Our preseason power rankings continue with a look at teams I have ranked No. 28-25.
This issue features in-depth looks at Clarkson, Maine, Bowling Green, and Harvard.
Remember, you can follow along with my complete national preseason power rankings at the link below, which also includes a conference-by-conference breakdown.
No. 28 Maine
Last Season
Record: 18-14-3
NPI: 25th (52.62)
League Finish: 5th/11
2026-27 Projection
NPI: 28th (51.84)
League Finish: 8th/11
Ranking Tier: 5th/9
Storylines
— The Black Bears were active in the transfer portal this spring, with nine players entering the portal and nine others joining the program through it.
— Ben Barr is entering his sixth season behind the Maine bench. The Black Bears have posted a winning record in three straight seasons for the first time since 2009-12.
If Maine finishes above .500 again this season, it would mark the program’s first stretch of four consecutive winning seasons since 2003-07.
Roster Breakdown
Top 378 Forwards
F1 denotes first-line ranking (No. 1 - No. 189)
F2 denotes second-line ranking (No. 190 - No. 378)
Tanner Klimpke, Sr., F1
Samuel Alfano, Soph., F2
Max Scott, Sr., F2
Sully Scholle, Sr., F2
Charlie Russell, Sr., F2
Ross Campbell, Frosh., F2
Lee Parks, Jr., F2
Top 252 Defensemen
D1 denotes first-pair ranking (No. 1 - No. 126)
D2 denotes second-pair ranking (No. 127 - No. 252)
Lukas Peterson, Soph., D2
Loic Usereau, Soph., D2
Jeremy Langlois, Soph., D2
Projected Starting Goaltender
Petter Wickstrom Stumer, Jr., 2.64/.921, +0.65 xGa+/60
Albin Boija, Sr., 2.59/.899, -0.23 xGa+/60
Maine’s biggest strength is in the crease, where the hope is that Albin Boija can return to his sophomore-year form and incoming transfer Petter Wickstrom Stumer, who was excellent for Canisius last season, can provide both depth and competition at the position.
Boija struggled last season. There’s no question about that. But he was one of the top goaltenders in college hockey as a sophomore, and I doubt Maine would have been interested in bringing him back if the staff didn’t believe he could get back to that level.
