2023–24 Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey season

2023–24 Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey season
Ledyard Bank Classic, Champion NCAA Tournament,
Conference	3rd Hockey East
Home ice	Alfond Arena
Rankings
USCHO	#6
USA Today	#6
Record
Overall	23–11–2
Conference	14–9–1
Home	13–2–2
Road	8–8–0
Neutral	2–1–0
Coaches and captains
Head coach	Ben Barr
Assistant coaches	Alfie Michaud Jason Fortier Eric Soltys
Alternate captain(s)	David Breazeale Lynden Breen Ben Poisson
Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey seasons « 2022–23 2024–25 »

The 2023–24 Maine Black Bears Men's ice hockey season is the 49th season of play for the program, the 47th season competing at the Division I level, and the 40th in Hockey East. The Black Bears represent the University of Maine, play their home games at the Alfond Arena and are coached by Ben Barr in his 3rd season.

Departures

Player	Position	Nationality	Cause
Dawson Bruneski	Defenseman	Canada	Graduate transfer to Alaska
Samuel Duerr	Defenseman	United States	Left program (retired)
Matthew Fawcett	Forward	United States	Graduation (retired)
Grant Hebert	Forward	Canada	Graduation (signed with Allen Americans)
Didrik Henbrant	Forward	Sweden	Graduation (signed with Nottingham Panthers)
Killian Kiecker-Olson	Forward	United States	Left program (retired)
Robert Kincaid	Defenseman	Canada	Left program (retired)
Michael Mancinelli	Forward	United States	Left program (retired)
Justin Michaelian	Forward	United States	Graduation (signed with Iowa Heartlanders)
Jake Mucitelli	Goaltender	United States	Left program (retired)
Jakub Sirota	Defenseman	Czech Republic	Graduation (signed with HC Olomouc)

Recruiting

Player	Position	Nationality	Age	Notes
Albin Boija	Goaltender	Sweden	20	Sundsvall, SWE
Patriks Bērziņš	Goaltender	Latvia	20	Talsi, LAT
Anthony Calafiore	Forward	United States	21	Staten Island, NY
Ryan Hopkins	Defenseman	Canada	19	Lunenburg, NS
Liam Lesakowski	Defenseman	United States	19	Buffalo, NY
Bradly Nadeau	Forward	Canada	18	Saint-François-de-Madawaska, NB; selected 30th overall in 2023
Josh Nadeau	Forward	Canada	19	Saint-François-de-Madawaska, NB
Nicholas Niemo	Forward	United States	22	Middlebury, VT; transfer from Bentley
Bodie Nobes	Defenseman	Canada	20	Kitchener, ON
Sully Scholle	Forward	United States	20	Chaska, MN
Harrison Scott	Forward	United States	22	San Jose, CA; transfer from Bentley

Roster

As of July 7, 2023.

