UMaine starts strong, outscoring AIC 6-0 in its men's hockey season opener

ORONO — During the preseason, University of Maine men's ice hockey coach Ben Barr repeatedly said this was the strongest team he had since taking over the Black Bears in 2021. If game one is any indication, Barr was exactly right.

Third line center Nolan Renwick and wings Taylor Makar and Ross Mitton starred in Maine's 6-0 win over American International College before a sold-out Alfond Arena crowd of 5,043.

“I thought the first game got better as time went on. “For two, two and a half periods I thought we limited their chances and the guys worked really hard,” Barr said. “In the future we have to do this for 60 minutes, not 45 or 50.”

Makar scored two goals and assisted one goal with just two shots. Renwick scored two goals and assisted on two more in the third period, while Mitton had three assists. Makar played his first game for Maine after transferring from UMass, while Mitton made his Black Bear debut after previously playing at Colgate.

“I think we're just all older people and it's easy to talk to each other. We want to be a team that is difficult to play against,” said Makar.

The line of Reniwick, Makar and Mitton has only been running together for a few weeks, Renwick said.

“We immediately found a connection. These are two guys that are easy to play with. They are big, fast and strong players. It was a real pleasure to play with them,” he said.

AIC coach Eric Lang was impressed with Maine's skill level.

“They come at you in waves and are well trained. They have a great structure. “They don’t beat themselves. They take care of the puck,” Lang said. “We've been here many times over the years, but this seems to be one of the better versions of their team. Deeper, faster, stronger, more up and down the lineup.”

Maine took a 1-0 lead just 1:34 into the game when Makar scored on his first shift and shot for the Black Bears. He took a pass from Renwick to the middle of the ice, skated past two AIC defenders and fired a shot over the right shoulder of goaltender Chase Clark.

The Black Bears made it 2-0 early in the second period, and again it was Makar who chased a loose puck in the circle and pushed it past Clark at 4:24 of the period. Makar acknowledged the loud crowd on both goals.

“It's so much fun to play here. I’ve been here on the other side and it’s so intimidating,” said Makar, who totaled four goals last season at UMass. “I feel like a real black bear now.”

Harrison Scott's goal at 13:48 of the second period gave Maine a 3-0 lead through two periods. Lang substituted Clark, who had cramps, and brought Adam Manji into the net. Manji conceded two goals in the first 3:54 of the third period, both on one-timers from Renwick. Renwick scored two goals in 25 games last season and said improving his one-timer was a focus in the offseason.

“It was about watching a guy like Brad Nadeau. “He’s a very special talent,” Renwick said, referring to his former teammate who signed with the Carolina Hurricanes last spring. “His ability to make his one-time shot quickly, and he capitalized on a lot of shots like that. “It was just repetition, repetition.”

Thomas Freel scored a power play goal at 9:24 when Maine had a 5-minute lead after Casey McDonald received a major penalty and a game-misconduct penalty for grabbing a Maine player's face mask.

“They are very good. A tough place to play. We kind of thought we had to get through the first five minutes and their first shot on goal went in,” Lang said.

The Black Bears outscored AIC 32-17. Albin Boija was hardly tested until the end of the third period and received the third shutout of his career.

During the game, Maine honored the team that won the 1999 national championship. A number of the team's players were in attendance, and Grant Standbrook, assistant coach for both Maine title teams, took part in the ceremonial pregame puck drop.

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