PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A youthful roster could lead to some growing pains early on, but the future looks bright for the Presque Isle varsity hockey team.
PI hockey schedule
Date Opponent Time
Dec. 9 Camden Hills 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Houlton/Hodgdon 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Hampden 5:20 p.m.
Dec. 17 at Brewer 11 a.m.
Dec. 23 at Old Town/Orono 7 p.m.
Dec. 27 Messalonskee 1 p.m.
Dec. 29 Winslow 1 p.m.
Jan. 6 John Bapst 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 Houlton/Hodgdon 5 p.m.
Jan. 12 Old Town/Orono 4 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Waterville 1 p.m.
Jan. 21 Skwgn/Lawrence 1:15 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Winslow 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Messalonskee 1 p.m.
Feb. 4 at Skwgn/Lawrence 1 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Camden Hills 5 p.m.
Feb. 15 Brewer 5 p.m.
Feb. 21 Hampden Academy 1 p.m.
Wildcat hockey roster
No. Name Grade Position
1 Andre Daigle 10 Goalie
2 Jacob Foster 9 Defense
3 Riley Kinney* 10 Forward
4 Isaac Madore 11 Forward
5 Carter Jackson 9 Forward
6 Colby Bonville 9 Forward
8 Jake Stevens 10 Forward
10 Jaren Winger 10 Defense
11 Thomas Patenaude* 10 Forward
14 Connor DeMerchant 9 Forward
15 Devin Ireland 11 Defense
16 Torey Levesque* 10 Defense
18 Alex Brewer 12 Forward
19 Owen McQuarrie 10 Forward
23 Denny Young 12 Defense
29 Austin Bouchard 12 Forward
31 Bryce Bonville 9 Goalie
* Captains
Twelfth-year coach Carl Flynn said the team will miss its four-year starters, forward Cooper Madore (12 goals and 4 assists as a senior) and goalie Jillian Flynn, but the team consisting of 12 freshmen and sophomores among its 17-player roster gives the Wildcats hope down the road.
Still, Presque Isle, which opens at home Friday against Camden Hills, is hoping to get back to the playoffs this season after just missing out with a 5-13 mark last winter.
“We need to stay healthy, play disciplined and hope that our underclassmen can get up to speed quickly,” Flynn said.
The team’s three seniors — Denny Young, Alex Brewer and Austin Bouchard — will all play significant roles. Young is a defenseman who is capable of contributing on the offensive end, as evidenced by his team-leading 18 points (nine goals and nine assists) during the 2015-16 season. Brewer and Bouchard team up on one of the team’s scoring lines.
Sophomores Thomas Patenaude (3 goals, 4 assists last year) and Riley Kinney join freshman Connor DeMerchant on Presque Isle’s fast scoring line, while Brewer and Bouchard and sophomore Jake Stevens (5 goals, 7 assists) make up the more physical scoring line.
Junior Isaac Madore and freshmen Carter Jackson and Colby Bonville are the players on a checking line, although all three will fill in on other lines as injuries and illness play a part. Owen McQuarrie, a sophomore, brings some size to the offense.
Young leads the defense along with sophomore Jaren Winger, who had four assists to go along with a goal his freshman campaign. Sophomore Torey Levesque and junior Devin Ireland are solid “stay at home” defenders and freshman Jacob Foster takes on a reserve role.
The goalie tandem consists of starter Andre Daigle, a sophomore, and freshman backup Bryce Bonville as the starter the last four seasons, Jillian Flynn, is now playing collegiately at the University of Maine at Orono.
“I think we need to play good defense and try to win low-scoring games,” Flynn said. “We will need to become more physical and will need to protect and support the puck.”
Darren Carlisle is back as Flynn’s assistant coach and Brooke Moreau and Alaina Sweetser are the student managers.
As for the competition in Class B North, Waterville is the defending Class B state champion and returns most of its team, while Flynn said Orono-Old Town and Brewer also have solid squads. Hampden and Houlton-Hodgdon feature some talented players and will provide excellent competition. Flynn said John Bapst, Camden Hills, Winslow and Messalonskee all suffered significant personnel losses but cannot be overlooked.
