The University of Maine men’s hockey team has significantly enhanced its NCAA Tournament hopes with a 6-3-1 run which has earned the Bears a Hockey East semifinal berth against Boston College Friday night at 5 at the FleetCenter in Boston. During the stretch, they have gone 5-2-1 against nationally-ranked teams.

One of the important ingredients in their resurgence has been the play of the all-freshman line featuring Keenan Hopson between left wing Billy Ryan and right wing Rob Bellamy.

They have been linemates for those 10 games and have combined for five goals and 12 assists. Two of those goals have sewn up critical victories over UMass Lowell.

Bellamy’s goal with 3:13 remaining capped a 2-0 regular season victory over the River Hawks on Feb. 25 and, last Saturday night, Ryan and Bellamy (empty net) scored in the final 5:13 to clinch the Hockey East quarterfinal series by virtue of a 5-1 triumph.

In their first game together on Feb. 4, Ryan had a pair of goals and Hopson and Bellamy had assists as Maine became the first team to beat New Hampshire at the Whittemore Center (3-1) this year.

“They have been giving us a big lift,” said Maine senior left wing Ben Murphy. “They seem to be getting us at least a goal a weekend. That has been the difference down the stretch. That has helped us out. There’s a lot of skill on that line. Rob goes out and creates havoc for the other team [with his physical play] and that opens up space for Billy and Keenan. They are really clicking well together. They seem to be making a lot of plays.”

“That line has a lot of chemistry,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “There’s such a great mix of talents. It’s got all the elements of a great line.”

“They have poise with the puck, they’ve got speed, competitive fire and a physical presence. They have enthusiasm. They play with passion. That line brings you a little bit of everything. They can lift you with a hustling shift or can get a big goal for you as they did against Lowell twice. Each weekend, they’re getting smarter and smarter defensively,” Whitehead added.

The linemates said they have gotten more comfortable with each other with every practice and every game. They know where each other is going to be.

“We’ve gotten to know each other’s tendencies and that makes the game a lot easier,” said Hopson who has eight assists in the 10 games although three have come on the power play where he mans the point.

“Billy has great hands and he’s really creative. Hopper [Hopson] has great vision,” said Bellamy, who supplies energy and a physical presence.

Bellamy is also a tenacious backchecker and the best defensive player on the line.

“I feel I’ve improved tremendously in the defensive zone since the beginning of the year and Billy and Keenan have started to do a real good job in the defensive zone,” said Bellamy, who has two goals and three assists over the 10-game span. “Offensively, those two guys are great. They’re like tutors for me.”

“We’re starting to jell really well together and we’ve started to score some goals to help the team win,” said Ryan, who has three goals and an assist over the last 10 games although he did miss one game. “We all play hard, we try to get pucks to the net and Rob is a real good presence to have out there. He goes to the net, hits and creates space for us. Obviously, he can pitch in with goals, too.

“Keenan’s vision and hockey sense are unbelievable. He always knows where you are and he puts his passes right on your tape. And he knows how to get open,” said Ryan.

Bellamy said the fact Whitehead isn’t afraid to put them on the ice in virtually any situation has given them confidence.

“He has shown a lot of confidence in us, which is great. I really enjoy playing on the line,” said Bellamy.

On the season, Hopson, a 6-foot-1, 181-pound native of Prince George, British Columbia has three goals and 16 assists in 30 games; 6-0, 163-pound Milton, Mass. native Ryan has 6 & 9 in 32 and the 6-0, 192-pound Bellamy, who is from Westfield, Mass., has 3 & 4 in 28 games.

They are all looking forward to Friday’s game against B.C.

“I can’t wait. It’s going to be unbelievable,” said Ryan, who grew up five miles from the FleetCenter and has played there several times.