One of them isn’t supposed to be there at all. One of them used to be perennial contender but has been absent for the past five years.

So pardon people who ask where Orono and Fryeburg came from in the Class B hockey picture this season.

“All season, you heard about all of the good teams in the West,” Orono coach Greg Hirsch said. “In most of the media, that’s where all the predictions were. Then you look at the state final and you have to look twice.”

Hirsch’s team has done well this season after reviving a program that had a dismal finish last year.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to call ourselves contenders,” Hirsch said.

Five years ago, Orono appeared in the state title game, but lost handily to Cape Elizabeth.

“Last time, it was such a big accomplishment to win the Eastern region,” Hirsch said. “This time around, I don’t know whether or not it’s a good thing, but the guys seem not to be satisfied. I suppose that is good.”

The Red Riots’ first line has a sophomore and two freshman, including Chris McConnon, and they generate much of the offense. In goal, Orono throws sophomore Keith Hedrick into the fire, but that isn’t anything his family hasn’t seen before. In 1999, his brother was a Orono netminder. This season, Hedrick has a chance to help the Riots to their first-ever state title.

“He’s been solid in net for us all season,” Hirsch said.

But when Orono faces Fryeburg on Saturday, the Red Riots will have to get past Joe Mango.

“I don’t know what more there is to say about Joe,” Fryeburg coach Fred Apt said Wednesday after his team’s win over Greely.

“He’s been there all year for us. Right out of the gate he stopped more than 40 shots against Greely to open the season.”

In the playoffs, the Raiders upended No. 4 Maranacook in a low-scoring affair. Mango made 23 saves. In the semifinals, Mango stopped 43 shots as Fryeburg tipped Cape Elizabeth and finished the Raiders’ run to the title game with 43 more saves against Greely.

“It’s been unreal the last few games,” Mango said. “The guys are playing well enough in front of me and blocking some shots, but I am seeing the puck well right now, too.”

In front of Mango is one of the more formidable attacks in all of Class B. Nick Lawrence, Bo Apt, Jordan DeLong and Kris Charlong play nearly the entire game for the Raiders, and have punched in an equally proportionate number of goals.

One thing is guaranteed on Saturday: A first-time champion will be crowned.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

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