Maine Hockey Journal

Fournier ready lead Bangor in deep playoff run

Brewer's Zac Duncan (left) tries to sneak a shot past Bangor's Derek Fournier but is unsuccessful during their hockey game at Alfond Arena in Orono on Feb. 9. (PHOTO: Ashley L. Conti | BDN)

Brewer’s Zac Duncan (left) tries to sneak a shot past Bangor’s Derek Fournier but is unsuccessful during their hockey game at Alfond Arena in Orono on Feb. 9. (PHOTO: Ashley L. Conti | BDN)

BANGOR — When Derek Fournier was 9 years old, his youth league team was looking a new goalie.

“The goalie got to wear the most gear, so I figured I’d be the most protected,” Bangor High School’s junior goalie said Monday. “And it looked cool. That’s also why I’m a catcher in baseball.”

Fournier fell in love with the goalie position, and he has followed last season’s All-Eastern Maine Class A first-team selection with another quality season this year capped by his 40-save performance in a 1-0 overtime victory over No. 1 Lewiston last Wednesday.

He had made 46 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Blue Devils earlier this season.

The 9-7-2 Rams earned the fourth seed for the Class A North playoffs and will entertain No. 5 Windham-Westbrook (13-5) in a quarterfinal at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday at Sawyer Arena.

Fournier has compiled a 2.04 goals-against average and a 0.925 save percentage despite battling a hamstring injury he suffered before the season and a dislocated kneecap suffered in January that sidelined him for a few games.

He said considering the injuries he’s had to deal with, “I’ve been happy with my season for the most part. I’ve done pretty well.”

In other Tuesday night playoff action, No. 6 Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth, 12-6, will take on No. 3 Edward Little of Auburn, 10-8, in the other A North quarterfinal.

In a Class B North quarterfinal doubleheader at Winslow’s Sukee Arena, No. 6 John Bapst High of Bangor, 11-6-1, will face No. 3 Messalonskee of Oakland (11-5-2) at 5 p.m. followed by the matchup between No. 5 Brewer (10-7-1) and No. 4 Winslow (12-4-2) at 7 p.m.

No. 7 Old Town-Orono (6-10-1) will travel to Rockport for a 6:40 p.m. game with No. 2 Camden Hills (15-3).

Messalonskee won both regular season games against John Bapst, 6-0 and 10-1; Brewer, 9-1-1 in its last 11 games, split its two games with Winslow and Camden Hills beat Old Town-Orono 4-2 in their only meeting. Camden Hills has won nine of its last 10 games.

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