Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team has released its 2017-18 schedule which includes 16 games at Alfond Arena, a showdown with Boston University at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland and a trip to Northern Ireland for the Friendship Four Festival of Hockey.

The Black Bears, who host their first seven games of the season at home, open with an exhibition contest with Acadia on Oct. 1 before diving into regular season play the following weekend against UConn on Oct. 6 and 7 at Alfond Arena.

Maine remains home for non-conference action on Oct. 20 and 21 against Miami (Oh.) before welcoming the 2016-17 NCAA National runners-up Minnesota Duluth to Alfond Arena for a two game series on Oct. 27 and 28.

The Black Bears take to the road for the first time in 2017-18 when they travel to meet 2016-17 Hockey East Tournament champions UMass Lowell on Nov. 3 and 4 before returning back home to host Boston University on Nov. 17.

Maine's first and only Portland date of the year falls on Nov. 18 when the Black Bears meet Boston University at the Cross Insurance Arena for Hockey East action.

It's off to Northern Ireland on Nov. 24 and 25 where Maine will take part in the 2017 Friendship Four series. The Black Bears will join RPI, Clarkson and Providence in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the two day Festival of Hockey competition before returning back to Alfond Arena for a weekend series with Vermont on Dec. 1 and 2.

The Black Bears then head to the road for a eight-game road stretch, separated by the Holiday break. Maine travels to Quinnipiac for contests on Dec. 8 and 9 before a 20-day break that concludes in Troy, N.Y. as Maine takes on RPI on Dec. 29 and 30.

Road action continues at Boston University on Jan. 6 prior to a non-conference stop at Brown on Jan. 8. The Black Bears close out the road stretch with a weekend series at Northeastern on Jan. 12 and 13.

Maine returns to Alfond Arena when it takes on Massachusetts on Tuesday, Jan. 16 before hosting rival New Hampshire for a two-game set on Jan. 19 and 20. A two-game road series with Massachusetts follows on Jan. 26 and 27.

The Black Bears are back home on Feb. 2 and 3 when they take on Merrimack before road contests at Providence on Feb. 9 and a Wednesday night showdown at New Hampshire on Feb. 14.

Maine closes out the season with three games against Boston College, beginning with its final regular season home game on Feb. 17. The regular season wraps up with a two-game set at Boston College on Feb. 23 and 24.

Season Memberships for the 2017-18 season are on sale NOW! Reserve your spot at Alfond Arena for the upcoming season by calling the UMaine Athletic Ticket Office at 207.581.BEAR or online by visiting HERE.

For a look at the full schedule, click HERE.
 

                2017-18 UMaine Men's Ice Hockey Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT
Sun., Oct. 1	Acadia (Exh.)
Fri., Oct. 6	UConn*
Sat., Oct. 7	UConn*
Fri., Oct. 20	Miami (Oh.)
Sat., Oct. 21	Miami (Oh.)
Fri., Oct. 27	Minn-Duluth
Sat., Oct. 28	Minn-Duluth
Fri., Nov. 3	at UMass Lowell*
Sat., Nov. 4	at UMass Lowell*
Fri., Nov. 17	Boston University*
Sat., Nov. 18	vs. Boston University* (Portland)
Fri., Nov. 24	vs. TBA (Northern Ireland)
Sat., Nov. 25	vs. TBA (Northern Ireland)
Fri., Dec. 1	Vermont*
Sat., Dec. 2	Vermont*
Fri., Dec. 8	at Quinnipiac
Sat., Dec. 9	at Quinnipiac
Fri., Dec. 29	at RPI
Sat., Dec. 30	at RPI
Sat., Jan. 6	at Boston University*
Mon., Jan. 8	at Brown
Fri., Jan. 12	at Northeastern*
Sat., Jan. 13	at Northeastern*
Tues., Jan. 16	Massachusetts*
Fri., Jan. 19	New Hampshire*
Sat., Jan. 20	New Hampshire*
Fri., Jan. 26	at Massachusetts*
Sat., Jan. 27	at Massachusetts*
Fri., Feb. 2	Merrimack*
Sat., Feb. 3	Merrimack*
Fri., Feb. 9	at Providence*
Weds., Feb. 14	at New Hampshire*
Sat., Feb. 17	Boston College*
Fri., Feb. 23	at Boston College*
Sat., Feb. 24	at Boston College*