UMaine men's hockey opens season with dominant win over AIC

ORONO – The University of Maine men's ice hockey team featured a line-up of senior center Nolan Renwick between transfers Taylor Makar (UMass) and Ross Mitton (Colgate) and had an impressive debut against American International College in front of a sellout crowd of 5,043 at the Alfond in the arena on Saturday evening.

Renwick scored two goals and two assists, senior left winger Makar scored two goals and an assist and right-wing sophomore Mitton had three assists as the Black Bears triumphed 6-0.

Sophomore goalkeeper Albin Boija made 17 saves to earn the shutout.

Makar scored the first two goals at the start of the first period and 4:24 into the second period, and Harrison Scott made it 3-0 at 13:50 of the middle period.

Renwick scored two goals early in the third period and Thomas Freel added a goal on the power play.

Makar scored the first goal after just 1:35 minutes.

Brandon Holt passed the puck to Nolan Renwick in the neutral zone and he made a perfect pass across to Makar, who raced toward the puck at full speed down the right wing after getting around a Yellow Jacket defender.

He then fired a wrist shot from the right wing that beat Chase Clark past the side of his glove and into the far corner.

Seconds later, Ross Mitton almost extended the lead with a one-handed deflection, but the ball bounced off the underside of the crossbar.

Makar extended the lead to 2-0 with assists from his linemates Renwick and Mitton.

Mitton passed the puck to Renwick, who increased his pace and passed alone to Clark.

Clark stopped Renwick's close-range shot, but the puck remained in the crease and Makar tipped it over the goal line.

Scott extended the lead when he pounced on Brandon Chabrier's rebound and blocked a wrist shot from the middle of the slot.

Renwick scored on one-timers from the left side of the slot at :41 and 3:54 of the final period to make it 5-0, and Freel scored on a tip-in from the front of the net.

Adam Manji played the third period in goal for AIC.