Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. U.S. UNDER-18 TEAM

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland

Records: Maine 10-8-3, U.S. 14-7-4

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 2-0, Maine 9-2 on 10/17/03

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (10 goals, 7 assists), C Jon Jankus (5 & 10), RW Brent Shepheard (7 & 6), RW John Ronan (6 & 6), D Mike Lundin (0 & 10), G Jimmy Howard (9-8-3, 2.27 goals-against average, .906), G Matt Lundin (1-0, 1.76, .939); U.S. Under-18 – C Phil Kessel (16 & 13), C Peter Mueller (15 & 12), RW Jack Skille (9 & 15), LW Ryan Stoa (10 & 11), D Jack Johnson (8 & 8), G Billy Blas? (6-4-4, 3.03, .895), G Jeff Frazee (8-3, 2.48, .921)

Outlook: The National Team Development Program’s U-18 team has gone a respectable 3-4-2 against Division I teams with the wins coming over Michigan Tech, Notre Dame, and Brown. It lost 3-2 at UNH. The Under-18s have several players heading to Div. I programs next fall, including Mueller and Frazee (Minnesota), Johnson (Michigan), and Skille (Wisconsin). Maine will experiment with new lines and power-play units as it prepares for the stretch run in Hockey East. Maine has won its last four games in Portland, including 8-4 over Providence on Nov. 21. The Under-18s are highly skilled, so Maine will have to play well defensively. Even though it’s an exhibition game, a win and an impressive performance would give the Bears a lift. Maine is 0-2-1 in its last three.

MAINE vs. QUINNIPIAC

Time, site: Sunday, 7 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 10-8-3, Quinnipiac 6-8-3

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 3-0; Maine 2-1 on 11/26/02

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (10 goals, 7 assists), C Jon Jankus (5 & 10), RW Brent Shepheard (7 & 6), RW John Ronan (6 & 6), D Mike Lundin (0 & 10), D Steve Mullin (0 & 3), G Jimmy Howard (9-8-3, 2.27 goals-against average, .906 save percentage); Quinnipiac – C Matt Craig (8 & 8), LW Matt Froehlich (6 & 6), D Reid Cashman (4 & 7), LW Mark Van Vliet (3 & 8), RW Chris White (3 & 4), D Dan Lefort (1 & 6), G Jamie Holden (5-7-3, 2.75, .916)

Outlook: Quinnipiac will join the ECAC Hockey League next season to replace Vermont, which is headed for Hockey East. The Bobcats have a topnotch goalie in Holden, who made 45 saves in a 2-1 win at Dartmouth on Oct. 30. Maine has scored only five goals in its last three games (going 0-2-1). Quinnipiac is 1-3-2 in its last six and has surrendered 21 goals. Maine needs a win just to reach the .500 mark in nonleague play. The Bears are an uncharacteristic 4-5-2 outside of Hockey East. Maine finishes with 14 Hockey East games and needs to begin stringing together wins to ensure a seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. SACRED HEART

Time, site: Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 9-5-2, Sacred Heart 4-7-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0, Maine 3-2 on 11/15/97

Key players: Maine – C Tristan Desmet (9 goals, 5 assists), LW Cheryl White (10 & 3), LW Sonia Corriveau (6 & 7), RW Andrea Steranko (3 & 8), RW Kate Sunstrum (7 & 3), D Julie Poulin (2 & 5), G Rachel Gettings (9-5-1, 2.05 GAA, .897 save percentage); Sacred Heart – LW Michelle Panella (10 & 5), RW Katie McLaughlin (7 & 3), C Shannon Murphy (2 & 5), LW Devon Gaslin (1 & 6), D Nicole Farrelly (1 & 1), G Stephanie Boulay (3-5-1, 2.85, .917), G Sarah Perry (1-2, 4.67, .839)

Outlook: Sacred Heart is a Division I independent that plays Division I and Division III schools. Maine’s first varsity game was the win over Sacred Heart in their only previous meeting. The Bears have won five straight and the Pioneers have won three in a row. Maine will be heavily favored, especially coming off its 5-4 win over 10th-ranked Yale. After this weekend, Maine finishes with 14 Hockey East games, including the next six on the road. If Maine can get a sizeable lead in either game, it might give coach Guy Perron an opportunity to give converted forward Susannah Orzell some time in net. She is the new backup since Jayme Wilmann is facing surgery for a broken hand. Sacred Heart swept Div. III St. Michael’s on Tuesday and Wednesday.