Doubt Maine can compete with the NIL he’ll get on Comm Ave. Bet he’ll be in HEA but it won’t be Maine.
Donovan’s brother looks like.
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University of Maine 2024–2025: Freel-ing good
- Thread starter UMO Better Blues
- Start date
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
Blackbear96
Active member
If Boija is leaving, it’s cause he’s already decided. I don’t think any of the surrounding HE schools will influence it too much.
I’ll never fault a kid for striking while the iron is hot, but selfishly would love him to stay in Orono for at least one more year!
Blackbear96
Active member
100%.
I wouldn’t say BU is the best team in Hockey East just cause they’re the last one standing. Tournaments can create some funky results!
Sparkee
Blackbear
I don’t think it is really possible to build a team to be HE competitive and not nationally competitive.
HE sent 6 teams to the ncaa tournament. Even within the HE teams they are built differently. BC and BU typically get a lot of high end recruits that come in early from the USNDPT and top USHL kids. Their teams are typically very young, but highly skilled. Maine is one of the older squads in the league this year because they loaded up on the transfer portal instead of bringing rookies. Maine can be described as outstanding goaltending, very good mobile defensemen, defensively responsible center man, and wingers that excel at cycling and generating offense from the boards and in tight with traffic in front of the net. You wouldn’t describe Maine’s style as dynamic, creative, highly skilled snipers, etc… You would describe describe Maine as a strong defensive team with a physical, heavy and grueling and grinding style of play. You wouldn’t describe BC that way at all. They are more in the dynamic and creative offense due to top heavy talent on their top two lines. Very skilled, and this year very good defense too with a great goalie. But they are the type of team that should have the ability to strike quick, come from behind easier, etc.. due to the skill in their line up. BU is closer to BC style. UMass and Providence is closer to the style of team Maine is. UConn is sort of in the middle I suppose. Has a good top line but not loaded beyond that one line.
So there isn’t any certain type of team that teams are making that only works for hockey East and not national playoffs. I think Maine and BC both had offense that cooled off and they struggled to score goals. I think UConn played admirably and ran into the hottest team from the BIG10 in Penn State and took them to OT. Keep in mind they hit a pipe in OT so a whisker from being in the frozen four. UMass played WMU very close. BU is in the frozen four, been there for 3 straight years. BC made finals last year. UMass won 4 years ago.
Just a lot of expectations this year for the NCAAs and Maine fell short of those expectations.
You're not wrong. Saw a tweet the other day of reports of him staying.
Sparkee
Blackbear
I think if he stays he should get a letter, maybe even a C? He is the MVP of this squad. He also is feisty and is vocal back there.
If you want an example for others to look up to for a guy that gives everything he has to win… then Boija is that.
If Boija stays I know I would be very thankful. I’m expecting he goes pro, but will be pleasantly surprised if he stays.
McGoverners
Active member
TIL goalies can be captains in the NCAA
blackbears9
Member
Lesakowski is the first Maine player in the portal.
AMC
Registered User
Not really a shock. His playing time really dwindled. Credit to him, he was much more disciplined this season.
blackbears9
Member
I'm still waiting to see if Maine actually opts in. If it was known they were opting in for weeks/months, I would've thought guys like Morse and Carney would already be in the portal. I hope they opt in, but the silence from the athletic department and Barr's comments about it make me wonder. Regardless of what happens, this decision should've been made already.
Sparkee
Blackbear
I would be very surprised if Maine doesn’t opt in.
At the end of the day your players will all be getting a full ride(no more partials) and more of them will be from 18 to 26. So this is beneficial to the players.
It would make it a disadvantage to not opt in when discussing with perspective recruits. You would have to explain why you think it is better to not opt in, which is awarding less scholarships to players, to someone wanting a scholarship. It would come off as a program less serious about building the best roster and wanting what’s best for the student athletes.
I don’t think Barr wants that disadvantage when recruiting.
blackbears9
Member
I agree that they should opt in, but I don't think it's black and white. I imagine the only thing giving coaches/athletic departments pause is the roster limit. I think it needs to be upped to 28 players, 26 players means that 4 injuries and you're playing without an extra skater. This is the most talented Maine team in over a decade and they managed it with 18 scholarships. Hopefully the roster limit gets raised, and Maine is able to use revenue sharing to bring in a couple high end recruits.