Members of the University of Massachusetts and Boston University coaching staffs have informed Hockey East referees that Maine sophomore goalie Ben Bishop uses an illegal “kick shot” to clear the puck out of the zone.

UMass coach Don Cahoon brought it to referee Tim Benedetto’s attention after Bishop flipped the puck to Michel Leveille at center ice for a breakaway opportunity.

Parker explained that the rulebook states that a goalie cannot use a kicking motion to catapult a puck with his goal stick. The “kick shot” is seen as a dangerous maneuver because of the velocity with which the puck can come off the stick plus the kicking motion itself.

The penalty is a 10-minute misconduct which the goalie must serve himself.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead talked to Benedetto about the allegation before Saturday night’s game at BU and insisted that what Bishop does is legal. He also pointed out Bishop has been using it ever since he has been at Maine and nothing has ever been called.

Nothing was called on him in the BU game, either.

Other coaches may elect to protest Bishop’s clear-out pass before games as well but Bishop maintains he is innocent.

“There’s no kicking motion involved. If you look at the rule, there’s no way I break it. I just pull the stick back toward my knee and use my knee as kind of a lever. And my shot isn’t dangerous,” said Bishop.

“I think it was [Parker’s] way of trying to keep me from icing the puck on the penalty kill,” said Bishop.

Maine senior center Mike Hamilton figured it was a bit of gamesmanship on Parker’s behalf.

“He was trying to get into his head a little bit, trying to get him to worry about a big part of his game,” said Hamilton.

That’s not likely to happen, according to Bishop’s teammates.

“Nothing rattles him,” said senior defenseman Mike Lundin. “I don’t know if I’ve seen anyone as focused during game time as he is.”

Hamilton added “he’s in his own world. He’s always focused and ready to play.”

Bishop has more important things to think about this weekend when the University of Massachusetts-Lowell’s upstart River Hawks (Friday, 7 p.m.) and the University of New Hampshire’s Wildcats (Sunday, 3 p.m.) invade Alfond Arena.

Bishop enters the weekend leading the nation in wins with seven; tied for second in save percentage (.942) and third in goals-against average (1.41).

He is a big reason the Black Bears are the nation’s No. 1-ranked team for the third straight week.

“Maine is clearly the number one team in the nation and every team’s personality and ability to compete starts with the goaltender,” said UMass-Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald. “He has been ‘The Guy.’ He moves the puck well, he’s a great decision-maker and he certainly stops the puck.”

The 6-foot-7 Bishop has been pleased with his start but is quick to say “there’s a lot I can improve on. There’s always a lot of little things to work on.”

Bishop, who was chosen Hockey East’s All-Rookie team goalie last season, said one of the keys to his start has been the fact “I came back in a lot better shape than last year. We’re tested in a different categories and I was better in every category than I was last year.

“That definitely boosts your confidence,” added Bishop, who was 21-8-2 with a 2.28 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 31 games last year.

Bishop said he knew he had a chance to play more this year after Matt Lundin decided to leave early. So he had to be ready.

“I wanted to be in the best shape of my life. It has helped me a lot. I’m not as tired so I’m better able to make those second and third saves,” said Bishop who added that having volunteer assistant Grant Standbrook around all the time has “helped tremendously.”

Standbrook had been the recruiting coordinator and was gone for long periods of time.