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Maine Black Bears 2026 Offseason: Missing Out on Mistlebacher

You know what re: offensive firepower- there are at least 4+ incoming players who were leading goal scorers on their teams:

-Calvert was top goal scorer last two yrs on his WHL team
-Alfano was top goal scorer his last two yrs in OHL on a team w three 2nd rounders (including Malcolm Spence (Mich)) and was leading freshman scorer for a very disjointed ASU team
-Parks was top goal scorer on his USHL team (which included Zam Plante) and leading freshman scorer for a Lowell team that really struggled to score
-Klimpke was leading goal scorer on his two for 2 of 3 NCAA seasons (and has been leading ppg scorer for every team he’s been on)

So maybe you throw it all together and something good happens? Idk still missing scoring flash, and goalie
 
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tylerzx2002 said:
Based on Briere's post-draft comments it sounds like he knows Sokolovskii has at least 3 more years of development ahead of him so not unreasonable to think the path will be OHL>NCAA>AHL. Obviously nothing left to be gained physically for him but his skating is better than most guys his size. Even without a ton of offensive upside no reason to think he couldn't have developed more to his game in Orono this season. Barr being with him at the draft is a good sign that he will actually be here next season.
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Fingers crossed; would be a lot of fun 🤞🤞🤞
 
Orono1993 said:
So is it special exhibition or holiday tourney?
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It is a single regular season game played every year on Thanksgiving weekend at MSG. It has been called the Frozen Apple but I think they have now settled on Red Hot Hockey. Usually it is Cornell vs BU but other opponents get swapped in for the Terriers occasionally. It will be the missing 34th and 10th NC game on Maine's schedule.
 
Orono1993 said:
Actually re: centers- I think in the Lipinski, max scott, klimpke group we should have at least 2 solid top 6 centers for a competitive NCAA team. Wish there was a little more speed and skating ability, but we know what to expect on that from Scott/Jaden

Defensive corp is deep (but so young). Probably could’ve used Nobes’ experience.. Maybe the 2-yr ECHL vet helps? I see the primary weaknesses as:
-Scheduling
-Goaltending
-Scoring prowess***
-Coaching (team culture/player development/recruit and player retention)

Credit where credit is due:
Holt and Harrison Scott are success stories. Frank D looked like one too for a second. Fowler might be one. Fingers crossed re: Gerrior, Pichette, Jaden, Usereau

Langlois and Peterson are studs, and Lukas especially seems like a really good kid and super bought in

My concern is that Barr’s OBVIOUS strengths are selling the program to talent and fundraisers. If the program (and particularly his) reputation sours, we’re stuck w nothing
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Not to speak highly about the Wings and their goalie development organizationally (or lack thereof), but Boija did have his big breakout season the year after he went to their dev camp so hopefully the mechanical adjustments have been made to get him back to the guy we saw in 24/25.
 
Orono1993 said:
Actually re: centers- I think in the Lipinski, max scott, klimpke group we should have at least 2 solid top 6 centers for a competitive NCAA team. Wish there was a little more speed and skating ability, but we know what to expect on that from Scott/Jaden

Defensive corp is deep (but so young). Probably could’ve used Nobes’ experience.. Maybe the 2-yr ECHL vet helps? I see the primary weaknesses as:
-Scheduling
-Goaltending
-Scoring prowess***
-Coaching (team culture/player development/recruit and player retention)

Credit where credit is due:
Holt and Harrison Scott are success stories. Frank D looked like one too for a second. Fowler might be one. Fingers crossed re: Gerrior, Pichette, Jaden, Usereau

Langlois and Peterson are studs, and Lukas especially seems like a really good kid and super bought in

My concern is that Barr’s OBVIOUS strengths are selling the program to talent and fundraisers. If the program (and particularly his) reputation sours, we’re stuck w nothing
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Klimpke played LW at Robert Morris. Lipinski has top 6 potential but struggled in a major way to adjust to college hockey. If the coaching staff has either of them penciled in as top 6 centers, that is not good enough.
 
ticapnews said:
It is a single regular season game played every year on Thanksgiving weekend at MSG. It has been called the Frozen Apple but I think they have now settled on Red Hot Hockey. Usually it is Cornell vs BU but other opponents get swapped in for the Terriers occasionally. It will be the missing 34th and 10th NC game on Maine's schedule.
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Barr's comment in Larry's article confirms what we already know - Cornell at MSG is confirmed but TBA.

