Bears eyeing strong start in Colorado Whitehead feels good about new players

University of Maine men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead said he anticipates that every healthy player will appear in at least one game this weekend when the Bears open their season at the Icebreaker Tournament at Colorado College’s World Arena in Colorado Springs.

Maine will play the Air Force Academy on Friday at 7:05 before tangling with Colorado College on Saturday at 10:05.

Three Bears won’t be able to play: sophomore wingers Wes Clark (broken leg), Billy Ryan (broken bone in foot), and freshman winger Chris Hahn (sprained wrist).

“Nobody has looked out of place. Everybody looks good. The new guys have all fit in. I’m excited about the group,” said Whitehead.

Sophomore Matt Lundin and freshman Ben Bishop will both play, according to Whitehead.

“More than likely, one will play one game and the other will play the next,” said Whitehead, who decided against having them play half a game each night.

He added that he will probably have two players on each line who have played together in the past. Michel Leveille and Greg Moore will probably be linemates as will Derek Damon and Keith Johnson and Jon Jankus and Mike Hamilton.

Whitehead will match up his veteran defensemen with a newcomer.

In addition to Bishop, the other players expected to make their Black Bear debuts this weekend will be forwards Vince Laise, Jeff Marshall and Alaska-Anchorage transfer John Hopson and defensemen Bryan Plaszcz, Matt Duffy and Simon Danis-Pepin.

“They all look good,” said junior left wing Josh Soares. “Everybody is quicker this year and they fit in just right with our [improved] team speed.”

“We’re really excited about our freshman class,” said senior right wing and captain Moore.

Either Bishop or Lundin will get their first start of the year against a Colorado College team that went 31-9-3 a year ago and boasts Hobey Baker Award winner Marty Sertich, who had 27 goals and 37 assists, and his linemate Brett Sterling (34 & 29), who was also a Hobey Baker finalist.

Colorado College made it to the Frozen Four where the Tigers lost to eventual national champion Denver.

Bishop and Lundin are both ready for the challenge.

“You can’t ask for anything better, getting a big game right off the bat to see where you’re at,” said Lundin, who played in nine games a year ago.

“I’d look forward to it a lot, getting a chance to play against the best,” said Bishop.

Colorado College is ranked seventh in one major preseason poll and sixth in another while Maine is 11th in both.

Air Force went 14-19-3 a year ago and finished fifth in College Hockey America.