The Barr Has Been Raised at UMaine

[BlackBearFan19]

If Ostman returns next season....I think that this is a top 3 team in Hockey East and an NCAA tourney team where anything can happen.

This is where I’m at right now as well. If Ostman and Poisson come back, I’m all in on next year’s team. From listening to the coaches show, it sounds like Henbrant will be back.

I would assume Ostman returns, as good as he is, is he going to give up two years of eligibility to most likely play in the ECHL for a year or two?

To me, Poisson is the question mark, does he come back to Maine likely wearing the C or does he play his final year of eligibility with his brother at Providence? Can’t fault him if he chooses the latter but it would be awesome to have him back.

[amkirby10]

This is where I’m at right now as well. If Ostman and Poisson come back, I’m all in on next year’s team. From listening to the coaches show, it sounds like Henbrant will be back.

I would assume Ostman returns, as good as he is, is he going to give up two years of eligibility to most likely play in the ECHL for a year or two?

To me, Poisson is the question mark, does he come back to Maine likely wearing the C or does he play his final year of eligibility with his brother at Providence? Can’t fault him if he chooses the latter but it would be awesome to have him back.

Looking at the roster, the only ones who are guaranteed to age out are Michaelian (bottom six depth forward) and Sirota, as they are both grad students. Poisson, Henbrandt, and Bruneski are all seniors, but they would have the extra covid year. Everyone else is a junior or younger, and I don't really see why any of them would choose not to come back. I would think Ben probably stays, I'm sure he sees how this team is trending up and would give him the opportunity for leadership. With Hopkins coming in as a freshman I think he can replace Sirota, not to mention the Nadeau's up front, with others. Next year's team should be really good, and I think NCAA Tournament berth isnt unreasonable.

[Fishman'81]

I actually thought Maine looked better v BU than they did against PC. Our boys just got better bounces v PC.

Am I alone?

[Harry Cleverly]

Am I alone?

Alone.

[MoxieMan21]

I actually thought Maine looked better v BU than they did against PC. Our boys just got better bounces v PC.

Am I alone?

They scored goals and did some nice things on the offense Saturday but Im not sure they played better that weekend than against Providence. Saturday against Providence as lop sided as the shots were I think Maine did a decent job in front and kept a lot of things to the outside. I think it was clear they were outshot for I believe the first time all year and Friday and think the message was just shoot the puck because it seemed to me they were passing up opportunities to make maybe a better play and were just shooting from everywhere. Eyeball test just in pure puck possession, looked like Maine was getting dominated but I don't think it was necessarily as bad as it looked

[Drew S.]

This is where I’m at right now as well. If Ostman and Poisson come back, I’m all in on next year’s team. From listening to the coaches show, it sounds like Henbrant will be back.

I would assume Ostman returns, as good as he is, is he going to give up two years of eligibility to most likely play in the ECHL for a year or two?

To me, Poisson is the question mark, does he come back to Maine likely wearing the C or does he play his final year of eligibility with his brother at Providence? Can’t fault him if he chooses the latter but it would be awesome to have him back.

I worry more about Ostman(and others) going to BC, NEU, or some other school more so than them going pro. The best thing about Maine being close to .500 is hopefully it encourages more guys to come back.

[Drew S.]

I actually thought Maine looked better v BU than they did against PC. Our boys just got better bounces v PC.

Am I alone?

I think it had to do more with the game circumstances than anything else. BU had a bigger sheet, plays a more uptempo game, etc where against providence it’s a grind. I saw Leaman’s comments after Saturday’s game and he basically said providence was horrible Friday and then lost Saturday because of Ostman and providence not getting any bounces. Hard for me to argue against any of that.

[umhockey91]

I worry more about Ostman(and others) going to BC, NEU, or some other school more so than them going pro. The best thing about Maine being close to .500 is hopefully it encourages more guys to come back.

Why would Ostman transfer to BC or Northeastern?....LOL.

[NorthMike]

I worry more about Ostman(and others) going to BC, NEU, or some other school more so than them going pro. The best thing about Maine being close to .500 is hopefully it encourages more guys to come back.

The portal sure changes college hockey and complicates things. It will be interesting or frustrating maybe to see how it changes d1 hockey overall.
The upside is for programs like ours if there is truth in wanting success back in the Alfond then its a must to maintain a quality coaching staff and facility. The program is going in that direction but has to stay the course.
Players need to be shown they can improve and be part of success.
Gone are the days of just recruiting good players and living off that, now you have to keep them too.
Change or perish.

[tylerzx2002]

Looking at the roster, the only ones who are guaranteed to age out are Michaelian (bottom six depth forward) and Sirota, as they are both grad students. Poisson, Henbrandt, and Bruneski are all seniors, but they would have the extra covid year. Everyone else is a junior or younger, and I don't really see why any of them would choose not to come back. I would think Ben probably stays, I'm sure he sees how this team is trending up and would give him the opportunity for leadership. With Hopkins coming in as a freshman I think he can replace Sirota, not to mention the Nadeau's up front, with others. Next year's team should be really good, and I think NCAA Tournament berth isnt unreasonable.

Hopefully Barr keeps the Penticton kids together next year. Their familiarity with one another might ease some of the adjustment that comes with making the jump to D1 hockey and honestly it's really working for the Vees this season. Their 34-3-0-0 record looks like a misprint.

[amkirby10]

I actually thought Maine looked better v BU than they did against PC. Our boys just got better bounces v PC.

Am I alone?

I didn't see Saturday's game when they scored six goals, so I can't attest to that, but I was very clear in how bad I thought they were for the first two periods on Friday at Agganis. I wasn't very impressed by their play against the Friars either, but they weren't getting blown by everytime a PC player went up ice like they were everytime a Terrier went up ice, and while zone time difference was dramatic, PC didn't have this feeling of inevitability that they would score, especially Saturday. And as others said, winning when you didn't play your best is a noticeable sign of improvement, especially against a better team no less.

[amkirby10]

Why would Ostman transfer to BC or Northeastern?....LOL.

He wouldn't, that's just more Drew drivel if you ask me.

[Wayuphere]

Hopefully Barr keeps the Penticton kids together next year. Their familiarity with one another might ease some of the adjustment that comes with making the jump to D1 hockey and honestly it's really working for the Vees this season. Their 34-3-0-0 record looks like a misprint.

Get ready for the “Nadeau Show”.
FWIW, I see at the BCHL All Star game skills events, Bradly won the hardest shot competition and Josh won the shot accuracy competition. Meanwhile, they still occupy the top 2 spots in league points. Bradly’s stock is really rising draft wise.

[Drew S.]

Why would Ostman transfer to BC or Northeastern?....LOL.

I believe both would be in the market for a goalie. If he is going to graduate this summer he might want a grad degree someplace else. There could be a hundred different reasons one would want to transfer. The better Maine finishes this year the better the odds everyone comes back.

[Jackcurtis23]

I believe both would be in the market for a goalie. If he is going to graduate this summer he might want a grad degree someplace else. There could be a hundred different reasons one would want to transfer. The better Maine finishes this year the better the odds everyone comes back.

What gives you the idea that BC and NU will be in the market for a goalie? BC has 2 inbound and 2 on roster with eligibility for next year. Northeastern has 3 eligible on roster, including their NHL draft pick starter returning, as well as an NHL pick coming in from its class.