The Lewiston MAINEiacs traded assistant captain Lucas LaBelle for a 17 yr old prospect.
The MAINEiacs play this afternoon against Victoriaville. Please go to LewistonHockey.com to stream the game!
The Maine Black Bears Men’s Hockey team goes to Florida for the Florida College Classic in Estero, Florida. The other 3 teams competing in the Classic this year are Colgate, Cornell and St. Cloud. Maine takes on Colgate at 4:05PM today. Go to GoBlackBears.com for your streaming options.
JOVAN BELCHER GARNERS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA HONORS
NAMED TO AFCA AND WALTER CAMP TEAMS
Belcher, who was named the 2008 CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year, currently leads the conference in tackles for loss with 17.5. It marks the second-straight year he leads the league in that category. Belcher also recorded 7.5 sacks this season, which ranks third in the CAA. He made at least one stop for loss in 10-of-13 games, including the final five of the season. Belcher recorded multiple tackles for loss in seven games, including the final three in which he totaled a combined 7.0 stops for minus-30 yards. He ranks 26th nationally in tackles for loss and 46th in sacks. Belcher finished his career with 44.0 tackles for loss, which places him among the top 25 all-time in NCAA FCS history for career tackles for loss.
A candidate for the 2008 Buck Buchanan Award which is presented annually to nation’s most outstanding defensive player at the FCS level, Belcher led all CAA defensive lineman this season with 98 tackles. The total was 26 more than the nearest competitor. He recorded at least seven tackles in eight games, including three double-digit performances. He made a career-high 16 stops in Maine’s thrilling 41-40 double-overtime victory over Hofstra on Oct. 18.
Belcher’s finest performance of the 2008 season came in Maine’s exciting 27-10 win at No. 20 Delaware on Oct. 11. He recorded seven tackles, two sacks (-15 yards) and two forced fumbles in Maine’s first win over a ranked opponent in more than two years. His initial forced fumble came early in the fourth quarter in Delaware territory with the game tied at 10-10. The offense turned the fumble into points two plays later as quarterback Michael Brusko scored on a five-yard run to put Maine on top at 17-10. With Maine holding a 20-10 lead late in the quarter, and Delaware trying to mount a comeback, Belcher turned in another outstanding play as he crashed through the offensive line and sacked Blue Hen quarterback Robby Schoenhoft, forcing a fumble. Jordan Stevens scooped up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to seal the win for the Black Bears. For his performance, Belcher was named both the CAA Defensive Player of the Week, and The Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week.
Belcher’s All-America honors are the latest in a long line of awards he has earned this season. In addition to all the honors listed above, Belcher has also earned: 2008 All-CAA First-Team; 2008 New England Football Writers All-Star; 2008 CAA Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year; 2008 Sporting News Preseason All-American; 2008 Sports Network First-Team reseason All-American; was named the top defensive player in the CAA in the 2008 preseason according to the Sporting News; 2008 Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-American; 2008 Lindy’s preseason Second-Team All-American; 2008 Preseason All-CAA selection; and a 2008 Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-CAA selection.
Belcher, a senior co-captain, helped guide Maine to an 8-4 record this season and a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs, marking the program’s fifth trip to the national tournament. The Black Bears used a six-game winning streak near the end of the season to finish second in the CAA North Division after they were tabbed to finish fourth in the league’s preseason poll. Maine finished 20th nationally in The Sports Network Top 25 Poll, marking the second time in the last three seasons the Black Bears concluded the regular season ranked in the nation.
Here is Coach Cindy Blodgett on with Chris Sedenka on the PM Jab WJAB 96.3FM/1440 AM
The Black Bears Men’s Hockey team dropped a 3 – 2 overtime game to Northeastern Friday Night. Windham’s Matt Duffy had a goal.
In their 1st of 2 games at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, The Lewiston MAINEiacs dropped a tough game to the Quebec Remparts 5 – 2.
The Pirates dropped a shootout loss to the Springfield Falcons Friday 3 – 2. Nathan Gerbe scored his 14th goal of the season.
Oh what could have been. Greg Oden made his Garden debut last night, as the Boston Celtics dismantled the Portland Trailblazers 93 – 78.
The Maine Black Bears Men’s Basketball team dropped its home opener to Quinnipiac 73 – 66. Freshman Gerald McLemore scored 19 to lead the Black Bears.
Don’t forget to stay tuned to The Central Maine Sports Blog for on-going coverage of Maine Black Bear Football as they travel to UNI for Saturday’s FCS match-up. We will have coverage of Northern Iowa Coach Mark Farley’s Press Conference today and later in the day, we will have a couple of Maine Black Bear players.
