60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Maine

Maine

2018-19 Record: 15-17-4 (11-9-4, 6th in Hockey East)
Head Coach: Red Gendron, 6th Year
Top returning scorer: Mitchell Fossier (8G-28A)
Top returning goaltender: Jeremy Swayman (Jr.)

The gates have been opened on the second half of this series, starting with a team who spent the second half serving as a gatekeeper for Hockey East.

Outside an overtime loss to UNH, the only schools who beat Maine during 2019 made the NCAA Tournament. The Black Bears defeated Boston University 6-0, split with Providence and Massachusetts, and beat Boston College and young Oliver Wahlstrom three times, including a 7-2 rout in Chestnut Hill. Only Northeastern found a way to stay unbeaten (4-0-0) during that stretch.

Honestly, the days where Maine was anything but a gatekeeper in Hockey East remain as memories. One NCAA Tournament appearance over the past 12 seasons has put time between the Black Bears being a Frozen Four regular. Red Gendron has been unable to get past the Hockey East quarterfinals in each of his first five seasons.

Above .500 in Hockey East, below .500 overall, Maine brings back five of the seven forwards who scored at least ten points plus one of Hockey East's most underrated and top goaltenders in Jeremy Swayman. Not coming back? The vast majority of Maine's blue line.

What's New: So about that blue line?

Of the six defenders who suited up for Maine's final game, only Simon Butala returns. Three players graduated. Two sophomores - Brady Keeper (Florida) and Alexis Binner (Vasterviks in his native Sweden) - signed pro contracts after 22 and 11 point seasons, respectively.

To replace them, a number of first-year players will be coming into Orono. That includes 21 year-old Levi Kleiboer and a transfer in Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick and former Wisconsin Badger J.D. Greenway. The younger brother of Minnesota Wild forward Jordan, J.D. spent two seasons playing defense for the Badgers before transferring. When playing, he was able to make an impact.

Maine hosts Omaha in January for games in Orono and Portland. The team twice travels to New Haven County, CT for games against Quinnipiac (October) and Yale (December).

Closing Thoughts: If anyone best represents Maine, it's Swayman. Despite having represented the US in the World Juniors, the goaltender quietly and successfully faced his share of shots. He made more saves than any other underclassmen. A .919 save percentage is respectable from a team that finished below .500. When things go well, it's flawless. When they don't, the mistakes and goals pile up.

Like Yale, the Black Bears have had highs and lows (as well as undefeated when leading after two periods and winless when losing after two periods). Maine got support from its top line of Mitchell Fossier-Chase Pearson-Eduards Tralmaks and really got going when its second line of Brendan Robbins-Tim Doherty-Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup did. Like Boston College, the sport has been becoming used to the Black Bears not being a Frozen Four regular (although even more in Maine's case).

To change perception, the Black Bears need to get beyond the gatekeeping, if possible. Losing Pearson, a two-time captain and 16 goal scorer (seven more than anyone else), after he signed with Detroit early, along with Keeper and Binner, put a damper in Maine's core. Whether Gendron can quickly get his new-look defense in front of Swayman up to speed will go a long way.

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