University of Maine 2024–2025: Freel-ing good

[UMO Better Blues]

Come on, boys. The first game of the season is already in the books. Let’s get a season thread going.

Sick deflection by Freel to close out the rout tonight.

[walrus]

Did anyone see the face mask? besides a linemen?

[grooverider]

Did anyone see the face mask? besides a linemen?

I didn't see it

[walrus]

Fun game, glad to see a blowout on a team they should blow out. I liked the new lighting, some folks say its in the there eyes, I guess I'd defer to what the players think on that? You could tell fans were excited for a new season. Must have been a sellout but there were some empty seats, not many though. The box beside me was leading cheers like the old days, they were loud at times. Hope they are there every game. AIC goalie certainly heard them in 2nd

Loved seeing Grant there. Few weeks after a hip replacement at 87. The guy is tough. I'm sure the players from 99 were glad he was there also.

On to Army

[Tango]

• I thought the third line looked like it was their tenth season together. I thought the first line looked like they had never met each other.
• Scott picked up where he left off last year.
• The transfers looked good on paper and great on the ice.
• I thought the D pairings looked good. There’s no blue chippers back there Barr has truly BUILT a good defense.

[NewEnglandGuy]

Sorry for redundancy, but I’ll bring this over from the off season thread.

So what do we think of the lines at the start? The defense got more experienced and adding Frank will hopefully add some scoring in addition to his size. Love the Renwick line and like to see Neimo on a line as the year goes on.

1st - Breen, Nadeau, Scholle (Gr/So/So)
2nd - Scott, Freel, Russell (Sr/Jr/So)
3rd - Renwick, Makar, Mitton (Sr/Sr/Gr)
4th - Komarov, Fowler, Calafiore (Fr/Jr/So)
D Pairs
1st - Breazeale, Djurasevic (Sr/So)
2nd - Chabrier, Holt (Jr/Jr)
3rd - Lesakowski, Arnott (So/Jr)
Antonacci (Jr)
DNP
Neimo, Carney, Nobes, Dalton, Morse, Pichette


Compared to how last year ended:
1st - Scott, Nadeau, Nadeau
2nd - Breen, Houle, Freel
3rd - Renwick, Poisson, Trudeau
4th - Hanson, Calafiore, Scholle
D pairs
1st - Chabrier, Holt
2nd - Breazeale, Arnott
3rd - Antonacci, Lesakowski
Dalton/Hopkins
DNP - Pabich, Niemo, Lindauer, Carney, Nobes

Besides getting older, the team is deeper.

[StillKIA2]

I liked a lot of what I saw
Boija came up big when he had to.

maine is really working on the pass-pass-passing and beat both goalies because of nice cross ice passes.

Russell looks a lot like Bill Norman
Fowler was pretty impressive

I wonder if Scholle would work better with Scott?

[Sparkee]

I liked a lot of what I saw
Boija came up big when he had to.

maine is really working on the pass-pass-passing and beat both goalies because of nice cross ice passes.

Russell looks a lot like Bill Norman
Fowler was pretty impressive

I wonder if Scholle would work better with Scott?

He played on a line with Freel and Scott most of last year. He set a great screen on the goalie on the Scott goal.

[BlackBearFan19]

He played on a line with Freel and Scott most of last year. He set a great screen on the goalie on the Scott goal.

Lines are the end of last season were typically
Poisson-Breen-Scholle
Freel-Scott-Houle
Nadeau-Renwick-Nadeau

I’m not ready to give up on Scholle-Breen-Nadeau yet. I like the talent on that line and think they could be dangerous if they start clicking. Fowler was tenacious, not sure if he’s the right fit with those two but I could see that working too.

[grooverider]

Russell jumped out to me as being a glue type of guy. Durasevic is a calming presence on the back end. Renwick/Makar/Mitton are a nasty line.. Mitton could have had two last night. Love Makars emotion on his first goal he looked relieved and so happy to be in Orono even doing the Super man pose

[OronoKO]

I'd probably switch Fowler and Russell. Scott and Freel are best when they are a hard checking line. I'm not sure Russell fits that as a skill guy. It's early, I think we'll see a few changes. Komorov also showed some nice touches. As a late pickup, that's encouraging.

[grooverider]

Stonehill beat Merrimack..yikes.

[UnMcGovernable]

Stonehill beat Merrimack..yikes.

Merrimack started their equipment manager in net. The kid last played organized hockey at Brunswick High.

[Sparkee]

There is a perfect view of Freel’s tip in here… https://youtu.be/KGZ700Ly6d8?feature=shared

cool video

[Sparkee]

Merrimack started their equipment manager in net. The kid last played organized hockey at Brunswick High.

Former Blackbear Connor Andolowicz got the W for Stonehill.