The Aroostook Amateur Hockey Association Peewee Competitive division team, sponsored by the Turner Foundation, recently wrapped up another successful season. Comprised of 11- and 12-year-olds, all the players on the team showed marked improvement on the year. The team, which competes in District 1 and 2 of Hockey New Brunswick, played in 14 regular season games against teams from Houlton, Grand Falls, Edmundston, Plaster Rock, Perth/Andover, Florenceville and Woodstock.
The team also participated in 10 tournaments, which were as far away as Augusta and St. John, N.B., giving them a total of 50 games played. Th e games played was key in player improvement, as was the small size of the team (10 skaters and two goaltenders), giving each player the optimal amount of time spent on the ice to increase their experience and skill level. Early season practices focused on individual skating and game skills, while later in the year the emphasis shifted to team strategy and tactics.
The overall record for the year was 16-31-3, with the team struggling early in the regular season games and missing the final rounds of a couple tournaments by one goal. As experience and confidence built, the team came on strong at the end of the year picking up a second-place finish and the sportsmanship award in the Plaster Rock Tournament; a runner-up trophy in the Maine Tier III State Championships; and a championship in the Bangor Friendship Tournament.
In the Plaster Rock Tournament, the team finished second to a tough Southern Victoria team, which they had defeated earlier, losing 2-1 in overtime on a penalty shot. However, they picked up the banner for most sportsmanlike team in the tourney.
In the state championships, the team made a strong run defeating Casco Bay, Kennebec and Houlton before falling to Gardiner in the finals by a single goal 5-4. In the Bangor Friendship Tournament the team really showed their stuff, going undefeated against Brunswick, Auburn, Bangor and Maranacook, before thrashing PVHC (Orono) in the finals, 11-2 to win the tournament.
This year’s team had the advantage of arguably the two best goaltenders in the league, Nic Davis and Jayson Lovely; both posted shutouts and featured Goals Against Averages in the fours. In addition to his duties in goal, Lovely also played forward and defense in 25 games, chipping in two goals and an assist while adding some thump to the lineup. Post game comments from opposing coaches at tournaments routinely featured praise for both goaltenders and envy at having two with such polished skills. Both Davis and Lovely were second-year players and will be moving on to the Bantam (13-14 year old) division next year, bringing their considerable skills with them.
A good portion of any goalie’s success is rooted with their defensemen and this year’s team had several talented blueliners, including second-year players Grant Lundquist, Nathan Sperrey and Kate Campbell doing yeoman work, with help from first-year players Carl Benson and Andrew Michaud.
Sperrey provided a physical presence, manhandling would-be scorers in the corners and in front of the net. Campbell provided poise and experience and inspired a high level of confidence in her linemates. Benson took home the award for the most improved player on the team for his hard work. He also provided a physical presence and a hard shot, scoring from the blueline on a number of occasions.
Michaud, a very talented skater, provided speed, scoring punch and flexibility in playing both defense and forward. Lundquist, an assistant captain, and leader on the defense, was first overall on the team in scoring, leading in both goals and assists. He was also one of two players on the team to make the USA Hockey Maine Festival team, a select team that represented the state of Maine in a regional tournament in Burlington, Vermont. Benson and Michaud will anchor the defense next season as Lundquist, Sperrey and Campbell will move up a division next season. Benson and Lundquist are currently still on the ice, playing spring AAA hockey in Florenceville, NB until the end of May.
The offense was anchored by centers Conner Shaw and Nick Calhoun and powered by wingers Adam Flynn, Cole Farley, and Cody Flannery. Shaw, who served as captain, was second in scoring on the team and also made the Maine Festival Team. A talented skater and puck handler Shaw received the prestigious Smith Award for excellence in peewee hockey.
Calhoun improved greatly over the course of the season, his second ever playing hockey, and will be one of next season’s peewee team leaders. Calhoun worked hard every game forcing the play and for his efforts received the Hustle Award for ‘06-‘07. Flynn, an assistant captain, led all first year peewees in scoring, ending up third overall on the team. Owning a quick, powerful and accurate shot, Flynn was also known as “The Sniper.”
Farley earned his stripes as a rugged physical forward, digging for pucks in the corner and developed his shooting as well – scoring prolifically towards the end of the season. Farley earned the Iron Man Award as the only player on the team to play in all fifty games. Cody Flannery also was a strong physical presence on the ice for the team, always ready to go to the boards and mix it up to get the puck to his linemates in front of the net. He tallied several important assists in this manner during the year. He and Shaw will be moving on to the bantam level next fall, while Calhoun, Flynn and Flannery will form the core of the offense for the peewees in the ‘07-‘08 campaign.
Three other players that deserve mention here are Scott Rhynold, Ross Harris and Mustafa Azab, who were on the peewee recreational (non-checking) team but provided some important contributions, playing up on the competitive team for a number of games this year providing welcome depth, timely hits and important goals at times, when needed.
This year’s team was coached by Brian Lundquist, assisted by Dr. Carl Flynn, Dorne Lovely and Gary Michaud. Mark Sperrey and Doug McKenna served as score and timekeepers.
