ORONO, Maine – Behind a hat trick from Justin Poirier, the #6/8 University of Maine men's ice hockey team earned a 5-2 win over Holy Cross in the season opener on Friday night at Alfond Arena.
 
Thomas Pichette got Maine on the board just over three minutes into the game.
 
The second period saw the teams combine for four goals in less than three minutes. Poirer potted his first career goal at the 5:56 mark and then Jaden Lipinski grabbed his first just 17 seconds later. Poirer potted his second goal less than two minutes after his first goal for a 4-1 lead. The Crusaders found the back of the net at the 8:10 mark to cap the scoring rush.
 
Poirer finished off his first career game with a hat trick goal 3:43 into the third period. The Crusaders added a goal before the final buzzer but the Black Bears picked up the 5-2 win.

#6/8 Maine 5, Holy Cross 2
Oct. 10, 2025 | Alfond Arena
 
NOTABLES

• Maine had the 35-20 lead in shots.
• Maine went 1-for-6 on the power play while Holy Cross was 0-for-3.
• Albin Boija finished with 18 saves to move to 1-0-0 on the year.
• The Black Bears are now 5-2-0 all-time against the Crusaders and 4-0-0 at Alfond Arena … this was the first meeting between these two teams since 2003.
• Maine is now 4-1-0 in season-openers under head coach Ben Barr.
• Nine total Black Bears had at least one point, including four with multi-point games.
• Justin Poirier recorded his first career hat trick … he is the first Maine freshman to score a hat trick in their first collegiate game since Mitchell Fossier on Oct. 7, 2016.
• Jaden Lipisnki recorded one goal and one assist while Thomas Freel and Brandon Chabrier had two assists.

RECORDS

• Maine: 1-0-0
• Holy Cross: 0-2-0

UP NEXT
• The Black Bears and Crusaders will face off tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Alfond Arena.