The two teams in the Class B state championship game mirror each other.
The Waterville Purple Panthers, the B North champions and defending state champions, and the York Wildcats, the B South champions, know how to put the puck in the net. They also know how to stop the puck.
Waterville is one of the most prolific offensive teams in the state regardless of class, having scored 162 goals this season — just a tick over eight goals per game. The Wildcats aren’t too shabby themselves, scoring 121 goals, which averages out to 6.05 per game.
The Waterville Purple Panthers (19-1-0) have allowed 38 goals this season, and York (17-2-1) has allowed 33 goals.
The teams will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee to determine the Class B champion. It will be the first time they will see each other in 2016-17, but neither coach is concerned about the lack of face-to-face experience.
“The advantages for both teams, neither team has seen each other,” Waterville coach Dennis Martin said. “Basically you are going to key in on more of what you do and not worry so much what your opponent does. I am sure there’s going to be a lot of adjustments during the game.”
“Obviously, I don’t see a lot of their games, just because of the location,” York coach Jim Powers said. “We drive far enough to get here (the Colisee). I know they have a good squad, from what I have read about. Again, its two teams playing for the same thing, and they both earned the right to get here. Let’s see how it plays out. I don’t think these guys are afraid of anybody.”
York is making its first state championship appearance since 2011 when it defeated Brewer 4-3 in overtime.
Waterville, after blowing out most of its opponents this season, had some challenging games down the stretch. Its bid for an undefeated season was ended by a 7-3 defeat against Lewiston on Feb. 21. The following afternoon, the Wildcats were in a shootout against second-place Old Town/Orono, and won 8-7 after defeating the Black Bears 6-0 earlier in th the regular season.
They faced a hot goaltender in Cole Benner of Hampden Academy in the regional semifinals, and came away with a 4-0 victory. Then, in Tuesday’s regional final, they had to make a third-period comeback against the Black Bears to survive with a 6-5 victory in overtime.
Martin is not concerned on how his team played down the stretch.
“We have to shore up certain things,” Martin said. “We always have to take care of our end, but we have to keep up what we are doing. There were a few breakdowns and a couple missed plays here and there — Old Town capitalized on it. That’s what happens and we took advantage of our chances. We kept outworking them.”
Waterville’s two big offensive threats are Jackson Aldrich, who had 29 goals and 41 assists in the regular season, and Justin Wentworth, who had 42 goals and 26 assists.
York spreads out the scoring, and has three players with 30 or more points. Thomas Carr tallied 24 goals and 14 assists in the regular season, while Julius Lundgren had 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) and Jake Martin had 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists).
Martin added two more goals in the regional final over the Greely Rangers to get the Wildcats into the state championship.
“Jake is a tremendously strong skater and everything,” Powers said. “We kept asking these guys to dig down deeper, deeper and deeper.”
nfournier@sunjournal.com
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