AUBURN – Every other team in Class A hockey will trump Edward Little in experience and sheer numbers. Most of them will have the Red Eddies covered when it comes to firepower, too.

If we’re supposed to use Saturday night as a guideline, however, nobody will exceed EL’s smarts or determination.

Outmanned and outshot badly by a consensus top-four team in the East, Edward Little skated with Brewer for most of the evening on its way to a respectable 6-2 defeat at Ingersoll Arena.

“We have 16, 17 freshmen and sophomores who played with their heart on their sleeves tonight,” said Edward Little coach Craig Latuscha. “Numbers are low this year, but there’s a lot of heart and a lot of pride this year.”

Actually, the Eddies currently suit up 16 healthy players in their entire program. There’s no junior varsity squad.

Tyler Babb and Matt Reed represent the senior class. Mat Gordon and Austin Polisky are the only juniors. The rest of the team is comprised exclusively of players in their first or second year of high school.

“They gave me everything they had. They were all on board. When we’re all on board, good things happen,” Latuscha said. “We tried to give them a good game. If they pay attention and listen to Coach, they’re going to be alright.”

Gordon scored both EL goals in an 89-second span of the third period, cutting into a five-goal deficit.

One more would have made matters interesting, and Gordon actually had two moderately good looks at the natural hat trick. Brewer junior Eric White denied both.

The second stop led to a 2-on-1 break for the Witches, and Jamie Williamson potted his second goal of the night with 5:09 left to hose down the home team’s comeback hopes.

Class B state champions two years ago and a Class A regional semifinalist last winter, Brewer attacked EL in waves in the mutual season-opener.

Rich Belanger, the Eddies’ sophomore goalie, was largely responsible for keeping the margin manageable. Belanger fought off back spasms to go the distance and finish with 49 saves. The Eddies were outshot, 55-10.

“We must have worn the ‘Edward Little’ out on the front of his shirt, because we hit him every time we shot the puck,” said Brewer coach Bill Schwarz. “We have some pretty good depth. It’s tough to play against three lines that can put the puck in the net.”

Edward Little also turned in three 5-on-3 penalty kills in the third period. Babb, Isaac and Matt Reed, Gordon and Dylan Nadeau played a pivotal role in that short-handed success.

Nadeau also assisted Gordon’s second goal.

“The goalie played pretty well, and he had the guys in front of him to help him out,” Latuscha said. “It was a great team effort despite the loss.”

Dylan Fitzpatrick matched Williamson with two goals for Brewer. Ryan Nadeau and Nick Risser also scored. Chris Shedd chalked up two assists.

Using a successful dump-and-change philsophy to rotate its limited lines and stay fresh, EL held Brewer scoreless for most of the first period. Fitzpatrick broke free for an unassisted goal with 2:17 left.

Nadeau, Shedd and Risser connected in quick succession early in the second period to give the Witches breathing room.