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The University Of Maine Black Bears men's Hockey team is considered by many to be one of the top tier hockey programs in Division I, given the program's short history since beginning in 1977. The Black Bears play in the Hockey East Association along with 9 other teams, and have won 2 NCAA Championships, in 1993, and in 1999. They play their home games in the Harold Alfond Sports Arena, also known more commonly as the Alfond Arena . They are currently coached by Tim Whitehead. As of 2006 they have appeared in 10 Frozen Four's, and have a 28-18 record in the NCAA Tournament games.http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/tourney/heancaas.php BEGINNING OF MAINE HOCKEY The University of Maine Black Bears men's hockey team attemped to get ice hockey as a varsity sport in the early 20th Century (1909 to 1911), but failed to get it off the ground until the program started its hockey program in the 1977-78 under inaugural head coach Jack Semler, and finished with an overall record of 15-12-0, which was pretty good for a first year college hockey squad. 8 up and down rollercoaster seasons after starting a hockey program, and along with a new coach, Shawn Walsh , the University of Maine Black Bears men's hockey team entered Division I's Hockey East Associaton in the 1984-85 season, posting a dismal 8-26-0, (12-26-1 overall) record. The next few years they advanced to the Hockey East championship game, only to lose to the Boston College Eagles in 1987, and Northeastern University in 1988, finally capturing the Hockey East crown in 1989, defeating Boston College. BLEMISHED PERFECTION After 1 more Hockey East title and 2 more Hockey East Championship game losses and the loss of the 1992 Hobey Baker Award winner, Scott Pellerin , in 1992-93 the Black Bears finished 42-1-2, which is the modern day's closest thing to perfection, the only loss coming at the hands of a 7 to 6 overtime loss to the Boston University Terriers , which Maine led 6-2 at one point, and two ties coming at home against the Providence Friars which was 3-3, and a 4-4 tie against Clarkson University. With the help of future NHLer's Paul Kariya , Jim Montgomery, and the amazing goaltending tandem of Mike Dunham & Garth Snow , the Black Bears overcame a 3-2 3rd period deficit to beat Michigan in overtime 4-3, thanks a Lee Saunders' game-winning goal, then they captured their first NCAA Men's Hockey Championship, after trailing 4-2 entering the 3rd period to Lake Superior State University , eventually clawing their way back to take a 5-4 lead thanks to a 3rd period natural hat-trick by Jim Montgomery. Maine caught some "puck luck" in the dying minute, when a Sean Tallaire shot hit the crossbar. The entire state was on top of the world, until NCAA unveiled restrictions due to ineligible players. Many people around the college hockey world thought that Maine should have had their 1993 Championship title removed, although the ineligible players were in the 1991-92 season, thus not affecting the outcome of the 1992-93 season. The 1993-94 hockey season however was a general disappointment, as the Black Bears posted an on ice record of 17-15-4, the record was changed to a record of 6-29-1. There are many things that factor into the dismal record in 1993-94, like Paul Kariya, Jim Montgomery, little Cal Ingraham and both star goalies (Dunham & Snow) going their own ways. The 1992-93 season was chronicled in two separate documentaries, "42-1-2," and "Out of The Woods," which was narrated by ESPN play-by-play announcer Gary Thorne , and has subsequently been re-released as part of a 2-Disc DVD set, along with the Black Bears win over LSSU. 2ND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP After the restrictions were unveiled they got back into the NCAA National Championship game again in 1994-95, after playing a triple overtime thriller against Michigan which Maine won 4-3, but lost to the Boston University Terriers in the game, 6-2. The 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons Maine couldn't participate in the NCAA Tournament because of the sanctions and restrictions, which also include a reduction of scholarships that Maine could give out. The next time the Black Bears made it to the championship game was in 1998-99. Unlike the 1992-93 team there would be no regular season title, no Hockey East title, as they would end up finishing second to New Hampshire, or tournament as they lost to Boston College 3-2 in the semifinal game. The Black Bears got even with both teams in the Frozen Four, which is hockey's version of NCAA Basketball's Final Four. The team, led by Paul Kariya's younger brother Steve Kariya , beat Ohio State 4-2, destroyed Clarkson University 7-2 and in the next round, they advanced where they met the Boston College Eagles in the Frozen Four . The game was a defensive struggle, where both goalies Alfie Michaud (Maine), and Scott Clemmensen (B.C.) each stopped 35 of 36 shots, but the 37th shot by Maine found a way by Clemmensen and Maine defeated Boston College 2-1 in a glorious overtime win. In the finals they had to play against the made it 2-0 for Maine in the second at 4:10. Maine, who was up by a goal until Mike Souza scored for New Hampshire early in the Third Period, and having a goal disallowed due to team captain Jason Vitorino's skate in the crease, were set for another thrilling overtime game. Alfie Michaud, made some tremendous saves in the overtime period, and captured the tournament MVP honors, and at the 10:50 mark of overtime Marcus Gustafsson broke the tied game with the game winning goal, to lead the Black Bears to a 3-2 overtime victory, and most importantly, a 2nd National Championship. DEATH OF COACH WALSH TO THE PRESENT After failing to repeat as champions in 1999-2000 after losing to the eventual North Dakota in the Frozen Four, and despite starting the season with a 10-0-2 record, (and again in 2000-2001, losing to Boston College in the NCAA Quarterfinals 3-1) Maine was poised for a great season in 2001-2002. Then came the tragic death of long time coach Shawn Walsh on September 24, 2001, at age 46. As in 1993 when Maine won the NCAA Championship, the state stood still. With assistant coach Tim Whitehead serving as interim coach, and the youngest of the Kariyas (Martin) they magically made it to the 2002 Championship game against Minnesota. Maine was 52.4 seconds away from winning championship #3, when the Golden Gophers scored to send the game to overtime. Referee Piotrowski will forever be remember for calling a leg check in OT against Maine and failing to call a gargantuan elbow to the chin of Maine captain, Todd Jackson only 11 seconds into the Gopher Power Play. In overtime, and on the gift powerplay, Minnesota scored to win the game 4-3, ending Maine's Cinderella Season . En route to Maine's appearance in the 2004 Championship game, Maine faced off against Harvard in the regional game. Maine scored 4 unanswered goals in the third period to come back from a 4-1 Harvard lead in the third period. Maine also found a way back to the National Championship game again in 2003-04 this time without a Kariya, but with the fantastic play of current Detroit Red Wings prospect goaltender Jimmy Howard , lost the game 1 to 0 to Denver, after having a goal disallowed for Mike Hamilton having the toe of a skate in the crease (prompting the NCAA to change the man-in-the -crease rule to allow a goal when scored when an offensive player enters the crease and has absolutely no effect on the goaltender's ability to see or play the puck). The loss came despite some good scoring chances, especially having a 5 on 3 powerplay with just a few minutes to go in the game. Two Maine players got All-Tournament Team honors, Dustin Penner and Prestin Ryan. CURRENT ROSTER As of August 21st, 2007 SEASON BY SEASON RECORDS Hockey East Season-By-Season Record AWARD WINNERS/FINALISTS Steve Kariya:
Paul Kariya:
Scott Pellerin:
Chris Imes:
Jean-Yves Roy:
Jim Montgomery:
Mike Golden:
Dave Capuano:
Jim Leger:
Garth Snow:
Blair Allison:
Dan Shermerhorn:
Alfie Michaud:
David Cullen:
Niko Dimitrakos:
Michael Schutte:
Peter Metcalf:
Robert Liscak:
SEASON BY SEASON LEADING SCORERS The (+) denotes a tie in total points at the end of the season. |
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