HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton-Hodgdon-Southern Aroostook and Katahdin hockey team lost a pair of tough games this past week, falling to Hampden Academy Saturday and Presque Isle last Tuesday, Jan. 16.
The Black Hawks (2-7) are seventh in the Class B North standings as of Monday morning. Only the top six teams in the region qualify for the postseason, so the Black Hawks will need to secure a couple of more wins to get back into contention.
Fortunately for the local squad, the Black Hawks are only at the halfway point to their season as the team has nine more games on its schedule.
Hampden Academy 5, Black Hawks 1 — At the Penobscot Ice Arena in Brewer, Marcus Dunn and Cooper Leland each recorded two goals and an assist to propel the Broncos to the victory.
Sam Economy chipped in with a goal for Hampden (8-3) while Adam Thompson added an assist. Cooper Ryan made 21 saves.
A.J. Henderson scored off a Gavin Vining assist for Houlton (2-7) while Ian Neureuther finished with 26 saves.
Presque Isle hockey 5, Black Hawks 2 — The Wildcats received two goals each from Thomas Patenaude and Colby Carlisle and a single goal from Connor DeMerchant to defeat Houlton/Hodgdon/Southern Aroostook/Katahdin at the Forum.
One of Carlisle’s goals came at the end of the first period when the Blackhawks were on a 5-on-3 power play.
Gavin Vining and Henderson scored goals for the 2-6 Black Hawks. Elijah Mathewson and Ian Neureuther combined to save 17 of 22 shots in goal for the guests.
The Wildcats improved to 6-2 as Andre Daigle saved 26 of 28 shots for the win in goal.
“We dominated the first two periods but had penalty trouble in the third and had to fend the Black Hawks off,” said PI coach Carl Flynn.
