The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team released their schedule for the upcoming 2011-’12 season earlier today, and it includes several highlight weekends and one notable absence.

Maine will open their season on Oct. 7 at Alfond Arena against last season’s first round opponent, Merrimack College, followed by Northeastern University on Oct. 9.

Several highlights on the season include the following weekend – Oct. 14-15 – when Maine travels to Grand Forks, North Dakota for a weekend series against the University of North Dakota, who appeared in last year’s Frozen Four.

The university is offering a unique trip for their fans with a chartered trip for the series that includes round-trip air travel, ground transportation, lodging and tickets for both games. Price is listed as $1,500-$1,650 per person for the weekend trip.

Maine will travel to Chestnut Hill to face Biddeford native Brian Dumoulin and the Boston College Eagles on Nov. 4.

A notable absence from the schedule is the proposed outdoor game at Fenway Park against the University of New Hampshire, but that could change at a later date.

The Black Bears will make their annual trek to Southern Maine when they face Clarkson University at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland on Nov. 26, and again on Dec. 29 in the Florida College Classic in Estero, FL.

Maine’s other non-conference opponent is Alabama-Huntsville, who will make a stop in Orono on Feb. 3-4.

The Black Bears will play two exhibition games this season, starting with the Canadian Interuniversity Champion, University of New Brunswick on Oct. 2 and the US National U-18 team on Nov. 23.

“We are very excited about our 2011-‘12 hockey schedule,” said Maine head coach Tim Whitehead. “The renovation work in Alfond Arena is moving full speed ahead right now, and we will be good to go for our home opener against the defending Canadian national champions, the University of New Brunswick on Oct 2nd. We can’t wait for the season to begin.”

The Black Bears have a challenging and balanced scheduled this season with four opponents and 11 games scheduled against teams that took part in last season’s NCAA Tournament.

Maine will close the 2011-‘12 regular season facing arch rival New Hampshire. The Black Bears will honor its seniors prior to the game on Saturday, March 3.

Tentative 2011-2012 schedule:
October
2 New Brunswick (exhibition)
7 Merrimack*
9 Northeastern*
14 at North Dakota
15 at North Dakota
28 Providence*
29 Providence*

November
4 at Boston College*
5 at New Hampshire*
11 UMass-Lowell*
12 UMass-Lowell*
18 at UMass*
23 U.S. NTDP U-18 team (exhibition)
26 Clarkson#

December
2 at Vermont*
3 at Vermont*
10 Boston University*
29 Florida College Classic, Estero, Fla., vs. Clarkson
30 Florida College Classic, vs. UMass or Cornell

January
4 Vermont*
13 at Merrimack*
14 at Merrimack*
20 Boston College*
21 Boston College*
27 at Boston University*
28 at Boston University*

February
3 Alabama-Huntsville
4 Alabama-Huntsville
10 at Providence*
11 at UMass-Lowell*
17 UMass*
18 UMass*
24 at Northeastern*
25 at Northeastern*

March
2 New Hampshire*
3 New Hampshire*

*Hockey East game
#at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland
All home games to be played at Alfond Arena