At the start of November, with nothing to look forward to but the Toronto Argonauts' upcoming season, freshman netminder Dave Wilson sent away for a new helmet. For the earnest Wilson, ordering the helmet, featuring Wilson the volleyball from "Castaway" and a Canadian flag across the mouth piece, was one of the biggest highlights in a year that was set to see him log more bench time than Lou Merloni. Serving primarily as the backup netminder for the University of Maine during starter Ben Bishop's record 41-game start streak, Wilson didn't count on the helmet getting a lot of game-time experience.
Still, it was a nice gift - a perk of the job - so Wilson waited eagerly for its grand arrival. On Monday, after nearly three and half months, the helmet arrived. This Friday, with Wilson set to get the start against the University of Massachusetts, the helmet will also make its debut in the Black Bears biggest series of the year.
Wilson is predicted to make the start for Bishop, who re-injured his groin over the weekend. "Right now it's still day-to-day, we have to see how Ben is doing," said Wilson. "I'm just trying to focus as if I am playing and take it from there.
" Bishop is currently rehabing and his injury status has yet to be disclosed by the team. "Obviously it's always disappointing to lose a guy like Bishop, but I'm 100 percent confident in Willy - he's shown he can play," said captain Michel Leveille. With UMaine and UMass deadlocked for the fourth and final home playoff spot, the series will decide who stays at home and who travels next weekend for the Hockey East Quarterfinals.
Nerve-racking? Well, at least Wilson's got his new helmet to comfort him. "This is a huge weekend for not just home ice but for everything - for momentum, the NCAA tournament," said Wilson.
The Black Bears enter the epic road trip days after sweeping lowly Merrimack by a combined score of 8-1. Despite the Warriors' abysmal record, the No. 11 Black Bears finally have their mojo working.
"It's a good situation for us to be in - we have our destiny in our own hands," said freshman Teddy Purcell. "We control whether we are going to stay on home ice or not. If we come away with four big points we are going to be back here at Alfond and that's what we're looking forward to.
" As far as game play, the Black Bears took their biggest strides defensively after giving up 11 goals the previous weekend against Boston College. "Anytime you let in only one goal in six periods of hockey against any Hockey East team you played real well defensively as a team," said Tyler. They will need that same defense Saturday when Wilson and the Black Bears take on a Minuteman crew that is also fighting for its NCAA tournament life.
While UMaine is locked in right now for the tourney, UMass, 16th in the PairWise, is in need of some resume-boosting wins. "This is playoff hockey, we have to realize that," said Tyler. "It's win or else.
" "There has never been one UMass game that was easy," said Leveille. The fifth-place Minutemen figure on testing the Black Bears early and often with their crash- the-net, think-later style. "They drive the net real hard and they have some skilled players," said Wilson.
"It's going to be tough. We are going to have to look through some screens." Anchoring the charge on Wilson's net front will be Senior Chris Capraro and sophmore Cory Quick.
At the moment, Capraro leads the way with 29 points, while Quick follows closely behind with 25. "They play on an Olympic rink, so we're going to have be prepared for that because they can generate some more offense," said Tyler. Not be forgotten are the speedy and clever wingers Mark Matheson with team-high 12 goals, and Matt Anderson.
UMaine hopes to counter these challengers with a team approach that has seen dramatic improvements as of late. "At this point of the year you need everyone to step up," said Leveille. "It doesn't matter if you're a senior or a freshman; there is no more status.
Everyone needs to pick it up, it's crunch time. You have to elevate your game if you want to win in the end." "We'll be alright, we're just going to try and play strong defense and match their intensity from the first game," said Tyler.
In past two series, UMaine has seen a new level of play, specifically from talented junior Billy Ryan. According to the Mass. native, who has nine goals and 18 assists, the resurgence is something that hasn't gone unnoticed in his eyes either.
"I just feel that in the second half I started working out my legs a lot because of my surgery over the summer," said Ryan. "I'm starting to feel really comfortable and a lot stronger. The stronger I am the better I play.
" Along with the Hockey East picture, UMaine would like to shore up its NCAA tournament image this week. If the squad sweeps UMass on the road, they will likely solidify themselves as a two-seed in the NCAA tournament, barring a disaster in the quarterfinals. "If we take care of business in Hockey East, the NCAA tournament will take care of itself," said Tyler.
Still, the team is not quite ready to get ahead of themselves. "We don't want to do anything but get into the hockey finals and win it right now," said Tyler. "Getting to the finals is a big thing.
I think that would really help us in getting to the NCAA tournament." Right now, UMass goalie John Quick is listed as probable. Over the weekend, the sophomore fell to the injury bug missing Sunday's contest against Northeastern - and now is hoping to get back on track against UMaine.
"You know what, they have two steady goalies," said Wilson. "I was watching them down here the last time they came for practice and everything and they were both steady goaltenders. Whoever we face and whoever they face, I feel it will be a good battle.
" As far as the Black Bears are concerned though, Sean Burke could be in net. They need wins and they need them now. Who knows, maybe that long-awaited helmet is just the good luck charm they need.
"It's time to get on a roll, we need to win some games for the playoffs," said Leveille.
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