SAMHA peewees advance to state hockey championship in Augusta

Contributed photograph
CHAMPS — The Barry Lorom Trucking Peewees competed in the Maine Amateur Hockey Association state tournament last weekend and were seeded in first place. Playing for the team are, from left, front, Nate Lilley; middle, Adam Casillas, Logan Cyr-Ellis, Brandon Dunn, Brandon Malone and Morgan Grant; back, Abe Lorom, Luke Wiegand, Elizabeth Ward, Jonathan Williams, Kinsman Corthell, Caleb Tribou, Nick Cowperthwaite, Jamie Palmer, Jeremy Fitzpatrick, Billy Phillips and coach Steve Ward. Absent from the photograph is John Thatcher.
    All the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA) teams went to the Maine Amateur Hockey Association state tournament last weekend and were seated in first place. 
    The 9-10-year-old Grand Rental Station Squirts had three wins and one loss, while the 11-12-year-old Barry Lorom Trucking Peewees had two wins, a tie, and a loss. The 13-14-year-old Building Etcetera Bantams had one win and two losses. 
    This is the first year SAMHA has exclusively participated in the USA Hockey League. The top two teams in each regional division moved forward into a state playoff on Feb. 12-13 and the winners from that will play for the state championship Feb. 26-27 in Augusta.
    The Grand Rental Station Squirts defeated Casco Bay 7-1, Central Maine 4-2, Lewiston Blue 5-4 and lost to Lewiston Gray 10-4.  They will play Lewiston Gray in the state championship.
    The Barry Lorom Trucking Peewees defeated Casco Bay 1-0 (goal scored by Kinsman Corthell, assisted by Nick Cowperthwaite); Central Maine Gold 5-4 (goals by Caleb Tribou, Brandon Dunn, Logan Ellis and Corthell); tied Lewiston 3-3 (goals by Luke Wiegand, Tribou and Adam Casillas); and lost to Central Maine White 5-2, (goals by Elizabeth Ward and Brandon Malone). They will play Lewiston Orange in the state championship on Feb. 26 in Augusta at 2:30 p.m.
    The Building Etcetera Bantams defeated Auburn 1-0 and lost to Casco Bay 3-2 and Gardner 2-1.
    All the participants 8 years old and younger are Mites and have had a great year as well. Scores and standings are not kept at this level.
    SAMHA appreciates the time and effort of the head coaches: Peter Alden (Mites), Tony Marino (Squirts), Steve Ward (Peewees), Dave Wilson (Bantams) and their assistants.
    Youth Hockey could not be possible without their generous sponsors. The main sponsors are Grand Rental Station, Barry Lorom Trucking and Buildings Etcetera. Other sponsors are Gilley Tree Farm of Surry, Mooers Realty, Philip Jordan Esq, Acott’s Custom Paint and Detailing, and Savings Bank of Maine, JH McPartland and Son, Crawford Homes, First Choice Reality, and Severson, Hand and Nelson.