No.	S/P/C	Player	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	DoB	Hometown	Previous team	NHL rights
3		Luke Antonacci	Sophomore	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	2002-11-26	Princeton, New Jersey	Sioux City (USHL)	—
4		Brandon Holt	Sophomore	D	5' 11" (1.8 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2001-04-30	Grand Forks, North Dakota	New Mexico (NAHL)	—
5		Ryan Hopkins	Freshman	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	183 lb (83 kg)	2004-04-15	Penticton, British Columbia	Penticton (BCHL)	—
6		Liam Lesakowski	Freshman	D	6' 5" (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	2003-12-12	Buffalo, New York	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	—
10		Cole Hanson	Junior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2000-09-19	Grand Forks, North Dakota	Colgate (ECAC)	—
11		Donavan Villeneuve-Houle	Senior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	196 lb (89 kg)	1999-11-04	Montreal, Quebec	Flin Flon (SJHL)	—
12		Ben Poisson (A)	Graduate	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	196 lb (89 kg)	1999-08-31	Vancouver, British Columbia	Prince George (BCHL)	—
14		Sully Scholle	Freshman	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	2003-03-19	Chaska, Minnesota	New Mexico (NAHL)	—
15		Brandon Chabrier	Sophomore	D	6' 0" (1.83 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	2002-07-19	Bayville, New York	Madison (USHL)	—
16		Aidan Carney	Sophomore	F	6' 4" (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	2001-09-08	Paradise Valley, Arizona	Amarillo (NAHL)	—
17		Félix Trudeau	Sophomore	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	189 lb (86 kg)	2002-09-24	Terrebonne, Quebec	West Kelowna (BCHL)	—
18		Parker Lindauer	Sophomore	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	172 lb (78 kg)	2001-05-17	Madison, Wisconsin	Muskegon (USHL)	—
20		Josh Nadeau	Freshman	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)	158 lb (72 kg)	2003-10-22	Saint-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick	Penticton (BCHL)	—
21		Reid Pabich	Sophomore	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2001-10-05	Verona, Wisconsin	Madison (USHL)	—
22		Harrison Scott	Junior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-09-27	San Jose, California	Bentley (AHA)	—
23		Grayson Arnott	Sophomore	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)	152 lb (69 kg)	2001-06-14	Toronto, Ontario	Penticton (BCHL)	—
24		Nolan Renwick	Sophomore	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	211 lb (96 kg)	2001-02-16	Milestone, Saskatchewan	Omaha (USHL)	—
25		Nicholas Niemo	Sophomore	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	2001-03-28	Middlebury, Vermont	Bentley (AHA)	—
26		Thomas Freel	Sophomore	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	2001-06-26	Aberdeen, Scotland	Ottawa (CCHL)	—
27		Lynden Breen (A)	Senior	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	2001-05-31	Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick	Fargo (USHL)	—
28		Anthony Calafiore	Freshman	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	2002-04-06	Staten Island, New York	New Jersey (NAHL)	—
30		Albin Boija	Freshman	G	6' 1" (1.85 m)	181 lb (82 kg)	2003-08-20	Sundsvall, Sweden	Växjö J20 (J20 Nationell)	—
32		Victor Östman	Senior	G	6' 4" (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	2000-10-03	Danderyd, Sweden	Chicago (USHL)	—
33		Connor Androlewicz	Senior	G	6' 2" (1.88 m)	194 lb (88 kg)	2000-11-28	St. Louis, Missouri	Lincoln (USHL)	—
34		Bodie Nobes	Freshman	D	5' 10" (1.78 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2003-07-18	Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec	Green Bay (USHL)	—
37		David Breazeale (A)	Junior	D	6' 4" (1.93 m)	201 lb (91 kg)	2000-04-22	Grandville, Michigan	Shreveport (NAHL)	—
39		Patriks Bērziņš	Freshman	G	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2003-08-30	Talsi, Latvia	Tri-City (USHL)	—
82		Bradly Nadeau	Freshman	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	163 lb (74 kg)	2005-05-05	Saint-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick	Penticton (BCHL)	CAR, 30th overall 2023

Standings

2023–24 Hockey East Standings
	Conference record											Overall record
	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	SW	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#1 Boston College †*	24	20	3	1	1	0	1	61	105	56		39	33	5	1	179	87
#2 Boston University	24	18	4	2	1	1	1	57	104	53		39	28	9	2	162	95
#6 Maine	24	14	9	1	0	1	0	44	76	67		37	23	12	2	119	94
#16 Providence	24	11	9	4	3	1	2	37	66	58		35	18	13	4	100	83
#13 Massachusetts	24	12	10	2	4	2	0	36	57	62		37	20	14	3	108	105
#19 New Hampshire	24	12	11	1	1	0	0	36	69	56		36	20	15	1	106	90
Northeastern	24	9	14	1	1	3	0	30	65	71		36	17	16	3	113	97
Connecticut	24	9	14	1	1	1	1	29	49	77		36	15	19	2	90	105
Vermont	24	7	14	3	1	0	3	26	52	81		35	13	19	3	87	106
Merrimack	24	6	17	1	0	1	1	21	62	85		35	13	21	1	98	114
Massachusetts Lowell	24	4	17	3	1	4	0	18	39	78		36	8	24	4	72	113
Championship: March 23, 2024 † indicates regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy) Rankings: USCHO Division I Men's Poll; Updated: April 1, 2024

