Sam Frechette of Lewiston High School takes a shot on goal against Scarborough during the second period in Lewiston on Saturday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
LEWISTON — Lewiston picked up where it left off last season.
The Blue Devils were dominant last year in winning their second straight Class A boys’ hockey state title, and Saturday night they opened a new campaign with a dominant, 8-0 victory over Scarborough at Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
“It makes a good statement for the rest of the year,” Lewiston junior captain Alex Robert said. “We lost a lot of kids last year, so it just shows everyone that we’ve still got it.”
It took the Blue Devils (1-0) just 47 seconds into their season to get the scoring started. Cam Dionne finished from the right side, with assists by Ryan Bossie and Robert.
“You always want to start strong, finish strong,” Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau said. “We started strong tonight.”
Chad Lynch and Robert himself added first-period goals for a 3-0 lead.
The Red Storm (0-1) were playing their first game under new head coach Jake Brown, who is a former Lewiston player and was a top assistant under former Scarborough coach Norm Gagne. It was also the first game for much of the Red Storm’s roster.
“We had 14 kids that that was their first high school game,” Brown said. “So to play a team like Lewiston … it’s a learning experience, it’s a process.”
Scarborough had to experience more scoring from Lewiston right off the bat in the second. Jayden Wilson scored a power-play goal 42 seconds in, and Robert scored his second of the game (from Wilson) less than three minutes in.
“The team worked really well, moved the puck a lot,” Robert said.
Wilson added another assist on Evan Cox’s goal seven minutes into the second. Jack Leblond had the primary assist.
Belleau said his team got away from the game plan in the latter part of the second period, but the Blue Devils started the third strong again. Leblond scored from Cox 2:51 into the period.
Dustin Larochelle rounded out the scoring on a power-play goal with four minutes left. Sam Frechette and Robert had the assists.
“I thought the kids worked hard,” Belleau said. “I thought our puck movement was pretty good for the first game. There’s still a lot of things to work on, but it’s a good first start.”
Lewiston scored twice on five power plays. Scarborough couldn’t take advantage of its three, and all of them ended prematurely thanks to penalties on the Red Storm.
“We need to start realizing that when we’re on the power play, that’s where we’re going to have to take advantage of teams,” Brown said.
One bright spot for the Red Storm was the play of senior goalie Brandon Wasser, who made 32 saves on 40 shots.
“He’s an athlete, so if he’s getting a lot of shots he tends to get better,” Brown said. “That’s something good to build off going forward.”
Conrad Albert made six saves for the shutout for Lewiston.
Kevin Woods of Scarborough attempts to stop Lewiston’s Cam Dionne from a break away during the second period in Lewiston on Saturday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Cam Dionne reacts after scoring the Blue Devils first goal of the season 47 seconds into the first period against Scarborough on Saturday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Scarborough goalie Brandon Wasser deflects a shot on goal by Gunnar Wade during the first period in Lewiston on Saturday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Jack Leblond of Lewiston faces off against Scarborough in Lewiston on Saturday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Sam Frechette of Lewiston High School competes for the puck in the corner with Kyle Schuler (18) and Jacob Brown (6) of Scarborough during the first period in Lewiston on Saturday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Cam Dionne, left, and Alex Robert celebrate Dionne’s first period goal against Scarborough on Saturday. Dionne scored 47 seconds into the Blue Devils first game of the season. Robert had an assist on the play. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
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