WATERVILLE — There were some holes in its collective game, but the Messalonskee hockey team overcame any inefficiencies with sheer volume Wednesday night.
Led by a four-point effort from junior defenseman Grayson Podey, the Eagles remained unbeaten on the young season with a 7-4 win over Hampden Academy in Class B North game at Colby College’s Jack Kelley Rink. The Eagles (2-0-0) may have been undisciplined at times and turned the puck over on a few too many occasions for head coach Dennis Martin’s liking, but they battled through all of that in waves.
First, Messalonskee erased an early one-goal deficit with three goals in a four-minute span midway through the first period for a 3-1 lead at the break. Then, after a slow start to the second that allowed Hampden (1-1-1) to pull back within one, the Eagles scored twice 2:17 apart for a 5-2 lead with under seven minutes remaining in the middle frame.
“When your leaders are out there grinding, it’s outworking teams,” Martin said. “I always say our team is going to outwork you. That’s the big thing we stress — outworking teams and flying around.”
Senior center Bryce Crowell netted a pair of goals for Messalonskee, as nine different skaters found the scoresheet. Sophomore Owen Kirk and senior Will Durkee each added a goal and two assists.
“We have a lot of depth,” Podey said. “We even had our fourth line and third-line defense get a couple of shifts tonight. I think it’s great we have that kind of depth. It allows us to outskate teams. By the time the third period rolls around, the other team is dead tired and we still have legs.”
Messalonskee’s Jack Hammond (6) scores on Hampden Academy goalie Aaron Donovan during the first period of a game Wednesday at Colby College in Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
Messalonskee produced more than twice as many shot attempts as the visitors (44-18), more than twice as many shots on goals (33-15) and three times as many Grade A scoring chances (13-4) through two periods.
That allowed Messalonskee to overcome six Hampden power plays and two power-play goals. In fact, the Broncos went 2-for-6 with the man advantage but were out-chanced throughout while the Eagles were shorthanded. Not only did Crowell score while a man down to give Messalonskee a 6-3 lead at 12:40 of the second, but he and Kirk each hit posts on shorthanded chances late in the middle period.
“We had good pace tonight,” Podey said. “The passing was good, especially in the offensive zone. I think we forechecked really well, and that led to a lot of offensive opportunities.”
The teams traded goals in a more evenly-played third period.
Sophomore Lucas Dunn had a goal and an assist for Hampden. Keith Brooks, Collin McKay and Andrew Crouse had the other goals.
Senior netminder Aaron Donovan made 36 saves, including half of those from high-danger areas below the face-off dots.
For Messalonskee, Mason Capeless stopped 20 shots.
“Everybody did good things tonight,” Martin said. “The biggest thing is we’ve got to cut down on the penalties, but I like the way we battled. It seems like when we get behind, the kids don’t get down. They find ways to battle.”
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