ORONO, Maine – The #8 University of Maine men's hockey team is set to host #17 University of New Hampshire in the Hockey East Tournament quarterfinal round on Saturday, March 16 at Alfond Arena.
 
The single elimination Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle between the third-seeded Black Bears and sixth-seeded Wildcats is schedule for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
 
The contest will air on ESPN+ with an international stream available via Hockey East/Stretch Internet. The game 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 35 | #8 Maine vs #17 New Hampshire
Saturday, March 16, 2024 | 7:00 P.M.
Alfond Arena | Orono, Maine
Hockey East Tournament Quarterfinal

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Third-seeded University of Maine will host sixth-seeded University of New Hampshire in a Hockey East Tournament quarterfinal game on Saturday night at Alfond Arena.
• This will be the 10th game between Maine and UNH in the Hockey East Tournament and the third-ever quarterfinal matchup.
• UNH dropped a contest at Maine, 5-2, in December but swept the Black Bears, 6-2 and 5-2 at the Whittemore Center in February.
• This is the first home Hockey East quarterfinal for Maine since the 2011-12 season (Maine earned a home quarterfinal in 2019-20 but the tournament was canceled).
• The 2024 Hockey East Tournament is a single-elimination format tournament.
 
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD...
• Bump Maine to 23-10-2 on the year.
• Advance the Black Bears to the program's first Hockey East Tournament semifinal since the 2011-12 season.
• Give Maine 13 wins in a season at Alfond Arena for the first time since 2013-14.
• Move Maine to 57-47 all-time in the tournament and 8-2 against UNH.
 
ABOUT MAINE
• The Black Bears sit at 22-10-2 overall and went 14-9-1 in Hockey East play in the 2023-24 regular season.
• Maine's 22-10-2 regular season record marks the most wins through its regular season slate since going 24-10-2 in 36 regular season games in 2005-06 (the Black Bears finished that year 28-12-2 overall).
• Bradly Nadeau (17-24-41) and Josh Nadeau (16-25-41) are tied for the team lead in points … seven players have at least 20 points for the Black Bears … through 34 games, Maine has 23 different point getters and 20 different goal scorers.
• In goal, Albin Boija is 9-5-1 with a 2.07 goals against average, .917 save percentage and one shutout while Victor Ostman is 13-5-1 with a 2.79 goals against average and .894 save percentage.
• The Black Bears are averaging 62.21 shots per game, second most in Hockey East behind Providence (62.62).
• Maine has been ranked for 18 consecutive weeks for the first time since the 2010-11 season … additionally, the program has spent 16 straight weeks in the top 10 for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
 
ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE
• The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinal round by defeating UMass Lowell, 1-0, on Wednesday night at the Whittemore Center ... Harrisno Blaisdell scored the game's only goal midway through the first period while Jakob Hellsten made 20 saves for his third consecutive shutout.
• New Hampshire enters Saturday at 20-14-1 overall ... the Wildcats went 12-11-1 in conference play this season to finish tied for fifth overall.
• Ryan Conmy leads the team in points with 31 from 14 goals and 17 assists ... Cy Leclerc is second with 28 points on 10 goals and a team-leading 18 assists.
• Hellsten is 15-11-1 with a 1.93 goals against average, .914 save percentage and five shutouts.

SERIES HISTORY vs NEW HAMPSHIRE
• Maine holds an overall record of 71-64-13 in the all-time series with UNH, including a mark of 1-2-0 this season.
• UNH dropped a contest at Maine, 5-2, in December but swept the Black Bears, 6-2 and 5-2 at the Whittemore Center in February.
• Maine is 7-2 all-time against UNH in the Hockey East Tournament, including a mark of 4-0 in the quarterfinal round.
• Twelve current Black Bears have at least one point against UNH ... Lynden Breen (4-3-7) and Ben Poisson (1-6-7) are Maine's active scoring leaders against UNH ... Josh Nadeau (3-0-3) and Bradly Nadeau (0-3-3) have three points each ... Donavan Villeneuve-Houle (3-2-5) has five.
• The Wildcats and Black Bears first played on Dec. 15, 1979 at Alfond Arena, with John Tortorella scoring the game-winning goal in the Black Bears' 5-3 victory.
• Maine has had two different nine-game winning streaks in the heated series.
• Current Maine assistant coach Alfie Michaud had seven career wins against UNH, including a stretch of five-straight beginning with a Feb. 1, 1998 win and stretching to the April 3, 1999 National Championship, 3-2, overtime win at Arrowhead Pond.
 
MAINE IN THE HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT
• Maine is playing in its 37th Hockey East Tournament this season ... that ties with New Hampshire for the third-most appearances in league history behind Boston College (39) and Boston University (39).
• The Black Bears have won five titles, third most all-time behind BC (11) and BU (10).
• Maine is 56-47 all-time in the Hockey East Tournament ... the Black Bears hold a record of 31-24 in the quarterfinal round, including a record of 30-4 at home in quarterfinal games.
• Maine appeared in its first title game in 1987 and went on to appear in seven consecutive championship games.
• Maine is currently winless in its last seven Hockey East Tournament games ... that is Maine's longest ever losing streak in the conference tournament.
• Lynden Breen is Maine's active scoring leader in the conference tournament, recording four goals in three career playoff games ... five current Black Bears have at least one playoff point while 14 have seen playoff action.
 
SEARCHING FOR THE SIXTH
• Maine is in search of its sixth Hockey East Tournament title.
• The Black Bears have not advanced to the semifinal round since 2012 -- also the last time Maine appeared in the championship game.
• Maine won its first championship in 1989 when it defeated Boston College, 5-4, in a title game held at Boston College.
• The Black Bears five titles are third most all-time behind BC (11) and BU (10).
 
UP NEXT
• With a win, Maine would advance to the Hockey East Tournament semifinals on Friday, March 22.