College Report
By Larry Mahoney and Pete Warner
The University of Maine hockey team has had an adventurous time on special
teams through its first three games.Maine is 6-for-22 on the power play for an
impressive 27.3 percent. The Bears have also killed off 16 of 17 opposing power
 
plays.
But the Bears have allowed three shorthanded goals, which equals the total
surrendered in 41 games a year ago.
Including the exhibition against the University of New Brunswick, Maine is
9-for-35 on the power play and opponents are just 1-for-24 with the man
advantage.
And, yes, UNB also scored a shorthanded goal.
"We can't tolerate shorthanded goals," emphasized Maine coach Shawn Walsh. "We
have been using forwards on the point and now we're going to have to look at a
couple of other options.
"Fortunately, the shorthanded goals haven't cost us any games yet," added
Walsh.
Maine junior left wing Dan Kerluke said the Bears need to fix the problem.
"I don't know if we let down on the power play or what," he said. "Coach has
been making adjustments this week. We can't afford to allow shorthanded goals
in Hockey East games. We'll lose games because of it."
Walsh has been pleased with the penalty killing and the fact they have been
scoring on the power play.
As for his team's overall performance in its 3-0 start, Walsh said his Bears
are "still a work in progress.
"We're where I expected us to be at this stage," added Walsh.
He has liked what he has seen from the Chris Heisten and Ben Guite lines.
Heisten centers for brother Barrett and right wing Tommy Reimann and Guite is
between Kerluke and Martin Kariya.
Walsh said the return of sophomore right wing Niko Dimitrakos for this
weekend's Friday night-Sunday afternoon series at Ohio State should help create
four solid lines.
Dimitrakos missed the JCPenney Hockey Classic with a thigh bruise.
The Maine coach said he has altered his thinking concerning his defense corps.
"I had been emphasizing that they try to jump into the play [and create
offense]. But now we're going back to basics," said Walsh who will emphasize a
more conservative defense-first attitude.
Maine will open Hockey East play at home Nov. 5 against Northeastern and Nov. 7
against Providence.