For the Lewiston High School golf team, that’s especially true as three hockey players Kyle Morin, Brendon Croteau and Sam Zashut help lead the Blue Devils to the KVAC Class A Shootout Championship on Monday at the Rockland Country Club.

For Morin and Croteau, who both play forward for the hockey team, they see similarities between the two sports.

Sam Zashut is a goalie for the hockey team

“I would say a little bit for the hips, making sure you come through flat on the golf swing,” Kyle Morin said. “Sometimes, maybe if you are taking a slap shot in hockey, it’s similar.”

Croteau said a slap shot is similar to a tee shot.

“I think a lot with Kyle said, it reminds me of a slap shot in hockey,” Croteau said. “When I go take a slap shot in hockey, it reminds me of taking a drive. It’s a lot of the same motions.

Croteau, who started to play hockey before golf, believes picking up a stick before a club didn’t give him an advantage to learn the game of golf.

“I think when I was taking lessons, I was focusing on golf,” said Croteau, who has been the team’s No. 1 golfer. I didn’t really compare it to hockey. It was two different things. I learned at an young age, which helped me out later down the road.”

Morin, who has been fourth on the team’s depth chart, said golf is more about technique and practicing the same shot over and over again. Hockey is a little more up-tempo.

“Hockey you may have a little more of a chance of regaining yourself after something bad happens,” Morin said. “Golf, when you have a bad shot, you have to block it out and make the next shot a good one.”

Coach Tom LeBlond, who is in his first year as the Blue Devils golf coach, was also the longtime hockey coach for Lewiston from 1989-90 to 2000-01.

“One thing is sort of the shot,” LeBlond said. “I think two, the thing that’s underrated with golf is using your legs and being able to transfer your weight especially with the shot. Making sure you are going to be over the puck, over the ball.”

LeBlond also said said it’s important to have soft hands in both sports to feather a pass in hockey and to be able putt well in golf.

It’s been awhile since the golf team has made it to the state team championships. Thanks to the Blue Devils’ win on Monday over Messalonskee, and with Brewer giving them an automatic qualifier to the state tournament, Lewiston will be there  as a team on Saturday at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

It’s their first conference championship as a team. The Devils won the Class A State Championship in 1974.

They have had a couple of players in the past few years go to the State Individual Tournament, with Stephanie Rodrigue going last season, while Morin and Croteau going two seasons ago.

On Tuesday, Rodrigue and Croteau qualified for the individual state championship along with freshman Alex Robert.

The Blue Devils have only lost one match the entire season, finishing the regular season at 7-1. It was also the turning point of the season.

“After we lost our only match to Brunswick, I think we started to pick it up,” Croteau said. “We started to beat teams and realizing we have a good top six and we can beat any team we play.”

Morin added their focus wasn’t entirely on golf at the beginning of the season, but since then they have refocused.

One of their reasons for their success is the consistency and depth of the team.

“We have six (players) that can break 40 any day of the week,” Morin said. “It’s maintaining our swings and making sure we all put together a good round. Like I said, if we can get six (players) to break 40 at the state tournament, I think we will have a good shot.”

nfournier@sunjournal.com

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