PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The Presque Isle varsity hockey team got a few quality looks at the Winslow net during Saturday’s showdown between the no. 3 and no. 4 seeded teams in Eastern Maine Class B hockey, but Raider goalie Ryan Cormier kept the Wildcats scoreless in the 4-0 loss.
Presque Isle’s best chances came in the third period where they outshot Winslow 9-7.
Down 4-0 off a goal by Winslow’s Sean Bourgeois 6:34 into the period, Ben McPherson responded with a one-on-one, fastbreak opportunity but the shot bounced off Cormier’s pad and out.
The Wildcats kept the pressure on and Brandon Daigle sent a pass from McPherson to the stick-side post. Cormier again made the save and got it to a Winslow defenseman, who looked to send the puck out of the Raider area but found Jason Martin near the blue line. With plenty of time, Martin wound up and sent a hard slap shot on goal. Cormier covered the shot for the save.
The Wildcats went on the powerplay with 4:27 remaining but couldn’t get anything going.
Presque Isle held the 6-0 Raiders scoreless through the first period, thanks in part to the stellar play of goalie Ethan Hill, who was called upon to make tough stops on long, hard, well-placed Winslow shots.
The Wildcats started the second period with 1:33 left on a powerplay due to extra hitting after plays, but Winslow killed the penalty and netted their first goal at the 3:10 mark with Kevin McCabe tucked the puck in glove-side off a pass from Brock LeClair.
Presque Isle took a defensive stance, killing off a two-man penalty but Winslow added their second goal 9:13 into the period as Ben Grant netted a pass from Chad Guptill.
The Raiders got their final goal of the second period when Grant dumped the puck off the left side to Devon Guptill in front of the net. The freshman sent a low shot glove-side into the net.
Hill finished with 31 saves on 35 shots as Presque Isle slipped to 3-4-1 on the season and into fifth place in the Eastern Maine Class B standings. Cormier saved all 23 shots he faced as the team improves to 7-0 and remains in third place.
The Wildcats travel to Hampden tonight for a 6 p.m. start.
