Bob, Ben, and the Black Bears: Hockey’s Righteous Return

On this episode of Cocktails with Friends, Bob Cutler brings Ben Barr a stool at the (ben) bar, and over Sazerac cocktails, the two raise their glasses in praise of the sport that’s always On The Rocks: Maine ice hockey. As University of Maine’s Men’s Hockey Coach, he’s delighted, but as a lifelong lover of the rink, Ben’s swelling with pride. Hockey is a matter of community to him, not just a college sport.

Bob and Ben (don’t mix them up, now!) talk about the new arena on the block and the support the Harold Alfond Foundation has given to UMaine. While historic centers are great and grand, nobody can deny the appeal of a fresh new facility for elevating the player experience! However, the roots of the hockey rink stand undeniably at the center of the University of Maine.

As Coach of the Hockey team, Ben knows a thing or two about the players he’s working with: he has a special philosophy when it comes to vetting potential candidates for the team, and it isn’t like the traditional scouting of the past… but just as you can’t experience the sweet taste of Sazerac without taking the sip, the only way to hear the Coach’s technique is by tuning into Cocktails with Friends!

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Cheers!