Maine seniors eye title as season opens Sunday Black Bears to battle future league foe Vermont

ORONO – Troy Barnes, Ben Murphy and John Ronan have each played in two NCAA championships games. They are 0-2.

The University of Maine seniors suffered the devastating loss to Minnesota 4-3 in overtime three years ago when the Gophers tied it in the final minute of play.

Last season, it was the frustrating 1-0 setback to Denver.

They begin their final quest for a ring on Sunday afternoon at 2 when the Black Bears open the season at the Gutterson Fieldhouse against the University of Vermont’s Catamounts.

Barnes said the two difficult losses will serve as a “big motivator.

“It motivates us in the summer to get prepared because we want to get back there. But we’ve got to start from square one,” said defenseman Barnes.

Murphy and Ronan said the setbacks aren’t something they can put out of their minds.

“The two losses weren’t easy by any means,” said right wing Ronan. “We know this is our last shot at winning it and we’re going to do everything we can to do it.”

Center Murphy said despite the fact it still weighs on them, “this is a new year, a new team and we have to build from the beginning.”

Maine has been picked as high as second in the country in one preseason poll and was tabbed second in Hockey East in the coaches’ poll.

Although Vermont was selected 10th and 11th in the two ECAC Hockey League preseason polls, the Maine players know there will be a sold-out crowd on Homecoming Weekend in Vermont and they will have their hands full.

Vermont will join Hockey East next season.

“They’ll come out firing,” said Murphy. “It’ll be a big weekend for them and they want to get off to a quick start. They’ll want to show they’re going to be ready for the league next year. They’re a solid team already so we’re going to have to be ready to play.”

Barnes said Maine’s success and national ranking will put a bulls-eye on the backs of their jerseys.

“They’ll come out hard. Every team will want to beat us. We’re number two in the country and that’s incentive for any team to come out and play their best game against us,” said Barnes.

Vermont senior left wing Scott Mifsud said yet another motivating factor will be last year’s 6-1 loss to Maine in Portland in which UVM was outshot 44-13.

“We definitely have something to prove,” said Mifsud. “We came out a little flat in Portland and you can’t afford to do that against a team like Maine.”

Second-year Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon said the Portland game taught his players a “huge lesson.

“That’s how we want to play. They were fast and their work ethic was incredible. They were solid from the net out. This will be a great challenge for our guys,” said Sneddon. “This game will serve as a benchmark for us. They’re an elite program.”

Mifsud said opening the season against one of the best teams in the nation will “give us a chance to see where we are. It’ll be a lot of fun. The game is sold out. The place will be rocking.”

Since the teams will have just one full practice under their belts, Sneddon said “there will be a feeling-out process. But there will be a heckuva’ lot of energy on the ice.”