NCAA Series Recap: Maine Splits Series with Holy Cross

The Maine Black Bears opened their 2026-27 NCAA hockey season with a weekend series against the Holy Cross Crusaders, splitting the two games. Maine dominated Friday’s opener with a 4-1 victory before Holy Cross rallied late Saturday to earn a 3-2 overtime win.

Entering the weekend, Maine held a 6-2-0 all-time record against Holy Cross. The last meeting between the two programs came last season in Orono, where the Black Bears swept the series and outscored the Crusaders 11-2.

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Tanner Klimpke Leads Maine to Friday Night Victory

Maine wasted little time getting on the scoreboard Friday night. Just before the five-minute mark, Tanner Klimpke opened the scoring with a power-play goal. Ish Parekh delivered a beautiful cross-ice pass to Klimpke, who buried the puck into an open net to give Maine a 1-0 lead.

The Black Bears capitalized on another power-play opportunity a few minutes later. Parekh once again found Klimpke with a cross-ice feed, and the forward scored his second goal of the night to double Maine’s advantage.

Holy Cross cut the deficit in the middle period when Matthew Kursonis scored a shorthanded goal. Kursonis fired a wrist shot into the top-right corner to make it 2-1.

However, Maine responded in the third period. Six minutes into the frame, Brock James extended the lead to 3-1 after Lukas Peterson delivered a beautiful cross-ice pass for the goal.

With less than two minutes remaining, Owen Fowler sealed the victory with an empty-net goal from just outside the blue line.

Maine finished 2-for-7 on the power play while holding Holy Cross scoreless on four opportunities. The Black Bears also outshot the Crusaders 30-19.

Alvin Boija earned the win in net, stopping 18 of 19 shots. Danick Leroux made 26 saves on 29 shots in the loss.

Holy Cross Rallies Late to Beat Maine in Overtime

Saturday’s rematch featured a much different result. Holy Cross struck first when Kursonis scored just over nine minutes into the opening period to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.

The score remained unchanged through the first two periods. Holy Cross finally added some insurance with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation. Noah Eyre scored a power-play goal after Jeremy Langlois was sent to the penalty box for tripping.

Facing a two-goal deficit late in the game, Maine refused to go quietly. Isa Parekh brought the Black Bears within one with just under three and a half minutes remaining.

Holy Cross then sent Preston Loundsbury to the penalty box, giving Maine a crucial power-play opportunity. Less than a minute later, Lee Parks capitalized and tied the game at 2-2, forcing overtime.

Unfortunately for the Black Bears, the momentum did not carry into the extra period. Just over a minute and a half into overtime, Connor Welsh scored the game-winning goal for Holy Cross, completing the comeback and securing a 3-2 victory.

Maine outshot Holy Cross 28-26 and finished 1-for-4 on the power play. The Crusaders went 1-for-5.

Petter Wickstrom Stumer stopped 23 of 26 shots in the loss, while Leroux earned his second straight win after making 26 saves.

Maine and Holy Cross Split Opening Weekend

The Black Bears showed their offensive potential in Friday’s convincing victory, with Klimpke leading the way and Parekh contributing two assists. However, Saturday’s loss highlighted the importance of finishing games, as Holy Cross erased a two-goal deficit in the final eight minutes.

Both teams leave opening weekend with a win and a loss as they begin their 2026-27 campaigns.