The University of Maine’s Black Bears hockey team achieved a significant victory against the No. 6 Denver Pioneers, winning 5-2 at Magness Arena on March 8, 2024. Sophomore right wing Thomas Pichette made a notable impact, recording the first two-goal game and three-point outing of his collegiate career. In addition, junior goalie Albin Boija delivered a strong performance, making 29 saves to help secure the win.
Both teams now hold a record of 12-7-1 as they prepare for the concluding game of the series, scheduled for Saturday at 20:00. The Black Bears entered the contest ranked 15th in one national poll and 18th in another, while their victory marked their fourth consecutive win. The loss was particularly significant for Denver, as it represented only their 16th home defeat in the past 92 games, during which they recorded 71 wins and 5 ties.
The game began with a scoreless first period, but the Black Bears quickly took control in the second. They scored two goals within a span of just over five minutes. Freshman defenseman Lukas Peterson opened the scoring at 3:41 into the second period with a shot from the point, marking his third goal of the season. Assisted by Pichette and senior defenseman Brandon Holt, Peterson’s goal gave UMaine a lead they would not relinquish.
Shortly after, junior center Sully Scholle added to the lead, scoring his fourth goal of the season off a three-on-one rush created by a turnover from Denver in the neutral zone. Scholle’s wrist shot from the right faceoff circle proved too much for Denver goalie Quentin Miller to handle.
UMaine’s momentum continued as Pichette extended the lead to 3-0 early in the third period, converting a pass from Justin Poirier. Denver managed to respond with a power play goal from junior defenseman Boston Buckberger, narrowing the gap to 3-1 just 2:28 later. However, Pichette quickly restored the two-goal lead at the 9:35 mark, firing a shot from the slot off a feed from Oskar Komarov.
The Pioneers did not back down, as freshman right wing Kristian Epperson scored shortly thereafter, bringing the score to 4-2. In the closing moments of the game, Denver’s coach David Carle opted to pull Miller in an attempt to rally his team. Despite the extra attacker, Boija made crucial saves to keep the Pioneers at bay. Holt capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with 59 seconds remaining, solidifying UMaine’s victory.
Throughout the contest, the Black Bears outshot the Pioneers 34-31. Although Denver attempted 72 shots compared to UMaine’s 56, the Black Bears demonstrated strong defensive play, blocking 19 shots in total, with junior defenseman Frank Djurasevic leading the charge and blocking six shots.
Head coach Ben Barr praised his team’s effort, highlighting their sacrifices and defensive commitment. “The guys sacrificed for each other and blocked a lot of shots. They played for each other, and that’s a good sign for our culture,” he noted. Barr also commended the penalty kill during a five-minute major against UMaine, which he believed contributed to the team’s momentum heading into the final period.
With both teams set to face off again, the anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series.
