Maine Hockey Journal

Biddeford’s mighty defense sends them to title game

Lewiston, ME – Matt Roy was on his game, and so was the rest of Biddeford as they make a return trip back to the Class A Boys’ State Championship game with a 3-0 win over cross-town rival Thornton Academy in the Western Class A championship game at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

Roy made 26 saves in the win as the Tigers will play for their third state title in four years.

“Unbelievable,” said Biddeford head coach Richard Reissfelder in a single word. “He had a tough time the last time against (Thornton Academy)… this was a big night for him. He made a lot of key saves especially when we were a man down.”

“It just gave us a ton of confidence.”

Biddeford also received goal scoring at the perfect times of the game as they set the pace.

Tyler Fleurent scored a pair of power play goals including the first goal of the game at 4:26 of the first period.

Eric Grover fired the initial shot on goal, but Fleurent was able to get his stick on the puck, deflecting it by Thornton Academy goalie Rick Hebb.

Less than four minutes later, the Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 when Travis Guay found the back of the net with a rising slap shot from the high slot.

“We talked the last couple of weeks about getting off to quick starts,” said Reissfelder. “When we’re leading after the first period we’ve been undefeated on the season.”

Those are not the type of facts that Thornton found appealing.

After being outshot 11-3 in the first period, the Golden Trojans made an effort to get back into the game, but couldn’t find that first goal to get them going.

“We did get the shots to the goal,” said Thornton coach Shawn Rousseau. “We just struggled to get rebounds… If we could have gotten that (first goal), the tide could have turned quick.”

Biddeford sealed their trip to the state title game as Fleurent scored his second power play goal of the night at 1:42 of the third period.

“When you get to this point,” said Reissfelder, (Thornton) has so many capable forwards, if you lose track you’re in for a long night.”

“We did a much better job of denying them the puck.”

Biddeford will take on Waterville after they defeated St. Dominic’s 3-2 in the Eastern Class A title game.

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