ORONO – If it seems like it’s been a while since anyone has heard anything about the University of Maine hockey team, it’s not a figment of the imagination.

Last weekend, instead of playing two critical Hockey East games against Merrimack, the Black Bears got in one before the snowstorm hit.

It was their first game in two weeks, and even though Maine won 3-1, the next night would have given the team an extra chance to try and shake off some rust.

Instead, Maine will play only its second game in three weeks at 7 p.m. tonight and its lone home game in the month of December, hosting Dartmouth of the ECAC at Alfond Arena.

“The guys are really hungry to play a game,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “We are going to have a shorter practice Friday and make it a bit more intense. They really are chomping at the bit to get out and play a game.”

The Black Bears, currently ranked No. 3 in the country with a record of 11-2-1, take another two-week break after Saturday’s game before playing in the Everblades Tournament in Florida.

“It’s almost like a college football mentality,” said Whitehead. We have a game every week or so, then have a layoff, then go play in Florida in a bowl game.”

To overlook Saturday’s game against Dartmouth, however, would be a terrible mistake, according to Whitehead.

“They only have one loss right now, and they are at the top of the ECAC. This isn’t an easy game coming up,” he said.

Dartmouth’s only loss this season came less than two weeks ago to Boston College. Maine lost to BC by the same 4-1 final.

Leading the Big Green is its star between the pipes. Dan Yancy has started all nine games and has a solid 1.93 GAA and a .933 save percentage.

In other inter-league play, Dartmouth also tied Boston University.

“They have a solid goaltender and some big defensemen,” said Whitehead. “I don’t know that any of their defensemen stand less than six feet.”

On offense, Hugh Jessiman is Dartmouth’s leading scorer with five goals and five assists. Jessiman, a sophomore, was selected in June in the NHL entry draft.

The Black Bears, meanwhile, have avoided developing only one line to handle all of the scoring duties.

Colin Shields leads the team with 14 points, while Greg Moore, Todd Jackson and Michel Leveille are tied at 13.

Derek Damon is also near the top with 11 points, and defenseman Troy Barnes tops the blueliners with 10.

“We knew coming in that we’d have more of a scoring-by-committee approach,” said Whitehead. “With the defense emerging like they have, it’s taken some pressure off of the offense, while at the same time the forwards are playing well defensively.”

Still, Whitehead knows the Big Green aren’t likely to roll over, especially since they have climbed to No. 12 in the most recent poll.

After the Florida trip, Maine returns “home” to Portland on Jan. 4 against another ECAC opponent, Vermont, at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

[email protected]