# Boston University–Maine men's ice hockey rivalry

The Boston University–Maine men's ice hockey rivalry is a college hockey rivalry between the Boston University Terriers and the Maine Black Bears in the Hockey East conference. The rivalry was born out of fierce on-ice competition between the two schools, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, as the two schools were routinely at the top of the Hockey East standings and battled each other for conference supremacy.

## History

In the early years of Maine's program, the rivalry was one-sided and had not yet truly formed, as Boston University dominated Maine on the ice, defeating them 13 consecutive times between 1982 and 1986, one of the worst losing streaks to a single opponent in Maine's history. Once legendary Black Bears coach Shawn Walsh took over the program, however, the tides started to turn, and Maine began to make up ground. One notable meeting between the teams occurred on February 19, 1993, at Alfond Arena in Orono, home of the Black Bears. Maine was in the midst of an unprecedentedly successful season, having entered that contest with a record of 30-0-2. Midway through the third period, Maine was leading by a score of 6-2, and it appeared they would cruise to another easy victory. However, the Terriers would rally, and manage to score four unanswered third period goals to tie the game at 6-6 and send it to overtime. In the overtime period, Terriers forward Mike Prendergast would get a breakaway from center ice and proceed to score the game-winning goal for the Terriers, giving them a stunning 7-6 victory and handing Maine their first loss of the season. Prendergast would say after the game, "My sister could have scored that goal" to taunt the Maine players and fans. However, this would end up as Maine's only loss the entire season, as they would not lose another game all season and win their first national title with a stunning 42-1-2 record, including defeating the Terriers twice more by a combined score of 11-3. Boston University would have their revenge, however, winning a national championship of their own in 1995, defeating Maine in the national title game 6-2. The on-ice rivalry between the schools was often overshadowed by the personal rivalry between the coaches, Walsh for Maine and BU's own legendary coach Jack Parker. Both men were impassioned and bombastic coaches, and as such drew the ire of each other and of opposing fans. While they often had choice words for each other during their coaching careers, Parker spoke kindly of Walsh during his cancer treatment and following his 2001 death. While some fans view Boston College and New Hampshire as BU and Maine's historical and primary rivals, respectively, fans from the heat of the rivalry in the 1990s and early 2000s may report that in their opinion, either Maine or BU is their schools true rival, not UNH or BC. Even after Walsh's 2001 death, the rivalry has remained heated and competitive, meeting in the Hockey East playoff tournament in 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2024, with Maine winning each matchup aside from 2009 and 2024. The two teams also met in the NCAA National Tournament in 2002, with Maine emerging victorious. On January 24, 2004, the two teams combined for 268 penalty minutes in one game, a men's college hockey record that stands to this day, and stood as the all-levels, both genders record until 2013. The majority of the penalty minutes were accrued during a brawl at the end of the game, which was a 1-0 victory for Boston University. Even as Maine's team performance has declined in the latter part of the 2010s, games between the teams remain tense, chippy affairs, and simultaneous success for the teams would lead to a rejuvenation of the once-heated rivalry.

