The University of Maine hockey team’s last two seasons have ended the same way: gut-wrenching 1-0 losses in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, it the was the NCAA championship game against Denver. Last Saturday, it was an overtime setback to Minnesota in the first round.

But the Bears should finally keep goal judges busy next season as they battle for an eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and first NCAA championship since 1999.

Maine, which has scored only 14 goals in its last nine single-elimination tournament games, will return 10 of its top 11 scorers. Seven defensemen will be back and Maine coach Tim Whitehead is hopeful that standout goalie Jimmy Howard, the school’s career shutout leader with 15, will return for his final season before embarking on a pro career in the Detroit Red Wings organization.

“We came a long way this season. I’m very proud of these guys. It took longer than we expected but we played our best hockey down the stretch. We just ran out of time. We needed more time to get to the next level,” said Whitehead whose 20-13-7 Bears finished with a 10-5-4 record over their final 19 games.

Eleven of those final 19 games came against teams with at least 20 wins.

Maine finished tied for third in the country in goals-against average (1.98) thanks to Howard and the nation’s second-best penalty-killing percentage, a school-record 88 percent. Howard finished with a 19-13-7 record, a 1.92 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

“We’ve got a great nucleus of players coming back,” said sophomore left wing Josh Soares. “We’re looking to do big things next year.”

The Bears should be deep as well as talented.

If Howard leaves, sophomore Matt Lundin (1-0, 2.00, .928 in nine games) and 6-foot-6 recruit Ben Bishop will vie for the job.

Bishop is 35-8 with a 1.93 GAA and a .920 save percentage for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League.

Maine played 12 freshmen and sophomores down the stretch and most of them saw power-play duty.

In addition to the returnees, the Bears will be bolstered by redshirts John Hopson, a transfer from Alaska-Anchorage, and Vince Laise along with the incoming recruits. Hopson is the older brother of freshman center Keenan Hopson.

The incoming recruits all have proven offensive abilities.

Forwards Chris Hahn (27 goals, 36 assists in 53 games) and Jeff Marshall (23 & 39 in 52 games) were the fifth and sixth-leading scorers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Defensemen Bryan Plaszcz of the NAHL’s Sante Fe Roadrunners (11 & 18 in 53 games) and Windham’s Matt Duffy of the Eastern Junior Hockey League’s New Hampshire Monarchs (9 & 13 in 33 games) are offensive-minded.

Maine’s top six scorers off this year’s team should improve their point production next year.

Centers Derek Damon (14 & 13), Jon Jankus (8 & 17) and Michel Leveille (12 & 12) led the scoring followed by RW Greg Moore (14 & 9) and LWs Josh Soares (12 & 11) and Brent Shepheard (11 & 11).

Leveille missed seven games with a shoulder injury early in the season but finished with 5 & 7 in his last 10 games. He should be one of Hockey East’s dominant forwards next season and his 12 goals, six more than in 2003-2004, exhibited his development into a scorer instead of just a playmaker.

Junior Moore has turned into one of college hockey’s best defensive forwards – he was tied for runnerup in Hockey East for best defensive forward- and is capable of a 20-goal senior year. Soares and Shepheard were vastly improved and Shepheard was one of the league’s most physical forwards. They will be stronger and could make huge strides if they can add some quickness via power skating lessons or off-season training regimens.

Damon played some of his best hockey after a late-season benching and should be a 20-goal scorer in 2005-2006 if he continues to improve his work ethic.

The loss of crunching body-checker Rob Bellamy (broken hand) hurt Maine in its losses to Boston College in the Hockey East semifinals and Minnesota.

He created space for fellow freshman linemates Billy Ryan and Hopson.

Ryan’s stickhandling prowess and offensive instincts and Hopson’s ice vision and creativity were impressive and they should be even more dangerous next season as they get stronger and benefit from their experience this season.

Sophomores Mike Hamilton and Keith Johnson were valuable penalty-killers and role players and freshman Wes Clark showed promise in his 11 games.

Junior Travis Wight can play both forward or defense.

Whitehead said one of the aspects of his team’s development that could significantly benefit it’s offensive production was the play of his defensemen.

Bret Tyler (6 & 14) was chosen to the Hockey East All-Rookie team and was a fixture at the point on the power play. Fellow freshman Travis Ramsey also developed into a power play point man.

Another freshman, Tim Maxwell has exceptional offensive skills and supplied a creative element to the power play. He just needs to fill out and work hard to improve his defense.

Junior Mike Lundin and sophomore Tom Zabkowicz can also jump into the play and generate offense. Zabkowicz has good poise with the puck and can carry it from coast-to-coast.

Junior Steve Mullin was their most improved player and became their most dependable defensive defenseman.

Maine’s power play (16.2 percent) difficulties hurt them again but there’s no where to go but up and it should be much better next year.

Maine will graduate four popular leaders in John Ronan, Ben Murphy and defensemen Mat Deschamps and Troy Barnes.