The black and white banner hanging from the rafters at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee has yellowed a bit in recent years.

Twenty-four numbers make up two even rows across the top of the banner, each indicative of a state championship hockey team at St. Dom’s

Somewhere in Waterville, there’s a similar banner. It, of course, is purple instead of black, and it has 19 numbers instead of 24.

The last time either team had to change their respective banners was in 2001, when Waterville hoisted its 19th trophy in a win over Portland. St. Dom’s won the previous year’s championship in thrilling fashion – over Waterville, for No. 24.

Two of the most storied high school hockey programs in Maine will get together at the Colisee on Saturday to decide which team will have to haul its banner down and make some changes.

“There are three schools that have the most tradition in hockey, and that’s Waterville, St. Dom’s and Lewiston,” Waterville coach Dennis Martin said. “You can’t beat the tradition in those schools, and both teams this weekend are familiar with that.”

Since both schools earned many of their championships when there were fewer than six teams competing statewide, a closer look at more recent history paints a far clearer picture: Since 1980, St. Dom’s and Waterville have each won five state championships and finished second four times.

The fact that both programs have been so even over the years mirrors exactly the teams’ situation going into this year’s edition of the title game. Both coaches agreed, facing each other is going to be like facing their own teams.

“At times it is going to be just like we’re playing ourselves,” St. Dom’s coach Steve Ouellette said. “We both forecheck extremely hard on people, and I saw a lot of puck movement, and a lot of transition play from them, and I think that’s a lot of the stuff we do.”

Up front

The dimension of each team that makes them so similar is speed. St. Dom’s proved that speed can overcome size on its march through the Western Class A playoffs. The Saints unleashed a relentless forecheck in wins over Scarborough, Biddeford and Falmouth.

St. Dom’s rolls three lines with consistency, and Ouellette has no problem rolling any of his top nine forwards out against any opposing combination.

“We have to focus on what we do well (Saturday), and that’s create some offense,” Ouellette said.

The Panthers, meanwhile, did the same, ousting Brunswick, Bangor and Lewiston.

“Both teams’ forwards really get after it, and both teams’ defensemen jump into the offense a lot,” Martin said. “We have a lot of similarities.”

One of the Panthers’ most dangerous offensive weapons this season has been sophomore Eric Aldrich. He was the team’s offense against Bangor, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists in a 4-3, come-from-behind victory.

“He’s a true goal-scorer, and he feeds off the intensity,” Martin said. “The bigger the game, the better he plays.”

Ian Rowe is one of the better players in the state, and complements Aldrich well when they play together – which has been rare in the last week after Travis Roy Award semifinalist Shawn Lee, a defenseman, went down in practice with a shoulder injury.

Martin was coy about Lee’s status for Saturday, though.

“We don’t know yet, he may be able to go,” Martin said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

The blue line

With Lee out, Waterville has been rotating Rowe back to the blue line. It hasn’t hurt. In two playoff games with Lee out, the Panthers have allowed just three goals (all to Bangor). On the season, the team has allowed just 23 goals against in 21 games, a function of low shot counts.

“We definitely try to minimize the shots we allow, and keep the A-zone shots away,” Martin said. “Just playing solidly in our own end.”

Freshman Matthew Lee has been solid on the back end for Waterville, along with senior Chris Chaput.

The Saints’ blue line got a boost last summer when senior captain Richard Paradis made the move from forward to defense. He’s been an instrumental piece of the Saints’ run this season, and still managed to lead the team – and Western Class A Tier I – in scoring.

In addition to Paradis, Joe Klemanski and Dylan Rodrigue have been solid for a young, improving defensive group.

In the team’s win over Biddeford in the Western Class A semifinals, the Saints threw up a shot shutout in the second period. In each of the Saints’ three playoff contests, the team has allowed fewer than 20 shots against.

“At the beginning of the year, people were saying our defense was weak,” Ouellette said. “I don’t think it’s looking so weak right now. Our defense must be doing something right, with these low shots-against totals.”

Between the pipes

If there is one distinct advantage the Panthers may hold over St. Dom’s, it’s in goaltending experience. Nolan MacDonnell has been a rock for the Panthers this season. His personal GAA is 1.02, having allowed 20 goals against in 21 games played. And for a keeper who faces few shots, MacDonnell’s save percentage is a much-better-than-average .936.

“Having that experience makes a big difference,” Martin said. “That confidence that he plays with makes a big difference.”

The one thing the Saints are hoping to do Saturday is test MacDonnell. With such a solid team in front of him, it’s been a while since the senior has faced a lot of shots.

“How will they react, to face, say, 28 shots?” Ouellette questioned. “I don’t know if we’ll get to 28 shots, but it’s a question we hope to be able to answer.”

On the other end, Shayne Curtis found himself thrust into the spotlight in his first season as a varsity netminder. His early-season struggles often forced the Saints to score a ton of goals to win games. But they did.

Now, Curtis’ confidence has grown. In his last game, he allowed just one goal, and faced some of the best shots he’s seen all season from all-state Falmouth forward Mike Chase.

“As long as he’s in the right frame of mind,” Ouellette said of Curtis. “He’ll be fine. He had a solid game against Falmouth, and I think that did his confidence some good.”

Class B

Greely will get another shot at a state title Saturday, its third chance in four seasons, after a 6-3, come-from-behind win over Cape Elizabeth in the Western Class B regional title game Wednesday at the Colisee.

The Rangers have been a buzzsaw all season in Western B. The last time they lost was a 6-3 setback to Class A Thornton Academy – on Dec. 18.

Greely has scored 126 goals through 20 games this season, while allowing just 36.

And the Rangers played Class B state championship opponent Presque Isle already this season, earning a decisive 10-1 victory on Jan. 17.

But that was more than a month and a half ago. And the Wildcats had just arrived to the southern part of the state.

This version of the Wildcats is on a bit of a roll – 7-1-1 in its last nine games, including victories over heavily-favored John Bapst (5-1) and Winslow (5-2) in the playoffs.

The Class B title game begins at 1 p.m. at the Colisee.