UMaine capsules

Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. USA Under-18 Team

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

Records: Maine 9-3, Team USA 12-7-1

Series, last meeting: Maine 3-0, Maine 8-4 on 1/2/05

Key players: Maine – LW Josh Soares (6 goals, 6 assists), LW Billy Ryan (3 & 9), C Keenan Hopson (3 & 9), RW Greg Moore (8 & 3), C-LW Derek Damon (5 & 6), D Mike Lundin (0 & 4), G Matt Lundin (3-1, 0.75 GAA, .965 save pct.); Team USA – RW Patrick Kane (15 & 12), RW Chris Atkinson (7 & 10), D Erik Johnson (7 & 9), LW Bill Sweatt (7 & 8), LW Rhett Rakhshani (6 & 6), D Kevin Montgomery (4 & 6), G Joe Palmer (11-7-1, 2.56, .907)

Outlook: Maine’s depleted lineup (suspensions) will face a quick and highly-skilled USA team that has 16 players who have signed National Letters of Intent to play at Division I schools next season. Team USA is 2-6-1 against college teams and is coming off a 3-1 showing at the Four Nations Cup in Finland last weekend, including an exhibition win over the Finns. The Bears will be without seven players, so they will dress only 11 forwards. Three of their six defensemen will be freshmen. Moore has a four-game, goal-scoring streak. Linemates Ryan Hopson and Keenan Hopson have 10 and 9 points, respectively, over their last seven games. Maine will need to be physical and take advantage of its strength to sustain its forecheck and get to the net front.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. RPI

Time, site: Saturday, noon, Sunday, 1 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 5-3-2, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 9-0-1

Series, last meeting: first meeting

Key players: Maine – C Cheryl White (7 goals, 5 assists), LW Vanessa Vani (5 & 5), D Kelly Law (3 & 7), RW Sonia Corriveau (4 & 5), C Brigitte Laflamme (3 & 6), G Genevieve Turgeon (3-3-1, 2.38 GAA, .895 save pct.); G Lundy Day (1-0-1, 1.70, .906); RPI – C Sarah Daniel (8 & 4), D Melanie Guillemette (2 & 10), RW Nicole McDonald (9 & 2), LW Emily Donowick (7 & 3), LW Julie Welte (4 & 6), G Ashley Mayr (3-0, 1.33, .931), G Rosina Schiff (3-0-1, 0.98, .955)

Outlook: RPI is in its first season as a Division I program after playing in Division III. The Engineers played in the ECAC East championship game a year ago, losing 4-1 to Manhattanville. Maine’s power play produced five goals in 20 chances in its loss and tie at Providence. Maine’s power play is operating at an impressive 23.4 percent efficiency rate. The Engineers have won six straight and are coming off 7-3 and 5-3 wins over Boston University. They have outscored their opponents 43-13 on the season. Welte is two points shy of the 100-point career plateau.