LEWISTON – For two years, local high school hockey fans have been spoiled.
Lewiston and Edward Little met in the Eastern Class A finals in each of those years, and last season EL met St. Dom’s in the state final.
This year, the marquee Eastern matchup comes early – really early – but the chance for an all-local final still exists.
Lewiston, with a loss to Bangor in its final regular-season contest, dropped to the No. 2 seed for the upcoming playoffs, while Edward Little finished in the same spot it had occupied for several weeks – No. 7.
“I don’t think it really matters in the East this year,” said Lewiston coach Tim Smith. “All four quarterfinal matchups are hard this year. Nobody has it easy, not even Bangor because Mt. Ararat has proven it can stay with top teams this year.”
No. 1 Bangor drew the eighth-seeded Eagles, while No. 3 Messalonskee will face No. 6 Waterville, and No. 4 Brunswick will host No. 5 Brewer. All of those games will take place Tuesday, March 1, at the higher seeds’ home rink.
For Lewiston, the key is not looking past Edward Little, despite the Eddies’ fall from the top.
“We’ve matched up well against them so far this year,” said Smith, “but they are a good team. Any team from the East has a legitimate shot at going to the state game.”
The four winners next Tuesday will move on to the Eastern semifinals at the Colisee on March 5. The regional final will be March 8 at the Cumberland County Civic Center this year instead of at Colby College in Waterville, with the state game back at the Colisee on March 12.
In Western Class A, St. Dom’s dropped from the No. 1 spot to No. 2 after Cheverus ran the table in the final week, leapfrogging into the top spot.
“We expected that, really,” said St. Dom’s coach Bob Boucher. “All that is is a number. One or two we get to the same place.”
The Saints will face the winner of a Deering/Westbrook preliminary in their first game at the Colisee on March 1, while the Stags drew the winner of Kennebunk/Biddeford.
Portland is seeded at No. 3 and will face either No. 6 Scarborough or No. 11 Noble on Tuesday. No. 4 Falmouth will face No. 5 Thornton in the other Western Class A quarterfinal. The regional semifinals will also be at the Colisee, the West taking its turn on March 4.
“I think there are more teams in the East that could make it through than in the West,” said Boucher. “Talent-wise, though, I think they are pretty even.”
Cape, Winslow on top
Cape Elizabeth overtook York in the final week of the season with a win over the Wildcats, avenging its only Class B loss this season. The Capers are atop the Class B ladder again, set to avenge an early playoff exit last season.
With such a small division, Cape actually has a bye into the Western Class B semifinals, where it will face the winner of Yarmouth and Win-Dale.
That matchup of Nos. 4 and 5 teams is intriguing in part because the Ice Dogs are where they are thanks to a win over the Clippers last week.
“I like our chances, honestly,” said Win-Dale coach Dave St. Hilaire. “They outshot us, but they didn’t blow us out. They play a tight game and get most of their offense from one line.”
In an early-season meeting, Yarmouth pasted Win-Dale 5-0.
Leavitt will match up with Greely in the Nos. 3-6 matchup in the West, where just six teams advanced to the playoffs.
In the East, Winslow is the No. 1 seed and will get a bye into the regional semifinals, where it will play the winner of Houlton-Hodgdon/Presque Isle.
No. 2 Orono will host Kents Hill in another quarterfinal, while Hampden will host No. 6 Gardiner.
The Eastern semifinals will be at Sukee Arena in Winslow, while the Western semifinals will take place at Portland Ice Arena.
The Western Class B final will be at the Colisee in Lewiston, while the Eastern finalists will square off in Orono.
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