LEWISTON — A lot of talent and a little luck made the difference Tuesday night as Scarborough captured the Western Class A boys’ hockey title with a 5-2 victory over Cheverus at the Colisee.

The Red Storm (13-5-3) will play St. Dominic (17-2-1) for the state championship at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Colisee.

Scarborough goalie Ben Bragg made a couple of point-blank saves late in the game to preserve a one-goal lead.

Moments earlier, a Cheverus goal that would have tied it with just under five minutes left was disallowed because of a dislodged net.

“His teammates rescued him in the last game,” said Scarborough Coach Norm Gagne. “Tonight, (Bragg) rescued them.”

Bragg was at the top of his game before Scarborough put it away with two empty-net goals in the waning seconds.

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Matt Caron scored twice, and Sean McGovern added a goal and two assists as Scarborough won the regional title for the first time.

“(Bragg) has been phenomenal for us all season,” said Gagne. “We wouldn’t be here without him.”

The fourth-seeded Red Storm withstood a furious rally by the second-ranked Stags (13-6-2).

After cutting the score to 3-2 after two periods, the Stags carried play for most of the third. That’s when Bragg came up big.

He stopped a shot by Jean Claude Lemieux from in close with 8:40 remaining, then another by James Hannigan with 4:03 left.

Those saves came just after it appeared Cheverus made it 3-3. Luke Trickery, on a breakaway, chased down the puck behind the net and passed to Chris Vallee, who put it past Bragg from in front.

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But the net had become dislodged and after a video review, the goal was disallowed.

“I knew they weren’t going to allow the goal,” said Gagne. “It was clear the net was off its spot.”

There was no disagreement from Cheverus Coach Dan Lucas.

“It was the right call,” he said. “The video confirmed it.”

Scarborough’s top line of Caron, McGovern and Cam Nigro had another strong game.

Caron scored twice in the first period, both from McGovern, to give the Red Storm a 2-0 lead. The first one came on a power play. On the second, McGovern gave Caron a pass right in front and Cheverus goalie Kyle Severance didn’t have a chance.

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Caron and Nigro assisted on the goal that made it 3-0, scored by Colin Hayward after 2:55 of the second period.

Cheverus then scored twice.

Hannigan finished a neat goal, lifting his shot just above Bragg’s shoulder into the upper left-hand corner. It was unassisted and came with 8:54 gone. James Kane then made it 3-2 on another unassisted goal less than four minutes later.

Where Scarborough had a chance to make it 4-0 earlier in the period, now it was a battle, befitting their two regular- season meetings.

“We had so many chances in the first two periods,” said Caron. “Cheverus just got lucky on those goals.”

Cheverus started the third period on a power play but couldn’t muster anything.

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The Stags continued to carry the play but were stymied by Bragg.

“I think we got a little fatigued in the third period,” said Caron, who was out nearly the entire regular season after breaking his collarbone in the first game.

“We have a great goalie. He’s been great all year.”

The Stags pulled Severance in the final minute and Scarborough scored twice, the first by McGovern, then Nigro.

“Every time Hannigan and Kane shoot, I hold my breath,” said Gagne.

Lucas said he was proud of the way his team battled back.

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“We started skating and got more shots. We had our chances,” he said. “We were shooting the puck right at their goalie. My hat’s off to Scarborough. They moved the puck.”

Eastern A

St. Dominic 5, Lewiston 3: Dillon Pratt scored two goals, including one in the third period, to lift the top-ranked Saints (17-2-1) past the second-seeded Blue Devils (14-6-1) at Lewiston.

St. Dom’s led 4-3 late in the game when Lewiston pulled its goalie. Austin Roy scored an empty netter to seal the win.

Isaac Lapointe and Adam Poulin also scored for the Saints.

Joe Bisson had two goals for Lewiston. Jeromey Rancourt scored late in the third to bring the Blue Devils within one.

 


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