2022–23 Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey season
College ice hockey team season
The 2022–23 Maine Black Bears Men's ice hockey season was the 48th season of play for the program, the 46th season competing at the Division I level, and the 39th in the Hockey East conference. The Black Bears represented the University of Maine and played their home games at Alfond Arena , and were coached by Ben Barr , in his 2nd season as head coach.
Season
After a very trying season, Maine was looking to get back on track in '23. The first hurdle for the team was dealing with the sheer amount of new faces as more than half of the previous season's players had departed. While the Black Bears would be getting a new starting goaltender, most of their top offensive players were back, which at least gave the team a foundation for this season. Early on, the team performed well and managed to take down #3 Quinnipiac with a rather stunning 4–0 victory. That surprise win, however, was the start of an 8-game stretch where Maine faced all ranked opponents. Unfortunately, the team was unable to win any of the other games and plummeted to the bottom of the conference standings. Several of the games in that stretch were close but the Bears' offense wasn't quite up to par.
The team ended the skid after Thanksgiving and were finally able to find some consistency in their game. They finished out the first half of the season with four consecutive wins but they had a daunting task before them. With little chance to receive an at-large bid, Maine was playing for pride in the second half. With Lynden Breen leading the way, The Black Bears posted several more impressive wins, taking four games from ranked teams. Aside from the three matches against Boston University , Maine looked good even in defeat and managed to climb their way up to 6th in the conference.
The Black Bears entered the postseason in a decent position, facing off against Hockey East bottom-feeder Vermont . Maine got into the lead twice and controlled the game for the first 45 minutes or so. Unfortunately, a strong third period from the Catamounts saw the momentum swing and suddenly the Bears were trailing. Down a goal, Maine got a power play with just under 2 minutes left in regulation. Victor Östman was pulled for an extra attacker to give the Black Bears a de facto 2-man advantage. However, Vermont managed to score into the empty net and seal the game, ending Maine's season.[ 1]
Departures
Recruiting
Player
Position
Nationality
Age
Notes
Luke Antonacci
Defenseman
United States
19
Princeton, NJ
Grayson Arnott
Defenseman
Canada
21
Toronto, ON
Aidan Carney
Forward
United States
21
Paradise Valley, AZ ; joined mid-season
Brandon Chabrier
Defenseman
United States
20
Bayville, NY
Samuel Duerr
Defenseman
United States
20
Chicago, IL
Thomas Freel
Forward
Scotland
21
Aberdeen, SCO
Cole Hanson
Forward
United States
22
Grand Forks, ND ; transfer from Colgate
Didrik Henbrant
Forward
Sweden
24
Sturefors, SWE ; transfer from Alaska
Brandon Holt
Defenseman
United States
21
Grand Forks, ND
Thomas Killian Kiecker-Olson
Forward
United States
21
Andover, MN
Robert Kincaid
Defenseman
Canada
20
Barrhead, AB
Parker Lindauer
Forward
United States
21
Madison, WI
Michael Mancinelli
Forward
United States
21
Northville, MI
Justin Michaelian
Forward
United States
24
Wixom, MI ; graduate transfer from Ferris State
Jacob Mucitelli
Goaltender
United States
22
Deerfield, NY ; transfer from Clarkson
Reid Pabich
Forward
United States
20
Verona, WI
Félix Trudeau
Forward
Canada
20
Terrebonne, QC
Roster
As of January 4, 2023.[ 2]
No.
