UMaine '26-'27: The Bridge On the River Stillwater

[grooverider]

Knowing the upper echelon scoring talent aren't likely making their way to Orono, I think Barr would prefer a team closer to 24/25 in most cases. A team with a high positive goal differential (24/25's +49 was 15th highest in Maine's history) and just 75 goals allowed which was the second fewest in a full season behind 03/04.

That requires a high level of defensive buy-in to get there and this team isn't quite there yet. I like what I've seen defensively thus far, outside of a few D-Zone breakdowns.

Barr said something key in his post game. It was that if the effort is there, and they beleive they can come back and beat anyone regardless of how the game is going- the team can go places. I'm paraphrasing but I did not hear that at ALL last year.

Was nice sitting with Nolan Renwick (and his dad) for the third period too Saturday. I sat with Dina many periods when she was there. I do miss her.

 

[McGoverners]

Unfortunately, I was driving cross country this weekend and couldn't watch more than a couple shifts. I was able to listen to Friday's game on the radio and it sounds like the boys were driving play. Kirsch was probably the most mentioned player of the night.

In other news, our radio crew ain't exactly painting a picture for the audience...

 

[ticapnews]

Season tickets arrived today. Very nice spiral booklet with game day and parking information, hotel and restaurant recommendations and a sweet photo on the back showing the new Alfond complex.

 

[ClockaLock]

With Romaine out, I wonder who will step up to fill the void he has left. Siciliano seemed to be tidying up the back end pretty well as an extra vs QPAC. Would not be surprised to see him move up with Romaine down.

Is langlois out with an injury or just in Barrs doghouse?

 

[Fishman'81]

Watched both Q games twice. (Did my homework before I popped-off, for once.)

I really didn't see any major issues with Maine's talent nor its discipline.

I'm not predicting a FF appearance, but an AL bid seems very possible. I think that Maine will be in every game it plays this season.

 

[ClockaLock]

Watched both Q games twice. (Did my homework before I popped-off, for once.)

I really didn't see any major issues with Maine's talent nor its discipline.

I'm not predicting a FF appearance, but an AL bid seems very possible. I think that Maine will be in every game it plays this season.

I was highly impressed with the shutdown defense in the 3rd period. Quinnipiac is loaded with speed and skill. They had a difficult time moving the puck up the ice and if they did get into the zone, it was usually chipped out by umaine or maine would take the turnover and turn into a chance at the other end.

 

[AMC]

I hope Mike McMahon doesn't mind me sharing this from his substack if I pair it with a plug, college hockey insider is absolutely worth the price of a subscription.

Romaine was helped off the ice and, from what I was told, didn’t need to go to the hospital. Still, that’s a scary hit.

The ECAC will handle any supplemental discipline here. Even though it was a Maine home game, each conference disciplines its own players, and the ECAC doesn’t announce supplemental discipline. Personally, I’m not a fan of that policy. We can usually figure these things out on our own. Clips of hits like that get shared on social media, and checking the next game’s lineup tells us who’s suspended anyway. So why not just send simple releases? Even junior leagues announce suspensions.

So we won’t know Kostov’s status until Friday night, when the Bobcats visit Penn State. But, I have to believe that hit was worth at least one game.

 

[Ineverquit]

Hockey East announced some Maine games airing on NESN for the next 2 months for those who don't have ESPN+.

Maine at BU at 7 pm on Friday, October 30th
UMASS at Maine 7 pm on Saturday, November 7th
Maine at UNH 7 pm on Friday, December 4th
Maine at UNH 7 pm on Saturday, December 5th
Maine at UML 7 pm on Friday, December 11th

https://x.com/hockey_east/status/2110385148516761811/photo/1

 

[Fishman'81]

I hope Mike McMahon doesn't mind me sharing this from his substack if I pair it with a plug, college hockey insider is absolutely worth the price of a subscription.

Appreciate the share.

That was the dirtiest, most irresponsible, and most cowardly cheap shot I've seen in years.

That asshole needs to sit for a few weeks, if not longer. That bullshit would have qualified as a felony, had it occurred on the street, and we'd be talking years in prison, not a little slap on the wrist because it happened in a hockey game.

(Yeah, apples and oranges, for some reason, but that shit needs to stop. Romaine could have easily spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.)

 

[acs64]

Agree. I was shocked to see one view of that hit. That dude was big and went full bore length of the ice to nail Romaine on the boards who had his back turned. He should get a 5 game suspension. Lucky Romaine isn't in a wheelchair is right.

 

[Drew S.]

Agree. I was shocked to see one view of that hit. That dude was big and went full bore length of the ice to nail Romaine on the boards who had his back turned. He should get a 5 game suspension. Lucky Romaine isn't in a wheelchair is right.

There was a not quite equally bad hit in the MC-UNH game and it wasn’t even called a penalty. They should completely eradicate launching yourself at an opponent regardless of if the player leaves his feet or not. On top of that they should crack down on hitting from behind as well. Not sure why they have stopped calling it.

 

[Drew S.]

I was really encouraged by the games against QU. Of particular note was the defensive effort Saturday night. Maine deflected a ton of passes and blocked a lot of shots. That along with some poor QU goaltending was the difference.

I’m not totally convinced Maine is good enough at the business ends of the ice, but the effort is certainly there and they should be in most games. The next month will be a good test where they face a wide range of teams.