# 2021–22 Maine Black Bears men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Maine Black Bears Men's ice hockey season was the 47th season of play for the program, the 45th season competing at the Division I level, and the 38th season 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 1st season as head coach.

## Season

With the still recovering from the sudden death of the previous head coach, Red Gendron, Maine struggled through the early part of the season. Despite returning almost off the players from the previous season, the offense was unable to coalesce and proved to be a hindrance for the Black Bears' success. Maine was shutout seven times during the season and finished as one of the lowest goal for in the nation. Compounding their problems was a less-than-stellar performance in goal. Victor Östman and Matthew Thiessen split the starting job but both were fairly inconsistent.
Maine's start doomed their postseason hopes and by mid-December the Black Bears had just 1 win in 16 games. They played better in the second half, Nearly quadrupling their win total, and took games from Massachusetts and Boston University, both ranked teams. Unfortunately, Maine could never put together a string of good play and ended the year with the worst record in Hockey East. In their only playoff match, the Bears were soundly beaten by Merrimack. While the overall results were lackluster, the team did show improvement as the year went on.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Dominic Dockery | Defenseman | United States | Left mid-season (signed with Wheeling Nailers) |
| Kabore Dunn | Defenseman | Canada | Returned to juniors (transferred to Lindenwood) |
| J. D. Greenway | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Providence Bruins) |
| Levi Kleiboer | Defenseman | Canada | Transferred to Mount Royal |
| Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi | Defenseman | Finland | Graduation (signed with Oulun Kärpät) |
| Eduards Tralmaks | Forward | Latvia | Graduation (signed with Providence Bruins) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| David Breazeale | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Jenison, MI |
| Dominic Dockery | Defenseman | United States | 24 | Lockport, NY; graduate transfer from Merrimack |
| Matt Fawcett | Forward | United States | 22 | Lincoln, RI; transfer from Quinnipiac |
| Tim Gould | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Moncton, NB |
| Grant Hebert | Forward | Canada | 24 | St. Andrew's West, ON; transfer from Robert Morris |
| Nolan Renwick | Forward | Canada | 20 | Milestone, SK |

