The University of Maine men’s hockey team continues to impress, particularly when the Nadeau brothers, Josh and Bradly, take the ice together. Fans consistently anticipate something exceptional when these two play, and Friday night’s game against rival New Hampshire certainly lived up to those expectations.
At Alfond Arena, the sold-out crowd of 5,043 witnessed the undeniable chemistry between the Nadeau brothers. Josh Nadeau secured a hat trick, with all three goals assisted by his brother Bradly, leading the Black Bears to a 5-2 victory. Ranked No.11 in the USCHO.com poll, Maine improved to 7-3-1 overall with a solid 4-2-1 record in Hockey East. Meanwhile, No. 15 UNH now stands at 7-4-1 overall and 4-1-1 in league play.
The Black Bears have established themselves on home ice, boasting an impressive 4-0-1 record at Alfond Arena. Their upcoming challenge will be against UConn at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The on-ice chemistry and flair for the dramatic displayed by the Nadeau brothers were unmistakable, particularly when Josh Nadeau extended Maine’s lead to 3-1 late in the second period. Bradly, the first-round pick for the Carolina Hurricanes in June, skillfully maneuvered past a Wildcat defender, capturing goalie Jakob Hellsten’s attention before making a precise pass to Josh, who found the back of the net at 18:32.
The game-tying goal materialized with just three seconds left in the first period, as Josh Nadeau capitalized on a power-play opportunity assisted by his brother Bradly. Maine took a 2-1 lead just 23 seconds into the second period when Thomas Freel scored with assistance from Brandon Holt and Harrison Scott.
In his first collegiate start in the net for Maine, freshman Albin Boija made 18 saves, despite allowing two goals; one to Harrison Blaisdell at 13:35 of the first period and another to Steven Sardarian at 17:38 of the third on a power play.
With an exceptional performance, the Black Bears continue to make a statement in the hockey world, and fans are eager to witness more success from this promising team.
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