Productive experimentation.

That is what the University of Maine men’s hockey team will be hoping to accomplish tonight when the Black Bears take on the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in an exhibition game at Alfond Arena.

Game time is 7.

It is Maine’s first midweek game of the season. The Bears are coming off three one-game weekends including last Friday’s 3-0 win over Providence.

Maine will visit Northeastern on Saturday night.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead will give several freshmen playing time, including goalie Dave Wilson, right wing-center Tony Morrone and defenseman Brett Carriere.

Wilson is expected to make his first start; Morrone will see his first minutes and Carriere will be playing in just his second game.

Sophomore left wing Vince Laise will see his first action of this season.

“This is a great opportunity to see some players in situations you wouldn’t normally see them in,” said Whitehead. “It’s crucial for these guys to get opportunities so when they’re called upon later in the year, we’ll know we can rely on them.”

“It’ll be good for the younger guys to come in and see what they can do out there,” senior right wing Keith Johnson said.

Senior left wing Josh Soares added, “We’re going to need everybody for the stretch run. This will give them an opportunity to get their confidence up.”

Soares also said it will provide Whitehead with the opportunity to “try some new combinations to see what might work for us.”

In addition, the Bears will look to improve upon the areas of their game that need it.

“We still have a long way to go in the defensive zone although we made big strides last Friday night,” said Johnson. “We also need to improve upon our rush chances. We’ve got to find better ways to get the puck on net and generate more options.”

Soares concurred.

“We gave Providence a few too many opportunities but [goalie Ben Bishop] bailed us out. We’ve also got to work on the little things like driving the net, getting the puck on net and burying our chances,” Soares said.

He said the team was guilty of trying to make “that extra move or extra pass” in the first period instead of “making the simple play and getting the puck on net.”

Whitehead and his players know they will be tested by Gardiner MacDougall’s Varsity Reds, Canadian university runners-up in 2004.

MacDougall said he likes the idea of facing a “strong opponent like Maine” especially after playing October games against UMass and Boston University.