AUGUSTA — The Waterville hockey team edged Gardiner 5-3 in a much-anticipated game Jan. 17 in Hallowell.
A rematch was never guaranteed, and still isn’t, but the Panthers and Tigers are oh-so-tantalizing close from seeing each other again.
Gardiner and Waterville earned No. 1 seeds in B South and B North, respectively, setting the stage for a possible state title game showdown March 11 in Lewiston.
The Maine Principals’ Association finalized boys hockey Heal points Saturday, with regional quarterfinal games set for Tuesday.
Gardiner (13-5-0), which went 8-3 to close out the regular season after it lost to Waterville, will play either No. 4 Greely (12-6-0) or No. 5 Kennebunk (12-5-1) in a B South semifinal at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. Friday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
“It shows consistency they had throughout the year,” Gardiner coach Sam Moore said on his team earning the top seed. “It feels good. I know boys are happy. I am expecting good, tight games. The competition is really even.”
Waterville (17-1-0) — dominant for much of the season — received a bye into the semifinals and will play the winner of No. 4 Hampden (13-5-0) and No. 5 Houlton/Hodgdon/Southern Aroostook/Katahdin (9-8-1).
The B North semifinals will be played at Colby College this season after the abrupt closing of Sukee Arena earlier this year.
In Class A North, Cony/Monmouth/Hall-Dale (13-5-0) earned the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 Edward Little (5-13-0) in a quarterfinal game Tuesday at 6:20 p.m. at the Bank of Maine Ice Vault in Hallowell.
Lewiston (17-1-0) and Bangor (11-7-0) are the top two seeds, respectively, and earned byes into the semifinals. No. 4 St. Dominic and No. 5 Poland/Gray-New Gloucester/Oak Hill/Leavitt will play in the quarterfinals.
In Class A South, Falmouth (14-3-1) cruised to the top seed while Cheverus (13-5-0) is No. 2.
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