HOULTON, Maine — The Junior Black Hawk Westerdahl’s novice team played its first home game Saturday against Woodstock. Both teams had a successful day on the ice. According to coaches, the players worked hard on perfecting their skills and playing as a team. Great sportsmanship and fun was had by all.
Yorks of Houlton Atoms played the Woodstock Junior Thunder 1 Saturday morning on their home ice. Despite a hat trick by Konner Lynds, the Atoms took a 11-3 loss. The team played very hard and gave all they had on the ice.
The Aroostook Auto Tech Peewees played their home opener on Saturday taking on the Junior Cats from Grand Falls. The strong arm defense by Jed Gilpatrick and Riley Fitzpatrick led the first period. While the Junior Cats were only able to get one puck by goalie Ciaran Johnson.
The second period proved to be a good one with the help of defense by Natalie Delucca and Lucas Matheson, the peewees were able to find the back of the net with two goals scored unassisted by Garrett Fitzpatrick.
It also proved to be a rough game with four penalties given to the Junior Blackhawks.
The third period started out with Maddie Marino and Elijah Neureuther wearing down the Junior Cats. At shift change, Fitzpatrick came out strong with another unassisted goal for the hat trick. With the Jr. Cats rattled, forward Josh McGillicuddy took a pass from Fitzpatrick for the fourth and final goal for the Blackhawks. The Junior Cats got one more by the defense, leaving the Junior Blackhawks with a 4-2 win over the Grand Falls Junior Cats.
On Sunday, the Aroostook Auto Tech Peewees traveled to Presque Isle for an early morning match with the Presque Isle Wildcats. The first period started out with PI taking a breakaway with an unassisted goal. Forwards, Victoria Forbush and Parker Grant were able to help defend their net with drive and determination when faced with being down a player for three penalties throughout the first period.
With another goal by PI, the Junior Blackhawks were able to put one between the pipes with a goal scored by Elijah Neureuther assisted by Garrett Fitzpatrick. Goals were matched between Houlton and PI for two each in the second period scored by Fitzpatrick with the assist from Josh McGillicuddy and another from Mcgillicuddy with the assist from Fitzpatrick.
The third period proved to be tough as both teams were skating and defending with all they had. Center Lucas Gregory’s ability to play multiple positions played a huge role in shutting down the PI offense.
Goalies from both teams saw many shots on net, with some great glove saves by Junior Blackhawk goalie, Ciaran Johnson. The first and only scoring breakaway came from forward Maddie Marino, as she skated with all she could, took the shot and found the back of the net.
PI was able to get one more past the peewees giving them a one goal lead. With less than a minute on the clock, Coaches Mitchell Holmes and Joel Trickey pulled the goalie allowing an extra skater on the ice. After a hard fought battle in the Wildcats territory the Jr. Blackhawks fell short by one goal leaving the score 5-4 Presque Isle.
The SAMHA Varney Agency Bantams took a trip south for the weekend, playing three games. Varney Agency played CMYHA Bantams Friday night at Kents Hill School. SAMHA was led by their veterans with two goals each by Jason Collett, Logan Swallow and Gavin Vining. Varney Agency went on to a convincing 6 to 1 win.
Saturday morning, the Bantams took on SAM Bantams at the Ice Vault. Varney Agency was again led by their veterans with goals by Swallow, Collett and Vining with assists by Kurtis Reynolds, Vining and Caydon Campbell. Varney Agency got out to a 3-0 early in the second period, but SAM came back cutting the lead to two at the end of the second period. SAM scored again late in the third but could not come all the way back with Varney Agency pulling out a hard fought 3-2 win.
In the final game of the weekend, Varney Agency took on Brewer Orange and coasted to a 6-0 win. Scoring goals were Campbell and Collett with two each, Vining and Swallow adding one each. Earning his first shut out of the year was goalie Seth Bagwell who had to stop a penalty shot to seal the shutout. Bagwell was aided by a strong effort by Aidan Johnson, John Cummings, Jay Tuck and Vining.
The Westerdahl Novice have cross ice games Saturday, Nov. 26, at noon hosting Carlton. The Yorks of Houlton Atoms host Carlton at 9:15 a.m. Saturday and travel to Presque Isle at 4:30 p.m.
The next game for the Aroostook Auto Tech peewees will be Saturday, Nov. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the John A. Millar Civic Center hosting the peewees from St. Leonard.
Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association wishes everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
