Last Wednesday night, Matt Brooks scored on a tip-in to lift Brunswick to a 3-2 overtime victory against Maranacook-Hall-Dale-Winthrop.

It wasn’t the first time the sophomore forward had scored a big goal.

On Jan. 16, Brooks’ overtime goal gave the Dragons a 2-1 win over archrival Mt. Ararat.

“The puck is on his stick a lot and when the puck is on your stick, good things happen,” Brunswick Coach Mike Routhier said. “We’re not a high-scoring team and he factors in on a lot of goals for us.”

Brooks has figured in more than half of the 49 goals scored by the Dragons. In 17 games, he has 10 goals and 18 assists to lead the team in points for the second straight season.

“He’s that type of kid who wants to be out there in crucial situations and he responds,” Routhier said.

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“He’s just an arduous worker on the ice and off the ice. He eats right, he spends time in the weight room.”

Brooks is capable of playing all three forward positions.

“With his speed, it’s sometimes advantageous to have him on the wing,” Routhier said. “He’s a little bit closer, and the (defensemen) have to back up a little more.”

Brooks has been especially effective the past two weeks since teaming up with sophomore Kyle Woodruff and junior Ryan Maciejewski.

“He had a four-game stretch where he didn’t get a point, but the last four or five games he’s really turned it on,” Routhier said.

“He’s just a fluid skater and he has real good hands.”

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The Dragons, who have clinched a berth in the Eastern Class A tournament, finish the regular season Wednesday night against Edward Little at Ingersoll Arena in Auburn.

LAWRENCE WILL to have to wait until Thursday to see whether it has earned a berth in the Eastern Class B playoffs.

The Bulldogs, who finished the regular season last week with a 6-12 record, are competing with Houlton-Hodgdon for the seventh and final playoff spot.

“It’s a waiting game now for us to see whether we’re in the playoffs,” said first-year coach Ted Fabian. “It’s pretty stressful.”

Houlton-Hodgdon (5-13) ended its regular season Monday with a 5-1 loss to Winslow.

“We have one more win than them but they had a win over Orono earlier in the season and that can be their ticket in, depending on what Orono does (in its last two games),” Fabian said.

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Fabian, meanwhile, will keep his team on the ice.

“We practice Tuesday through Friday this week,” he said. “We could have one more practice on Monday if we play a playoff game next Tuesday.

Fabian played four seasons at the University of New England after winning the Travis Roy Award in 2006 as Class A top senior while playing for Messalonskee.

 

IF NOT for a forfeit, Greely (13-4) would be on the verge of going unbeaten against Class B opponents for the second consecutive season as it heads into its finale Wednesday night against Yarmouth at Travis Roy Arena.

On Jan. 21, the Rangers beat Yarmouth 5-2 at Family Ice Center. But Greely later had to forfeit that victory, along with a win over St. Dom’s, because of the use of an ineligible player.

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Following back-to-back victories over previously unbeaten Camden Hills last week, Greely is assured of being the top seed in the Western Class B tournament. Yarmouth (6-9-2), meanwhile, is in a tight race with York for the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye.

 

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH

 


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