S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
Weight
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
NHL rights
2
Jakub Sirota (C )
Graduate
D
6' 2" (1.88 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
1998-12-20
Kroměříž, Czech Republic
Lone Star (NAHL )
—
3
Luke Antonacci
Freshman
D
5' 9" (1.75 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2002-11-26
Princeton, New Jersey
Sioux City (USHL )
—
4
Brandon Holt
Freshman
D
5' 11" (1.8 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2001-04-30
Grand Forks, North Dakota
New Mexico (NAHL )
—
5
Samuel Duerr
Sophomore
D
6' 1" (1.85 m)
201 lb (91 kg)
2002-03-22
Chicago, Illinois
St. Cloud (NAHL )
—
6
Didrik Henbrandt
Junior
F
5' 10" (1.78 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-04-10
Sturefors, Sweden
Alaska (NCAA )
—
7
Grant Hebert
Graduate
F
6' 3" (1.91 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
1997-05-22
St. Andrews West, Ontario
Robert Morris (AHA )
—
10
Cole Hanson
Sophomore
F
5' 11" (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2000-09-19
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Colgate (ECAC )
—
11
Donavan Villeneuve-Houle
Junior
F
6' 0" (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1999-11-04
Montreal, Quebec
Flin Flon (SJHL )
—
12
Ben Poisson (A )
Senior
F
6' 1" (1.85 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1999-08-31
Vancouver, British Columbia
Prince George (BCHL )
—
14
Michael Mancinelli
Junior
F
5' 9" (1.75 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2001-06-28
Northville, Michigan
Arizona State (NCAA )
—
15
Brandon Chabrier
Freshman
D
6' 0" (1.83 m)
178 lb (81 kg)
2002-07-19
Bayville, New York
Madison (USHL )
—
16
Aidan Carney
Freshman
F
6' 4" (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2001-09-08
Paradise Valley, Arizona
Amarillo (NAHL )
—
17
Félix Trudeau
Freshman
F
6' 2" (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2002-09-24
Terrebonne, Quebec
West Kelowna (BCHL )
—
18
Parker Lindauer
Freshman
D
6' 2" (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2001-05-17
Madison, Wisconsin
Muskegon (USHL )
—
20
Robert Kincaid
Freshman
D
6' 2" (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2002-05-13
Barrhead, Alberta
Camrose (AJHL )
—
21
Reid Pabich
Freshman
F
5' 11" (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
2001-10-05
Verona, Wisconsin
Madison (USHL )
—
22
Dawson Bruneski
Senior
F
5' 11" (1.8 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1999-06-24
Camrose, Alberta
Drumheller (AJHL )
—
23
Grayson Arnott
Freshman
D
5' 9" (1.75 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
2001-06-14
Toronto, Ontario
Penticton (BCHL )
—
24
Nolan Renwick
Sophomore
F
6' 3" (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
2001-02-16
Milestone, Saskatchewan
Omaha (USHL )
—
26
Thomas Freel
Freshman
F
5' 11" (1.8 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
2001-06-26
Aberdeen, Scotland
Ottawa (CCHL )
—
27
Lynden Breen (A )
Junior
F
5' 9" (1.75 m)
168 lb (76 kg)
2001-05-31
Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick
Fargo (USHL )
—
28
Killian Kiecker-Olson
Freshman
F
6' 1" (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
2001-01-19
Andover, Minnesota
Lincoln (USHL )
—
32
Victor Östman
Junior
G
6' 4" (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
2000-10-03
Danderyd, Sweden
Chicago (USHL )
—
33
Connor Androlewicz
Junior
G
6' 2" (1.88 m)
194 lb (88 kg)
2000-11-28
St. Louis, Missouri
Lincoln (USHL )
—
34
Justin Michaelian
Graduate
F
6' 0" (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1997-12-07
Wixom, Michigan
Ferris State (CCHA )
—
35
Jacob Mucitelli
Sophomore
G
6' 3" (1.91 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
2000-03-24
Deerfield, New York
Clarkson (ECAC )
—
36
