LEWISTON — With one flash of his glove, Biddeford goaltender Tony Dube told every one of the 3,675 hockey fans at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee that he was in charge Saturday.
Dube snared Lewiston forward Ian Doucette’s near-perfect shot to the top right corner of the net with the Tigers ahead by two. His momentum carried him to the ice as his big glove hand flailed in the air, puck in tow.
“A lot of that is just a heat of the moment thing,” Dube said. “That was a really big save. It was a shut-your-eyes-and-hope-you-get-it sort of deal. I got lucky tonight, got a few bounces I probably shouldn’t have.”
Dube made 39 saves — several in the spectrum of the spectacular — and Tyler Fleurant potted a pair of goals to lead Biddeford to its first Class A state title in a 4-2 win over the Lewiston Blue Devils in front of an evenly-split, sold-out crowd.
“It’s something special for our program,” Biddeford coach Jamie Gagnon said.
According to Gagnon, this was not only Biddeford’s first Class A title, but the first win over Lewiston in any game in the program’s history.
“I still didn’t feel comfortable against them in this building, even with a two-goal lead with a minute left,” Gagnon said. “I felt they were still in it. That’s how dangerous they are.”
Lewiston was looking for its 21st state title, and its first since 2002. The Blue Devils have been state runners-up in each of the last three seasons, and graduate just three players going into next year.
Dube’s save in the second capped an explosion of sorts for the Tigers (21-3-0). Faced with a 1-0 deficit to begin the middle frame, Fleurant potted his first goal just 17 seconds after the break on a great feed from the back boards by Jeremy Grebin.
After a pair of power plays, one for each team, Lewiston defenseman Tim Gilbert was whistled for hitting from behind. Just four seconds later, on a set play off the face-off, Fleurant blasted his second goal past Lewiston keeper Dylan LaBonte from the right point on a pass across from Brian Dumoulin.
Another 14 seconds later, Grebin notched a goal of his own to put Biddeford ahead by a pair, prompting Gagne to call his only timeout.
“The fans went crazy there,” Grebin said. “I would say all of our momentum came from our goalie and our crowd.”
“The second period has been a problem for us all year,” Gagne said. “We lost momentum. They took advantage, and they outplayed us in that period.” The break seemed to settle the Devils for a few moments, but then both teams started a parade to the penalty box.
Dube then held the fort.
In the third, his Tiger teammates popped in another, this off the stick of Shawn Grover on a feed across from Trevor Fleurant.
Justin Nadeau popped in a goal for Lewiston in the third, a rare miss for Dube, who even got a piece of that one, tipping it into his own net. Doucette scored at 5:28 of the first on a backhander from the low slot to put Lewiston ahead 1-0. Jordan Bourgoin had a breakaway chance later in the first, and nearly popped it in, but Dube somehow reached back with both arms and snared the puck from the goal line.
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