ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's ice hockey team is set to host Merrimack College in the opening round of Hockey East playoffs on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Alfond Arena. Puck-drop is set for 6: 00 PM. Maine earned the 8-seed after sweeping Holy Cross over the weekend, and Merrimack landed the 9-seed after being swept by Providence College. 

5 Things to Know:

1. For the third year, the Hockey East postseason will feature all 10 programs competing in a single-elimination format with all games played on campus sites at the arena of the higher seed. Seeds seven (BU) and eight (Maine) will host seeds 10 (Holy Cross) and nine (Merrimack), respectively, in the Opening Round on Wednesday, February 28 while the top six seeds receive a bye into the Quarterfinals. After a reseeding, the top two seeds will host the winners of the Opening Round while the 3-seed will host the 6-seed and the 4-seed will host the 5-5seed on Saturday, March 2.
    
2. All Hockey East playoff games are ticketed events. General admission ticket prices are set by the conference and will cost $10 for adults and $5 for youth, seniors, and groups. Admission for UMaine Students is free. Click here for tickets. 
    
3.  Hockey East playoffs will be streamed on ESPN+.
    
4. Black Bears Notables:

• Ida Kuoppala, most recently named the Hockey East Player of the Week, had a four-point weekend scoring two goals and two assists in Maine's sweep of Holy Cross. Kuoppala leads the conference in total points (38) and goals (20) this season. Nationally, she ranks eighth for goals scored this season.
• Sam Morrison earned Hockey East's Rookie of the Week award after tallying three goals over the weekend, including both game-winning goals, and one assist. Morrison is currently on a three-game point streak.
• Goaltender Jorden Mattison played in both games of the weekend sweep, saving 61 shots total. Mattison has played between the pipes for the Black Bears for the last three games, picking up three wins. 
• Mira Seregély scored one goal and two assists over the weekend and is now also on a three-game point streak. 
• For special teams, Maine's power play sits at 21.1%, while the penalty kill is at 77.3%
• In the last five seasons in league playoffs, Maine has reached the semifinals three times. 
• It is #8-seed Maine's (15-17-2/11-14-2 HE) first appearance in the Opening Round.

• The Warriors were 2-0-1 against the Black Bears this season.
• Merrimack has lost the last four games, scoring just two goals.
• The team is led by Celine Tedenby who has 7 goals and 14 assists this season for a total of 21 points.
• Expected starter in goal is Calli Hogarth who has started 33 of the 34 games for the Warriors this season. This would be Calli's first playoff start. 
• The overall series record is 13-11-2 in favor of Maine.