UMaine Hockey 23 - 24: The Barr Crawl to Glory!!!

[9twenty]

So Maine is going to finish 2 spots lower than last season?.....why did I even buy season tix......

Cause you know better...the team will surpise...I have said it over and over...and for now it's just talk...but watch and see this team will be a thorn in every team they play...night in and night out.

[Drew S.]

So Maine is going to finish 2 spots lower than last season?.....why did I even buy season tix......

Even if Maine doesn’t finish as high as we would like I think most of the games will be very competitive and fun to watch.

[amkirby10]

I dont think its likely we finish 9th, but its certainly not impossible. The margin for error in Hockey East aside from the very top and very bottom is going to be razor thin, so pulling out wins in close games and taking games from tough opponents like UML, NU, and PC are going to be critical. I'm going to also be very closely monitoring their performance early in the season, they have had ugly records heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas both of the last two years before catching fire in the start of the new semester in January and February. A good start is going to be crucial. I would love to see them win a game in Hamden, but I'm not going to count on it.

EDIT: I originally said here that they have a winnable schedule early on, but taking another look its actually the exact opposite. QU, MC, BC, BU, in that order, four consecutive series leading into Thanksgiving. And three of them are on the road, to boot. That's brutal, but I still expect more than 1 or 2 wins out of that stretch. If they're going to be a tournament team like I said they would they need to be at or at least very close to .500 in that stretch.

[Wayuphere]

A good start would be .500 through those early tough series. Ostman needs to be solid right away for them to do it.
It’s a tough welcome to college hockey for the new kids, but it’s the best way to learn/adjust earlier then normal.
If they pull off the split through the rough stretch, confident enough to say 4th in HE.
If a poor start, expect a strong finish
to 6th.

[9twenty]

I dont think its likely we finish 9th, but its certainly not impossible. The margin for error in Hockey East aside from the very top and very bottom is going to be razor thin, so pulling out wins in close games and taking games from tough opponents like UML, NU, and PC are going to be critical. I'm going to also be very closely monitoring their performance early in the season, they have had ugly records heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas both of the last two years before catching fire in the start of the new semester in January and February. A good start is going to be crucial. I would love to see them win a game in Hamden, but I'm not going to count on it.

EDIT: I originally said here that they have a winnable schedule early on, but taking another look its actually the exact opposite. QU, MC, BC, BU, in that order, four consecutive series leading into Thanksgiving. And three of them are on the road, to boot. That's brutal, but I still expect more than 1 or 2 wins out of that stretch. If they're going to be a tournament team like I said they would they need to be at or at least very close to .500 in that stretch.

5-3-0...why not.

[AMC]

9th, but 23 points behind 4th place Northeastern. 22 points ahead of 10th place UNH. The message to me isn't that Maine is a 9th place team, the message is that the middle of the pack is going to be very tight and every point will matter.

[tylerzx2002]

9th, but 23 points behind 4th place Northeastern. 22 points ahead of 10th place UNH. The message to me isn't that Maine is a 9th place team, the message is that the middle of the pack is going to be very tight and every point will matter.

That 9th place is good bulletin board material for this team, but you're spot on that the middle of the pack teams in Hockey East are just too tightly bunched together to pay it much mind.

[Tango]

Being picked 9th by the coaches and media is a bummer but looking at how close the votes were its understandable.

Interesting observation regarding Berzins. Last week Barr was quoted as saying he'll be in Orono next year however the Madison Capitals have removed his Maine affiliation on their line charts and Heisenberg has him scratched from the 2024 Maine recruiting list.

Also an interesting note regarding the Capitals Maine recruits Andrew Kuzma and Peter Cisar have been playing on their top line together for the preseason.

[9twenty]

Being picked 9th by the coaches and media is a bummer but looking at how close the votes were its understandable.

Interesting observation regarding Berzins. Last week Barr was quoted as saying he'll be in Orono next year however the Madison Capitals have removed his Maine affiliation on their line charts and Heisenberg has him scratched from the 2024 Maine recruiting list.

Also an interesting note regarding the Capitals Maine recruits Andrew Kuzma and Peter Cisar have been playing on their top line together for the preseason.

I am hoping that Berzins comes back along with fellow incoming recruit Ryder Shea...to go with Albin Boija the replacement for this year with Berzins going to the USHL...but like this year, could be Barr has other plans.

[Drew S.]

Being picked 9th by the coaches and media is a bummer but looking at how close the votes were its understandable.

Interesting observation regarding Berzins. Last week Barr was quoted as saying he'll be in Orono next year however the Madison Capitals have removed his Maine affiliation on their line charts and Heisenberg has him scratched from the 2024 Maine recruiting list.

Also an interesting note regarding the Capitals Maine recruits Andrew Kuzma and Peter Cisar have been playing on their top line together for the preseason.

I saw Heisenberg crossed him out but when I looked on the USHL website it still showed him committed to Maine. Looking at that again I believe it’s last year’s info. I’m very curious if Maine wanted him to leave or he wanted to leave. My choice would have been him stay and hope Ostman didn’t get hurt while he was suspended.

It’s hard for me to see many positives in both the coaches and media picking Maine ninth. Hopefully they surprise us.

[BlackBearFan19]

I saw Heisenberg crossed him out but when I looked on the USHL website it still showed him committed to Maine. Looking at that again I believe it’s last year’s info. I’m very curious if Maine wanted him to leave or he wanted to leave. My choice would have been him stay and hope Ostman didn’t get hurt while he was suspended.

It’s hard for me to see many positives in both the coaches and media picking Maine ninth. Hopefully they surprise us.

The polls are meaningless but I was even more shocked by the coaches picking us 9th. Not a lot separating the teams so maybe that’s just the way it shook it out.

Maybe I’m crazy but I’d think that returning the leading goal scorer in the conference last year, the top returning goalie, 12 out of our top 15 scorers, and adding a first round talent would have garnered some more respect. How a team does that and is picked lower than the year prior, I do not understand.

[walrus]

Where was Maine picked last year and where they finish? It’s an opinion poll. Means nothing once the season starts.

[9twenty]

The polls are meaningless but I was even more shocked by the coaches picking us 9th. Not a lot separating the teams so maybe that’s just the way it shook it out.

Maybe I’m crazy but I’d think that returning the leading goal scorer in the conference last year, the top returning goalie, 12 out of our top 15 scorers, and adding a first round talent would have garnered some more respect. How a team does that and is picked lower than the year prior, I do not understand.

I can see somewhat on how the media/coaches came to the conclusion that Maine is closer to a 9th place team then a 6th/7th place team...most likely they question can Ostman be solid/steady in net..can Breen notch 20 plus goals again..can Maine's young D withstand another season where they play hard and heavy...do the Nadeaus actually come in and make this bunch better in added depth and increase the offence...alot of question marks...but I harp back that it comes down to behind the Bench, Barr and crew getting this TEAM ready to play and to push the right buttons when needed....I feel good about this team and really confident that there will be good times @Alfond and on the road this season.

[9twenty]

On a different note: Saturdays Football game has been moved back to Friday @6:30pm...plus no tailgating Friday before game.

[amkirby10]

Maine names their four captains for this season. Cs go to Breen and Breazeale, and As go to Renwick and Poisson.