Matthew Fawcett
Senior
F
5' 6" (1.68 m)
152 lb (69 kg)
1999-04-22
Lincoln, Rhode Island
Quinnipiac (ECAC )
—
37
David Breazeale (A )
Sophomore
D
6' 4" (1.93 m)
201 lb (91 kg)
2000-04-22
Grandville, Michigan
Shreveport (NAHL )
—
Standings
Schedule and results
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
TV
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Exhibition
October 1
7:05 PM
Prince Edward Island *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine (Exhibition)
Östman
W 1–0
3,856
Ice Breaker Tournament
October 7
9:05 PM
at Air Force *
Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Ice Breaker Tournament)
FloHockey
Mucitelli
W 4–1
1,682
1–0–0
October 8
8:00 PM
at #1 Denver *
Magness Arena • Denver , Colorado (Ice Breaker Tournament)
Altitude
Östman
L 1–3
5,447
1–1–0
Regular Season
October 15
5:05 PM
at Bentley *
Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts
FloHockey
Mucitelli
L 1–5
1,600
1–2–0
October 22
4:00 PM
#3 Quinnipiac *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 4–0
3,776
2–2–0
October 23
4:00 PM
#3 Quinnipiac *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
L 2–6
2,915
2–3–0
October 28
7:05 PM
#15 Northeastern
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
T 2–2 SOW
-
2–3–1 (0–0–1)
October 29
7:05 PM
#15 Northeastern
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Mucitelli
L 1–4
3,029
2–4–1 (0–1–1)
November 4
7:05 PM
at #8 Connecticut
XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut
ESPN+
Östman
L 2–3 OT
3,020
2–5–1 (0–2–1)
November 5
4:05 PM
at #8 Connecticut
XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut
ESPN+
Östman
L 2–3
2,993
2–6–1 (0–3–1)
November 11
4:00 PM
at #19 Merrimack
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts
ESPN+
Östman
L 0–1
2,186
2–7–1 (0–4–1)
November 12
7:00 PM
at #19 Merrimack
J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts
ESPN+
Östman
L 3–5
2,488
2–8–1 (0–5–1)
November 26
2:05 PM
American International *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 5–1
2,910
3–8–1
December 2
7:00 PM
at Vermont
Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont
ESPN+
Östman
W 3–1
2,254
4–8–1 (1–5–1)
December 3
5:00 PM
at Vermont
Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont
ESPN+
Östman
W 5–1
2,613
5–8–1 (2–5–1)
December 10
2:05 PM
Canisius *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 3–0
3,333
6–8–1
December 30
7:00 PM
at Colgate *
Class of 1965 Arena • Hamilton, New York
ESPN+
Mucitelli
L 2–5
940
6–9–1
December 31
4:00 PM
at Colgate *
Class of 1965 Arena • Hamilton, New York
ESPN+
Androlewicz
T 1–1 OT
833
6–9–2
January 6
7:05 PM
Alaska Anchorage *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 1–0
3,180
7–9–2
January 7
5:05 PM
Alaska Anchorage *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 4–3 OT
3,522
8–9–2
January 13
7:05 PM
#16 Massachusetts Lowell
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
L 1–2
3,150
8–10–2 (2–6–1)
January 14
7:05 PM
#16 Massachusetts Lowell
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 5–3
4,039
9–10–2 (3–6–1)
January 20
7:00 PM
at #5 Boston University
Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (Rivalry )
NESN , ESPN+
Östman
L 1–5
3,703
9–11–2 (3–7–1)
January 21
6:00 PM
at #5 Boston University
Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (Rivalry )
ESPN+
Androlewicz
L 6–9
3,637
9–12–2 (3–8–1)
January 27
7:05 PM
#17 Providence
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 3–2
3,476
10–12–2 (4–8–1)
January 28
7:05 PM
#17 Providence
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 3–0
4,441
11–12–2 (5–8–1)
February 3
7:05 PM
#3 Boston University
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine (Rivalry )
ESPN+
Östman
L 3–5
4,325
11–13–2 (5–9–1)
February 5
2:05 PM
#15 Merrimack
