By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

HALLOWELL – Winthrop and Hall-Dale’s cooperative hockey program has existed for roughly a decade without ever confronting Cony in a regular-season game.

That, despite the fact that they’re neighbors, share skating time at Kennebec Ice Arena and grew up learning the game together in the same youth leagues.

It was worth the wait for the Class B Ice Dogs, who took advantage of Russ Schmelzer’s unassisted goal with 7:28 remaining in regulation to clip the Class A Rams, 2-1, on Saturday night.

“I think we might have played them a few years ago in a tournament, but we never beat them in a game that counted,” said Schmelzer. “This was a huge win.”

Schmelzer picked up the game-winner after he controlled the puck near center ice, and a Cony defender fell down.

It was vindication for both Schmelzer and Win-Dale (6-3), which saw an apparent goal by the junior forward disallowed late in the second period. The referee ruled that Cony goalie Nick Claudel froze the puck after it hit the left post, just before it would have crossed the line.

Claudel finished with 22 saves.

“I don’t know what happened,” Schmelzer said. “I just shot it and tried to put it where (the goalie) wasn’t. The second time, the kid fell down and I got lucky.”

Ben Mitchell, Brendan Halligan and the Win-Dale defense held Cony to nine shots over the final two periods after a shaky start. Senior netminder Tavis Hasenfus finished with 19 saves.

Cony (1-9) controlled the first period, connecting in the opening minute and consistently peppering Hasenfus throughout.

Justin Genest skipped the puck past Hasenfus at 27 seconds. Tade Brooks took the initial shot from the left circle. Hasenfus tried to trap the puck with his pads, but it squirted free at the skates of two Cony forwards in point-blank range. Genest picked up the rebound and the goal, with Tommy Poulin also garnering an assist.

Undaunted by the loss of Schmelzer’s apparent equalizer at 10:40 of the second period or by three power plays that ticked away without a shot on goal, Win-Dale tied it 15 seconds before second intermission.

Tri-captains Sam Frost and Seth Kimball collaborated on the tying tally. Frost scored the goal from a tough angle at the near edge of the left circle.

The victory isn’t worth many Heal Points, as snakebitten Cony has lost a flurry of close games in the first half of the season. But the Ice Dogs picked up bragging rights by the bushel.

“(Assistant coach) Glen Frost and I coached at least two-thirds of these kids (on both teams) coming up through the ranks,” said Win-Dale coach Dave St. Hilaire. “Our kids played with their kids. We know each other pretty well. Cony’s a tough team. They could knock off some teams down the stretch.”