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It appears as though the University of Maine men will be without two senior forwards for this weekend’s Hockey East series at Merrimack College.
Center Wes Clark and right wing Vince Laise are likely to be sidelined, according to Maine coach Tim Whitehead.
Clark, who is tied for the team scoring lead with Bret Tyler with seven points on two goals and five assists, suffered a shoulder injury on the last shift of Friday night’s 6-2 loss to Providence and missed Saturday night’s 1-0 setback.
Laise, who has a goal and three assists, injured a stomach muscle during Saturday’s game, according to Whitehead.
The Bears will also continue to be without freshman center Tanner House, who has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
Freshman defenseman Jeff Dimmen served a two-game suspension for violation of team rules and will return to the lineup this weekend. Center Lem Randall served a one-game suspension for violating team rules and played the second night against Providence.
“We’ll have to juggle some things,” said Whitehead, who is down to 12 available forwards.
The Maine coach said in order for his team to get back on the winning track after going three games without a win (0-2-1), it will require “tremendous commitment on and off the ice from our players.”
“We also need to improve our skill level,” said Whitehead, whose team has scored just three goals in its last three games.
He said his team will need to simplify things, especially on its anemic power play (3-for-46).
“With our talent level, our guys have to understand how we have to play to win. We can’t try to do too much. We don’t have the skill to do it. We can’t force plays that aren’t there,” said Whitehead. “We can’t try to beat guys one-on-one or one-on-two.”
Maine will have its hands full with a vastly improved Merrimack College team that has already exceeded last year’s win total. Merrimack, which won three games last year, is 4-4-1 overall, 1-4-1 in Hockey East including a 3-3 tie at Boston College Friday night.
“Merrimack will be tough, especially in their rink. They’re off to a great start. Every weekend is going to be a good test for us. We’re excited to drop the puck again. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Whitehead.
Maine’s shutout loss at Alfond Arena on Saturday night marked just the 13th time Maine has been shut out in Orono since the start of the program in the modern era in 1977-78. Providence senior goalie Tyler Sims became the first goalie to blank them twice in Orono.
Fluellen reaches 1,000-yard mark
The UMaine football team went into the 2007 football season hoping Jhamal Fluellen would become their next go-to player on offense.
The junior tailback has delivered.
Fluellen rushed for 84 yards on 20 carries in Saturday’s 35-0 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Rhode Island, which carried him over the 1,000-yard plateau for the season. He goes into Saturday’s season finale at New Hampshire with 1,023 yards.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder from Lockport, N.Y., becomes only the eighth Black Bear to reach the milestone in the 116-year history of the program.
Fluellen is a crafty runner who has a knack for finding running room. He has good speed and also has been a capable pass receiver, having caught 22 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown this fall.
“He’s just smart,” began UMaine quarterback Mike Brusko when asked to talk about Fluellen’s ability.
“He does a great job using his body to get around people and make the right cuts and set up his blockers,” Brusko continued. “He’s just a smart football player. He knows how to make people miss and make something out of nothing.”
Prior to Fluellen, the last UMaine back to eclipse 1,000 yards was Marcus Williams, who netted 1,077 yards in 2004.
Fluellen clearly doesn’t enjoy talking about his individual accomplishments and instead deflects the credit to all of his offensive teammates.
Brusko knows how important Fluellen’s contributions are to him and to the offense.
“I feel like there’s so much weight off my shoulders when I give him the ball,” said Brusko, who on Saturday made his fourth start of the season. “I know something positive is going to happen. He does a great job making plays when things aren’t how we drew them up.”
He has persevered this season despite having dealt with a nagging shoulder injury and various other bumps and bruises. Even so, Fluellen has logged 209 carries, fifth most in the CAA.
He ranks seventh in CAA all-purpose yardage with 122.5 yards per contest.
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