PORTLAND – Jon Roy has headlined plenty of games in his young career, but it’s unlikely many of them – if any at all – can top the night the Lewiston High School junior had Tuesday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Roy scored four goals, including all three of the Blue Devils’ second-period tallies, to lead Lewiston to an 8-4 win over Bangor in the Eastern Class A hockey final.

“We’ve been waiting for J.R. to break out all season,” Lewiston coach Norm Gagne said. “He broke out big tonight.”

Jordan Bourgoin added four assists, Casey Poussard had three and Robbie Leeman, Joe Klemanski, Ian Doucette and Justin Nadeau potted a goal each as the Blue Devils advanced to their third consecutive state championship game, and fifth in seven years.

“We’ve been here before,” Roy said. “We knew what it was going to take, and we all wanted a chance to get back to the state game.”

The game wasn’t the defensive struggle many had anticipated. Bangor had allowed no goals in two playoff games prior to Tuesday’s showdown, and Lewiston had allowed just one.

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“We were expecting a 1-0, 2-1 close game,” Roy said. “Once we got one those flood gates open, we kept going.”

Bangor did manage four goals, though, above its season average of 2.27.

“Usually, when we score four, it’s a ‘W,'” Bangor coach Ted Taylor said. “Not tonight. Everything went in. (Lewiston) worked hard. They shot hard, and they didn’t miss the net.”

But the Blue Devils also found their offense thanks to Roy, a suddenly-explosive top line, and scoring depth for which Gagne has been searching all season.

“We finally realized tonight was a big night,” Bourgoin said. “It’s good that all three lines can go because it gives us all the rest so we can be stronger later in games.”

“It was their turn to come through,” Gagne said of his first line. “I told (Roy) he’d get some big goals for us tonight

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Lewiston has now defeated Bangor in the playoffs in each of the last four years, twice in the Eastern Maine final at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Roy started things off for Lewiston at 5:17 of the first on a one-timer from the low slot, the first of three Blue Devil goals in a one-sided opening frame. Nadeau scored on a low slap shot that inexplicably beat Bangor keeper Andrew Riley low, and Doucette potted his at 10:15 of the first on a rebound with the Blue Devils on the power play.

“The first period, we were so nervous, we had jitters,” Taylor said. “I would love to have that first 15 minutes back.”

Lewiston made it 5-0 in the second on two more from Roy — one a breakaway.

The Rams countered with their first two of the game — one each from John Warren and Matt Boehmer — but Lewiston went back in front by four late on Roy’s third of the period.

“We knew we had to move (Riley) side to side,” Roy said. “We knew we needed a strong start.”

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Boehmer potted his second just 15 seconds into the third to again draw his Rams to within three, but quick strikes from Joe Klemanski and Robbie Leeman 22 seconds apart sealed the victory for Lewiston.

Joel Whitney potted the final goal of the game at 14:21 of the third for Bangor.

Lewiston will face Biddeford for the Class A state title Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com


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