ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine men's ice hockey team and head coach Ben Barr will return to conference play with a road series the #12 University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks this Friday, January 14, and Saturday, January 15. Puck-drop for Friday is scheduled for 7:15 pm, while Saturday is set for 7:05 pm.

GAME INFORMATION
Game #20: Maine Black Bears at #12 UMass Lowell Riverhawks
DATE: Friday, January 14, 2022
TIME: 7:15 p.m. EST
SITE: Tsongas Arena -- Lowell, Massachusetts
2021-22 RECORDS: Maine 3-12-4 (1-8-2 HE), UML 11-3-3 (8-2-1 HE)

Game #21: Maine Black Bears at #12 UMass Lowell Riverhawks
DATE: Saturday, January 15, 2022
TIME: 7:05 p.m. EST
SITE: Tsongas Arena -- Lowell, Massachusetts

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About the Black Bears

• Ben Barr was named the fifth head coach of the University of Maine men's ice hockey program. Barr comes to Orono after spending the previous five seasons at the University of Massachusetts, winning one national championship.

• The Black Bears went 1-1 against Alaska Fairbanks to open the 2022 portion of the schedule. After skating to a 2-6 defeat on Friday night, Lynden Breen scored two goals and dished out two assists to lead Maine to a 4-2 victory in the finale. Ben Poisson and Donavan Villeneuve-Houle each scored a goal and posted two assists in the victory.

• The Black Bears enter the season with six new faces on the roster after seeing five players graduate or leave to pursue professional hockey.

• Four incoming freshmen and two transfers make up players who were added by the new coaching staff. Three of the incoming student athletes are from the United States, while the other three are from Canada.

• The three-member Class of 2025 includes Tim Gould, Nolan Renwick, Samuel Duerr, and David Breazeale. Matthew Fawcett and Grant Hebert are the three transfers who chose the University of Maine over their other offers.

About the River Hawks

• UMass Lowell finished the 2020-21 season with a record of 10-9-1, ultimately being defeated by the eventual national champion and #3 UMass, 1-0, in the Hockey East Championship Game.

• The River Hawks return two of their top five scorers from 2020-21 in Andre Lee and Reid Stefanson.

• Owen Savory appeared in 12 games last season. The junior goaltender posted a 3.21 GAA and .846 save percentage, while winning four games for the River Hawks.

The Series with UMass Lowell

• UMaine leads the all-time series with the River Hawks at 81-46-5.

• In Lowell last season, the River Hawks won the series. UMass Lowell grabbed a win on Sunday night, 5-3, while also winning the Monday night bout, 9-5. Earlier this season, the River Hawks won the single game in Portland, 2-0.

• Edward Lindelow (first career goal), Emil Westerlund (2), Ben Poisson, and Brad Morrissey all scored in the Sunday/Monday series in Lowell, Massachusetts last season.

• The two squads first met on Jan. 14, 1978, with UMaine dropping that road tilt, 5-1.

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