When the movie “Miracle” opens nationwide today, there will be a lot of University of Maine hockey players who will have a special interest in it.

The film, which chronicles the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team’s shocking march to the gold medal, will have a former Black Bear in one of the primary roles.

Mike Mantenuto, who played at Maine during the 2000-2001 season, will play former Boston University defenseman Jack O’Callahan from Charlestown, Mass.

Kurt Russell will play coach Herb Brooks.

Mantenuto, a native of Holliston, Mass., had two goals in 14 games at Maine.

“There’s a funny story behind that,” explained Maine senior left wing and captain Todd Jackson. “I roomed with him our sophomore year and when he got cut from the team, he talked about asking Grant [assistant Grant Standbrook] for Kurt Russell’s phone number to ask him what it took to be an actor. I never got around to doing it but now he’s starring next to him in one of the lead roles.”

Late former Maine coach Shawn Walsh was staying with Russell and long-time partner Goldie Hawn while undergoing treatments for his kidney cancer in California.

“Mike took acting classes here and I think he went on to major in theater at UMass-Boston. One of his teachers told him he should try out for the part,” said Jackson, who keeps in touch with Mantenuto.

“Mike told me everything is going great. I’m really happy for him,” Jackson added.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Maine senior right wing Colin Shields, who roomed with Mantenuto his freshman year and isn’t surprised by his acting career.

“He was always outspoken and was always comfortable speaking in front of a group of people. It’s funny his first movie is a hockey movie, especially one with great significance,” said Shields, who considers him a good friend.

Maine junior right wing John Ronan spent two years as Mantenuto’s teammate with the Walpole Junior Stars in the Eastern Junior Hockey League before coming to Maine.

“He was always into that stuff. He’d get up in front of people [and perform]. He was a real funny kid. He had the Hollywood look, too,” said Ronan. “He’s doing well for himself.”

He said the O’Callahan role is appropriate.

“He’s got the Boston talk down. He talks like every other Bostonian. So it’s a good role for him,” said Ronan.

Junior defenseman Mat Deschamps said Mantenuto and Jackson “always had cameras rolling at all of our functions. You could tell he was into it.”

Jackson said former teammate Niko Dimitrakos, now playing for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, has already seen the movie and said “Mike did an incredible job, especially for his first movie.”

UMaine nearing attendance mark

Despite some youth and inexperience, the UMaine men’s hockey team has retained its position as one of the top teams in the country this season.

That success is translating into record attendance for Black Bear games at Alfond Arena.

Shaun Russell, UMaine’s athletic marketing and promotions director, said UMaine is on pace to surpass the record average of 5,483 fans who watched the Bears during the 2000-2001 season.

UMaine has attracted an average of 5,533 fans to home games this winter.

The good news for fans is, capacity for hockey games is 5,641, which means tickets are available for most games.

“One of the things that we’re really trying to do is dispel the misconception that all our games are sold out,” Russell said. “If people were to call right now and order tickets, they could get them.”

On average there are 150-250 tickets available for most home games. There are 300-400 available for the Friday-Saturday series against Alabama-Huntsville.

“With three successful series, we’re on pace to shatter the record,” Russell said. “It’s great hockey and we want fans to know they can come out and see it.”

Tickets can be purchased at the Alfond Arena ticket office from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and the office reopens an hour before all games to make any remaining tickets available. Fans also can call 581-2327 or 1-800-756-8326 for tickets.

UM ice women lose assistant

Lainie Ann Wintrup, who replaced Shantel Gammie as Rick Filighera’s full-time assistant with the University of Maine women’s hockey team, has left the program.

Wintrup had been with the program for a year and a half but did not return for the second semester.

“This wasn’t really for her. So she’s moving on,” said Filighera. “I appreciate her year and a half with the program.”

He said he won’t name a new assistant until the start of next year.

“I think we’ll have a lot of applicants,” added Filighera.

He has two other assistants in restricted earnings coach David Stockdale and volunteer Marc Halsted.

“Nothing will change. David will still work with the forwards and Marc will handle the defensemen and goaltenders,” said Filighera. “And our recruiting is pretty well set.”

Maine, 1-3 in its last four games, will travel to Providence this weekend for a Saturday-Sunday series against the Friars.

The Bears and Friars are among four teams battling for the final three playoff spots in Hockey East.

UNH leads the pack with 17 points and appears in good shape to lock up a spot; Maine and Northeastern have 11 each; Providence has nine and UConn has eight. Boston College is 0-8 in conference play.

Everybody has played 10 league games with the exception of Providence and BC, who have each played eight.

“Providence just beat UNH 5-2. Their number one goalie, Jana Bugden, is with Team Canada. Hopefully, that will help us convert our chances,” said Filighera whose Bears have continued their struggles putting the puck in the net.

Maine is averaging 2.2 goals per game.

Providence isn’t much better at 2.6 goals per game.

Maine is 8-10-3 overall, 5-4-1 in Hockey East, while the Friars are 8-11-2, 4-3-1, respectively.

The teams split in Orono in November.

“We’re going to have to play our best hockey, be physical, be good in our own end and convert our chances,” said Filighera. “We’re competitive in all of our games but we’ve got to learn how to win [consistently].”