The varsity winter sports season officially opens this weekend, with hockey, basketball and swimming all on the schedule.
Coach Carl Flynn’s Presque Isle hockey team hosts Camden Hills at the Forum Friday, with the puck dropping at 6:45 p.m.
A pair of basketball doubleheaders are slated in both Washburn and Easton on Friday, as Van Buren heads north to take on the Beavers and Ashland travels to take on the Bears. The girls’ games begin at 5:30 p.m and the boys’ games have a scheduled start time of 7 p.m.
The Washburn girls have a new coach in Jon Poisson, while the Easton boys are now under the leadership of Cody Closson, who is also coaching his first-ever varsity game. The Ashland girls welcome back Ben Lothrop, who returns to the sidelines for the Hornets after a nine-year layoff.
Also on Friday, the Greater Houlton Christian Academy boys make the trip to take on Fort Fairfield for a 7 p.m. start. The visiting Eagles are expected to challenge for one of the top spots in Class D, while the Tigers, coached by Logan McLaughlin, were the Class C North runners-up last season.
Friday also marks the Central Aroostook boys’ first game in several years as a Class C team as the Panthers make the move from the ‘D’ ranks. CA travels to Houlton, a new opponent on the schedule, for a 7 p.m. start.
The coaching matchup features the Panthers’ Jason Woodworth, in his third season, against Tim Brewer, who begins his second year in charge of the Shires. Woodworth played for Brewer at Central Aroostook and then was his assistant for five seasons up until 2015, when Brewer wrapped up his 15-year stint as the Panthers’ boss.
Presque Isle kicks off its regular season slate Saturday with a lengthy trip to East Machias. The Wildcat girls play Washington Academy at 1:30 p.m. and the boys’ game is set for 4:30 p.m.
The Fort Fairfield girls make their debut Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with a home game against the Katahdin Cougars. Larry Gardner is back for his 20th season as the coach of the Tigers.
The Carlisle swim team hosts a meet in Limestone Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., with Washington Academy the opponent.
More basketball is lined up Monday and Tuesday. Washburn plays at home again Monday, this time against Madawaska. The girls’ game is at 5:30 p.m. and the boys will go right after at 7 p.m.
Round one of the Fort Fairfield-Easton matchups are slated for Monday and Tuesday, both in Easton. The boys’ game will be played Monday and Closson will be coaching against the team he played for in the 1990s. The girls’ game is the following evening. Both contests tip off at 7 p.m.
