ORONO, Maine — Albin Boija burst onto the scene in dramatic fashion for the University of Maine’s hockey team last season.
A late addition to the Black Bear roster after the NCAA temporarily banned some Latvian players, including incoming UMaine freshman goalie Patriks Berzins, from participating, Boija made his first start against arch-rival New Hampshire at Alfond Arena on Dec. 1.
In front of a sellout crowd of 5,043, he made 18 saves and UMaine triumphed 5-2.
He won the job from reigning All-Hockey East second team goalie Victor Ostman and completed the season with the nation’s third-lowest goals-against average (2.01) in helping lead the Black Bears to their first Hockey East semifinal and NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2011-12 campaign.
And he has been even better this season.
Entering this weekend’s games against Stonehill College at Alfond Arena (2 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday), he has a 1.50 GAA and a .934 save percentage. His GAA is fifth lowest in the country among 64 Division I schools and his save percentage is 15th-best. He is sporting a 10-2-2 record.
His three shutouts are one more than he had all of last year when he was 10-6-1 with a .916 save percentage to go with his 2.01 GAA.
So far this season, he has held opponents to two goals or fewer 12 times and to one or none seven times.
He allowed five in the 6-5 overtime win over Quinnipiac and three in the 3-2 loss at third-ranked Boston College.
UMaine assistant and goalie coach Alfie Michaud said the fact Boija has more experience now is one of the primary reasons behind his improvement.
“He has gotten more comfortable with the league (Hockey East). He didn’t start to play last year until after Christmas,” said Michaud.
Boija’s next start after the UNH game was against Colgate on Jan. 5.
Michaud also said Boija is quieter physically, meaning he isn’t moving as much, because he is in better position to make saves.
“That comes with experience. He knows when he can be aggressive and when he has to sit back,” said Michaud, who led UMaine to its last NCAA championship (1998-99) when he was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
“He showed really good patience in the Boston College series,” said Michaud. “A lot of pucks just hit him. Maybe last year he makes a lot of those saves but there was a lot of extra movement.”
Boija made 27 saves in the 3-2 loss to BC and 21 in the 3-0 loss, with the third BC goal being an empty-netter.
“He has been a rock for us,” Michaud added.
UMaine head coach Ben Barr agreed.
“He is mentally locked in every day,” said Barr. “He never looks like he’s out of position or not expecting a shot. And he has been holding a lot of pucks. He hasn’t been giving up rebounds.”
Boija said he’s in a good place mentally.
“I’ve been pretty happy with how I’ve been playing,” said the 6-foot-1, 195-pound native of Sudsvall, Sweden. “It’s about being a little more patient, having a little better balance and movement and reading the play.”
When he reads a play, he said he makes sure he knows where their other players are in addition to the puck carrier.
He also studies the opponent and its tendencies and prepares accordingly.
“If a team likes to put a lot of bodies in front of the net, we prepare for it in practice,” said Boija.
Boija has also focused on playing the puck more efficiently to help out his teammates.
“I’m more comfortable doing it than I was last year,” said Boija. “That’s a very big part of the game nowadays.”
Senior defenseman and co-captain David Breazeale called Boija the backbone of the team.
“He has made some unbelievable saves for us when we’ve needed them,” said Breazeale.
Senior center and alternate captain Nolan Renwick said Boija’s success hasn’t come as a surprise to him.
“He is an extremely hard worker and he is extremely competitive. He hates giving up goals, even in practice,” said Renwick.
Boija and the Black Bears will be facing a former UMaine goalie in graduate student Connor Androlewicz this weekend.
He played in eight games during his four seasons at UMaine and has earned the starting job for the 6-12 Skyhawks, who are in their third season in Division I as an independent team.
Androlewicz has posted a 6-8 record to go with a 3.11 GAA and .900 save percentage for first-year head coach and former longtime Division I assistant David Berard, who was also a head coach at Holy Cross and UConn.
“Connor never got much of an opportunity here because we had some real good goalies but it’s good to see him doing well,” said Barr. “He’s a really good kid and he gave us everything he had.”
UMaine graduate student center and co-captain Lynden Breen underwent leg surgery on Friday and will be sidelined indefinitely.
“It really sucks, especially it being his last season. He’s a great kid and he has been playing really good hockey for us. We all love him,” said Renwick. “So we’re going to need guys to step up, myself included. We can’t make excuses for him being out.”
The Black Bears continue to be paced in scoring by Harrison Scott, who has nine goals and 10 assists, along with Charlie Russell (4 & 12), Taylor Makar (5 & 8) and injured defenseman Brandon Holt (2 & 11). Frank Djurasevic was chosen the Hockey East Defender of the Month for November as he had three goals and two assists and led the team in blocked shots with 12.
Anthony Galante (9 & 7) has led the Skyhawks along with Henri Schreifels (3 & 6), Dominick Campione (1 & 7), Brady Hunter (2 & 5) and Evan Orr (5 & 1).
The Skyhawks played Wednesday, losing at home to Alaska-Anchorage 4-1.