## Roster

As of August 19, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 Hockey East Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SOW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #12 Northeastern † | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 68 | 46 | 39 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 99 | 68 |
| #10 Massachusetts * | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 46 | 77 | 54 | 37 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 117 | 88 |
| #13 Massachusetts Lowell | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 62 | 48 | 35 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 102 | 74 |
| #19 Connecticut | 24 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 73 | 61 | 36 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 109 | 89 |
| Boston University | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 69 | 58 | 35 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 107 | 89 |
| Merrimack | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 70 | 70 | 35 | 19 | 15 | 1 | 109 | 99 |
| #20 Providence | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 61 | 52 | 38 | 22 | 14 | 2 | 118 | 82 |
| Boston College | 24 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 67 | 77 | 38 | 15 | 18 | 5 | 114 | 123 |
| New Hampshire | 24 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 47 | 71 | 34 | 14 | 19 | 1 | 76 | 95 |
| Vermont | 24 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 41 | 72 | 35 | 8 | 25 | 2 | 59 | 101 |
| Maine | 24 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 54 | 80 | 33 | 7 | 22 | 4 | 74 | 111 |
| Championship: March 19, 2022 † indicates regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion (Lamoriello Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 2 | | vs. #9 Quinnipiac* | Phillips Exeter Academy Rink • Exeter, New Hampshire (Exhibition) | | Thiessen | L 0–7 | | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 8 | 8:07 PM | at #17 Omaha* | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Östman | L 1–4 | 4,036 | 0–1–0 |
| October 9 | 7:07 PM | at #17 Omaha* | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Östman | L 3–5 | 2,919 | 0–2–0 |
| October 22 | 7:30 PM | Sacred Heart* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | L 0–1 | 4,142 | 0–3–0 |
| October 23 | 5:00 PM | Sacred Heart* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,136 | 0–3–1 |
| October 29 | 7:00 PM | at #20 Northeastern | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | NESN | Thiessen | L 0–5 | 2,138 | 0–4–1 (0–1–0) |
| October 30 | 7:00 PM | at #20 Northeastern | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | | Östman | L 2–3 | 2,179 | 0–5–1 (0–2–0) |
| November 5 | 7:30 PM | Connecticut | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | L 3–4 | 3,790 | 0–6–1 (0–3–0) |
| November 6 | 7:00 PM | Connecticut | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Östman | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,781 | 0–7–1 (0–4–0) |
| November 12 | 7:37 PM | Merrimack | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Östman | W 6–5 $^{OT}$ | 3,007 | 1–7–1 (1–4–1) |
| November 13 | 7:30 PM | Merrimack | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | L 0–2 | 3,189 | 1–8–1 (1–5–1) |
| November 18 | 7:00 PM | at #19 Boston College | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | NESN | Thiessen | L 2–6 | 3,177 | 1–9–1 (1–6–1) |
| November 19 | 7:00 PM | at #19 Boston College | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | NESN+ | Östman | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 4,224 | 1–9–2 (1–6–2) |
| November 27 | 5:00 PM | vs. #15 Massachusetts Lowell | Cross Insurance Arena • Portland, Maine | | Östman | L 0–2 | 4,176 | 1–10–2 (1–7–2) |
| December 3 | 7:30 PM | Vermont | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | NESN+ | Östman | L 0–1 | 3,059 | 1–11–2 (1–8–2) |
| December 4 | 7:00 PM | Vermont | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | T 1–1 $^{SOL}$ | 3,435 | 1–11–3 (1–8–3) |
| December 10 | 7:00 PM | Union* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | T 1–1 $^{OT}$ | 2,631 | 1–11–4 |
| December 11 | 7:00 PM | Union* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Östman | W 4–3 | 3,065 | 2–11–4 |
| January 7 | 7:30 PM | Alaska* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | L 2–6 | 2,468 | 2–12–4 |
| January 8 | 7:00 PM | Alaska* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Androlewicz | W 4–2 | 2,978 | 3–12–4 |
| January 14 | 7:15 PM | at #12 Massachusetts Lowell | Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts | | Östman | L 3–5 | 4,217 | 3–13–4 (1–9–3) |
| January 15 | 6:05 PM | at #12 Massachusetts Lowell | Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts | NESN | Östman | L 3–4 | 3,013 | 3–14–4 (1–10–3) |
| January 28 | 7:30 PM | Boston College | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Östman | W 4–1 | 3,369 | 4–14–4 (2–10–3) |
| February 4 | 7:30 PM | at #19 Boston University | Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | | Östman | L 0–4 | 2,343 | 4–15–4 (2–11–3) |
| February 5 | 7:00 PM | at Merrimack | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | | Östman | L 0–5 | 2,215 | 4–16–4 (2–12–3) |
| February 11 | 7:00 PM | at #9 Massachusetts | Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts | | Östman | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 3,294 | 5–16–4 (3–12–3) |
| February 12 | 7:00 PM | at #9 Massachusetts | Mullins Center • Amherst, Massachusetts | NESN | Östman | L 2–4 | 3,434 | 5–17–4 (3–13–3) |
| February 18 | 7:00 PM | New Hampshire | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | NESN | Östman | W 6–3 | 4,670 | 6–17–4 (4–13–3) |
| February 19 | 7:00 PM | New Hampshire | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Östman | L 2–5 | 4,985 | 6–18–4 (4–14–3) |
| February 25 | 7:00 PM | at #19т Providence | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | | Östman | L 2–4 | 1,996 | 6–19–4 (4–15–3) |
| February 26 | 7:00 PM | at #19т Providence | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | | Thiessen | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 2,042 | 6–20–4 (4–16–3) |
| March 4 | 7:30 PM | #14 Boston University | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Östman | L 1–5 | 3,226 | 6–21–4 (4–17–3) |
| March 5 | 7:30 PM | #14 Boston University | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Thiessen | W 8–1 | 3,651 | 7–21–4 (5–17–3) |
| Hockey East Tournament ||||||||||
| March 9 | 7:00 PM | at Merrimack* | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts (Opening Round) | | Thiessen | L 2–6 | 2,549 | 7–22–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Lynden Breen | C | 33 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 10 |
| Donovan Houle-Villeneuve | C | 32 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 44 |
| Grant Hebert | C | 29 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 35 |
| David Breazeale | D | 33 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 8 |
| Ben Poisson | F | 32 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 6 |
| Jakub Sirota | D | 26 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
| Keenan Suthers | LW | 30 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 23 |
| Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup | RW | 28 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
| Adam Dawe | C/RW | 28 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 21 |
| Nolan Renwick | RW | 33 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 |
| Matt Fawcett | F | 20 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Adrien Bisson | D | 30 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
| Jack Quinlivan | F | 30 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 16 |
| Dawson Bruneski | D | 22 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 30 |
| Samuel Duerr | D | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jonny Mulera | F | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| A. J. Drobot | RW | 23 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Tristan Poissant | F | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Cameron Spicer | D | 33 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Brad Morrissey | RW | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Tim Gould | D | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Victor Östman | G | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Simon Butala | D | 28 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 |
| Edward Lindelöw | C | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| Dominic Dockery | D | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Perry Winfree | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Androlewicz | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kabore Dunn | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Thiessen | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Emil Westerlund | LW/RW | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | | | 74 | 129 | 203 | 316 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Matthew Thiessen | 12 | 656 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 34 | 269 | 0 | .888 | 3.11 |
| Victor Östman | 21 | 1234 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 68 | 610 | 0 | .900 | 3.31 |
| Connor Androlewicz | 2 | 105 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 44 | 0 | .880 | 3.41 |
| Empty Net | - | 20 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 33 | 2015 | 7 | 22 | 4 | 111 | 923 | 0 | .893 | 3.30 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | 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 (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 |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award | Ref |
| David Breazeale | Hockey East Rookie Team | |