TODAY’S EVENTS TO WATCH
The MAINEiacs face the Shawinigan Cataractes in Lewiston tonight. (Tonight at 7:00 pm, can be heard on 1470 AM out of Auburn)
The Pirates are facing Worcester Sharks at the Cumberland County Civic Center. (7:00 pm on 1240 AM IN L-A, 780 AM in Rumford, and 1450 AM in South Paris)
The Celtics face the Golden State Warriors at the Garden. (TV-CSNNE , Radio 96.3 FM WJAB 8:00 pm, 7 PM pre-game)
The Bruins take on the parent club of the Portland Pirates, the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo (7:00 pm NESN HD)
UMaine Women’s Basketball dropped a hard fought game to Central Connecticut State 65 – 57. Kristin Baker led the Black Bears with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Black Bears are 0 – 2 early in the season.
The Boston Celtics slammed the Detroit Pistons, as the Pistons are still looking for offense’s comfort level with Allen Iverson. The Celtics won 98 – 80.
The MAINEiacs face the Shawinigan Cataractes at Shawinigan. (Tonight at 7:30 pm, can be heard on 1470 AM out of Auburn)
The Pirates are facing rival Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence. (7:00 pm on AM 1400, 1490 out of Portland, 1240 AM IN L-A, 780 AM in Rumford, and 1450 AM in South Paris) The Maine Men’s Hockey Team gets ready for the first game of a 2 game series against the Merrimack Warriors at the Alfond. (7 pm Friday and Saturday nights, listen online at http://www.goblackbears.com)
The Celtics face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minnesota. (TV-CSNNE , Radio 96.3 FM WJAB 8:00 pm)
The Bruins take on the Florida Panthers at The Garden (7:00 pm NESN HD)
MPAA Football ChampionshipsClass A – Bonny Eagle Scots vs Skowhegan Indians
(6 PM)Class B – Morse Ship Builders vs Mountain Valley Falcons (11 AM)
Class C – Winthrop Ramblers vs John Bapst Memorial Crusaders (2:30 PM)
The Portland Pirates take on the Hartford Wolfpack at the Cumberland County Civic Center. (7:00 pm on AM 1400, 1490 out of Portland, 1240 AM IN L-A, 780 AM in Rumford, and 1450 AM in South Paris, Tix available at http://www.portlandpirates.com)
The MAINEiacs take on the Gatineau Olympiques in Gatineau, Quebec (Tonight at 7:30 pm, can be heard on 1470 AM out of Auburn)
The Black Bears Football team takes on rival UNH Widcats for CAA North Division supremacy at Morse Field at Noon. Don’t forget the Central Maine Sports Blog will be Blogging LIVE from Morse Field.
The Men’s Hockey Team take on Merrimack in the 2nd in 2 nights at the Alfond. (7 pm, listen online at http://www.goblackbears.com
The Men’s Basketball team takes on Providence at Providence Saturday afternoon. (listen online at http://www.goblackbears.com)
Army football travels to Rutgers. Game is at 12:05 est on SNY
The Bruins go to Montreal for an Original Six match-up with the Canadiens. (7:00 pm NESN HD)
The Portland Pirates moved to a 12 -1 – 1 record as they defeat the Hartford Wolf Pack 4 – 2. Mathieu Darche had a goal and an assist to bring his blazing scoring streak to 6 goals and 4 assists in the last 4 games. The Pirates play the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center Friday Night and return to the Cumberland County Civic Center Saturday night to face the Wolfpack.
The University of Maine Black Bears Men’s Basketball team beat the Princeton Tigers in overtime 58 – 55. Junior Burnel led the Black Bears with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
The Boston bruins beat up on the Portland Pirates parent team Wednesday night, peppering Ryan Miller for 7 goals. The Bruins won 7 – 4.
Skowhegan not the least bit scared of Bonny Eagle in their 1st Championship bid since 1989.
DE Jovan Belcher is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually to the nation’s outstanding Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) college football defensive player.
The University of Maine announced all tickets purchased in advance for UMaine vs University of New Hampshire, Saturday November 22 will be $5.00. The #17 Black Bears will be fighting for the CAA North Division Championship and a playoff birth against the #11 UNH Wildcats. Take the trip to Orono…it will be worth it. If you can’t make it. The Central Maine Sports Blog will be blogging LIVE from Morse Field at Alfond Stadium beginning at 11AM Saturday.
The Milwaukee Brewers are about to decide Orr’s Island native Mark Rogers future.
The Boston Bruins used Tim Thomas’ acrobatics to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3 – 2. The Bruins stand atop the Northeast Division with 26 points, and 3rd overall in the NHL.
Kevin Garnett will miss tonights game against the New York Knicks due to suspension.
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