University of Maine 2024–2025: Freel-ing good

[Drew S.]

5-0 is your final.

I think there's a chance Merrimack stinks.

Sounds like on top of stinking they had a bunch of guys injured.

I suspect the assistant coach who sadly passed away a couple years ago was behind a lot of their success. I would think there is a decent chance this is Borek’s last year.

[grooverider]

The whole defense looked way smoother and more in sync without Lesakowski in there. I wonder if this is a permanent change

[Sparkee]

The whole defense looked way smoother and more in sync without Lesakowski in there. I wonder if this is a permanent change

Merrimack is now averaging 1 goal per game and 16 shots on goal per game. So it makes sense that when going against the #6 team in the country they will struggle to generate offense. Lesakowski is one of the few that can handle battles with big forwards, around the net in particular. I doubt he is out permanently. He took a nasty hit and struggled getting back to the bench against Northeastern. Likely he is hurt.

[Sparkee]

#1 Harrison Scott
#2 Thomas Freel
#3 Charlie Russell

Albin Boija with a shutout. Nadeau and Breen both get their first goal of the season.

Tuell said after the win tonight “Maine doesn’t have a top line, all four are good”.

[StillKIA2]

Holt and Chabrier are such a treat to watch play together. Such good chemistry with one another.

Let’s go Brandons!

[Fishman'81]

#1 Harrison Scott
#2 Thomas Freel
#3 Charlie Russell

Albin Boija with a shutout. Nadeau and Breen both get their first goal of the season.

Tuell said after the win tonight “Maine doesn’t have a top line, all four are good”.

I agree with Tuell.

This was a systematic dismantling of an inferior team, and every line pitched in. This is a lunch-pail team that has depth. Reminds me a bit of 1999.

Maine hockey is back.

[Sparkee]

There is an index that College Hockey News has to show how valuable each player is for his team: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/stats/team/Maine/25

If you sort by “C/TG” you get its attempt at showing who’s playing the best. I was surprised to see Breen at the bottom of the list. I hadn’t noticed him struggling that bad. But I know time on ice is a factor. So if he plays a lot of minutes and isn’t producing he would rank lower than the 4th line guys with less ice time. Let’s hope he can up his game over the course of the season. People here believe he had a knee surgery last summer.

[NorthMike]

The whole defense looked way smoother and more in sync without Lesakowski in there. I wonder if this is a permanent change

I thought the same, quicker too.

[Sparkee]

Coach Barr post game thoughts: https://youtu.be/0NlKlLjJzcQ?si=OBQw8uQQkAgzJivC

[NorthMike]

There is an index that College Hockey News has to show how valuable each player is for his team: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/stats/team/Maine/25

If you sort by “C/TG” you get its attempt at showing who’s playing the best. I was surprised to see Breen at the bottom of the list. I hadn’t noticed him struggling that bad. But I know time on ice is a factor. So if he plays a lot of minutes and isn’t producing he would rank lower than the 4th line guys with less ice time. Let’s hope he can up his game over the course of the season. People here believe he had a knee surgery last summer.

Go to later part of interview when he talks about Culina, sure sounds like he had surgery this summer doesnt it.
https://youtu.be/LhzVfZdMhHY?feature=shared

I recall end of last year he was playing with an injury.

He looked pretty good tonite.

[walrus]

Good win, dominated at times. I can see a frustrated MC tonight if Maine jumps out to an early lead.

Freel looks really good this year as does Russell. Glad Josh and Breen got goals. Boija has been amazing so far.

Barr seems to have put a good bunch of guys on the ice. Maybe not the greatest individual talent but as a team they look great.

[BoSox3066]

Feels really good to dominate the teams you’re supposed to dominate

Guys, I think this Ben Barr might be the one !

[tylerzx2002]

Best game of the season from Nadeau and Breen for sure. Nice to see them showing off the puck possession skills that they both excel at.

Hoping that the further away Breen gets from his surgery the more he looks like his old self and last night was a good step to getting back to that level.

Boija wasn't really tested but can't say enough about what a great find he was by Barr & Co.

[Sparkee]

Good win, dominated at times. I can see a frustrated MC tonight if Maine jumps out to an early lead.

Freel looks really good this year as does Russell. Glad Josh and Breen got goals. Boija has been amazing so far.

Barr seems to have put a good bunch of guys on the ice. Maybe not the greatest individual talent but as a team they look great.

Freel set a screen on that Nadeau goal. The goalie had no view of Nadeau flipping to the backhand until it was way too late. Freel is an expert at net front play.

[Sparkee]

Highlights: https://youtu.be/h_AMU7jvsPk?feature=shared