Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NOTEBOOK: Cony surges toward playoffs

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

The Cony High School hockey team has rediscovered its offense, and it's come at an opportune time as it makes a push toward the Eastern A playoffs.

The Rams (10-3-0) have scored as many goals in their last four games (27) as they did in their first nine.

"We're scoring a lot better," Cony coach Chad Foye said. "A lot of it has to do with making good decisions with the puck. We're getting to the net a lot harder. We're creating. It's good to see."

The Rams have won six straight games to clinch their first winning season since 2008-09, when they finished 10-9-0.

Cony is fifth in Eastern A Heal points and is all but assured to earn its first playoff berth in three seasons.

"It has been awhile," said Foye. "We're gaining some confidence. I'm happy with the progress. We're in pretty good shape right now. We still have to fine tune some things, but we're starting to click."

Foye recently juggled his top two lines with forward Keiffer Cantara out with an injury.

Austin Davis now skates with Dallas Clark and Dakota Bowie. Tyler Leet moved up and plays with Galen Casey and Dylan Cheever.

"They are starting to click," Foye said. "Dallas and Austin are playing well together. Davis is really working hard with his backchecking."

Cony, which went 11-24-1 over the previous two seasons, next hosts Camden (7-6-0) at 8:40 p.m., Saturday.

"We have some big games coming up," Foye said. "If we go and execute, we should be OK. Our first goal was to make the playoffs, and we're in pretty good shape right now."

• • •

Maranacook/Hall-Dale/Win-throp has lost three of its last five games. The Hawks (8-5-0) averaged three goals a game in the stretch, and coach Andy Dube said he may shake things up a bit to jump-start the offense.

"We had three decent lines going but we're struggling right now," he said. "We're not getting enough production. We have to find something that works for us."

Dube said he is contemplating moving defensemen Zach Bessette and Jason LaPorte up front.

"We have to try to find the right chemistry going into the playoffs," Dube said.

With Ian Palmer and Nate Tozier -- who recently returned after missing most of the season with concussion-like symptoms -- anchoring the blue line, Dube has the flexibility to move others up front.

"We want to stay in the top four group," Dube said. "We want to get home-ice advantage in the first round."

• • •

The Eastern B playoff race is becoming clearer, with the frontrunners starting to gain a little separation.

Brewer (13-1-0) and Messalonskee (12-2-0) are ranked first and second, respectively, in Heal points.

No. 3 Presque Isle (9-6-0) is well behind both teams, but it opened some eyes when it took Brewer to overtime last week.

"Brewer is still the team to beat," Messalonskee coach Mike Latendresse said. "There's no doubt about that. It looks like (Presque Isle) is on the way up. They are a hard-working team. They are battle-tested, to. We need to pick our game up. It's going to get interesting."

Messalonskee beat Presque Isle 8-3 earlier this season but lost a pair of two-goal deficits to Brewer, the two-time defending Eastern B champ.

"PI has turned it up," Brewer coach Dave Shedd said. "Old Town has a nice push going on. But the Heal points have settled the top three teams."

Shedd added that he would welcome another showdown with Messalonskee should the two meet again in the playoffs.

"It's always good hockey," he said. "Our games have been back and forth. Each team can prey upon the other on the power play. They have a couple of good lines. We have a couple good lines. They have a good goalie in (Nate) DelGiudice. But he is not invincible by any means. We've proven that. It's a good matchup."

• • •

Gardiner (6-7-0) played Western B frontrunner Greely tough in a 6-2 loss last Saturday.

The Tigers trailed just 2-1 after two periods and 3-2 with about seven minutes left in the third.

"I think we scared them a little," Gardiner coach Jeff Ross said. "We put the thought into them for later, if there is a later."

Gardiner sits sixth in Western B, one place out of a playoff spot. It's chasing Yarmouth (8-3-1), Camden (7-6-0) and York (7-5-2).

"We still control our own destiny," Ross said. "We still have a shot. If Bradley Moore plays the rest of the way like he has been, we'll have a good chance."

Moore, a sophomore goalie, turned in what Ross called his best performance of the season against Greely (9-3-1). Moore stopped 21 shots.

"He kept us in the game," Ross said. "It was his best game of the year. He made some big saves to keep us in it. He gave us a shot to win. We've been pushing him. I think he prepares the same way regular players do, but he's a goalie. We're trying to figure out what triggers him. We're working on his mental preparation. It's been a process for him, but he's playing really well."

Bill Stewart -- 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com