## Game Results

As of November 17, 2023
| Maine victories | Boston University victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | November 20, 1979 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–3 |
| 2 | February 19, 1980 | Orono, ME | Maine | 8–7 |
| 3 | December 13, 1980 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–4 |
| 4 | January 21, 1981 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–0 |
| 5 | December 12, 1981 | Boston, MA | Maine | 6–5 |
| 6 | January 16, 1982 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 7–1 |
| 7 | December 11, 1982 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–2 |
| 8 | February 1, 1983 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 6–2 |
| 9 | December 10, 1983 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–2 (OT) |
| 10 | February 3, 1984 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 6–2 |
| 11 | January 20, 1985 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 6–4 |
| 12 | February 15, 1985 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 7–4 |
| 13 | February 16, 1985 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 7–2 |
| 14 | March 9, 1985 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 7–4 |
| 15 | March 10, 1985 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 4–2 |
| 16 | December 1, 1985 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 4–1 |
| 17 | February 14, 1986 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–2 |
| 18 | February 15, 1986 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 6–3 |
| 19 | October 31, 1986 | Boston, MA | Maine | 3–2 |
| 20 | November 1, 1986 | Boston, MA | Maine | 7–5 |
| 21 | February 27, 1987 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–3 |
| 22 | February 28, 1987 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 23 | November 14, 1987 | Orono, ME | Maine | 7–5 |
| 24 | December 4, 1987 | Boston, MA | Maine | 6–2 |
| 25 | December 5, 1987 | Boston, MA | Maine | 7–1 |
| 26 | November 29, 1988 | Boston, MA | Maine | 8–4 |
| 27 | February 24, 1989 | Orono, ME | Maine | 8–4 |
| 28 | February 25, 1989 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–3 |
| 29 | December 10, 1989 | Boston, MA | Maine | 3–2 (OT) |
| 30 | December 11, 1989 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 (OT) |
| 31 | February 24, 1990 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 32 | March 9, 1990 | Orono, ME† | Maine | 3–1 |
| 33 | December 2, 1990 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 7–4 |
| 34 | January 25, 1991 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 35 | January 26, 1991 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–0 |
| 36 | March 10, 1991 | Boston, MA†† | Boston University | 4–3 (OT) |
| 37 | November 15, 1991 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–4 |
| 38 | November 16, 1991 | Boston, MA | Maine | 8–1 |
| 39 | January 31, 1992 | Orono, ME | Tie | 4–4 |
| 40 | November 20, 1992 | Boston, MA | Maine | 4–3 |
| 41 | November 21, 1992 | Boston, MA | Maine | 6–3 |
| 42 | February 19, 1993 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 7–6 (OT) |
| 43 | February 20, 1993 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–1 |
| 44 | March 20, 1993 | Boston, MA†† | Maine | 5–2 |
| 45 | November 19, 1993 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–3 |
| 46 | November 20, 1993 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–1 |
| 47 | February 19, 1994 | Boston, MA | Tie | 0–0 |
| 48 | February 20, 1994 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–1 |
| 49 | March 11, 1994 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 8–5 |
| 50 | March 12, 1994 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 4–3 |
| 51 | October 30, 1994 | Boston, MA | Tie | 3–3 |
| 52 | November 27, 1994 | Inglewood, CA | Maine | 6–5 (OT) |
| 53 | December 2, 1994 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–5 |
| 54 | December 3, 1994 | Orono, ME | Tie | 5–5 |
| 55 | April 1, 1995 | Providence, RI†††† | Boston University | 6–2 |
| 56 | November 14, 1995 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–2 |
| 57 | January 19, 1996 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 4–3 |
| 58 | November 20, 1996 | Boston, MA | Tie | 3–3 |
| 59 | January 25, 1997 | Boston, MA | Maine | 3–1 |
| 60 | February 21, 1997 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–0 |
| 61 | February 22, 1997 | Orono, ME | Maine | 7–2 |
| 62 | November 8, 1997 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 6–0 |
| 63 | January 23, 1998 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 4–3 |
| 64 | January 24, 1998 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 |
| 65 | January 5, 1999 | Boston, MA | Maine | 4–3 |
| 66 | February 19, 1999 | Orono, ME | Maine | 7–2 |
| 67 | February 20, 1999 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 4–1 |
| 68 | December 10, 1999 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 69 | January 15, 2000 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–4 |
| 70 | January 16, 2000 | Boston, MA | Tie | 3–3 |
| 71 | March 17, 2000 | Boston, MA† | Maine | 4–2 |
| 72 | December 8, 2000 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 |
| 73 | January 12, 2001 | Orono, ME | Tie | 3–3 |
| 74 | January 13, 2001 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–1 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 75 | November 9, 2001 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–2 (OT) |
