An 11-game unbeaten streak and a tough schedule with key wins near the end of the campaign were enough to propel Lewiston into the top position in this year’s Eastern Class A ice hockey standings.
The Maine Principals’ Association finalized the Heal Points on Friday, and Eastern Class A has a familiar — and expected — feel.
The Blue Devils capped their season at 13-4-1, and two of those 13 victories were against East No. 2 Bangor, which helped the team climb to the top of the standings.
It was a long rise for Lewiston, which started the season 1-3.
St. Dom’s finished third in the Eastern A standings at 12-6 after a similarly difficult schedule that saw the Saints participate in more than their fair share of one-goal games, about half of which they won.
Cony grabbed the final top-four position, guaranteeing a “home” game for the quarterfinal round next week. Since the team’s home at Kennebec Ice Arena collapsed last season, the Rams play their home games at Kents Hill, where they were 8-1.
The Rams will face area rival Maranacook/Hall-Dale/Winthrop, the No. 5 seed. MHW finished an even 9-9 this season.
Edward Little capped a 10-win season with a second consecutive trip to the playoffs. The Red Eddies placed sixth at 10-7-1, and will face St. Dom’s at the Colisee in Lewiston in the quarterfinal round.
Brunswick grabbed the No. 7 seed and will hike to Bangor for the quarters.
Skowhegan earned a spot in the tourney at No. 8, but due to a preseason scheduling mishap and class confusion, the Indians had to play a preliminary game against Poland/Gray-New Gloucester. The Indians scheduled a mostly Class B schedule, not realizing they were still a Class A school due to a pact with Madison and the schools’ combined enrollments. They finished at 7-9-2.
The Patriotic Knights scored victories this season over Fryeburg/Lake Region, Bonny Eagle and Westbrook, two of which made the playoffs this season.
Skowhegan won that game 2-1 in overtime and will travel to Lewiston for a quarterfinal.
Western Class A
Thornton Academy rolls into the playoffs a prohibitive favorite after a stellar regular season at 16-1-1. Falmouth, which handed the Trojans their only loss and also tied them, will slot in at No. 2 at 13-4-1.
Scarborough played a mixed schedule that included some top teams and some Tier II teams, and rode a solid record of 12-4-2 to the No. 3 seed in the West. Cheverus and Marshwood/Traip will face off in the 4-5 quarterfinal next week, while Biddeford slots in at No. 6 and will travel to face Scarborough.
No. 7 Kennebunk will host No. 10 Fryeburg/Lake Region in a Western A preliminary round game, and No. 8 Gorham will host No. 9 Bonny Eagle.
Class B
The preseason Eastern Class B favorite didn’t disappoint. Brewer lost only once and finished in the top spot at 17-1. Messalonskee, in its first year in Class B, lost twice to Brewer and posted a 15-3 record as the No. 2 seed. The Eagles will host No. 7 John Bapst in an Eastern B quarterfinal. No. 3 Presque Isle will host No. 6 Orono, which made a late-season charge into the playoff picture, while Hampden Academy and Old Town will battle in the 4-5 quarter.
In Western B, Greely snapped out of a mid-season lull and posted a 12-4-2 record, with most blemishes coming against Class A competition. The top-seeded Rangers will host the winner of the Camden Hills/Yarmouth 4-5 matchup, the only quarterfinal in the Western B field of five teams. York and Cape Elizabeth slot in at Nos. 2 and 3 in Western B and will face each other in the semifinal round.
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