University of Maine men’s hockey fans were left confused and frustrated by the strong performances the Black Bears strung together in their three-game Hockey East first-round series at the University of Vermont.
Vermont ousted Maine 3-2 in overtime in game three, but the Black Bears carried the play as they had in game two and parts of game one.
Maine deserved to win the series.
Where was this type of performance during the regular season? There were glimpses, but not for three consecutive games.
Had Maine played this way earlier, it would have finished in the top eight instead of 10th and would have hosted a first-round series.
The team was plagued with inconsistency and an identity crisis.
When the team played with a blue-collar mentality and battled ferociously for every loose puck like it did in Vermont, it could go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league.
When the Black Bears tried to be a finesse team, they got drilled because they didn’t have enough talent, size or speed to play that way.
This team was flawed in several ways and that gave it a razor-thin margin for error.
The power play operated at a dismal 13.1 percent, and the goaltenders ranked 50th in goals-against average and save percentage among 59 teams. The team also would leave opponents uncovered in front of its net or turn the puck over in critical spots on the ice.
A combination of factors led to the 14-22-3 season.
Maine went 0-18-1 in games in which it scored two goals or less. It wasn’t able to win low scoring games because of team defensive lapses or shaky goaltending.
However, the Vermont playoff series gave the Alfond Arena faithful some hope and excitement for the 2015-16 campaign.
Center Devin Shore and defenseman Ben Hutton, both juniors, were second-team All-Americans a year ago but had some struggles as they became the focal points of opposing teams’ best checkers.
Shore, who had the added responsibility of being the captain, had just seven multiple-point games. Maine went 7-0 in those games. He had 10 in 2013-14.
Hutton improved his defensive game noticeably and did finish with nine goals and 12 assists. His 15 goals were tops among defensemen a year ago, and he also had 14 assists.
Shore equalled last year’s goal total with 14 but had 21 assists, eight fewer than a year ago.
However, it should be pointed out that Maine had a much more challenging nonconference schedule this season.
Shore, a second round draft pick of Dallas, signed with the Stars on Monday.
Hutton is a Vancouver draft choice who hasn’t made a decision yet on whether he will return.
This team had more talent than last year’s team other than in the most important position on the ice: goaltender.
Senior Martin Ouellette was one of the nation’s top puck-stoppers for most of last year before struggling at the end. Redshirt junior Matt Morris and freshman Sean Romeo weren’t able to provide consistent goaltending in the second half this season.
But both played well in the Vermont series, particularly Romeo, so there is hope they will be more consistent next season.
But Maine has recruited 6-foot-5 Rob McGovern to challenge for the job and are still recruiting another goalie.
Inspirational Connor Leen (10 goals, 7 assists), who overcame Crohn’s disease to play 120 career games, and hard-working Stu Higgins (1 & 4) are the regulars who will graduate up front, but returning players include highly-skilled forwards Steven Swavely (8 & 20), Cam Brown (7 & 21), Blaine Byron (12 & 15) and Nolan Vesey (10 & 13) along with most improved player Will Merchant (5 & 4) and useful role players Brian Morgan (6 & 7), Cedric Lacroix (5 & 6) and Malcolm Hayes (4 & 2).
Crafty Liam Pecararo (3 & 6) is considered one of the team’s most talented forwards, but he struggled mightily in the second half, was suspended for a violation of team rules two weekends ago and didn’t dress for the last nine games.
Gendron said he expects Pecararo to be an integral part of the team next season.
Incoming freshmen Dane Gibson and Justin Rai, who are both 20, could make an immediate impact up front, and 21-year-old Daniel Perez, who is 6-foot-4, and 19-year-old Brendan Robbins also will vie for playing time.
The defense corps will lose high-risk and hard-nosed defenseman Jake Rutt (4 & 7), who made some great plays but was turnover prone at times.
Dan Renouf (3 & 9) was the Maine’s most improved defenseman and could evolve into an elite blue-liner. Gritty Eric Schurhamer (2 & 9), dependable Conor Riley (3 & 8) and rugged Mark Hamilton (1 & 6) should supply Gendron with a diverse and reliable group, and Billy Norman (0 & 2) also returns. Newcomers Robert Michel, Keith Muehlbauer and 6-foot-6 Stephen Cochrane will certainly get playing time.
The 2015-16 Black Bears should contend for a top six finish in the league, especially if Hutton returns.