“We have a lot of home games. We only have three away non-conference games and the rest of them are at home,” Barr said. “We’re being pretty financially responsible.”
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Drew S. said:
I’m surprised he would acknowledge financial considerations influenced the schedule.
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Why? Home games are far more financially lucrative than travel. It's not like Maine is getting significant guarantee money going on the road like football and men's basketball.
 
ticapnews said:
It is a single regular season game played every year on Thanksgiving weekend at MSG. It has been called the Frozen Apple but I think they have now settled on Red Hot Hockey. Usually it is Cornell vs BU but other opponents get swapped in for the Terriers occasionally. It will be the missing 34th and 10th NC game on Maine's schedule.
Click to expand...
BU plays every other year in this game
 
People shouldn't be surprised financial concerns are playing a part in the schedule. This was exposed when Notre Dame joined Hockey East and they had to fundraise for the trip.
Travel has only become more expensive (you may have heard about this little conflict we're in that has caused fuel prices to explode) and less convenient as budget airlines have folded and reduced routes.

We have 19 home games this season; the same as two years ago. Last season was 17. If form holds, next year will be 17 again, with road trips to Quinnipiac and Miami and a game in Portland.
 
ticapnews said:
People shouldn't be surprised financial concerns are playing a part in the schedule. This was exposed when Notre Dame joined Hockey East and they had to fundraise for the trip.
Travel has only become more expensive (you may have heard about this little conflict we're in that has caused fuel prices to explode) and less convenient as budget airlines have folded and reduced routes.

We have 19 home games this season; the same as two years ago. Last season was 17. If form holds, next year will be 17 again, with road trips to Quinnipiac and Miami and a game in Portland.
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If money is that tight Football needs to join a conference that every game is by bus.
 
NewEnglandGuy said:
Masun Fleece confirmed as #27
25g 22a for 47 pts in 49 games in USHL

I don’t think teams get exceptions to get to 29 on the roster. Need to have a 3rd goalie, right?
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Seems like we are going to go with just two goalies. NCAA rules is 26 and Wickström Stumer is our DSA.
 
dunbar said:
Why? Home games are far more financially lucrative than travel. It's not like Maine is getting significant guarantee money going on the road like football and men's basketball.
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I think it’s a tough look after significantly raising ticket prices to say you’re still looking to save money.
 
Drew S. said:
I think it’s a tough look after significantly raising ticket prices to say you’re still looking to save money.
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Weren't you just saying that the sky is falling on the UMS because some professors wrote an Op Ed? You're mad that the University System doesn't have unlimited money, but you're also mad they're trying to be fiscally responsible? Make it make sense...
 
blackbears9 said:
Weren't you just saying that the sky is falling on the UMS because some professors wrote an Op Ed? You're mad that the University System doesn't have unlimited money, but you're also mad they're trying to be fiscally responsible? Make it make sense...
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You really nailed it.

I understand the school is experiencing hard times financially, that’s completely obvious. The problem I have is that a few months ago we were told ticket prices needed to be raised to improve the competitiveness of the team, student athlete experience, whatever else. That clearly was not true and Barr’s statement backs that up. I am not a season ticket holder and don’t have any skin in the game, but if I was I would be pretty irritated by the conflicting information.
 
I’m still wondering what the $6 million check presented to Barr by the Alfond Flundation last fall is being used for…???
 
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