Staff Writer
The Presque Isle Wildcat hockey team barely had time to sufficiently celebrate their Class B Regional Championship win last Tuesday before hitting the ice again Saturday, for the State Championship.
Staff photo/Abigail Hunt
Wildcat coach Dr. Carl Flynn hugs Presque Isle goalie Josh MacFarline after the team’s win over Winslow. MacFarline played the net Saturday against Greely and though Presque Isle lost, MacFarline had 47 saves on 52 shots.
In their March 3 victory over Winslow, the Wildcats put in 5 goals to the Black Raiders 2 and their scoring spree started with a second period goal from freshman Isaac LaJoie, followed by another goal by senior Mark Carvell. Junior Brennen Shaw put in his 29th and 30th goals of the season next and Dylan Collins rounded out the scoring with a late third period shot. And just like that, the Wildcats headed to States.
With their mid-season turnaround and recent successes, the Wildcats knew they had a shot against Greely, but also kept in mind the season’s earlier loss. “They beat us 10-1 earlier in the year, but we went 7-1-1 after that game, so we’re not the same team they saw before. They scored five goals off MacFarline in the first five minutes of our loss, but that won’t happen again. My goal is to go down there, give it our all and see how it turns out,” said Wildcat coach Dr. Flynn after Presque Isle’s Eastern Maine win. And though the Wildcats lost 5-1, their play against Greely was sufficiently better the second time around.
Neither team could boast a previous state title as they took the ice at the Lewiston Colisee, but the Greely Rangers had a 20-1 season behind them, propelling them forward. In the first period, the Rangers took the lead only 3 minutes into the game but Wildcat goalie Josh MacFarline played an intense game, holding Greely off again until the end of the first, when Ranger forward Brian Hart lifted a shot over MacFarline’s right shoulder with 1:26 left.
In the second period, Hart came back again with two consecutive goals and help from his brother, defenseman Kevin Hart who, from all expectations, wasn’t supposed to be on the ice that afternoon. Because of a back injury he suffered during a Western Maine semifinal, K. Hart was expected to watch the rest of the season from the bench. At least, that’s what Presque Isle expected him to do.
“Our game plan was dependant on [Kevin Hart’s] absence. We figured the less experienced and conditioned defense might be vulnerable, however, when I saw how he was moving in warm ups, I knew we were in trouble,” Flynn explained. Zac Campbell, Presque Isle’s lone scorer, agreed. “Having Hart definitely helped [Greely] out a lot,” he admitted. “We weren’t expecting him to play and I jumped onto the ice for a shift and was surprised to see him out there.”
Campbell’s goal came late in the second period, off of an attempted shot by Dylan Collins. Campbell had followed Collins down the zone and was there to rebound the shot. “I just put it past his glove side,” said Campbell. “We were pumped [after that] and it carried over into the third period, but they already had four goals.”
Even junior Brennen Shaw was left scoreless thanks to Greely’s dominating defense, who wouldn’t let the forward get near the net. Greely’s fifth and final goal came during a power play in the middle of the third, and the Rangers took the hard-earned 2009 State Championship win.
Despite losing to Greely twice in the season, Presque Isle’s progressing strength can be best seen when comparing the two final scores. The early 10-1 loss compared to their most recent 5-1 loss particularly highlights the skill of goalie Josh MacFarline who, said Flynn, “played superb in net for the Wildcats” and had 47 saves on 52 shots from the Rangers.
Though Presque Isle ends their season with a loss, their progression throughout the year is a reward in itself. One of the biggest changes occurred in the way Presque Isle approached their game plans. “Our mental strategy changed,” said Campbell who spoke for most, if not all of the Wildcat hockey team when he said “Hands down, he’s the best coach I’ve ever had.”
Contributed photo/Carla Cyr
Celebrating their March 3 win over Winslow, the Presque Isle Wildcat hockey team poses for a team photo with their 2009 Eastern Maine plaque proudly displayed. The Wildcats lost and tied Winslow earlier in the season but finally defeated the Black Raiders in Orono at the Class B Regional Championship with a final score of 5-2. This achievement is a first for Presque Isle’s hockey program.
