PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The regular season and home opener for the Wildcat hockey team began with excitement, but ended in disappointment.
Presque Isle scored on its first three shot attempts and took a 3-1 lead just 4:19 into Friday night’s match against Camden Hills, but from that point on the visiting Windjammers took over. They outscored the Wildcats 4-2 in the second period and 3-0 in the third to come away with an 8-5 triumph at the Forum.
-
- Presque Isle’s Connor DeMerchant, right, is ready for a scoring chance on a loose puck in front of the net, while linemates Colby Carlisle (7) and Gage LeTourneau (9) get in on the play and Camden Hills’ goalie Matt Czuchra settles in for a save attempt. The action took place at the Forum Friday. (Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg)
With the score tied entering the final frame, Charlie Griebel, Bryce Tyler and Nicholas Tausek netted unanswered goals while goalie Matt Czuchra saved all 10 shots he faced for the Windjammers (1-0).
Many of Camden Hills’ goals throughout the game were the result of breakaways.
“We did not do a good job keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and we struggled making a save on the first shot,” said PI coach Carl Flynn. “In the end, we didn’t take care of the puck, nor our end of the ice.”
-
- Thomas Patenaude of the Wildcats, right, battles for the puck in a draw against Camden Hills’ Cam Christie during the first period of Friday’s varsity hockey game played at the Forum in Presque Isle. (Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg)
Griebel finished with three goals to lead the Windjammers. Cam Christie netted two, and Tyler, Tausek and Nate VanLonkhuyzen scored singles.
After Camden Hills jumped out in front 52 seconds into the match, PI put up an offensive flurry that had the large opening-night crowd buzzing. Eight seconds after the early Windjammer goal, PI won the ensuing faceoff and junior Riley Kinney scored to even things up. Twelve seconds after that Kinney, put in another. Both goals came off assists from sophomore wing Colby Bonville.
Wildcat junior center Jake Stevens got into the act 3:07 later by ripping a slap shot past Czuchra, giving the hosts a two-goal lead.
Camden Hills tied it 3-3 with 7:57 to go in the middle period before PI freshman Gage LeTourneau netted a shorthanded goal and Stevens tucked a shot past Czuchra in a 1:30 span to put Presque Isle back on top by two, but the Windjammers scored twice in the final 2:46 of the period and then scored in the final period at 11:11, 8:02 and 4:30 to put it away.
Czuchra saved 23 of 28 shots for Camden Hills and Andre Daigle stopped 26 of 34 for the ’Cats, who next play at Houlton Wednesday.
