ORONO, Maine – The #4 University of Maine men's hockey ice team will battle the Bentley Falcons on Sunday afternoon in a neutral site contest at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
 
Puck drop of the second half opener is set for 4 p.m. and the non-conference tilt will steam on ESPN+, with an international stream available via Hockey East/Stretch Internet. The games can also be listened to via 92.9 FM or online at GoBlackBears.com/MIHRadio.
 
Game 17 | #4 Maine vs RV Bentley
Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 | 4:00 p.m.
Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, Maine | ESPN+
 
WHAT'S ON TAP
• The University of Maine men's ice hockey team will open up the second half of the season with a neutral site game against Bentley on Sunday at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
• These two teams met in Portland last year, with Maine earning a 3-2 win.
• Maine last played Dec. 8, completing a weekend sweep of Stonehill with a 4-2 win ... the Black Bears topped the Skyhawks, 5-2, the day before.
• Bentley last played Dec. 7, battling to a 2-2 tie at Mercyhurst ... the Falcons won the night before, 4-2.
 
A WIN ON SUNDAY WOULD. . .
• Move Maine to 13-2-2 overall and 8-0-0 in non-conference games.
• Bump Maine to 3-2-0 all-time against Bentley, including a 2-0-0 mark at Cross Insurance Arena.
• Give Maine 13 wins in the first 17 games for the second straight year and eighth time in program history.
 
SERIES HISTORY vs BENTLEY
• Maine holds an all-time record of 2-2-0 in the series with Bentley.
• The teams last met in December 2023 at the Cross Insurance Arena ... Maine earned a 3-2 win behind a pair of goals from Josh Nadeau.
• These two teams also met early in the 2022-23 season, with the Falcons picking up a 5-1 win at home... 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.
 
ABOUT BENTLEY
• Bentley closed out the first semester of play with an overall record of 10-5-2, going 3-1-1 in the last five games.
• The Falcons last played on Dec. 7 at Mercyhurst, battling to a 1-1 tie before winning a shootout … Bentley had picked up a 4-2 win the night before.
• Bentley has five players that have hit double-digits points, with Ethan Leyh leading the way with 18 points from six goals and 12 assists … Oskar Bakkevig has a team-leading seven goals.
• Connor Hasley is 8-4-2 between the pipes, posting four shutouts along with a 2.10 goals against average and .911 save percentage.
• Andy Jones is in his second season as head coach of the Falcons.
 
UP NEXT
• Maine will return to Alfond Arena to host #5 Denver for two games on Jan. 3 and 4, 2025.