AUBURN — The Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester boys hockey team has been struggling to find the back of the net so far this season
However, on Wednesday, the Kings found their scoring touch.
Kasey Berube scored two first-period goals to jump-start a 7-0 victory over Kennebunk/Wells in a Class B South contest at Norway Savings Bank Arena.
“It feels good to finally put the puck in the net,” Kings coach Jason Rouleau said. “… The boys came ready to play, and it showed on the scoreboard by the end of the game.”
The Kings (2-5) scored two or fewer goals in five of their six games prior to Wednesday’s matchup with the Rams (2-6). The other time Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-NG game surpassed two goals was its 10-0 victory over Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth/Winthrop/Erskine on Dec. 20.
Kings goalie Ian Guerin only needed 1to make 0 saves for the shutout. Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester outshot Kennebunk/Wells 36-10.
Rouleau said the Kings are a puck-possession team.
“That’s our style is to grind out wins with relentless pressure on the puck,” Rouleau said. “As a result gaining possession and getting shots on net.”
The Kings scored twice in a 16-second span to take an early 2-0 lead. Berube skated into the offensive zone from the neutral zone and he deked out Rams goalie Richard Pocius for a goal 5 minutes, 44 seconds into the first period. Brody Emond had the assist.
“It was a good pass by Brody and I just finished it,” Berube said.
Hunter Bussiere then gathered a loose rebound in front of Pocius’ crease and scored for a 2-0 Kings lead six minutes into the first period.
Kennebunk/Wells coach Sean Smith said the two goals put the Rams in a position that was going to make coming back difficult.
“They got off to a quick start, and we came out a little slow and sloppy,” Smith said. “This league is so even, there’s so much parity in it — it doesn’t matter what your record is, any team can beat any team on any night. It’s hard to come back when you are behind the 8-ball early,”
On the Kings’ second power play, Berube found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead with under two minutes remaining in the first period.
“It was huge; it really got the team going,” Berube said of the third goal. “Putting pucks in the net gets everybody all wound up and ready to play.”
Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester added to its lead in the second period when Conner Boulay’s shot deflected off the top-right corner of the post, hit the ice, and rolled past the goal line for a 4-0 lead six minutes into the frame. Bussiere and Parker Pelletier had the assists.
Issac Omsberg ripped a shot from inside the blue line on the man advantage, stretching the Kings’ lead to 5-0 later in the second period.
Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester went 2 for 6 on the power play, while Kennebunk/Wells was 0 for 3.
Will Keach added to the Kings’ lead in the third period with a nice individual effort. Jamison Bergeon’s shot from the blue line went through Barrett Connor’s five-hole in the final minute of the game to cap the scoring. Nic Michaud had the assist.
Connor replaced Pocius in the middle of the third period. Connor stopped six shots and Pocius made 26 saves.
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