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http://www.pressherald.com/sports/college/hockey/021012umhockey.shtml

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                     Saturday, October 12, 2002

                                            UMaine survives close call


                        By   KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer

                      Copyright  2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.





 ORONO  --  Apparently, the University of New Brunswick did not receive the memo. Certainly, the Maine Black Bears sent a note to the Varsity Red about their role in the Black Bear Classic - show up, roll over against Maine, and enjoy the rest of your time in Orono.

   So what was New Brunswick doing in a 1-1 tie late in the second period, with a chance to take the lead on the power play?

   Maine finally took control, killing the penalty and scoring 17 seconds later for a 2-1 victory over the surprisingly tough Varsity Red before 4,484 fans at Alfond Arena on Friday night.

   Robert Liscak and Colin Shields scored for Maine. Todd Jackson recorded an assist and kept Maine's offense moving.

   The Black Bears will play Lake Superior State in tonight's 7 p.m. championship game. It will be Maine's official season opener, because game's against Canadian schools are considered exhibitions.

   In the 4 p.m. consolation, New Brunswick will play Quinnipiac, which lost 2-1 to Lake Superior earlier Friday.

   The Black Bears traditionally play a patsy in the opening round of this tournament, and they haven't lost to a Canadian school since 1984. But New Brunswick didn't stick to its role.

   "We were a little intimidated at first," New Brunswick defenseman Craig Mahon said. "But we've got a really good hockey team, too."

   New Brunswick attacked in spurts, but Maine freshman goalie Jimmy Howard, 18, shined in his debut with 29 saves. He was advertised as being steady, and he played true to form. The Varsity Red tried wrap-arounds, but Howard sealed the openings. They had point-blank shots, but Howard played the angles and stopped them.

   "That kid definitely looked awesome," Mahon said.

   The only New Brunswick goal came on Todd Alexander's rebound at 3:22 of the second period, tying the game 1-1.

   The Varsity Red may have been a tad slower than Maine's speedy bunch, but New Brunswick displayed a rough-and-tough defense and acrobatic goaltending from Gene Chiarello (34 saves). Maine was hindered without two of its senior forwards, Lucas Lawson (bruised ankle) and Chris Heisten (suspended).

   Maine took a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:05 of the first period. Jackson tried to stuff in the puck, and Liscak put in the rebound.

   Jackson caused problems all night for New Brunswick and nearly scored twice while Maine was short-handed in the second period, getting the crowd back into the game.

   "That's the type of player he is," Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said. "He ignites the team just by the way he skates."

   After Maine successfully killed a penalty late in the second period, Shields got the winner on a 2-on-0 break with Tom Reimann. Reimann fed Shields for the score at 16:51.

   New Brunswick got a power play late in the game and eventually pulled Chiarello, giving the Varsity Red a 6-on-4 advantage for 21 seconds. Maine killed the penalty, however, and Howard made his last save with four seconds left.

   "We gutted out a win," Whitehead said. "We didn't keep it simple. We need to play smarter with the puck (tonight) and definitely better defensively."

   NOTES: Both Heisten and Lawson are expected to play tonight. . . . With goalie Frank Doyle ineligible this weekend, the back-up goalie was Ray Jean, who played at Kents Hill and Gardiner High. . . . Angela Thompson of Windham sang the Canadian national anthem.

   Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

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