Sean McGovern scored the title-clinching goal with 17 seconds left in double overtime to vault Scarborough to a 2-1 victory over St. Dominic Academy in the Class A state championship game Saturday in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
The play all started with Jack Callahan blocking a shot at the defensive blue line. As he went sprawling to the ice, McGovern possessed the puck at the center line and skated in on net on a breakaway, sealing the Red Storm’s first state title by backhanding a shot past St. Dom’s goaltender Kyle Welsh glove side. Scarborough’s 28th shot of the contest — second of the double overtime period — was the last one of the season.
“If there’s any kid that I want to have the puck it’s either him or (Matt) Caron on a breakaway,” Scarborough coach Norm Gagne said. “I’m so happy for him. I’m so proud of him because he was the true vocal leader for us this year. When things weren’t going right, he was always in there picking up the team.”
That wasn’t the first time McGovern had a clear-cut breakaway on Welsh. With 6:40 left in the third period and short-handed, McGovern was denied going to the backhand. In double overtime, he figured he might as well try it again.
“Earlier in the game I had a breakaway and he stopped me backhand,” McGovern said. “I knew he wouldn’t think I’d go backhand again so I pulled the same move basically and I got a nice play I guess.”
For the Saints (17-3-1), McGovern’s goal brought back more heartbreaking moments in the state championship. Just last year it was Falmouth’s Jake Grade who crushed the spirits of the St. Dom’s faithful with an overtime winner. This one stings a bit more.
“They had this goal set and they really worked their butts off for 365 days, essentially, from when we left here a year ago,” St. Dom’s coach Steve Ouellette said. “It makes it hurt that much more.”
Prior to McGovern’s winner, neither team could find the back of the net for more than 46 minutes. From the way the game started, it looked like it could have been a shootout.
After a frantic opening 80 seconds in which the Saints fired five shots on net, all of which were swallowed up by Scarborough goaltender Ben Bragg, St. Dom’s finally broke through against the Red Storm netminder later in the period. It came off a faceoff win in the offensive zone as Caleb Labrie won the draw back to Brad Berube, who connected on a blast near side as St. Dom’s drew first blood.
“It got the crowd going for us and kind of gave us a little push,” Berube said.
The Red Storm (16-5-3) wouldn’t be deterred as they fought back to tie the game before the first intermission. Skylar Pettingill was in the right place at the right time after Matt Caron threw a shot on Welsh. The rebound came out to Pettingill, whose shot slipped past Welsh’s pads to square the contest.
The momentum Scarborough’s late-period goal generated carried over to the second period as the Red Storm fired the first four shots on goal. They held the Saints without a shot for the first 7:08 before eventually peppering Bragg with seven chances the rest of the frame.
The third period was much of the same, near misses and great goaltending. For the first time all game, the Red Storm outshot the Saints in a 15-minute stretch. Scarborough held a 9-4 edge, all of which could have been the game-winner.
Welsh denied McGovern on the previously mentioned short-handed breakaway, getting his left pad across the crease to keep the game tied. He made another point-blank stop on Cam Nigro with 1:10 left.
Welsh finished with 26 saves.
Bragg had his share of shinning moments as well. He denied Dillon Pratt late in the third period on a wrap-around attempt that hugged the near post but never crossed the goal line. It was reviewed, but the call stood. Bragg again robbed Pratt in the first overtime session.
Bragg finished with 32 saves.
“Thankfully Ben Bragg stood on his head today,” McGovern said. “We wouldn’t be anywhere this year without Ben. We’re so fortunate to have such a good goaltender on our team. He’s always keeping his calm when there’s a lot of pressure.”
Both teams had their chances with the man advantage, but neither could do anything with it. St. Dom’s finished 0-for-5 on the power play and Scarborough was unsuccessful on its four chances. The Saints had the extra skater to open the first overtime and the Red Storm closed the first eight minutes of extra time up a man.
Scarborough’s win keeps the championship trophy in the West Region for the sixth straight season and the 10th time in 11 years. Only Waterville — now a Class B participant — in 2009 has won a title for the East since Edward Little went back-to-back in 2003-04.
The Red Storm’s win also gives Gagne his seventh state championship ring. He’s won three with Class B Gardiner and three with Class A Waterville and now brings Scarborough its first title. This one ranks No. 1 in his mind.
“I told the kids they go up number one on my championship list because I never expected us to be here,” Gagne said. “I knew we could battle, but I never expected to battle with the big boys like we did.”
The Saints have lost their last five state championship games since winning in 2000. Although it didn’t end the way the seniors would have liked, the journey was more than worth it.
“I wouldn’t want to do it with any other team,” Berube said. ” … It’s been a hard journey and I’m glad I got to do it with St. Dom’s.”
Said Ouellette: “At the end of the day we love these guys. They’re always going to be Saints and the black and white’s going to run through them. I just hope to see them down the road.”
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