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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Power-play goals 1:27 apart by Josh Soares and Jon Jankus enabled the University of Maine men’s hockey team to erase a 1-0 deficit and edge the upset-minded Air Force Academy 3-1 at the Ice Breaker Tournament at the World Arena Friday night.
Derek Damon added another power play goal with 2.7 seconds left as Black Bears have won their season-opener for the fifth straight year.
“We were flat early but we got stronger as the game went along. We responded with three power play goals in the third period and that was good,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead.
Whitehead said his team “learned a lot” especially how to play on an Olympic-sized ice sheet.
“We were too physical early and we wore ourselves out,” said Whitehead.
The Bears cashed in on a five-minute major on Air Force Academy defenseman Frank Schiavone for hitting from behind with 8:32 remaining.
Soares tied it with 6:06 remaining, snapping a Maine scoreless string that spanned 177 minutes, 58 seconds, dating back to last season.
Ironically, it was Soares who had last scored for the Bears in the second period of their 2-1 double overtime loss to Boston College in the Hockey East semifinals.
On Friday night, Soares took a pass from Derek Damon, held the puck and snapped a quick wrist shot that beat Air Force goalie Peter Foster.
“There was traffic in front and Josh put it over the goalie’s glove [into the short-side corner],” said junior center Jankus.
Jankus broke the tie after he gathered in the rebound of a Mike Lundin shot, came out of the corner and fired a shot from a difficult angle that beat Foster to the short side.
“I just had a feeling so I put the puck on net. [Mike] Hamilton and [Rob] Bellamy were in front. The goalie didn’t get to the post quick enough and it went in,” said Jankus.
The Falcons were assessed another five-minute major late in the game and Damon capped the scoring on the power play with 2.7 seconds remaining.
Eric Ehn had opened the scoring for the Falcons early in the third period as he deflected Brian Gineo’s point shot behind Maine goalie Matt Lundin.
Lundin finished with 11 saves while Foster made 27 for the Falcons.
Jankus said the Bears didn’t get to the net in the first two periods and “any goalie [in college hockey] is going to make a save if he can see the puck.”
He said the Bears did a better job getting to the net front in the third period and Whitehead said they learned that they have to get their shots off quicker because “everybody is good at blocking shots these days.”
Maine will play Colorado College on Saturday night at 10.
Air Force Academy will play Union College at 7.
BLACK BEARS 3, FALCONS 1
Maine (1-0) 0 0 3 – 3
Air Force (0-1) 0 0 1 – 1
First period – No scoring. Penalties: Maine, Duffy, holding, :23; AF, Schiavone, tripping, 6:00; Maine, Danis-Pepin, roughing, 9:17; AF, Devoney, interference, 12:21.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties: AF, Gineo, holding, 6:01; AF, Schiavone, interference, 7:44; Maine, Mi. Lundin, cross -checking, 11:00; Maine, Jankus, slashing, 12:36; Maine, Danis-Pepin, holding, 16:13.
Third period – 1. AF, Ehn 1 (Gineo), 4:32; 2. Maine, Soares 1 (Damon, Johnson), 13:54 (pp); 3. Maine, Jankus 1 (Mi. Lundin, Danis-Pepin), 15:21 (pp); 4. Maine, Damon 1 (Moore), 19:57 (pp). Penalties: AF, Turnquist, hooking, 7:01; AF, Schiavone, five-minute major for checking from behind and game disqualification; AF, Bader, five-minute major for checking from behind and game disqualification, 17:13.
Shots on goal: Maine 5-9-16 -30; Air Force 3-4-5-12
Goaltenders: Maine, Ma. Lundin (12 shots-11 saves); AF, Foster (30-27)
Power-play opportunities: Maine 3-10, AF 0-5
Attendance: 1,104
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