Brunswick’s title, Gardiner’s run among area’s top stories
Gardiner goalie Sean Doyle tries to make a help save as Messalonskee ahead Jacob Thomas skates in all through a Course B North quarterfinal hockey recreation before this year in Hallowell. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA — Just after a year invested without lovers and with only regional and bubble levels of competition to look forward to, postseason hockey returned this winter season.
And groups were satisfied to see it.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Brunswick boys coach Mike Misner reported. “To be in a position to go to the Cross Insurance policies Arena and see the large crowds and be capable to engage in in entrance of our own followers … was just a excellent, wonderful experience, and it really just provides to the whole environment of everything.”
No workforce savored much more achievements on that postseason phase than Brunswick, which finished the frequent year on a tear and translated that momentum into the Class B championship, the first in plan background.
“As a coach, it’s pleasure for the boys,” Misner stated. “To see these fellas who have worked so hard all year extensive for the better section of four months for a single target, and to see them achieve that goal, it is a really incredible factor.”
Brunswick started off 5-4 but received the final 8 online games of the normal period to grab the No. 2 seed in Class B South at 13-4, with a street earn around Cheverus/Yarmouth and a dwelling victory in excess of Edward Minimal giving the highlights.
“We had some points there right after our reduction towards Camden Hills (to drop to 5-4) and towards the beginning of the frequent period the place it was searching a little tough,” Misner said. “We didn’t know what path we were heading to head, and then we form of received on that operate of game titles.”
Playoff wins more than Gorham, Cheverus/Yarmouth (in five overtimes) and Greely place the Dragons on the doorstep of a championship, and in the closing, Luke Patterson produced 31 will save as Brunswick blanked Camden Hills 2-.
On the path to the championship, Brunswick gained video games even though making it possible for 3 and four ambitions and an additional when scoring only two, showcasing what Misner felt was the team’s largest strength.
“We’re equipped to match up well with what ever group we’re playing,” he mentioned. “If we’re playing a team like Greely that has a rather potent offense, we can rating and match that. Or if we go from a workforce like Camden Hills which is likely to be actual physical and grind it out additional, we can be actual physical.”
Gardiner turned heads with its playoff overall performance as properly. The eighth seed in B North subsequent a 6-9 normal year, the Tigers located lifestyle in the playoffs, defeating No. 9 Maranacook 4-1 and then upsetting No. 1 Messalonskee 3-2 to access the regional semifinals, in which it lost to Camden Hills.
Connor Whitley had the sport-winner in time beyond regulation for the Tigers against Messalonskee, whilst goalie Sean Doyle created 43 saves.
“The angle in the locker place seriously modified following we defeat Maranacook and recognized we experienced to go up towards Messalonskee. It grew to become form of somber, the youngsters started off getting on the roles of ‘What can I do to assist the group and enable us shift forward?’” mentor Tyler Wing mentioned. “When we obtained into that game, it was do-or-die for them. They understood they experienced to give it every little thing.
“When we place that closing intention in in time beyond regulation, most people variety of enable out a massive sigh of aid, like ‘We were able to do it. We came as a group and we put anything we experienced into the ice.’”
The group the Tigers conquer invested the common year rolling via Class B North. Messalonskee showed alone to be one particular of the region’s further groups, having contributions from upperclassmen and underclassmen alike. Owen Kirk, Garrett Card, Will Durkee and Bryce Crowell have been some of the prime players all period for an Eagles team that went 10-2-1 all through the typical period and outscored teams 65-33.
The co-op team of Cony, Monmouth, Erskine Academy, Mt. Blue and Richmond, led by Jacob Godbout and Jack Morrill, went 7-7-1 in the course of the normal year and got the No. 7 seed in Course B North before falling to No. 10 Presque Isle in the preliminary spherical.
In ladies hockey, Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse/Lincoln, led by significant-scoring forward Sarah Moore, went 13-3-1 through the common time and manufactured the Class A semifinals as a third seed, beating Yarmouth before slipping to Edward Minor, when Winslow/Gardiner/Cony/Lawrence/Messalonskee/Brewer (7-7-) and Brunswick (3-12-) built the quarterfinals.
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