SHORTHANDED LINEUP DOOMS BA

Bridgton Academy travelled to Standstead College in Quebec and were soundly defeated 7-0. With a limited roster due to illness and injury, BA struggled to find their game and Standstead capitalized over and over. "Guys like Dave Stevens and Pat Thornton were sick as a dogs and still came out and gave their all. We just didn't have it today" said Assistant Coach Mike Meserve. BA looks to rebound with a few days off. Messerve added, "At this point of the year, we hope guys will realize their bodies and brains need some time to recover. In some programs, you see guys being selfish, not realizing they need to physically and mentally recover for the good of the team. We encourage guys to stay away from the ski slopes and other activities which are too demanding on hockey players body. The guys should be mature enough to put the team first."

WOLVERINES COME BACK AND COME BACK BIG

The Wolverines travelled to Rockland, Ma to take on a the Bay State Breakers. Looking to build on their consistent play from Wednesday game, the Wolverines came out flying. Controlling the puck down low in the offensive zone has been key for the Wolverines. Captain Kyle O'Connell(Bridgewater, MA/Bridgewater Raynham High) set the tempo from the first shift when he handed out a devastating hit. Jake Donahue(Swampscott, MA) followed suite with a few crushing hits of his own. However, after one period, BA was down 2-1.
The second period started a little slower than the first. The Wolverines struggled with the high tempo pace the Breakers brought and found themselves down 5-1.
The third period was just the opposite of the second. The Wolverines moved their feet, finished checks and controlled the play. However, with 8 minuted gone in the period, things didn't look good for BA. The bounces BA has worked for all year finally showed up. BA scored again and again and again...finally with less than three minutes to play and the score tied. Pat Martin(Hanover, MA) buried a backhanded in for the game winner. BA sealed the game a few minutes later with an empty net score.
Game recaps:
Patrick Sen 1G 2A
Tad Gold 2G 2A
Nick Billingham 1G 3A
Casey Helms 1G (Game Tying)
Pat Thornton 1G
Patrick Martin 1G (Game Winner)
Robby Campbell 23 saves

TOUGH GAME, TOUGH PLAY, TOUGH RESULTS

BA travelled to New Hampton Wednesday and were defeated 4-2. Tad Gold(Oak's Bluff, MA/Martha's Vineyard High) and Tom MacInnes(Plymouth, MA/Plymouth North High) gave BA a quick 2-0 lead. The Wolverines worked the puck deep and generated some great scoring opportunities throughout the entire game. This contest was definitely chippy and very physical. Both teams punished each other all over the ice.
In the second period, BA could not capitalize on any good bounces. However, what little bounces BA got, New Hampton seemed to find them. New Hampton scored two in the second to tie the score.
The third was just as physical as the first two periods. Green and Grey bodies littered the ice after each and every play. New Hampton took a 3-2 lead and managed to hang on, before they scored an open net goal with 5 seconds to go.

SEN LEADS WOLVERINE OFFENSE

In the home and home finale, BA defeated the Boston Junior Rangers 6-3 at Bridgton Ice Arena. Patrick Sen(Niles, IL/Loyola Academy) picked up a struggling BA offense by scoring three goals for his first Bridgton Academy hat trick. Bridgton offense clicked well and often as they put 35 shots on the Rangers' goalie. Attack was the theme of the game and Bridgton did a great job controlling the puck down low and setting up high in the slot. Like the previous night, Nick Billingham(Oaks beat the Rangers goal, low glove side after receiving a nice outlet pass for Jesse Shavel(Cumberland, ME/Greely High) and Casey Helms(Sandwich, MA). BA continued to press the attack when Sen scored his first off a gorgeous feed from Trey Rasmussen(West Tisbury, MA/Martha's Vineyard High) and Tad Gold(Oaks Bluff/Martha's Vineyard High). BA extended their to 3-0 thanks to Aaron Semiao's(North Reading, MA) even strength tally. BA closed out the first period with their forth goal and Sen's second of the game. Sen power play goal was a nice one timer from Billingham, who worked behind the net to allow Sen to slide into a shooting lane.
The second and third periods, didn't have the same flow as the first, but BA managed to bury two more pucks. Gold again found his way into the scoring column when he scored an unassisted shorthanded goal in the second. He picked off an errant pass and walked in alone on the Rangers goalie. Gold made a nice side to side move, then deposited the puck low blocker side. This goal made it a 5-2 game. With the Rangers scoring once more one the power play to make it a 5-3 game, the Wolverines sealed the game with Sen's third goal into an open net. Robby Campbell(Braintree, MA) turned aside 23 shots to pick up his fourth win of the season.
Bridgton hopes to continue their winning ways when they travel to the New Hampton School Wednesday 4:00PM.

