MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Providence

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

Records: Maine 9-6-3 (5-2-1 Hockey East); Providence 8-10-1 (4-6-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 45-28-2; PC 4-3 on 3/16/01

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (17 goals, 7 assists), RW Niko Dimitrakos (9 & 13), C Tommy Reimann (7 & 14), C Martin Kariya (5 & 13), D Peter Metcalf (2 & 16), D Francis Nault (3 & 7) G Mike Morrison (6-1-1, 1.97 goals-against average, .932 save percentage); Providence – LW-RW Drew Omicioli (9 & 11), RW Jon DiSalvatore (10 & 7), C Peter Fregoe (8 & 9), LW Devin Rask (4 & 10), D Stephen Wood (3 & 9), LW Michael Lucci (3 & 8), G Nolan Schaefer (7-9-1, 3.28, .902)

Outlook: Maine is 22-0-1 vs. Providence at the Alfond Arena since losing an NCAA Tournament game (8-6) to the Friars on March 24, 1989. Maine is 6-2-2 at home this season and Providence is 1-5-1 on the road. But the Friars are dangerous. They were picked to win the Hockey East regular-season title by the league’s coaches and have won three of their last four, including a 4-1 win over a Western Michigan team that beat and tied Maine. Both teams are extremely young on defense but have veteran forwards and goaltending. Maine’s power play has converted on three of its last five and five of its last 12 chances. Maine will try to exploit the Friars’ young defense.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Providence

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

Records: Maine 7-8-1 (1-5-1 ECAC East); PC 5-8-2 (2-4-1 EE)

Series, last meeting: PC leads 6-0-2; 2-2 tie on 11/4/01

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (12 goals, 10 assists), RW Karen Droog (12 & 7), C Jarin Sjogren (5 & 10), D Kelly Nelson (2 & 8), D LeeAnne Irwin (2 & 4), G Lara Smart (3-2, 1.96, .921), G Amanda Cronin (2-3-1, 2.63, .895); Providence – C Jenn Butsch (7 & 5), C Danielle Culgin (6 & 6), LW Kim Mathias (2 & 9), D Meredith Roth (4 & 6), RW Darlene Stephenson (4 & 6), D Kelli Halcisak (2 & 8), G Amy Quinlan (2-5-2, 2.59, .882)

Outlook: The Bears will regain the services of RW Cindy Biron (knee) and C Jamie Hill (academically ineligible), but fourth-leading scorer Andrea Steranko will be out due to pancreatitis. PC beat Maine 7-2 and tied the Bears 2-2 the next night. The Friars are 2-4 in their last six, but the two wins were over nationally ranked Harvard (6-0) and Niagara (6-2). They have been held to two goals or less six times. Maine has to generate more offense and handle Providence’s physical strength along the boards. Each team has a high-powered line. Maine has Aarts-Sjogren-Droog while PC has Mathias-Butsch-Stephenson. The Bears are 2-3 at home while the Friars are 1-5 on the road.