The University of Maine men’s hockey team had only one freshman who played significant minutes last season.
It’s going to be much different for the Black Bears this year.
Head coach Ben Barr said the Black Bears could have 10 freshmen in the lineup this season.
Barr, who has guided his last two Black Bear teams to the program’s first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances since the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, has “no idea” what to expect from his new-look team at this point ahead of the season.
He has 13 newcomers including nine players from Canada’s three Major Junior Leagues. This is the first year Major Junior players have been eligible to play U.S college hockey because they had previously been deemed professionals by the NCAA for receiving small financial stipends.
Five of the