The Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA) Tier 4 Bantam hockey team ended their 2013 season by capturing silver at the MEAHA USA Hockey tournament in Rockport on March 3. The team lost in the championship game, 5-1, against the Waterville area team.
The tournament action began on March 1, with the SAMHA (North 1) team playing the same Waterville team (Central 2), as in the final game, losing 2-1 in a game that allowed the SAMHA team to hone its penalty-killing skills. Abe Lorom scored SAMHA’s lone goal with Brandon Dunn getting the assist. Nate Lilly was goal tending.
The team’s second game was played against Casco Bay (South 2) from Portland Saturday morning. The SAMHA team won the game 5-0. Caleb Tribou scored first for SAMHA with an unassisted goal. Josh Malone then scored with another unassisted goal. This was followed by Adam Casillas scoring twice, with assists from Morgan Grant and Lorom. Billy Phillips scored the final tally, with an assist from Dunn.
Kinsman Corthell earned a shutout with his performance in net.
The team’s third game was played Saturday afternoon against a Lewiston team (Western 1) with the SAMHA team winning 4-2. Josh Malone scored first for SAMHA, with an assist from Dunn. Dunn then scored twice in a row with two shorthanded goals inspiring the team. Tribou cinched the win, with a goal assisted by Morgan Grant.
Lilly played a phenomenal game making many key saves. This win placed the team in semifinal play Sunday morning against the favored undefeated Gardner team (Central 1).
With a tremendous effort the SAMHA team defeated the Gardner team 4-0, fueled by another outstanding performance by goaltender Lilly. Malone scored first with an unassisted goal. This was followed by Malone’s second goal, assisted by Dunn. Tribou scored the team’s third goal, with an assist from Jon Williams. Malone made the final tally and earned a hat trick by scoring his third goal, with an assist from Tyler Fitzpatrick.
The final game against Waterville was disappointing as any loss is after going the distance, but the team showed poise and returned to southern Aroostook with the runner-up trophy. Dunn scored the team’s lone goal in the game, with an assist from Casillas.
The southern Aroostook area should be very proud of the SAMHA team. The team went undefeated on the season prior to championship play. The team earned a record if 7-0-1 in league play and 9-0-0 in non-league (exhibition) play for a combined season record of 16-0-1. Including the state finals, the team’s record is 19-2-1.
The SAMHA team is coached by David Wilson, Dennis Harmon and David Dunn; and is sponsored by Palmer Construction.
