PI hockey team loses 3 road matches
The inexperience of the Presque Isle Wildcat hockey team was evident in three road games played last week.
Coach Carl Flynn’s team was outscored by a margin of 22-4 in dropping matches to Houlton/Hodgdon, Hampden Academy and Brewer.
The Wildcats now own a 1-3 record and take on Old Town/Orono Friday at Alfond Arena on the University of Maine campus. Their next home game is Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. against Messalonskee.
Last Tuesday, Thomas Patenaude set up both PI goals, one each by Riley Kinney and Connor DeMerchant, in the Wildcats’ 7-2 loss to the Blackhawks. It was the freshman DeMerchant’s first career goal.
Andre Daigle saved 20 of 27 shots in goal for Presque Isle, while Ian Neureuther saved 10 of 12 for Houlton/Hodgdon.
On Friday, the shots were even at 31, but Hampden exploded for six unanswered goals in the third period to break a 1-1 deadlock and go on to the easy win.
“We really showed our inexperience,” Flynn said. “We did not protect the puck nor take care of it, resulting in several odd man rushes.”
Jake Stevens scored the lone ’Cat goal in the second period, assisted by Kinney and Colby Bonville.
Presque Isle was outscored 6-0 over the final two periods in an 8-1 loss Saturday to Brewer. Patenaude netted the Wildcats’ goal, with Kinney and Stevens notching assists.
“Again our youth did not serve us well,” Flynn said. “Brewer had a lot of experience and were very physical. They wore us down as the game went on.”
