ORONO, Maine – The #8 University of Maine men's hockey team will close out the first semester of play when it faces off against Bentley on Saturday night at Cross Insurance Arena.
 
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. in Portland. Fans going to Cross Insurance Arena can find general information about the arena here, including parking information and other Frequently Asked Questions.
 
The game will stream live on ESPN+ and can also be listened to via 92.9 FM in eastern Maine, 100.5 FM in southern Maine or online at GoBlackBears.com/MIHRadio.
 
GAME 14 | #8 Maine vs Bentley
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 | 7:00 P.M. 
Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, Maine
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• The University of Maine will close out the first semester of play on Saturday when it hosts Bentley at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
• Maine played at Union on Wednesday night, picking up a 3-1 win ... the Black Bears also played two home games last weekend, earning a 5-2 win over #15/14 New Hampshire and a 7-3 win over UConn.
• Bentley traveled to Air Force for two Atlantic Hockey games over the weekend, falling 3-2 before rebounding for a 3-0 win and the split.
• These two teams met last season in Waltham, with the Falcons earning a 5-1 win on home ice.
 
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD...
• Bump the Black Bears to 10-3-1 overall on the season and 5-1 in non-conference games.
• Move Maine to 2-2-0 in the all-time series with Bentley.
• Give Maine 10 wins in the first 14 games of the season for the first time since 2006-07.
 
ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS
• Maine played two games last weekend, earning a 5-2 win over #15/14 UNH and a 7-3 win over UConn.
• Brothers Josh Nadeau and Bradly Nadeau combined for 13 points on the weekend, with Bradly recording seven points on three goals and four assists and Josh racking up three goals and three assists for six points en route to Hockey East Co-Player of the Week honors.
• Hockey East Defender of the Week Brandon Chabrier had a five-point weekend, including a four-point outing on Sunday ... it was the first four-point game by a Maine defender since 2005.
• In all, Maine had 11 different point getters across the two games, including five players with at least three points each.
• Albin Boija got his first career start against UNH, making 18 saves for the win ... Victor Ostman has seen the majority of time between the pipes and sits at 8-3-1 with a 2.43 goals against average and .902 save percentage.
• Through 13 games, Maine's record of 9-3-1 marks the first time the program hit nine wins in the first 13 games since also going 9-3-1 in 2006-07.
 
ABOUT THE FALCONS
• Bentley enters Saturday night's contest at 8-9-0 overall … the Falcons played two games at fellow Atlantic Hockey foe Air Force last weekend, falling 3-2 before rebounding for a 3-0 win.
• Nick Bochen leads Bentley with 12 points off of three goals and nine assists on the year … Ethan Leyh is second with 10 points from two goals and eight assists … Nik Armstrong-Kingkade has a team-high six goals while adding two helpers for eight points.
• Eight different players have scored on the power play for the Falcons, with the team converting at a 17.6 percent clip.
• Nicholas Grabko has gone 5-4-0 with a .919 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average … Connor Hasley is 3-5-0 with a .897 save percentage and 2.25 goals against average.
• Andy Jones is in his first year as head coach of the Falcons.
 
SERIES HISTORY vs BENTLEY
• Maine holds an all-time record of 1-2-0 in the series with Bentley.
• The teams squared off at Bentley last season, with the Falcons picking up a 5-1 win ... Thomas Freel scored his first career goal to open the scoring before Bentley responded with five unanswered ... David Breazeale and Grayson Arnott picked up the assists on Freel's goal.
• Bentley and Maine first met on Jan. 16, 2009 at Alfond Arena, with the Falcons leaving Orono with a 3-1 victory.

-UMaine-