The Black Bears survived a late St. Cloud rivalry as they skated to their
14th win of the season. Trevor Roenick got the UMaine scoring machine off
to a quick start with his fourth of the season on assists from Dan
Shermerhorn and Jeff Tory at 2:14 of the first period. This goal came off
the power play, the result of an interference call on the Huskies' Jay
Geisbauer.
Jason Stewart evened it up with his first of the season at 9:44 of the
first period.
Maine jumped out on top again at 19:36 of the first, as Tony Frenette
wristed his sixth goal past St. Cloud netminder Brian Leitza, off an assist
from Shermerhorn.
Maine extended the lead to 3-1 at 12:45 of the second period. Tory sent home
a power play goal, his third goal of the season, on assists from Imes and
Shermerhorn.
Bill Lund brought St. Cloud back to within one at 8:44 in the third, with
his fourth of the season, a power play tally on assists from Jeff Schmidt
and Taj Melson.
Brad Purdie's one-timed a pass from Scott Parmentier, scoring his 9th of
the season, making it 4-2 at 12:36. The other assist came from Jason
Dekker.
With about two minutes to go, the Huskies pulled Leitza in the hopes that
the extra skater would provide the extra offense they needed to get back
into the contest. At 18:49, they got one back, when Dave Holum put home
a pass from Brett Lievers, scoring his 9th of the season. They pulled
Leitza again, but it wasn't to be. Maine latest victim had been put away.
Blair Allison put together a solid performance, stopping 16 out of 19
shots. Leitza stopped 18 out of 22 Maine shots. Maine's record is now
14-0-5.
Three stars for  the game were:
1. Shermerhorn
2. Tory
3. Taj Melson (St. Cloud)
The Bears' next opponent is Acadia, in the Dexter Hockey Classic, on
Thursday night. I'm one to remember the 4-4 tie against them last year,
so it should be a tough one.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!!! =-)
John
GO BLACK BEARS!!! No.1 in the WMEB poll. =-)