PIHS hockey team
drops semifinal match to Messalonskee
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
WINSLOW — A hot goalie cooled down the No. 3 seeded Presque Isle Wildcat hockey team in the semifinal round of the Class B playoffs.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
FACE OFF — Presque Isle senior Isaac LaJoie prepares to take the face off in a semifinal match against Messalonskee. The Eagles dropped the Wildcats by an 8-0 score to advance to the EM Class B final against Brewer last night.
On Saturday at Sukee Arena in Winslow, the No. 2 ranked Messalonskee Eagles, behind the play of goalie Nate DelGiudice, blanked the Wildcats, 8-0, to advance to the Eastern Maine Class B final against the top-seeded Brewer Witches.
In the first frame Presque Isle did have some quality scoring opportunities but was repeatedly turned away by DelGiudice, who finished with 22 saves.
“We ran into a hot goalie and couldn’t get any momentum,” said Presque Isle coach Carl Flynn.
Messalonskee scored two goals in each of the first two periods and had four in the final period when the game was out of hand.
Sam Dexter netted four goals for the Eagles.
Presque Isle goalie Nic Davis had 24 saves.
The Wildcats finished the season at 12-8.
“Our seniors were part of a very athletically gifted class and they will be sorely missed going forward,” said Flynn. “However our remaining players are hard working and skilled and I think we will continue to be in the playoff hunt in the years to come.”
WAITING FOR THE REBOUND — Presque Isle junior Adam Flynn gets set for a scoring chance against Orono in a Class B quarterfinal match. The Wildcats won the game in convincing fashion and Flynn had two goals. 
Graduating will be Davis, Connor Shaw, Isaac LaJoie, Kate Campbell, Cody Merrill, Nate Sperrey and Evan Waddell.
The Presque Isle Wildcat hockey team moved on to the semifinals thanks to a dominating home win over the Orono Red Riots on Feb. 27.
One week earlier the Wildcats dropped a 6-5 decision on the road to No. 6 Orono but not this time as Presque Isle notched a 6-1 victory.
“Orono’s goalie saw too many of our 58 shots last week and this week we worked on screening and deflections a lot in practice and it paid off,” said coach Flynn.
He also said there was a concerted effort to step up on the defensive end.
“The real stars of the night was the defense — Colin McKay, Waddell, Andrew Michaud and Mikey Michaud,” said Flynn. “They limited Orono to only one shot in the first period and none in the second period. That is the most dominant defensive play I have seen from any team in my seven years coaching in this league.”
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
DIGGING THE PUCK OUT — Presque Isle’s Alex Michaud goes into the corner to dig the puck out against Orono. The Wildcats won the match and advanced to the Class B semifinals against Messalonskee.
Adam Flynn scored two power play goals in the first period for Presque Isle to give the ‘Cats the lead.
“Our power play has been hit and miss all year,” said the coach. “We continue to tinker with it regularly and apparently this week’s adjustments were effective.”
Shaw scored two goals and recorded two assists for the 12-7 Wildcats. LaJoie contributed a goal and two assists and Joseph Patenaude recorded a goal and assist. Waddell and Tyler Seeley notched two assists apiece and Davis made five saves.
Dan Perry scored the loan goal for 8-9-2 Orono.
