The University of Maine Black Bears hockey team achieved a significant victory over No. 6 Denver, triumphing 5-2 at Magness Arena on March 15, 2024. This win marked UMaine’s fourth consecutive victory, bringing both teams to a record of 12-7-1. The Black Bears entered the matchup ranked 15th in one national poll and 18th in another, showcasing their competitive edge.
In an impressive individual performance, sophomore right wing Thomas Pichette recorded the first two-goal game of his career, along with three points. Meanwhile, junior goalie Albin Boija made 29 saves, playing a crucial role in the team’s success. This defeat was particularly notable for Denver, as it marked only their 16th home loss in the last 92 games, during which they have secured 71 wins and 5 ties.
Key Moments Define the Match
After a scoreless first period, UMaine took control of the game in the second period. Freshman defenseman Lukas Peterson opened the scoring at 3:41, netting his third goal of the season with a shot from the point. Pichette and senior defenseman Brandon Holt provided assists on the play. Just over five minutes later, junior center Sully Scholle extended the lead to 2-0, capitalizing on a turnover from the Denver defense. Scholle’s shot from the right faceoff circle marked his fourth goal of the season.
UMaine’s defense proved resilient, successfully killing a five-minute major penalty on Oskar Komarov while allowing only two shots on goal. Early in the third period, Pichette scored his first goal of the night, pushing the lead to 3-0. Denver’s junior defenseman Boston Buckberger responded with a power play goal just 2:28 later, but UMaine quickly regained a two-goal advantage when Pichette scored again at 9:35.
Defensive Resilience and Team Effort
Despite Denver’s attempts to rally, with freshman right wing Kristian Epperson scoring shortly after Pichette’s second goal, UMaine maintained composure. With 5:09 left in the game, Denver coach David Carle pulled goalie Quentin Miller in a bid to close the gap. However, Boija’s strong performance in net thwarted any comeback efforts. Holt sealed the game with an empty net goal with 59 seconds remaining, marking his fourth goal of the season.
Throughout the match, UMaine outshot Denver 34-31, though the Pioneers attempted 72 shots compared to UMaine’s 56. The Black Bears’ defensive efforts were highlighted by a total of 19 blocked shots, with junior defenseman Frank Djurasevic leading the team with six blocks, bringing his season total to 41. UMaine’s impressive record of 273 blocked shots places them among the top five teams in this statistic across Division 1.
Head coach Ben Barr praised his team’s dedication and resilience, stating, “The guys sacrificed for each other and blocked a lot of shots. They played for each other and that’s a good sign for our culture.” He noted the effectiveness of the penalty kill during the critical five-minute major, emphasizing that it provided momentum for the Black Bears as they head into the final game of the series against Denver.
With the series finale set for Saturday at 20:00, the Black Bears will look to continue their winning streak and further solidify their position in the national rankings.
