AUBURN – Plastic orange pylons might have had a better chance at stopping Matt Nadeau during a recent game against Brunswick.

The senior captain of the Edward Little hockey team picked up the puck at center and drove down the left-wing boards. Seeing one defender in his way, Nadeau faked right and slid the puck between the defender’s legs, causing those legs to become entangled and sending the defender sprawling across the ice.

“I lost sight of the net at that point,” Nadeau admitted. “I just wanted to control then puck and then looked up.”

As he slid across the goal, Brunswick’s goaltender tried to pokecheck the puck from Nadeau, but the crafty four-year varsity player managed a quick shot and scored.

“That might have been one of the prettiest goals I’ve seen in my time here at EL,” said coach Jamie Belleau. “And remember I had Kyle (Smith) and Colby (Gilbert) on the team the last few years.”

Nadeau finished with a hat trick in a 5-4 loss.

In a game against Lewiston earlier in the season, Nadeau had another goal that stood out in both his and his coaches’ minds.

After getting leveled at his own blue line, and as the play continued ahead of him, Nadeau crawled back to his feet, shook his head side to side a few times, and skated back toward the Lewiston zone. He was back in time to join a 3-on-2 as the trailing forward and scored.

Also in that game, he replaced his skate not once but twice after his own skate cracked at the base.

Nadeau finished with a hat trick in a 4-3 loss to rival Lewiston.

“He is doing well against all of the top teams,” said Belleau. “He isn’t just putting up points against weaker teams in the league.”

But such has been Edward Little’s season to date – solid wins against teams they should defeat and tight “woulda-coulda-shoulda” losses against the tough teams. Brunswick, Lewiston and St. Dom’s, in countable games, have upended the Red Eddies by a combined four goals this season.

Still, one constant for Edward Little has been Nadeau. According to the latest posted point statistics at mainehighschoolhockey.com, Nadeau trails only Nick Payson of Bangor in overall points. Through nine league games, Nadeau has 25 points, a clip of nearly three per game.

“I think everyone knew he was a good player before,” said Belleau. “The thing is, he’s been overshadowed some. People just didn’t focus on him even though he was an important part of winning our two state championships. This year he is sending a message that he is that good. He already has more points this year than he did all of last year.”

But according to Nadeau, the points are good, but leading the team to wins is more important.

“Obviously right now it stinks that we’re not winning,” said Nadeau. “I mean, I am happy with the points and all, but it’s just not fun if you’re not winning, too. Last year I didn’t score as many points but we won a lot of games. I think I’d rather win than score.”

Being stuck in the shadow of All-State forwards Smith and Gilbert for two years, Nadeau said he never really doubted his ability, he just needed his chance.

“I just had to play really well defensively like the team needed and wait,” said Nadeau. “I never doubted that I could play, I just had to be patient.”

Patience has paid off, as Nadeau is now the captain and leading his own group of underclassmen.

“Discipline is one of the most stressed things we talk about and have to use,” said Nadeau. It’s part of my job to follow that and show that I agree with it. It’s just starting to get to the point in the locker room now that the younger players are starting to learn how to act at the varsity level, and that’s part of my job, too.”

Belleau has been happy with the results.

“Matt has learned to lead by example,” said Belleau. “I want the captain to send a message, to set an example for the rest of the team to follow. There’s more than just playing on the ice. There’s a commitment to hard work off the ice and to school.”

With an increase in the amount of practice time and a subsequent increase in his endurance, Nadeau has become that full package that Belleau was hoping for at the beginning of the season.

“We knew we needed Matt at the beginning of the season to step up, and he has. He’s already exceeded expectations this year.”

For Nadeau, though, there is still some unfinished business.

“I just think we need to get to the playoffs,” said Nadeau. “I think once we are there we’d be dangerous. Right now we’re in a good spot. I’d like to be one of the scoring leaders, sure, but as long as the team starts winning and keeps on winning, I don’t care if I am scoring or if it’s someone else. As long as someone is.”