ORONO, MAINE - The Maine women's ice hockey team will host Merrimack College on Jan 23/24 at Alfond Arena for two conference matchups. Game times are set for 6:00 PM and 5:00 PM, respectively.

GAME INFORMATION
FRIDAY: Jan 23, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. | ESPN+ | Alternate Jersey Night -Maine State Pride Jerseys presented by KeyBank
SATURDAY: Jan 24, 2026 at 5:00 P.M | ESPN+ | Student Appreciation Night presented by OHOP - Skate with the Bears - Free pizza for students 
INTERNATIONAL STREAM: Hockey East Stretch Portal 
SITE: Alfond Arena
LIVE VIDEO  |  LIVE STATS
 

BLACK BEARS LAST TIME OUT:

• Maine earned two conference points this past weekend from a tie and an overtime loss against Vermont. 
• On Friday, Stephanie Jacob scored the first goal for Maine on a breakaway assisted from Sade Sandilands and Gracie Hanson. Rookie Mackenzie Podwell scored Maine's second goal, with Sade Sandilands and Isabelle Michaud earning assists. Kiia Lahtinen made 26 saves on Friday. 
• On Saturday, Kendall Sundby was the lone scorer in Saturday's game with Isabelle Michaud and Ali Altiman earning assists. Madisyn Ryan saw her third career start in goal, making a career-high of 28 saves in the OT loss. 
• Rookies Sade Sandilands and Isabelle Michaud led Maine with two points each over the weekend.

MORE ON MAINE:

• Four rookies lead the score sheet for the Black Bears as their top four scorers this season.
• Rookie forward Isabelle Michad leads the team in goals and points. (6-6-12)
• Rookie defender Lulu Rucinski is next with 11 points (4-7-11).
• Rookies Paige Fong (1-8-9) and Mackenzie Podewell (3-6-9) are next, tying sophomore Stephanie Jacob (5-4-9) with 9 points this year.
• Maine is currently tied for 7th in the Hockey East standings.

PREVIOUS GAMES WITH MERRIMACK:    

• Last season, Maine earned seven of the nine conference points from the Warriors after beating Merrimack twice and tying them once. Merrimack earned the shootout win after the tie.
• Goaltender Kiia Lahtinen played in two of the games, earning a win and a tie. In the win, Lahtinen recorded a shutout.
• Goaltender Madisyn Ryan played in one game, earning her first career start and win.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS:

• Merrimack snapped their 7-game streak of not being in the win column with a big upset over #5 UConn this past weekend. 
• On Friday, the Warriors lost 8-1. On Saturday, they upset #5 UConn 2-1 in overtime. 
• Emma Pfeffer leads the team in points with 16 total (9g, 7a). Seven of her nine goals have been on the powerplay.
• Goaltenders Lauren Lyons and Adreanna Doucette have been splitting time in net, as they each have two wins this season.
• Doucette leads with a 2.81 GAA and .918 save percentage.
• In Hockey East, the Warriors' record is 1-12-1. Saturday's upset was their first conference win this season as they sit in 10th place.

WEEKEND NOTES:
On Friday, Maine will wear their alternate Maine State Pride Jerseys presented by KeyBank. On Saturday, it is Student Appreciation Night presented by OHOP, where there will be free pizza for students. The team will host a Skate with the Bears event after Saturday's game. This popular family event is a great opportunity for fans of all ages to meet the players from the women's ice hockey team and have their pictures taken with the players. Participants – on skates or on their feet – will be able to gather as many autographs as they can.
 
• Skates will not be permitted inside Alfond Arena during the contest. Fans will have to leave their skates in their vehicles during the game and retrieve them after the game ends.
• Fans wishing to attend Skate with the Bears are not required to have a ticket to that day's game. HOWEVER, if you do not have a ticket to the game, you will not be allowed into Alfond Arena for the Skate with the Bears event until the conclusion of the game.
 

UP NEXT:
To round out January, Maine travels to Boston College for games on Jan 30 and Feb 1. Friday's game is scheduled for 6:00 PM, and Sunday's game is scheduled for 2:00 PM.

-UMaine-