PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Last year, for the first time in coach Carl Flynn’s 10-year career at Presque Isle, the Wildcats did not qualify for the playoffs.
The team went 4-14 due to several personnel issues and the season was “a disappoinment,” according to Flynn.
He hopes to put that behind him this winter with a youthful, yet experienced roster to team with senior veterans Cooper Madore and Jillian Flynn.
Madore has 54 career points and the coach says if he stays healthy and the team jells is capable of joining the prestigious 100-point club at Presque Isle High School. Jillian Flynn already owns most of the goaltending records for the Wildcats and has already committed to play collegiately at the University of Maine at Orono.
The Wildcats will have four freshmen on the first and second scoring lines and four other ninth-graders are on the team in different roles.
“They are skilled, but need to get up to speed with the pace of high school hockey,” Flynn said.
Madore will center the top line, with junior Craig Schiff joining freshman Thomas Patenaude on the wings.
“Cooper will need to lead us in offensive production and will need to help his linemates make their line productive,” Flynn said.
The second line is made up entirely of freshmen, with Jake Stevens at center and Jaren Winger and Bailey York on the wings.
“We need them to grow throughout the season and act like upperclassmen toward the end of it,” Flynn said.
Senior Jack Andrus and sophomores Colin Daigle and James Kinney make up the third line, with sophomores Isaac Madore, freshman Riley Kinney and senior Noah Kinney providing offensive depth.
The defense is also an experienced group, led by juniors Denny Young and Alex Brewer. Sophomore Eric Benson, senior Brycen Libby and freshmen Torey Levesque and Brandon McKnight will also see time on the back line.
“They will need to get up to speed early in the season,” Flynn said.
Jillian Flynn is back for her fourth season as the starting goalie and she will be backed up by freshman Andre Daigle. They combined to allow eight goals in four preseason games and Daigle was in goal throughout during the 7-4 loss to John Bapst in the opening game Saturday.
“One of our keys is tough goaltending and we’ll depend on Jillian a lot,” said the coach.
Junior Alaina Sweetser returns as manager and Darren Carlisle is back for his sixth year as the assistant coach.
Flynn expects parity among Penobscot Valley Conference teams in the East and said the power belongs to the Kennebec Valley Conference, with Messalonskee, Waterville and Winslow all expected to be strong.