WOLVERINES SQUEAK BY RANGER 3-2

BA has been looking for their identity all year. Good defense one game, good goal tending the next. BA has had problems putting the puck in the net. Only twice this year have the scored 5 or more goals. Tonight was a great example of how good they can play when they put 100% in for an entire game. The Wolverines out shot the Junior Rangers 38-25 and walked away with a 3-2 victory.
At practice all week, the Wolverine coaching staff has asked the offense to be more creative and put more pressure on their opponents. Casey Helms(Sandwich, MA) and Darren Casey-Covell (Orono, ME/Bangor High) executed a perfect cross and drop on a during a 3 on 2 odd man rush. Nick Billingham(Oaks Bluff, MA/Martha's Vineyard High) swung behind Helms, received a drop pass and beat the goal low blocker side.
Tied at one after one, BA again went on the attack. Another great breakout, led allowed George Costa(Winthrop, MA) and Patrick Thornton(Dublin, CA) to gain the Rangers' zone 2 on 1. Costa then slide the puck behind the Rangers' defense, where Thornton deposited the puck into an open net. Not to be outdone, the Rangers scored a power play goal 2 minuted later to even the score.
With the score tied, BA went back to what worked. Put the puck down low and put shots to the net. BA had a great opportunity on the power play, when Mike Iacobucci(Franklin, MA) one timed a David Stevens(Lynn, MA/Lynn English) off the post. Iacobucci redeemed himself when he buried in a rebound with 3:28 remaining and giving the Wolverines a 3-2 victory.
Goalie Ian Edwards(Linden, MI/Motor City Chiefs) was tested early, but stopped 23 shots and picked up the win in net. The Wolverines will play the Rangers in a home and home game Sunday at Bridgton Ice Arena.

BRIDGTON HOCKEY GOAL PROGRAM AT SBES

The Wolverine Hockey Team made their third appearance to Stevens Brook Elementary School. Mrs. Webb's Kindergarten class was visited by Captain Kyle O'Connell, Mr. Brundage's 3rd grade class welcomes Tad Gold and Robby Campbell, Mrs. Lepage's class worked on reading comprehension with George Costa and Nate Potter, Mrs. Van Atta's class enjoyed some gym time with Jake Donahue and Ian Edwards, Mrs. Jones' class played "Pass the Pig" with Patrick Martin and Patrick Sen and finally Mrs. Clark's worked on math games with Nick Billingham and Mike Iacobucci.

BA STUNS ROTHESAY NETHERWOOD

Bridgton decided to bring everything, including the kitchen out for their final game in Lake Placid. Bridgton took on the Rothesay Netherwood School and did an excellent job at both ends of the ice. After the first period, the score was knotted 0-0, but BA held a 18-12 shot advantage. This season, BA has had a few mental lapse during a game. Most times, these "lapses" turned into great scoring opportunities for heir opponents. Darren Casey-Covell(Orono, ME/Bangor High School) took a feed from Casey Helms(Sandwich, MA) gained the offensive zone, cut to the right and buried a snap shot blocker side. BA continued to press and Patrick Sen(Niles,IL/Loyola Academy) tipped in a Trey Rasmussen (West Tisbury, MA/Martha's Vineyard High School) shot to give BA a 2-0 edge. However, controlling the game and finishing the game are two different things. Rothesay cut the lead to 2-1 and then with 3 minutes to play scored the equalizer on the power play. BA continued to pressure, but was unable to score. With 34 seconds remaining, BA ran the Martha's Vineyard Hustle. Mike Iacobucci(Franklin, MA) one the face off in the BA zone back to Rasmussen, who immediately shot the puck in front of his net and which then deflected off the boards into the neutral zone.
Fellow Vineyard alum Tad Gold(Oaks Bluff, MA/Martha's Vineyard High School)took off as soon as Iacobucci won the draw and walked in on a breakaway. Storybook ending? Nope. The Rothesay goalie got a piece of the shot and it sailed 10 feet to the left of the goal. Tie Game? Nope. Patrick Martin(Hanover, MA) also was driving up the ice a banged the rebound in behind the Rothesay goalie....BA wins 3-2!!! Goalie Robby Campbell(Braintree, MA) picked up the win in goal.