ORONO – Goal production will again be the question mark facing the University of Maine’s hockey team as it guns for an NCAA championship beginning with Sunday’s 2 p.m. opener at the University of Vermont.

Maine, 33-8-3 a year ago and the nation’s stingiest team (1.57 goals-per-game allowed), has played in three NCAA championship games over the past five seasons including last year’s 1-0 loss to Denver. The Bears also have a string of six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, going 161-55-31 during that span.

The Bears have eight forwards who played in the NCAA championship game and fourth-year head coach Tim Whitehead said, “I’m certainly looking to several players to increase their production. A lot of guys have worked very hard to increase their potential to put the puck in the net and I think some of our newcomers will contribute as well.”

Merrimack coach Chris Serino said he picked Maine as the number one team in the country in a preseason poll.

“They’re well-coached, they play hard, they’re obviously very strong defensively and they’ve got the best goalie in the universe,” said Serino.

UMass-Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald expects Maine to be “better than last year.

“How many goals are they going to need? If they score two they’ll win most of their games,” said MacDonald. “It all starts with goaltending but I think they also have a tremendous balance of skill, grit, determination. Their players’ roles are well-defined and they accept them.”

Second-team All-American goalie Jimmy Howard, a junior who set NCAA records with a 1.19 goals-against average and .956 save percentage, returns as a solo act after sharing the goaltending with Frank Doyle.

Seven of Maine’s eight defensemen are also back although second-team All-American Prestin Ryan will be difficult to replace.

Maine has lost two of its top three point-producers and its top two goal scorers in second- team All-Americans Colin Shields (18 goals, 26 assists) and Todd Jackson (21 & 12).

And formidable power forward Dustin Penner (11 & 12) passed up his senior year to sign with Anaheim.

Maine averaged 3.2 goals per game last year and was held to two goals or less 17 times.

Seniors Ben Murphy, John Ronan and Troy Barnes are confident the Bears will score enough goals to make another NCAA title run.

“Last year, we were supposed to have problems scoring goals but we scored enough to get where we did. Now we’ve just got to find a way to get a couple more,” said Murphy. “Every year, some new guys step up and produce. Todd Jackson had 21 goals last year and his previous high was 10 or 12 (13 in 2002-03). I expect the same thing from some guys this year. And we’ve got some great freshmen who will contribute right away.”

All four centers return led by Hockey East Rookie of the Year Michel Leveille (6 goals, 34 assists), who should be able to score at least 15 this season.

Derek Damon (13 & 18) and Jon Jankus (9 & 16) should also improve their goal totals and Murphy has nowhere to go but up after producing only three goals in 41 games.

However, Murphy did score the game-winner in the three-overtime 2-1 triumph over UMass in the Hockey East title game.

Junior left wing Greg Moore (15 & 8) increased his goal total by six and should continue that trend especially if he can fine-tune his exceptional wrist shot.

Sophomore LW Mike Hamilton (7 & 6) had three post-season goals and RWs Ronan (6 & 8) and Keith Johnson (5 & 1) should each be able to improve their goal totals by at least three apiece.

Senior Matt Greyeyes and sophomores Josh Soares and Brent Shepheard showed promising glimpses in limited roles and Whitehead said, “I feel those three could really elevate their games and make a real big impact for us.”

Freshmen Keenan Hopson, a 100-point scorer in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League, and Rob Bellamy, a fierce forechecker, headline the list of first-year forwards with Billy Ryan and Wes Clark potentially providing a nice lift when they become eligible for the second semester.

“I don’t think they’ll miss a beat up front,” said Boston University coach Jack Parker. “They’ll be as good if not better than last year.”

Sophomore Mike Lundin (3 goals, 16 assists) and senior Troy Barnes (2 & 9) head up the list of returning defensemen.

Lundin was one of the team’s biggest overachievers while Barnes could be an important point-producer once he snaps his 24-game pointless streak and regains his confidence.

Sophomore Tom Zabkowicz (4 & 5) has exceptional offensive skills and just needs to improve defensively; junior co-captain Jeff Mushaluk (3 & 6) should be ready to make a significant improvement; Steve Mullin and Mat Deschamps are experienced and efficient and Travis Wight should be more of a factor after an injury-marred season.

Freshman Tim Maxwell has impressed his teammates with his poise and fellow newcomer Bret Tyler is a physical presence and a potential power-play point man.

Matt Lundin, Mike’s brother, will back up Howard and has looked good in captain’s practices, according to Whitehead.

UM MEN’S HOCKEY

2004-05 schedule

October

3 – at Vermont, 2 p.m.

8 – North Dakota, 8 p.m.

9 – North Dakota, 7 p.m.

15 – Niagra, 7 p.m.

16 – Niagra, 7 p.m.

22 – St. Lawrence, 7 p.m.

23 – St. Lawrence, 7 p.m.

29 – at Merrimack, 7 p.m.

31 – at Boston University, 1 p.m.

November

5 – Boston College, 7 p.m.

7 – New Hampshire, 2 p.m.

12 – at Northeastern, 7 p.m.

13 – at UMass Lowell, 7 p.m.

19 – Massachusetts, 7 p.m.

21 – Providence, at Portland, 2 p.m.

27 – at Darmouth, 7 p.m.

December

3 – Merrimack, 7 p.m.

4 – Merrimack, 7 p.m.

11 – at Harvard, 7 p.m.

Everblades Classic at Naples, Fla.

28 – vs. St. Cloud State, 4 p.m.

29 – vs. Boston College or Cornell, TBA

January

7 – USA U-18 Team, at Portland, 7 p.m.

9 – Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.

14 – at Massachusetts, 7 p.m.

15 – at Massachusetts, 7 p.m.

21 – Boston University, 7 p.m.

22 – Boston University, 7 p.m.

28 – Northeastern, 7 p.m.

29 – Northeastern, 7 p.m.

February

4 – at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.

5 – at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.

18 – at Providence, 7 p.m.

19 – at Providence, 7 p.m.

25 – UMass Lowell, 7 p.m.

26 – UMass Lowell, 7 p.m.

March

4 – at Boston College, 7 p.m.

5 – at Boston College

10 – Hockey East Quarterfinals, TBA