Maine beats Air Force, 4-1

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Maine scored two goals early in the third period as the Black Bears beat Air Force, 4-1, in the opening round of the 2022 Ice Breaker Tournament, Friday, Oct. 7, at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Maine opened the scoring on the rush as Cole Hanson set up Grant Hebert at 14:16 of the first period. Midway through the second period, the Black Bears took a 2-0 lead when Brandon Holt's wrister from the right point snuck through traffic at 10:11. Late in the second period, the Falcons got on the board on the power play. Sam Brennan carried a puck down to the goal line and his centering pass was tipped by Parker Brown into the slot. Mitchell Digby skated down the slot with speed and netted the first goal of the season for the Falcons at 18:49.

Air Force carried some momentum into the third period and went on the power play after Chris Hedden drew a penalty. However, Maine forced a turnover and Lynden Breen scored short-handed for a 3-1 lead at 3:29. Then less than two minutes later, Ben Poisson forced a turnover at the Falcon blue line and Breen scored again at 5:09 for a 4-1 advantage.

Maine outshot Air Force, 32-21. The Falcons were 1-for-4 on the power play while Maine was 0-for-3. Air Force freshman goalie Aaron Randazzo, making his first collegiate start, made 28 saves. For the Black Bears, Jacob Mucitelli made 20 stops.

"We got behind early and chased the scoreboard all night," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We played okay early, but Maine was the better team tonight. We have only scored two goals in two games. Our intensity in every area has to go up a good notch. We generated a few chances, but nothing sustained. We have a ways to go and we have to get better in every area."

In the other Ice Breaker game tonight in Denver, the top-ranked Denver Pioneers beat ninth-ranked Notre Dame, 5-2. Denver (1-0-0) and Maine (1-0-0) will play for the Ice Breaker championship in Denver on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Air Force (0-1-0) will host Notre Dame (0-1-0) on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 6:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Brennan

Parker Brown

Mitchell Digby

Chris Hedden