First line boasts quality scorers
for Wildcats hockey team
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Presque Isle High School hockey team has had a string of very successful seasons under coach Dr. Carl Flynn. In the past seven years the school has been in three Eastern Maine Championship games and one title. Last year however was a little bit of a letdown. The team still made the playoffs, but the 8-10 record and few seniors on the team meant last year could be classified as a rebuilding year.
This year the Wildcats have 14 returning players on the roster of 18 skaters and one goalie.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
HOCKEY COACH — Dr. Carl Flynn is back for another season to coach the Presque Isle High School hockey team.
On offense the first line has plenty of firepower. Seniors Isaacc LaJoie, Conner Shaw and junior Adam Flynn should cause problems for Presque Isle’s opponents.
“These are our three top scorers returning from last year, averaging about five goals per game,” said the coach.
The second line of sophomore Tyler Seely, senior Cody Merrill and freshman Alex Michaud has a mix of experience and youth.
“This is a very fast and aggressive line,” Flynn said, “and Tyler brings a dominating size and presence to this line.”
The third line consists of junior Scott Rynhold, sophomore Ryder Soucy and freshman Joseph Pattenaude.
“This will truly give us a chance to skate a third line and Scott has worked hard to give this line a real physical presence,” the coach said.
The fourth line of senior Kate Campbell, sophomore Trevor Levesque and freshman Dan Boucher will primarily play in specialty situations, such as penalty kills.
The defense took a bigger hit from graduation than the offense, gone from last year’s team is goalie Josh MacFarline and defensemen Jake Buck and Jordan Hallet. To help stabilize the defensive unit senior Evan Waddell has moved from forward to defenseman. Senior Nate Sperry, sophomores Andrew Michaud and Mikey Michaud and freshman Colin McKay and Jeremy Gingrich also shore up the defense.
“Our defense is very young, but very big,” Flynn said. “I think it will be a surprisingly good group.”
In the pipes this season is senior Nic Davis, who Flynn said has been the primary backup in past seasons.
“Nic did play a fair amount and won some big games for us,” he said. “I think he is more than capable to lead this team to success while helping guide our young defense.”
The coach added the keys to the season will be discipline and conditioning. An extremely difficult hurdle for the Wildcats in Class B will be the Brewer Witches. Brewer went undefeated last year and returns all but three players. Also on the schedule for Presque Isle is Messalonskee, which dropped from Class A to B. Coach Flynn said Old Town, Orono, Winslow and John Bapst all will be on par with the Wildcats. Also on the schedule are two games against County rival Houlton/Hodgdon. Their first matchup will be the first home contest for Presque Isle on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.
