Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday, 8 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 4-2-1 (2-0-1 Hockey East); PC 1-5-1 (1-2-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 55-34-4, Maine 2-0 on Jan. 20

Key players: Maine – D Bret Tyler (3 goals, 4 assists), C Wes Clark (2 & 5), LW Chris Hahn (3 & 1), LW Vince Laise (1 & 3), LW Billy Ryan (1 & 1), D Travis Ramsey (1 & 0), G Ben Bishop (4-2-1, 1.99 goals against average, .935 save percentage); Providence – LW Kyle Laughlin (5 & 3), RW Jon Rheault (2 & 5), D Matt Taormina (3 & 1), RW Pierce Norton (2 & 2), LW Greg Collins (1 & 2), G Chris Mannix (1-1-1, 2.61, .915), G Tyler Sims (0-4, 3.28, .885)

Outlook: Maine has won three of the last four meetings but the teams have split the last eight games. Four of the last five games have been shutouts. The Friars will be bolstered by the return of dangerous point-producing defenseman Cody Wild, the runnerup for Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 2005-2-006. Wild and Maine’s Tyler, former Boston Junior Bruins teammates, are two of the top offensive defensemen in Hockey East. Providence returned four of its top five scorers but has scored just 15 goals. Maine hasn’t allowed more than three goals in a game. The Friars are an aggressive 1-2-2 forechecking team and their defensemen like to get involved in the offense so Maine will have to be aware of the Friar defensemen jumping up into the play. The Bears need to get their (2-for-38) power play untracked. Maine is 4-0-1 in its last five games. Maine will regain the services of injured freshman forwards Andrew Sweetland, Keif Orsini and Robby Dee.

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. CLEMSON

Time, site: Friday, 5 p.m.; Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, S.C.

Records (2006-07): Maine 13-15, Clemson 12-18

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0, Maine 80-78 on 11/25/07

Key players (2006-07 statistics): Maine – 5-8 G Kris Younan (5.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.3 apg); 5-6 G Kristin Baker (0.3 ppg), 6-0 F Brittany Boser (0.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg), 6-0 F Magdala Johnson (1st season), 6-1 F Colleen Kilmurray (0.5 ppg, 0.4 rpg), 5-8 G Emily Rousseau (1st season); Clemson – 6-0 F D’Lesha Lloyd (14.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 spg), 5-10 G/F Lele Hardy (11.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 3.3 spg), 5-6 G Christy Brown (7.8 ppg, 4.7 apg), 6-3 F/C Moreemi Davis (5.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-8 G Morganne Campbell (4.5 ppg)

Outlook: The Black Bears begin the Cindy Blodgett coaching era with an immediate test against the Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference. UMaine, which lacks experience in virtually every position, will have to be tenacious on defense, patient and efficient on offense and aggressive on the boards. Baker will see her first quality game time, as will freshmen Johnson, Rousseau and Tanna Ross. Clemson returns four of its five starters from last season, but is without talented senior guard Tasha Taylor, who is sidelined by an injury. The Tigers will challenged the Bears with overall quickness and a fast-paced offensive philosophy. Blodgett said UMaine can’t afford to get into a “track meet” against a Clemson team that thrives on its transition attack.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. ROBERT MORRIS

Time, site: Friday, 2 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 1-8-1, Robert Morris 3-6-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 2-0, Maine 4-1 on Oct. 9, 2005

Key players: Maine – RW Vanessa Vani (2 goals, 3 assists), C Taryn Peacock (2 & 2), C Jordan Colliton (1 & 2), D Elyce Thomas (2 & 0), RW Robyn Law (1 & 0), G Genevieve Turgeon (1-5-1, 3.42 goals-against average, .923 save percentage); Robert Morris – C Kylie Rossler (5 & 2), LW Moran Beikirch (1 & 5), RW Sara O’Malley (5 & 0), D Samantha Ullrich (2 & 3), LW Megan Picinic (1 & 4), D Mallory Giambra (1 & 4), G Brianne McLaughlin (2-6-1, 2.48, .931)

Outlook: Robert Morris has made great strides in its three-year varsity existence. They have allowed more than three goals in a game just once and that includes 3-0 and 3-1 road losses to defending two-time national champion Wisconsin, the nation’s No. 2-ranked team. Maine has gone 181:15 without scoring after being shut out by New Hampshire (5-0), and Clarkson twice, 2-0 and 1-0. Robert Morris split with Clarkson in October, winning 3-1 and losing 1-0. Maine is 0-8-1 in its last nine games and has scored only six goals in those nine games. The Bears have lost six straight. Maine has to get more pucks to the net and the Bears must play with more urgency in front of the net. Turgeon and McLaughlin are top-quality goaltenders.