KENTS HILL — The Cony High School hockey team knows exactly what to expect from the Maranacook/Hall-Dale/Winthrop co-operative team.

Likewise, MHW knows Cony better than anyone else out there.

Additional Photos

NEXT STEP: Messalonskee teammates, from left, Chase Cunningham, James Varney and Sam Dexter will host No. 7 John Bapst at 6 tonight at Sukee Arena. The Eagles finished two regular-season victories shy of matching the program record of 17. Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

“I don’t think it’s too much a mystery of who each other is, that’s for darn sure,” Cony first-year coach Chad Foye said.

And that only adds to the intrigue of today’s Eastern A quarterfinal between the rivals. No. 4 Cony (13-4-0) and No. 5 MHW (9-9-0) will face off at 4 p.m. in Bonnefond Ice Arena, a rink each team called home this season.

“We enjoy playing against each other,” MHW coach Andy Dube said. “It’s a good little rivalry going. Sharing the rink, that creates a rivalry. It’s a good matchup.”

Elsewhere in Eastern A, top-seeded Lewiston (13-4-1) will host No. 8 Skowhegan (8-9-2) at 5 p.m. at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

In Eastern B, No. 2 Messalonskee (15-3-0) will host No. 7 John Bapst (8-10-0) at 6 p.m. at Sukee Arena. The Eagles finished two regular-4season victories shy of matching the program record of 17.

“We’ll have to pretty much be flawless to have a chance,” said John Bapst coach Gene Fadrigon, whose team lost a 4-1 decision to Messalonskee on Feb. 4.

Eastern A

Cony and MHW finished the regular season heading in opposite directions.

The Rams won 10 of their final 11 games and averaged 4.5 goals a game in that stretch. MHW, meanwhile, dropped five of its last six games. The Hawks averaged just two goals a game during the slide.

However, MHW owns a pair of victories over the Rams, winning 4-2 and 4-3.

“We have a little bit to prove going into the third game with them,” Foye said. “I’d rather have something to prove than not, though.”

Dakota Bowie (25 points) and Dallas Clark (23) lead Cony offensively. Senior goalie Matt Swan also enjoyed a strong season, finishing amongst the best in Eastern A.

“We’ve become a much better team,” Clark said. “We’ve stepped it up.”

Added Swan: “We don’t want to become complacent. We’re happy to be in the playoffs but we’re not satisfied.”

Neither are the Hawks, who feature Eastern A scoring leader Dan Condon, who has 35 points.

Condon, along with Jason LaPorte and Matt Plourde, led the way for the Hawks up front.

“Physically (Condon) is really strong,” Dube said. “If you cover him it will have to be somebody big and strong. It will have to be someone who can out-muscle him. He shields off opponents really well.”

Foye acknowledged the Rams will need to contain Condon.

“We need to be aware of wherever he is on the ice,” he said. “He’s such a strong player. Every time the puck is over the blueline he’s a threat to score. We have to know where he is. We have to make sure we take care of him, but they have a lot of other skilled players.”

Added Cony forward Zach Gagne: “We’ll be hungry. It’s going to be a good dogfight.”

Skowhegan, which is fresh off its first-ever playoff victory, faces the daunting task of upsetting defending regional champ Lewiston.

The Blue Devils are 13-1-1 in their last 15 games.

Eastern B

Messalonskee enters the quarterfinals coming off a tremendous regular season.

The Eagles set a program record by allowing just 34 goals this season.

Senior goalie Nate DelGiudice posted a school single season record 1.60 goals against average this season.

Forwards Sam Dexter and Chase Cunningham each scored more than 40 points as well.

“Sam Dexter is a scoring point machine,” Fadrigon said. “DelGiudice is one of the toughest goalies we’ve faced. Messalonskee won’t give up any cheap ones. We’ll just hope to be competitive.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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