Lewiston seniors Leah Landry, Charlotte Cloutier, Lilly Gish Kristen Lachance, and Rebecca Lussier will play in their third state championship game Saturday in Portland. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
The Lewiston girls hockey team’s five seniors will do something Saturday that has only been done once before in girls high school hockey in Maine.
Play in three state championship games in four years.
Forwards Leah Landry, Kristen Lachance and Rebecca Lussier and defenders Lilly Gish and Charlotte Cloutier played for the Blue Devils when they lost the 2019 title game to Cheverus/Kennebunk/Old Orchard and when they defeated Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland in the 2020 state final.
This season, those five players are senior leaders on the Northern regional champion team that faces Southern champ Scarborough for the 2021-22 state title Saturday at 3 p.m. at Troubh Ice Arena in Portland.
“It feels really good (to play in another state championship),” Lachance said. “I am excited. We really want to win. We don’t want to throw this one away because it’s our senior year.”
Scarborough (12-5-1) is the only other school to reach three state championships in four years. The Red Storm played for the 2013, 2014 and 2016 titles. Their only win during that stretch was in 2014, when they defeated Lewiston.
The Blue Devils (16-2) also are the first girls hockey program in the state to play in three consecutive state title games. Last year, hockey and other winter sports in Maine did not have state playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I just feel lucky I am on a team that works so good together to come this far every year,” Lussier said.
Three of the seniors — Landry, Cloutier and Gish — have been contributors to the Blue Devils’ success since their first year of high school hockey.
“They have actual experience playing in the state championship …. they were freshmen playing from the get-go,” Lewiston coach Ron Dumont said.
Lachance and Lussier didn’t play major roles on the previous two state championship teams. Now they are part of Lewiston’s second line, the blue line, along with junior Alyssa Marcoux.
“We lost a lot of good players (the past two years), and some of the players that hadn’t been able to play (in previous state finals) got a bump in the lineup (this year) and the opportunity to play (more),” Lachance said.
Dumont is glad that Lussier and Lachance have been able to play a more of a prominent role on this year’s team.
“You couldn’t ask for a better scenario. I am happy for them that they will get an opportunity,” Dumont said. “I told them the other day: ‘You will get that opportunity to shine. This is your moment. You waited, you have been good soldiers, so to speak, great teammates. Now is your turn and go out there and have the best time of your life.'”
Landry said the seniors have been trying to pass on the wisdom gained from past seasons to their teammates.
Lewiston seniors Leah Landry, Charlotte Cloutier, Lilly Gish, Kristen Lachance and Rebecca Lussier fool around on the ice before practice Friday. The five seniors are playing in their third state championship game Saturday in Portland. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
“We try to remind (Lussier and Lachance), the freshmen, anyone else who hasn’t had the same experience, that anything can happen in the playoffs, and especially in the state championship game,” Landry said. “You have to work as hard as you can and make sure you give all of your effort.”
Even with their extensive experience, Landry and Gish — who are both semifinalists for the Becky Schafer Award, which is presented to the top senior girls hockey player in the state — aren’t exempt from big-game anxiety.
“I think we are all feeling the nerves still,” Landry said. “Some of us have played a few times, but it still doesn’t change, you are still going to be nervous.”
Lussier said it will be important for the Blue Devils to keep their heads up — “staying positive and talking together as a team,” she said — and avoid discouragement if something doesn’t go their way.
Dumont understands the pressure that the Lewiston players are feeling. A 1976 Lewiston High School graduate, he helped the Blue Devils win three straight boys hockey state championships from 1974-76. He also understands what high school hockey means to the Lewiston community.
“I am well aware of it; if I am not, friends and/or family will remind me,” Dumont said. “I coach in a town where hockey is big. (Boys) obviously, but over the past 13 years, girls (hockey is) just as important, in that regard. The expectation is we are a hockey-playing (city) and that’s the expectation. Winning is a tradition, and you certainly go all out.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
