University of Maine at Orono Hockey

It’s that time of year, folks. My UMO hockey season tickets have arrived and the start of the college hockey season is this week. Sweet! The UMO Black Bears start their season this weekend on the road in New York against Union College, with a game on Friday and Saturday night. The first home game is next weekend when the Univ of Michigan will be in town for contests on Friday and Saturday night.

I have been back in Maine now for two years, and both years the hockey team has stunk. This year, Maine will be a much improved team, and that’s not just the optimist in me talking. With last year’s nasty 13-22-4 behind them, this year’s team will have stronger scoring lines and what will hopefully be an improved defense. Goalies Dave Wilson (Senior) and Scott Darling (Sophomore) are back and it will be interesting to see what Coach Whitehead decides regarding who will be the main, starting goalie.

So, Let’s Go Black Bears! I’ll be cheering you on from my seat right behind the visiting team bench, second row, seat 1. And yes, that’s me yelling “SHOOT THE PUCK!!!” when you spend 5 minutes playing pass in the offensive zone.

University of Maine Hockey

It's that time of year again, folks, when the UMaine Black Bears take the ice for their season home opener. I've got my season tickets and I'm more than ready for some college hockey action.


The Black Bears (or am I supposed to be calling them the African American Bears....?) had a disappointing season last year, and this year will be another rough one for them, but it's awesome to watch hockey in a live setting, and Maine hockey has been in my blood for a long time. I can remember when the Alfond Arena was being built back in the late 70s (about a mile from my home), and my folks bought 4 season tickets, three of which they still have to this day (one of which is now mine).

However their season turns out, I'm a fan, and quite frankly I love the fact that my seat is directly behind the visiting teams bench...and when I say directly behind, I mean it. Check this view from seat.

Go Black Bears!!

Maine Hockey

Yay! Guess what arrived yesterday? Any guesses? C'mon, take at least one... Okay, what arrived yesterday, you wonder?

My University of Maine (at Orono, from now on referred to as UMO) Black Bears 2007-2008 hockey tickets!



I'm so totally psyched! In this part of the world, UMO hockey is IT. It's A-Number-One. There is a huge waiting list of people hoping to get season tickets. So, how did I get mine so quickly after just getting back to Orono? Well, my parents have never stopped renewing their 3 season tickets. They first got season tickets when the hockey arena was built (Alfond Arena) back in 1979 or 1980. At first we had 4 tickets so Mom, Dad, my sister and I could all go. It was awesome. When I graduated in '83, they dropped the number of tickets they purchased to 3, and they've continued to renew them every year. They don't really attend the games anymore, but they have no problem finding people to take the tickets. See, the University takes over control of any tickets that are cancelled by a season ticket holder. Or, if a season ticket holder kicks the bucket, the tickets go back to the University. They do not allow tickets to be passed on to someone else by the ticket holder, which totally sucks. But, since the team has, over the years, become so hugely successful the University wants to make sure it's big donors have access to tickets and to hell with the community that's supported the team from the beginning. But, regardless, until the time comes that the University has the right to take over control of my Mom and Dad's tickets, I'll be buying at least one set of them. Maybe next year I'll be ready to pay them for all 3 tickets. We'll see.....


Hockey is, by far, the sport I enjoy the most. Chalk it up to growing up in Maine, or having a Mom who's Canadian. Whatever. I love hockey. And the University of Maine's hockey team is one of the top college hockey teams in the nation. I used to attend the Black Bear hockey games with my family wayyyyyy back when I was in high school, but haven't seen a live one since 1983 or so. The few times I was able to watch them while I lived in Philadelphia was if they made it to the Frozen Four Championship because that's the only time of year that ESPN/ESPN2 carries college hockey.

But this year will be different. This year I'll be at every home game. And the first one is this Saturday night, October 6.

So if you're trying to reach me that night and I don't answer my phone or I don't come to the door, you know where I'll be. And I guess that'll be the perfect time to rob my house.

But don't you think you'll be finding my remaining tickets for the season...I'll be carrying all of them with me.