ORONO — Red Gendron is buying in bulk as the Maine men’s hockey coach.

Lots of bulk.

“A big player who is good is always just a little bit more effective than a small player who’s good,” Gendron said of his recruiting philosophy. “Having big kids who can skate and like to run people over is not a bad thing.”

Enter Nolan Vesey, the most highly touted of the Black Bears’ eight freshmen.

The forward stands 6-foot-2, 210 pounds and was skilled enough to score 68 points last winter in the U.S. Premier Hockey League as captain of the South Shore Kings in Foxborough, Massachusetts. His father, Jim, is the all-time leading scorer at Merrimack College and played 15 games in the NHL. His older brother, Jimmy, was a 2012 draft pick of the Nashville Predators and currently is playing at Harvard. Nolan was taken in the sixth round this year by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Big expectations?

“I’m just trying to do whatever I can to be on a line and help the guys win,” said Vesey, who will make his Alfond Arena debut Friday night when the Black Bears meet Union, the defending national champion.

Maine begins a six-game homestand after losing twice in Alaska last weekend, mustering only three goals. Vesey managed just one shot on goal while picking up two penalties.

It wasn’t the start that anyone anticipated, let alone Gendron, entering his second year at the helm in Orono.

“I didn’t think we competed hard enough on Friday night,” Gendron said of a 3-1 loss to Alaska-Anchorage. “Intensity should be a given. I shouldn’t have to remind people that’s who we are and that’s what we will be. If I have to, I will. If I remind you too often, you take a seat in the stands.”

Vesey will try to help jump-start the offense this weekend. He’s a strong skater with terrific vision and excels at the front of the net, where his large frame can cause problems.

On a smaller ice sheet like Alfond’s, he could be poised for a prolific career. Initially, he said, he’d like to score 10-15 goals as a freshman while helping Maine chase its third national championship.

Vesey, 19, a native of North Reading, Massachusetts, was at home June 28 monitoring the NHL draft when he got the call young players dream of getting.

“I talked to some teams; I thought it could have gone either way,” he said of being drafted. “To have it actually happen is unbelievable. It’s just the first step, though. I have a long way to go.”

Black Bears captain Devin Shore, himself a Dallas Stars draftee, was impressed when Vesey arrived on campus July 27 with the rest of the freshmen. The two were on the same line at times with Steven Swavely in early practice sessions.

“He’s a great player. He was drafted for a reason,” Shore said. “He sees the ice well and we’re excited to have him, for sure.”

For Maine to compete with the No. 2 Dutchmen (2-0), it will need to find some punch. The Black Bears went 0 of 9 on the power play in falling to Alaska-Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks. Union yielded only four goals in its opening victories against American International and New Hampshire.

The Dutchmen have been a program on the rise since Nate Leaman took over as coach in 2003.

When he left for Providence College eight years later, his assistant, Rick Bennett, took over, making the Frozen Four twice in his first three years – including last season’s 7-4 win over Minnesota in the title game.

Gendron said the challenge couldn’t be clearer for his winless squad.

“The team that’s coming in here is going to be good,” Gendron said, “and we’d better be ready.”