ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team has been ranked seventh in the College Hockey News Preseason Top -10 Poll. The rankings were announced on Monday, Sept. 6.
Maine fell to defending national champion Boston College 7-6 in overtime in the Hockey East Title game last March at the TD Garden in Boston. The Black Bears return their top seven scorers from last season and 11 of their top 12 scorers.
Among the returnees are junior assistant captain Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) who is the lone member of the Hobey Baker Hat Trick returning to college for the 2010-2011 season. Nyquist led the nation in scoring with 19 goals and 42 assists for 61 points. Also among the returning forwards are Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) (19 goals and 28 assists), captain Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta), (18 goals and 21 assists), Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) (nine goals and 19 assists) along with Robby Dee (Plymouth, Minn.) (13 goals and 12 assists).
Maine returns four defenseman who all saw action in 30 or more games a year ago. Will O’Neill (Salem, Mass.) chipped in with eight goals and 23 assists, while assistant captain Jeff Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) scored 12 goals, one shy of tying the school record for goals in a season, and 18 assists for 30 points.
Maine led the nation, scoring at a 27.7 percent clip on the power play.
The Black Bears open the 2010-2011 season on Friday, Oct. 8 when they host UMass Lowell at 7 PM at Alfond Arena. Season tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling the Maine ticket office at 207-581-BEAR.