| 76 | March 1, 2002 | Boston, MA | Maine | 9–6 |
| 77 | March 2, 2002 | Boston, MA | Tie | 4–4 |
| 78 | March 15, 2002 | Boston, MA† | Maine | 4–3 |
| 79 | March 24, 2002 | Worcester, MA††† | Maine | 4–2 |
| 80 | November 16, 2002 | Boston, MA | Maine | 7–3 |
| 81 | February 28, 2003 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 4–2 |
| 82 | March 1, 2003 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 83 | November 1, 2003 | Orono, ME | Maine | 2–1 |
| 84 | January 23, 2004 | Boston, MA | Maine | 8–4 |
| 85 | January 24, 2004 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 1–0 |
| 86 | March 19, 2004 | Boston, MA† | Maine | 1–0 |
| 87 | October 31, 2004 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 2–1 |
| 88 | January 21, 2005 | Orono, ME | Tie | 1–1 |
| 89 | January 22, 2005 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 90 | November 6, 2005 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 2–1 |
| 91 | January 13, 2006 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 |
| 92 | January 14, 2006 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–4 |
| 93 | November 4, 2006 | Boston, MA | Tie | 2–2 |
| 94 | January 12, 2007 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 6–5 |
| 95 | January 13, 2007 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–0 |
| 96 | January 12, 2008 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–1 |
| 97 | February 15, 2008 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 2–1 (OT) |
| 98 | February 16, 2008 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 1–0 (OT) |
| 99 | January 10, 2009 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 4–1 |
| 100 | February 13, 2009 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 7–2 |
| 101 | February 14, 2009 | Orono, ME | Tie | 2–2 |
| 102 | March 13, 2009 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 2–1 |
| 103 | March 14, 2009 | Boston, MA† | Maine | 6–3 |
| 104 | March 15, 2009 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 6–2 |
| 105 | November 8, 2009 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–2 |
| 106 | February 12, 2010 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 7–4 |
| 107 | February 13, 2010 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–2 |
| 108 | March 19, 2010 | Boston, MA† | Maine | 5–2 |
| 109 | November 6, 2010 | Boston, MA | Tie | 2–2 |
| 110 | January 28, 2011 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 4–3 |
| 111 | January 29, 2011 | Orono, ME | Tie | 1–1 |
| 112 | December 10, 2011 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–1 |
| 113 | January 27, 2012 | Boston, MA | Maine | 4–2 |
| 114 | January 28, 2012 | Boston, MA | Maine | 3–1 |
| 115 | March 16, 2012 | Boston, MA† | Maine | 5–3 |
| 116 | December 8, 2012 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 1–0 |
| 117 | February 15, 2013 | Orono, ME | Tie | 3–3 |
| 118 | February 16, 2013 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–4 (OT) |
| 119 | November 15, 2013 | Orono, ME | Maine | 7–0 |
| 120 | January 11, 2014 | Boston, MA | Maine | 7–3 |
| 121 | November 14, 2014 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–1 |
| 122 | November 21, 2014 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 (OT) |
| 123 | January 22, 2016 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–2 |
| 124 | January 23, 2016 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 6–1 |
| 125 | January 20, 2017 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 4–1 |
| 126 | January 21, 2017 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 3–1 |
| 127 | November 17, 2017 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 128 | November 18, 2017 | Portland, ME | Boston University | 7–0 |
| 129 | January 6, 2018 | Boston, MA | Maine | 3–0 |
| 130 | November 16, 2018 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 |
| 131 | November 17, 2018 | Boston, MA | Maine | 3–1 |
| 132 | March 9, 2019 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–0 |
| 133 | November 1, 2019 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 134 | November 2, 2019 | Orono, ME | Tie | 2–2 |
| 135 | January 22, 2021 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 (OT) |
| 136 | January 23, 2021 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–1 |
| 137 | February 4, 2022 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 4–0 |
| 138 | March 4, 2022 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–1 |
| 139 | March 5, 2022 | Orono, ME | Maine | 8–1 |
| 140 | January 20, 2023 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–1 |
| 141 | January 21, 2023 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 9–6 |
| 142 | February 3, 2023 | Orono, ME | Boston University | 5–3 |
| 143 | November 17, 2023 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 3–2 |
| 144 | November 18, 2023 | Boston, MA | Boston University | 5–4 |
| 145 | March 22, 2024 | Boston, MA† | Boston University | 4–1 |
| 146 | November 15, 2024 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 147 | November 16, 2024 | Orono, ME | Tie | 2–2 |
| Series: Boston University leads 73–58–16 |||||
† Hockey East Tournament
†† Hockey East Championship Game
††† NCAA Tournament
†††† NCAA National Championship Game

### Results by decade

| Decade | Series |
| 1970s | Boston University, 1–0–0 |
| 1980s | Boston University, 15–14–0 |
| 1990s | Maine, 18–15–5 |
| 2000s | Boston University, 18–13–6 |
| 2010s | Boston University, 14–11–4 |
| 2020s | Boston University, 10–2–1 |