A trap game is a game played right before an important contest against an archrival or a highly ranked opponent.
That is what is facing the University of Maine’s men’s hockey team Wednesday night when it entertains the University of Vermont Catamounts in a Hockey East game at 7.
The Black Bears have a date at Boston’s Fenway Park against archrival University of New Hampshire on Saturday evening.
Also contributing to the trap-game equation is the fact Maine swept Vermont in Burlington, Vt., last month; the Black Bears are coming off a Florida College Classic championship and Vermont has lost five of its last six.
The Black Bears have won five of their last six and are 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings with the Catamounts, who are just 1-9-1 in Hockey East.
Maine is 5-6-1 in league play.
Maine is 8-7-2 overall while coach Kevin Sneddon’s Catamounts are 4-13-1.
The Maine players insist they won’t look past Vermont.
“As a senior leader, it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Maine center and co-captain Brian Flynn. “We have to stay focused throughout the week. It’s a huge two points for us and it’s two league points.”
Senior left wing Spencer Abbott said every team in Hockey East is good “whether you think they are or not. If they just pull it together for one game, they could play like one of the best teams in the league,” said Abbott. “If we aren’t sharp, they’re going to knock us off. They’re very good in the offensive zone so we’re going to have to be good defensively before we transition to offense.”
The Black Bears are fully aware that two of Vermont’s four wins have been over nationally ranked teams Minnesota in Minnesota and Ferris State last weekend in Burlington.
They also know they have lost their last three Hockey East games at Alfond Arena.
“Our fans deserve a lot more than our recent showings at home,” said senior defenseman Ryan Hegarty. “Sweeping a [season] series in this league is something special. If we want to have the season we want to have, we need to sweep some teams. This is a good opportunity for us to kill two birds with one stone.”
Maine couldn’t afford to look past Bangor High……..also, Larry, I think most of the readers of your articles are savvy enough to know what a “trap game” is without you defining it for them…..
Take a break.
I second that emotion…
oh you likes your butt kissing ok mikey hart hahaha you funny dude
Of course you do, Mrs. Mahoney
Vermont wins 5 to 1. Tim Whitehead will use Excuse #2486: Tough to play countable games on a Wednesday. Then Timmy will follow up with Excuse #7610: Hard to win hockey games on a cold winter night at home. Finally Timmy will go for the tri-fecta with Excuse #3201: Will blame everyone except the coaching staff. GO BLUE!
What’s the moon’s phase tonight? He might try that.
I think he is saving the moon excuse for the Fenway game. He may also use wind speeds, and the prices of food at Fenway caused the team to lose. Just once I would love to have him admit that he screwed up and failed at creating a gameplan. If he spent less time kissing the rear’s of alumni and big donors, then maybe we would be a powerhouse again.
Pretty sure this is a trap game for UVM, not Maine…
Dude that’s hilarious!
Nyquist assisted on goal last night as Red wings beat Dallas. First NHL point.
I think they lose 4-2 with four Catamount goals in the third. This is also a TV game, so it’s probably not worth going up to Alfond…
Is any game a trap game for this team and program? How about instead of worring about a trap team vs a bottom feeder conference team you write about when this team is going to beat UNH, BC, BU, MERIMACK or any ranked team in all of NCAA d1 hockey.
The problem is this team is just mediocore to poor. The first line is a joke because anytime they go against a good team its funny I never see their names in the boxscores scoring. Maine at least has been beating very bad teams lately but at the end of the day how many of you are happy with just beating horrid teams?
Please call coach whitehead 207-581-1108 and ask him nicely to step down. If he doesn’t pick up leave him a voice message. This is his office phone number if you don’t believe me call during off hours and hear his voice message. The message needs to be delivered to him that we the fans and family of Maine hockey want him gone. For the good of the programs current team and its future this must happen asap! Also you can call him at his home as his number is listed in the bangor area phone book.
It might be a new year but sadly the maine hockey program still has its same under achieving, excuse makeing coach behind the bench. This has to be the last season this is the case because with Tim at the helm this program will never see the NCAA’s let alone be a shadow of its days of being a national contender every year.