UM’s 4th line earns unique nickname

ALBANY, N.Y. – There are no plans for an endorsement deal. They’d prefer to leave those for guys like Rafael Palmeiro and Mark Martin, thank you.

Besides, the members of this seasoned trio are all college students and therefore ineligible for sponsorship.

Say hello to juniors John Ronan and Ben Murphy and senior Cameron Lyall: the University of Maine hockey team’s fourth line, also known as the Viagra Line.

“We’re probably the oldest line in college hockey. I think that’s why we got the nickname,” the 23-year-old Ronan said while shaking his head and clearing his throat.

Ronan is the elder statesman of the group by 33 days over Lyall. Murphy turned 22 last November.

The unit’s nickname was coined by former UMaine defenseman and current Black Bears assistant Campbell Blair.

“One day Cam, Murph and I were sitting around and we realized how old we were in comparison to the rest of the team,” Ronan recalled. “We thought we might have one of the oldest in college hockey and that’s when Campbell came in.

“That’s Campbell at his finest right there. He’s pretty quick with a joke and pretty creative too, unfortunately.”

Hey, it could have been worse … Like, say The Rogaine Line?

“I’m the second oldest, but I’m the only guy who has all my hair still,” Lyall said through a wide grin.

“All three of us are pretty old guys – All right, old in the sense of our team – and we get [teased] a little bit,” Murphy said. “Ronan and I are both losing our hair and we get made fun of over that.”

No problem. Rather than resist it, Maine’s elder trio joins in, making fun of themselves and others on the team to keep things loose. It’s one of the less obvious ways this line has become invaluable to coach Tim Whitehead’s Hockey East champions.

“That line’s been just fantastic for us,” said Whitehead. “They really given us a lift every time we need it and that’s a very important part of our team.”

The more obvious ways show up on the stat sheets, but you have to look closely.

The three Bears have combined to score 10 goals – just 7.5 percent of the team’s output this season – and just three goals and six assists in the 13 games they’ve played together this season, but that total includes two game-winning goals, one game-tying goal, a game-winning assist, and a game-tying assist – all of which came in the last five games at the time of the season when many coaches are shortening their lines to three.

“We have a pretty good comfort level and our own chemistry and it works well for us,” Murphy said while trying to explain his line’s production lately. “I don’t know, I think it’s just the way we enjoy the game and go out there and work hard every shift. We know we’re not the superstar players, but not everyone can be and that’s fine with us.”

Then again, notching a game-winning goal and assist as well as a game-tying goal and assist in the last three games – all playoff games – will elevate your status. What’s the secret behind their postseason production?

“That’s kind of hard to explain,” said Lyall. “We’ve been getting a lot of chances, but maybe it’s just the luck we’re getting at that time.”

“I think a lot of that is experience. With three older guys, everybody has national tournament experience,” said Ronan, who scored the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime win over Harvard in the NCAA tournament two years ago. “Personally, I love to be out there when the game’s on the line. It doesn’t matter if I have four goals all year or zero, I feel I can score the goal in overtime. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always had that mindset.”

Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni remembers Ronan’s goal and is familiar with his line.

“When we played them two years ago, it [fourth line] was the deciding factor,” Mazzoleni said. ” I think their’s is one of the most productive fourth lines in hockey.”

Seems like Maine’s Viagra Line is getting more respect from opponents than teammates. That’s fine with Ronan, Murphy and Lyall.

“We get along real well, we work hard and we’re having fun. That’s the main thing,” Ronanl said. “Get on each other a little bit … It’s all for the good of the team.”