Maine hockey improves defense ahead of semifinals matchup

The University of Maine men's hockey team is preparing for the Hockey East semifinals against Northeastern on Thursday. The team has focused on improving its defense, which has been a continuous project throughout the season. Senior defenseman David Breazeale highlights the importance of learning from past mistakes and building on them. Maine's defensive unit, guided by assistant coach Jason Fortier, has been working on minimizing small errors that can lead to goals against. The team has seen recent improvements, allowing their goaltender, Albin Boija, to have a clearer view of the puck. The Black Bears currently rank third in the nation for scoring defense, conceding an average of 1.86 goals per game. Coach Ben Barr acknowledged the progress made since midseason and noted that players like Luke Antonocci and Bode Noles have been crucial in solidifying the defensive lineup. Earlier in the year, players struggled with confidence, leading to mistakes. However, recent performances have shown a more stable defensive pairing system. Sophomore Frank Djurasevic spoke about the importance of team chemistry on the defense. In earlier games, the coach experimented with different pairings, but now they have settled into consistent groupings. Barr emphasized that confidence is key for defenders, as it prevents turnovers and costly errors. Despite facing challenges, including a recent ejection of a key player, Maine's defense is adapting and focused on their upcoming game. A win would advance the team to the Hockey East final for the first time since 2012. Regardless of the tournament outcome, Maine is expected to qualify for the NCAA tournament again this year.