick’s six shutouts lead the country. The River Hawks are 7-2 at home and Maine is 2-4-2 on the road. Northeastern swept the River Hawks last weekend, but McCormick was sidelined by a groin pull. He will be back this weekend. Maine has to improve its defensive zone play if it’s going to have success.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Quinnipiac

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 9-12-2 overall (3-9-2 Eastern Women’s League), Quinnipiac 3-14-2 (0-10 EWL)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0, Maine 8-0 on Nov. 26, 2001

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (16 goals, 15 assists), D-RW Kelly Nelson (5 & 12), LW Tristan Desmet (4 & 4), C Cheryl White (2 & 6), D Tracy Caridade (3 & 4), C Nicole Munro (4 & 2), G Dawn Froats (3-4, 3.21 GAA, .893 save percentage); Quinnipiac – C Caitlin Peters (2 & 8), LW-RW Elizabeth Jankowski (6 & 3), W-D Debbie Beaudoin (2 & 2), D Jayne Riley (0 & 3), D Alexandra Poitras (1 & 1), D Laura Magenheimer (1 & 0), G Mel Courtemanche (2-10-2, 3.50, .917)

Outlook: Maine will be without three of its top five scorers as 19-goal scorer Karen Droog is out with a separated shoulder, Jarin Sjogren has a broken leg and Andrea Steranko has just returned to practice following a bout of pancreatitis. Nelson has been moved from defense to right wing on the line with Aarts and Munro. The Bears are coming off their first-ever win over New Hampshire 2-1. Quinnipiac is a first-year varsity program and has had growing pains. The Braves have scored only 21 goals and given up 81. Maine has had its problems scoring goals and shouldn’t take the youthful Braves lightly.