Josh Dwinal scores twice in the Saints’ 8-4 victory.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – It was just an exhibition game at the front end of what promises to be a solid season for St. Dom’s hockey, but there was also something to prove.

Last year, the Saints were bounced in the first round of their own Bishop’s Cup tournament, and vowed this year would be different. It was very different.

Showing a return to traditional form, St. Dom’s got goals from seven different players as it cruised to a methodical 8-4 win over Seton Catholic (Vermont) Friday afternoon in the first round of the Bishop’s Cup at the Central Maine Civic Center.

“This is the first time in three years we get to play in the championship game,” said St. Dom’s coach Bob Boucher. “It’s always nice to open up the season with a win against a solid team, and now we get a chance to win the tournament.”

Josh Dwinal scored twice while Tyler Martin, John Rutt, Ryan Guerin, Shawn Longley, Erik Rousseau and Kyle Tyburski each added one to help power the Saints in their first big game of the season.

“Coming into the season we felt we had a number of players with the ability to score,” said Boucher. “We have a balanced club and when you can do what we did tonight, that’s a good sign.”

Martin finished the night with five total points, while Rutt had four and Dwinal had three. Seton got goals from Matt LeClair in the first and Dane Ellerton in the second, but the Knights were never able to muster a consistent offensive attack, and St. Dom’s made them pay in transition.

“I think once we settled down in the first and realized the advantage we had with our forwards against their slower defensemen, it was a matter of dumping the puck in down low and letting the forwards do their jobs,” said Boucher.

Seton started well when LeClair put his team’s first shot by St. Dom’s goaltender Brandon Gervais (12 saves) just 27 seconds into the game.

St. Dom’s quickly regained control, however, adding goals by Dwinal and Tyburski before the end of the first frame to take the lead.

“I don’t know that getting the lead after the first is necessarily as important as just keeping it close,” said Boucher. “We wanted to be in a good position and keep it close, and I think we did that.”

In the second, Rousseau, Dwinal, Martin and Guerin all scored to give St. Dom’s a commanding 6-2 lead. Rutt and Longley capped the scoring in the third, both forwards pushing backhanders past Martin St. Amand (25 saves).

In Friday’s first game, Cape Elizabeth turned some heads with a solid 3-2 win over Cheverus, advancing to Saturday’s final. Joel Balfour took a feed from Brett Brown and broke a 2-2 tie at 7:16 of the third period for the Capers.

Seton Catholic and Cheverus will play in a consolation game at 2 p.m. on Saturday, while the championship game will be at 4 p.m.

Copy the Story Link