Maine Captures First Title since 2004, Takes Over Boston in Process
BY BRENDAN LOCKE — MARCH 23RD, 2025
Ladies and gentlemen… your 2025 Hockey East Tournament MVP!
Maine' goalie’s Albin Boija postgame
Albin Boija joined Jimmy Howard as the only Maine netminder to win tournament MVP as he stopped 89 of 93 shots during the tournament and was pivotal in helping Maine secure a tournament title for the first time in 21 years.
And the jumpsuit? I’ll let the MVP explain that “It’s not [our] gameday fit normally, but we said we’re bringing them because after we win we’re going to wear them after… So I’m wearing it”
You can party like ‘04 all you want in Orono, except you would be the only person in the town because just about the entire state of Maine invaded and promptly took over TD Garden.
Maine’s coach Ben Barr, seemingly every press conference, talks about “our state” and the overwhelmingly supportive community that surrounds Black Bear hockey.
“It gets better every time you go on the bench,” said Barr. “One day you think it can’t get better and then it’s better the next time.”
The Hockey East Championship game attendance was 17,605. It’s not unreasonable to say that 13,000 of those people were wearing Maine blue.
David Brezeale is the only player on the Black Bears to be in Orono longer than his coach, a graduate student who has been there since the beginning “It’s been unbelievable” said Brezeale “Me, Lyndon, Renny [Nolan Renwick] and coach… To be a part of what Coach Barr has built here… just so grateful to be along for that ride.”
Photo by ECH’s Ariana Ottrando
The Ice Bus, on the other hand, ran out of gas, and UConn never got the jump that they had in their wins over Providence and BU.
“It just wasn’t our night,” said UConn head coach Mike Cavanaugh.
Hudson Schandor is one of three UConn players who played in the 2023 Hockey East championship. However, the graduate student, who leads the Huskies in assists, gave warmups a try, but was not able to go for the game.
“I wasn’t confident that he was going to be playing,” said Cavanaugh.
Junior forward Ryan Tattle slotted in for Schandor on the top-line center and looked the part. However, the bottom of the Huskies lineup completely fell out. A top-heavy forward group to begin with lost their top playmaker, leaving the other nine forwards with very little to work with.
On the other side of that coin was Lynden Breen, the captain of the Black Bears, who suffered a fractured fibula in a November matchup with RPI in a game where he had a hat trick. “I didn’t think he would have him the rest of the season, but to come back and play… it speaks to his character,” said Barr.
The Black Bears jumped on UConn from the word “go,” and it was Breen who got the party started for Maine. Breen potted his second goal in three games by converting a two-on-one with Owen Fowler, Breen picked the puck up in neutral ice, gave a look to Fowler, and froze UConn goalie Tyler Muszelik, sliding it five-hole.
Breen found his stride in the Hockey East tournament, registering three points in three tournament games since coming back earlier this month. The graduate student has been in Orono longer than Ben Barr and told NESN after the game, “I’m a Black Bear for life.”
Photo by ECH’s Ariana Ottrando
UConn’s run to the championship game had been headlined by comebacks, trailing 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes to both Providence and Boston University. Nothing looked out of place for the Huskies in the dying moments of the first period. Things even seemed comfortable, they didn’t have their “A” game but after Maine had played five periods of hockey the previous night how much did the Black Bears have in the tank?
Enter Josh Nadeau.
Maine would hold that lead controlling the game throughout a sleepy second period.
However, UConn’s issues became more apparent throughout the contest.
In the semi-final game against BU, the Huskies exited their own zone with control of the puck 50% of the time. However, against Maine, that number dropped to 35%, and the Huskies would pay for it.
It was a turnover in the defensive zone and UConn’s Jake Richard couldn’t handle a bouncing puck. With three minutes left in the period, Maine’s Harrison Scott was there to bat it in out of midair and give the Black Bears a controlling 3-0 lead.
UConn would finally push back in the third getting back within two goals. Tabor Heaslip was able to slam a puck in from the top of the crease and give the Huskies life just three minutes into the final period.
But they lacked that final clinical goal to put the pressure on Maine.
A handful of chances, including a goal being called back due to offsides limited the Huskies' chances for a comeback.
The top line, headlined by Joey Muldowney with 45 points in 37 games, created but never produced.
Maine was able to extend their lead with a fourth goal by Taylor Makar, who found a home with the coach who recruited him to UMass.
Maine would tack on an empty netter to seal the score 5-2 after UConn pulled within two once more, but the countdown was already on.
Maine punched their ticket as a one-seed in the NCAA tournament and secured a postseason title, and for those who were still questioning… Yes, Maine hockey is back.
Photo by ECH’s Ariana Ottrando
What an incredible season Out East!
For more coverage of the top conference in college hockey - Follow ECH blogger Brendan Locke on X @_Brendanlocke and ECH blogger/photographer Ariana Ottrando @OttrandoAriana