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 3–2 OT
3,770
12–13–2 (6–9–1)
February 10
7:00 PM
at Boston College
Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
ESPN+ , NESN
Östman
W 3–1
4,175
13–13–2 (7–9–1)
February 12
2:05 PM
at #17 Massachusetts Lowell
Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts
ESPN+
Östman
T 1–1 SOL
4,019
13–13–3 (7–9–2)
February 17
7:00 PM
at New Hampshire
Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire (Rivalry )
NESN , ESPN+
Östman
T 2–2 SOL
6,501
13–13–4 (7–9–3)
February 18
7:00 PM
at New Hampshire
Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire (Rivalry )
ESPN+
Östman
T 0–0 SOL
6,501
13–13–5 (7–9–4)
February 24
7:05 PM
Boston College
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 6–3
4,870
14–13–5 (8–9–4)
February 25
7:05 PM
Boston College
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
W 2–1
5,045
15–13–5 (9–9–4)
March 3
7:05 PM
Massachusetts
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
L 2–5
4,272
15–14–5 (9–10–4)
March 4
7:05 PM
Massachusetts
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
L 3–4
5,043
15–15–5 (9–11–4)
Hockey East Tournament
March 8
7:00 PM
Vermont *
Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine
ESPN+
Östman
L 2–4
3,748
15–16–5
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll . All times are in Eastern Time . Source:[ 3]
Scoring statistics
Name
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
PIM
Lynden Breen
C
36
21
15
36
22
Ben Poisson
F
36
9
17
26
27
Nolan Renwick
RW
36
9
11
20
16
Donovan Houle-Villeneuve
C
36
9
10
19
16
Jakub Sirota
D
36
6
10
16
39
Didrik Henbrant
C /RW
34
7
8
15
24
Thomas Freel
C
36
2
13
15
27
David Breazeale
D
36
1
12
13
14
Luke Antonacci
D
36
3
9
12
10
Brandon Holt
D
24
4
7
11
2
Grayson Arnott
D
34
2
9
11
25
Michael Mancinelli
C
30
1
10
11
6
Cole Hanson
F
36
6
4
10
22
Félix Trudeau
LW
28
3
5
8
14
Reid Pabich
C
31
2
5
7
4
Killian Kiecker-Olson
C
24
1
4
5
12
Brandon Chabrier
D
28
1
4
5
25
Justin Michaelian
F
20
1
3
4
2
Aiden Carney
F
19
2
1
3
2
Grant Hebert
C
8
1
2
3
0
Samuel Duerr
D
22
0
3
3
8
Dawson Bruneski
D
19
0
2
2
8
Victor Östman
G
33
0
2
2
4
Matthew Fawcett
LW
10
1
0
1
0
Connor Androlewicz
G
3
0
0
0
0
Jacob Mucitelli
G
4
0
0
0
0
Robert Kincaid
D
8
0
0
0
0
Parker Lindauer
F
15
0
0
0
4
Total
92
167
259
333
[ 4]
Goaltending statistics
Name
Games
Minutes
Wins
Losses
Ties
Goals Against
Saves
Shut Outs
SV %
GAA
Victor Östman
33
1874:39
14
12
4
69
773
5
.918
2.21
Connor Androlewicz
3
134:27
0
1
1
7
45
0
.865
3.12
Jacob Mucitelli
4
161:29
1
3
0
13
61
0
.824
4.83
Empty Net
-
21:25
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
Total
36
2192:00
15
16
5
94
879
5
.903
2.57
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
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
-
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
-
NR
USA Today
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26. [ 5]
Awards and honors
Players drafted into the NHL
† incoming freshman
[ 7]
References
^ "WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023" . College Hockey Inc . March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023 .
^ "2022-23 Men's Ice Hockey Roster" . goblackbears.com. Retrieved September 13, 2016 .
^ "2022-23 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule" . Maine Black Bears . Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Univ. of Maine 2022-2023 Skater Stats" . Elite Prospects . Retrieved March 7, 2021 .
^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll" . USCHO.com . Retrieved November 26, 2019 .
^ "HOCKEY EAST NAMES 2022-23 MEN'S ALL-STAR TEAMS" . Hockey East . March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023 .
^ "NCAA player rankings, selections in 2023 NHL Draft" . USCHO.com . Retrieved June 30, 2023 .