Men’s Ice Hockey

MAINE vs. MASSCHUSETTS

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

Records: Maine 7-6 (3-3 Hockey East); UMass 6-4-1 (3-2-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 30-6-3, Maine 2-1 (3 OT) on 3/20/04

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (9 goals, 7 assists), RW Greg Moore (7 & 3), C Jon Jankus (4 & 4), C Michel Leveille (2 & 2), LW Billy Ryan (2 & 6), D Mike Lundin (0 & 6), G Jimmy Howard (6-6, 2.42 goals-against average, .908); UMass – C Matt Anderson (7 & 8), LW P.J. Fenton (6 & 4), RW Stephen Werner (4 & 6), LW Kevin Jarman (2 & 6), C Tim Vitek (5 & 1), D Marvin Degon (3 & 3), G Gabe Winer (4-2-1, 2.45, .917)

Outlook: They last met in the triple-overtime HE title game won by Maine 2-1. Howard made 63 saves and Winer had 59. Winer is the Hockey East Player of the Week after making 51 saves in a 3-3 tie with No. 1 BC. Maine defenseman Tim Maxwell is the Rookie of the Week with 1 & 2 in a 5-4 win over UMass Lowell. Damon has 4 & 1 in a four-game points streak. Linemates Moore (2 & 1) and Ryan (0 & 4) have three-game streaks. Vitek has scored his five goals in the last three games. Anderson, a medical redshirt last year, has been outstanding and is centering UMass’ top-scoring line between Fenton and Garrett Summerfield. Werner is a constant threat. This should be a low-scoring affair dominated by the goalies. Both teams will need to drive the net and generate second and third shots.

MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m., Cumberland County Civic Ctr., Portland

Records: Maine 7-6 (3-3 Hockey East), Providence 4-5 (2-4 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 50-30-4, Maine 4-2 Feb. 21

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (9 goals, 7 assists), RW Greg Moore (7 & 3), C Jon Jankus (4 & 4), C Michel Leveille (2 & 2), LW Billy Ryan (2 & 6), D Mike Lundin (0 & 6), G Jimmy Howard (6-6, 2.42 goals-against average, .908); PC – C Chris Chaput (3 & 6), C Chase Watson (2 & 6), LW Bill McCreary (5 & 1), RW Jon Rheault (3 & 2), D Eric Lundberg (1 & 4), G Tyler Sims (1-1, 2.01, .948), G David Cacciola (3-4, 2.73, .906)

Outlook: Providence hosts BC tonight while Maine entertains UMass. Providence coach Paul Pooley feels his Friars will have to limit Maine’s transition and “keep moving the puck ahead.” Providence is without RW Colin McDonald (five goals in nine games). Maine won all three meetings last year but two were by 3-2 scores and the other was 4-2. Maine has won its last three games in Portland. The Friars are led by the line of McCreary-Chaput-Rheault. Providence graduated three of its top four scorers but has pretty good balance on all four lines. Maine will try to dictate the tempo by playing the body and trying to force the Friar defense corps into turnovers. Freshman Sims gets the start against BC and will probably start Sunday if he plays well. Maine’s top line of Ryan-Damon-Moore had 23 shots on goal in two games last weekend.

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Records: Maine 0-0, Boston College 0-0

Series, last meeting: BC leads 13-4, BC 95-59 on Jan. 9, 1991

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Kevin Reed (14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.3 spg last season), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg), 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (8.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (5.9 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-2 G Ernest Turner (missed season), 6-4 G-F Jermaine Jackson (17.3 ppg); Boston College – 7-0 C Nate Doornekamp, 6-7 F Craig Smith (16.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg), 6-3 G Jermaine Watson (6.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-4 G Louis Hinnant (5.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.1 rpg), 6-6 G-F Sean Marshall (8.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), F Jared Dudley (11.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.3 spg)

Outlook: Maine starts the season with plenty of optimism, experience, motivation and depth. The Bears will get a big test right away against Big East playoff contender BC, which went 24-10 last season. Al Skinner’s Eagles finished fifth in the Big East last year and are picked fifth again in the preseason poll. Smith, a preseason Big East first-teamer, may miss the game due to an injured left thumb while Watson could sit out for violating team rules. With or without both players, the Eagles are loaded with young, experienced talent as Dudley and Marshall started all 34 games as freshmen last year and they will be a formidable opponent.