Four years, three title games, two tournament championships and one long trip to Florida.

The University of Maine hockey team hopes this weekend won’t find them stuck in a holiday rut as the Black Bears travel to Estero, Florida for the fourth Everblades Holiday Classic. Maine has reached the finals in each of the previous three years, and has won the tournament twice.

Ohio State is Maine’s first-round opponent Saturday. The other contest features Cornell versus Notre Dame.

Ohio State may not sound like a big name in college hockey, but the Buckeyes are No. 11 in the national polls, and have played well in the competitive CCHA, winning eight league contests.

The Buckeyes will be eyeing some redemption after dropping two straight to No. 14 Miami of Ohio. Prior to that, the Buckeyes had won four straight.

Last season, Maine and Ohio State hooked up in a 6-2 Maine win at the Everblades Tournament.

The Buckeyes are led by Paul Caponigri, who has scored 11 goals and added eight assists. Dave Steckel has 15 points, while Scott May and Dan Knap are tied with 13 each.

Maine counters with a deep threat. All three, and sometimes four, lines can score on a regular basis. Leading the way for the Black Bears are Greg Moore, Colin Shields and Michel Leveille, who all have 14 points.

The Black Bears, however, will be without Moore and goaltender Jimmy Howard. Moore will be with the U.S. Junior team in Finland at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Howard, who was also supposed to be at the world tournament, is hurt and will miss another two or three weeks. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, will have Mike Betz in goal. Betz has played in 15 games and boasts a 2.14 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. Maine will counter with Frank Doyle, who is 7-1-0 this season.

If the Black Bears reach the finals for the fourth consecutive year, either Cornell, a team against which Maine has struggles in the past, or Notre Dame await them Sunday.

Cornell has a 6-4-2 record against Maine in 12 meetings. Two of Maine’s four wins, however, have come in this tournament.

Maine has upended Notre Dame three times, but because of NCAA rules violations, Maine’s two victories in 1991 were overturned, giving the Fighting Irish a 2-1 all-time series edge. The Irish are currently 8-5-2 and tied with Ohio State for third in the CCHA.

Maine returns “home” to Portland next week to take on Vermont at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

[email protected]