Boys hockey: Dangerous Messalonskee scoring often and in bunches

Messalonskee’s Tyler Hansen (8) loses his stick as he tries to bypass John Bapst’s Emery Audibert (14) during a Jan. 28 boys hockey game at Colby College in Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

HALLOWELL — The Messalonskee boys hockey team has had no problem scoring goals this winter.

The Eagles score often and in bunches. Through 11 games, Messalonskee (10-1-0) has scored a whopping 76 goals for an average of 6.9 per game. It has scored has scored five or more goals in eight games and have scored at least 10 goals in three games. The latest outburst came in a 13-1 victory over Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth/Winthrop/Erskine on Wednesday night at the Ice Vault.

The Eagles rolled past the Rams for a nice bounce-back victory after it dropped a 3-0 decision to John Bapst on Saturday. The Crusaders (9-2) are the only team sitting above the Eagles in the Class B North standings.

Messalonskee’s production has come from multiple lines. Bryce Crowell (10 goals, 16 assists) leads the Eagles with 26 points, followed by Owen Kirk (13 goals, 12 assists), Will Durkee (nine goals, 14 assists) and Garrett Card (13 goals, eight assists). Messalonskee has 10 players on its roster with 10 points or more.

“It’s awesome, it’s an awesome thing to have,” said Card, a junior. “Our lines are just working so well together. There’s really no ‘I’. We really don’t care who scores as long as the puck is getting in the back of the net.”

Messalonskee sophomore forward Owen Kirk celebrates after scoring the Eagles’ first goal during a Jan. 10 game against the Cony co-op on at Bonnefond Ice Arena at Kents Hill School in Readfield Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

“When we’re moving and everybody gets touches, everybody gets involved and everybody gets on the game sheet,” Messalonskee head coach Dennis Martin said. “We’ve got the depth. When you’ve got plenty of guys out there with you, for you, use them.”

Aside from its depth, Messalonskee also takes pride in its work ethic on the ice.

“They just need to keep working hard,” Martin said. “Like we always say, our team is going to outwork you.”

Against the Rams, the Eagles had eight different scorers contribute. Card scored four goals and had an assist, while Durkee had three goals and had four assists. Kirk, Tatum Doucette, Denny Martin, Bjorn Brickett, Jack Hammond and Evan Hurtubise each added goals for Messalonskee.

Messalonskee’s Bryce Crowell (15) tries to score as John Bapst goalie Gavin Bartlett makes the save during a Jan. 28 boys hockey game at Colby College in Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

“It’s just the depth we have,” said Durkee, a senior. “And at practice every day, everybody comes to work. There’s not really any slackers. Everybody’s at practice working hard.”

The offensive production has aided Messalonskee on the defensive end. The Eagles have allowed 23 goals this season (2.09 goals per game). They’ve also had solid play from goaltender Hunter Hallee, who is 8-1-0 with a 1.39 goals against average.

With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Eagles are still looking to improve its scoring in the first period. The Eagles have scored 23 goals in the first period this season, 35 goals in the second period and 17 in the third this season. On Wednesday, Messalonskee jumped out to a 2-0 lead before opening the floodgates with eight goals in the second period.

“We’ve done a good job putting three periods together, but we could do a little bit better with that,” Durkee said. “Especially with only scoring two in the first period.”

“We can maybe come off stronger in the first period,” Card added. “We kind of started off a little slow against Bapst but then picked up the pace, we were working hard and staying with them. (A stronger start) will just definitely help us boost our confidence a little. But other than that, we’re playing pretty well and I’m just excited (for the rest of the season).”