Exhibition game shows UMaine men’s hockey’s flaws
BRUNSWICK — Friday night’s scrimmage at Bowdoin College’s Sid Watson Arena provided the retooled University of Maine men’s hockey team with an early opportunity to make a first impression in a game situation against rival New Hampshire.
That first impression was not only for the fans but also for the team’s coach, Ben Barr. The takeaway? There is a lot of work ahead — but it’s only early October, and there is plenty of time to improve.
“It’s not surprising based on what we’ve seen so far. It is what it is. It starts with our work ethic, and as a whole, we’re just not there as a team,” Barr said after a 2-2 tie that ended with UNH taking the shootout win.
Coming off their first Hockey East title in 21 years and a second straight trip to the NCAA tournament, expectations for the Black Bears are high. However, with 13 of the 28 players on Maine’s roster new to the program, the team is still in a rebuilding phase.
Two-thirds of Friday’s top line were newcomers. Center Max Scott, a transfer from Brown and brother of last season’s top scorer Harrison Scott, anchored the line. On his left wing was freshman Justin Poirier, and on the right wing, returning junior Josh Nadeau.
The second line featured captain Thomas Freel, the lone returning player, at left wing. He was joined by freshmen Jaden Lipinski at center and Miguel Marques on the right wing. The only line composed entirely of returning players was centered by Oskar Komarov, flanked by Owen Fowler and Charlie Russell.
Many of the newcomers came from the junior hockey ranks, where making a play every time you touch the puck is common. However, Barr pointed out that college hockey is a different challenge.
“Defenders are on top of you quickly. If you think you’re going to stand still and stick handle, you’re going to look foolish out there,” Barr explained.
The team is still very much in the “getting to know you” phase of the season, and the game was marked by missed connections and plays that almost came together. Early in the first period, a cross-ice pass from Nadeau to Lipinski nearly created a shot opportunity. In the third period, Poirier spun away from a check with a clear lane to the net — but the puck squirted away before he could shoot. Later, Russell passed to Marques, who was alone at the right post, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
These types of opportunities are expected to happen frequently as the season progresses, and with experience, many will be converted into goals. However, such disjointed play can’t become habitual.
“It’s not just players. It obviously starts with me,” Barr acknowledged. “There’s a little bit of an arrogance of how we’ve done things this summer, and some of that is just human nature. You go in, and everyone tells you how great things were last year, and you win a championship even though you lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Everyone’s ‘Hey, we’ve got all these great players coming in. Everything’s great.’ Maybe you’re just not willing to sacrifice in the same way you did last year and the year before. The new guys just don’t know how hard it’s going to be at this level.”
One of the newcomers, defenseman Simon Motew, scored Maine’s first goal at 18:11 of the second period. Motew unleashed a hard shot from the point that rang off the inside of the right post and into the net, cutting into New Hampshire’s 2-0 lead.
Another newcomer, Max Scott, tied the game with a power-play goal at 11:09 of the third period, showcasing skills reminiscent of his brother, who scored six power-play goals for the Black Bears last season.
Coach Barr expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience and the goaltenders’ performance. Albin Boija and newcomer Mathis Rousseau split time in net, with Rousseau making the save of the night on a Josh Players breakaway midway through the third period.
Still, highlights were hard to find in a game that never quite felt on track for Maine. The Black Bears possess many talented newcomers who now must learn how to develop into skilled college hockey players.
The first lesson was learned at Watson Arena on Friday, and the next test awaits next Friday night when Maine hosts Holy Cross.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/10/03/exhibition-game-shows-umaines-flaws/