Schedule and results

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Decision	Result	Attendance	Record
Exhibition
October 7	5:00 pm	vs. New Hampshire*		Jack Kelley Rink • Waterville, Maine (Rivalry, Exhibition)	ESPN+	Östman	W 3–2	1,452
Regular Season
October 12	7:00 pm	Renssealer*		Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	W 4–1	4,135	1–0–0
October 13	7:00 pm	Renssealer*		Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	W 6–3	5,143	2–0–0
October 27	7:00 pm	at #5 Quinnipiac*		M&T Bank Arena • Hamden, Connecticut	ESPN+, NESN	Östman	W 2–1 OT	2,771	3–0–0
October 28	7:00 pm	at #5 Quinnipiac*		M&T Bank Arena • Hamden, Connecticut	ESPN+	Östman	L 1–4	2,614	3–1–0
November 3	7:00 pm	at Merrimack	#20	J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts	ESPN+	Östman	W 2–1	2,438	4–1–0 (1–0–0)
November 4	7:00 pm	at Merrimack	#20	J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts	ESPN+	Östman	W 5–4	2,189	5–1–0 (2–0–0)
November 10	7:00 pm	#1 Boston College	#13	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	W 3–2	5,043	6–1–0 (3–0–0)
November 11	7:00 pm	#1 Boston College	#13	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	T 2–2 SOL	5,043	6–1–1 (3–0–1)
November 17	7:00 pm	at #8 Boston University	#9	Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (Rivalry)	ESPN+, NESN	Östman	L 2–3	4,393	6–2–1 (3–1–1)
November 18	6:00 pm	at #8 Boston University	#9	Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (Rivalry)	ESPN+	Östman	L 4–5	5,858	6–3–1 (3–2–1)
December 1	7:00 pm	#15 New Hampshire	#11	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine (Rivalry)	ESPN+	Boija	W 5–2	5,043	7–3–1 (4–2–1)
December 3	5:00 pm	Connecticut	#11	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	W 7–3	4,661	8–3–1 (5–2–1)
December 6	7:00 pm	at Union*	#8	Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York	ESPN+	Östman	W 3–1	1,192	9–3–1
December 9	7:00 pm	vs. Bentley*	#8	Cross Insurance Arena • Portland, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	W 3–2	6,291	10–3–1
Ledyard Bank Classic
December 29	4:00 pm	vs. #18 RIT*	#8	Thompson Arena • Hanover, New Hampshire (Ledyard Bank Semifinal)	ESPN+	Östman	W 5–2	2,555	11–3–1
December 30	7:30 pm	at Dartmouth*	#8	Thompson Arena • Hanover, New Hampshire (Ledyard Bank Championship)	ESPN+	Östman	W 5–1	2,886	12–3–1
January 5	7:00 pm	Colgate*	#7	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	W 3–1	4,785	13–3–1
January 6	7:00 pm	Colgate*	#7	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	T 4–4 OT	5,043	13–3–2
January 12	7:00 pm	at Connecticut	#7	XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut	ESPN+	Östman	W 5–3	4,377	14–3–2 (6–2–1)
January 13	3:00 pm	at Connecticut	#7	XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut	ESPN+	Boija	L 0–2	9,428	14–4–2 (6–3–1)
January 19	7:00 pm	Massachusetts Lowell	#8	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Östman	W 5–3	5,043	15–4–2 (7–3–1)
January 20	7:00 pm	Massachusetts Lowell	#8	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	W 7–2	5,043	16–4–2 (8–3–1)
February 2	7:00 pm	at Northeastern	#6	Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts	ESPN+	Östman	L 3–6	3,507	16–5–2 (8–4–1)
February 3	7:00 pm	at #11 Massachusetts	#6	Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts	ESPN+	Boija	W 1–0	7,737	17–5–2 (9–4–1)
February 9	7:00 pm	#10 Providence	#7	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	W 2–1	5,043	18–5–2 (10–4–1)
February 10	7:00 pm	#10 Providence	#7	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	L 3–4 OT	4,745	18–6–2 (10–5–1)
February 16	7:00 pm	at #19 New Hampshire	#7	Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire (Rivalry)	ESPN+, NESN	Boija	L 2–6	6,501	18–7–2 (10–6–1)
February 17	7:00 pm	at #19 New Hampshire	#7	Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire (Rivalry)	ESPN+	Östman	L 2–5	6,501	18–8–2 (10–7–1)
February 23	7:00 pm	Northeastern	#9	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	W 5–1	4,684	19–8–2 (11–7–1)
February 24	7:00 pm	Northeastern	#9	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	L 0–4	4,777	19–9–2 (11–8–1)
March 1	7:00 pm	at Vermont	#9	Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont	ESPN+	Boija	L 1–2	3,218	19–10–2 (11–9–1)
March 2	7:30 pm	at Vermont	#9	Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont	ESPN+	Boija	W 3–2	3,177	20–10–2 (12–9–1)
March 8	7:00 pm	#12 Massachusetts	#9	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	W 2–1	5,043	21–10–2 (13–9–1)
March 9	7:00 pm	#12 Massachusetts	#9	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine	ESPN+	Boija	W 4–3	5,043	22–10–2 (14–9–1)
Hockey East Tournament
March 16	7:00 pm	#17 New Hampshire*	#8	Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine (Quarterfinal, Rivalry)	ESPN+	Boija	W 5–0	5,043	23–10–2
March 22	7:30 pm	vs. #2 Boston University*	#7	TD Garden • Boston, Massachusetts (Semifinal, Rivalry)	ESPN+, NESN	Boija	L 1–4	17,850	23–11–2
NCAA Tournament
March 28	5:30 pm	vs. #12 Cornell*	#6	MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts (Northeast Regional Semifinal)	ESPNews	Östman	L 1–3	5,765	23–12–2
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source:

Rankings

Main article: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings

Poll	Week
	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27 (Final)
USCHO.com	NR	NR	NR	NR	20	13	9	10	11	8	8 (2)	-	7 (4)	7 (2)	8 (1)	6 (1)	6 (1)	7	7	9	9	9	8	7	6
USA Today	NR	NR	NR	NR	20т	13	9	12	11	8	8	8	8^	7	8	6	5	7	8	9	9	9	8	7	6

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 11.
^USA Today did not release a poll in week 12.