ORONO, Maine – The #7/8 University of Maine men's hockey team will close out non-conference play this weekend when it hosts Colgate at Alfond Arena on Friday, Jan. 5 and Saturday, Jan. 6.
 
Puck drop between the Black Bears and Raiders is set for 7 p.m. on both nights, with both games airing on ESPN+ with an international stream available via Hockey East/Stretch Internet. The games can also be listened to via 92.9 FM in eastern Maine, 100.5 FM in southern Maine or online at GoBlackBears.com/MIHRadio.

Friday, Jan. 5 is Cub Club Night. All members of the Cub Club can get a free ticket to the game. 
 
GAME 17 | #7/8 Maine vs Colgate
Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 | 7:00 P.M. 
Alfond Arena | Orono, Maine
 
GAME 18 | #7/8 Maine vs Colgate
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 | 7:00 P.M. 
Alfond Arena | Orono, Maine
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Maine will close out non-conference play with two games against 2023 NCAA Tournament team Colgate at Alfond Arena this weekend.
• Maine took home the 2023 Ledyard Classic Championship last weekend by way of a 5-2 win over #18/19 RIT and then a 5-1 win over Dartmouth.
• Colgate last played on Dec. 2 when it defeated #16 Cornell, 4-2, on the road.
• The Black Bears and Raiders met last season in Hamilton, with Colgate picking up a 5-2 win before the teams battled to a 1-1 tie the next night.
 
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD...
• Bump the Black Bears to 13-3-1 overall on the season and 8-1 in non-conference games.
• Move Maine to 7-8-4 in the all-time series with Colgate.
• Give Maine its first seven-game winning streak since it opened the 2006-07 season with a seven-game winning streak.
 
ABOUT MAINE
• Maine enters the weekend with an overall record of 12-3-1 on the strength of a six-game winning streak.
• The Black Bears have played six ranked opponents, going 6-3-1 in those games.
• The Black Bears are paced by Josh Nadeau (10-15-25) and Bradly Nadeau (12-11-23).
• Twelve players have at least five points each while seven players have at least 10 points each.
• Victor Östman is 11-3-1 with a .907 save percentage and 2.28 goals against average.
 
ABOUT COLGATE
• The Raiders bring an overall record of 6-8-2 into the weekend … Colgate last played Dec. 1 and 2, earning a split with Cornell with a 4-2 loss and a 4-2 win.
• Ryan McGuire leads Colgate in scoring with 14 points from nine goals and five assists … Ross Mitton (5-8-13), Tommy Bergsland (3-10-13) and Brett Chorske (3-8-11) give the Raiders four players in double-digit scoring.
• Goaltender Carter Gylander has started 14 of Colgate's 16 games, going 5-7-2 with a .900 save percentage and 2.91 goals against average.
• The Raiders went 19-16-5 last season and won the ECAC Hockey Tournament to earn an automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
 
SERIES HISTORY vs COLGATE
• Maine holds an all-time mark of 6-8-4 against Colgate.
• The teams met twice last year in Hamilton, N.Y., with Colgate picking up a 5-2 win in the first game before Maine battled for a 1-1 tie on New Year's Eve.
• Nolan Renwick (1-1-2) and Brandon Holt (1-0-0) scored for Maine in that 2022-23 series while Ben Poisson, Lynden Breen and Brandon Chabrier added an assist each.
• The first-ever meeting between the Black Bears and Raiders came on Dec. 9, 1978, with Colgate skating to a 5-2 win at home.
 
LEDYARD CLASSIC CHAMPS!
• The Black Bears took home the 2023 Ledyard Bank Classic championship this past weekend ... Maine topped #18/19 RIT, 5-2, to earn the right to face Dartmouth in the title game ... the Black Bears earned a 5-1 win over the host Big Green.
• The victory marked Maine's first Ledyard Classic title in what was its sixth tournament ... Maine is now the ninth Hockey East school to win the Ledyard Classic.
• Harrison Scott was named the Most Valuable Player after finishing the weekend with two goals, including a game-winning goal, and 17 face-off wins.
• Victor Östman was named the Most Outstanding Goaltender after earning both wins on the weekend with a 1.50 goals against average and .923 save percentage.
• Sully Scholle (2-0-2) and Donavan Villeneuve-Houle (0-4-4) were also named to the All-Tournament Team.