Maine Black Bears earn top NCAA hockey tournament seed

The University of Maine men's hockey team has earned a top seed in the NCAA tournament. The Black Bears will compete against Penn State in the opening round, scheduled for Friday night in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Maine, with a record of 24-7-6, is ranked No. 3 in the PairWise rankings used for seeding in the tournament. They secured their spot by winning the Hockey East championship against UConn last week. The game against Penn State, which co-hosts the region, will begin at 8:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN 2. Player Harrison Scott emphasized the team's focus, saying, “We’re just going to take care of our business.” Maine is prepared for the challenge, having played well throughout the season. They are familiar with UConn and Quinnipiac, both teams in the other side of the Allentown bracket. Maine coach Ben Barr noted he needs to gather more information on Penn State. He acknowledged that facing a host team presents its own challenges. The Black Bears have not played a Big Ten opponent in nearly a decade. Players are excited for this new experience, while also being mindful of past lessons learned from their previous tournament appearances. This marks Maine's second consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament. The team has been a strong contender this season, and they aim to continue their success. Six teams from Hockey East made the tournament, the highest number from any conference. Other notable matchups include Boston College and UMass facing off in different locations.