LEWISTON — Linemates Ted Hart and Reid Howland scored three goals each Wednesday night as top-ranked Greely rolled to a 7-1 victory against second-seeded Camden Hills to capture its second consecutive Western Class B boys’ hockey title at the Colisee.

In a rematch of last year’s final, the Rangers, the defending state champions, will play Messalonskee for the title at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Colisee.

“We had a game plan in terms of our defensive scheme,” Camden Hills Coach Karl Enroth said. “We knew we had to keep Hart, Howland and (Mitchel) Donovan off the score sheet as much as possible, but they just played at a high level.”

The regional final came two weeks after the Rangers (16-4) beat the Windjammers (15-5) twice in a four-day span.

“We certainly got familiar with these guys quickly but each game was a little different,” Greely Coach Barry Mothes said. “We struggled and had a tough game with them up at their rink on Feb. 15. We gutted that one out and found a way to win that, but it was a tight game. We certainly have a lot of respect for (Camden Hills) and the season they’ve had.”

Greely held a 3-0 lead after the first period.

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Less than seven minutes in, Hart opened the scoring with a sensational goal. Moments after stepping on the ice for his shift, he began a rush at his blue line and threaded his way past four Camden Hills skaters before beating goalie Jet Magri cleanly.

“Ted is a very talented offensive player who creates space for himself,” Mothes said. “He’s patient and obviously has a fantastic wrist shot. He’s got some great moves. He distributes the puck well when it’s there. He’s just a very difficult guy to defend.”

Less than 11 minutes in, Hart scored again. This time he put in a shot from the middle of the left circle.

“We had a game plan for (Hart), and he just played through what we were trying to do,” Enroth said. “He gets it and it’s like a blur. At the high school level, he’s kind of playing at a very, very high level.”

With less than two minutes left in the period, Howland, a sophomore forward, deposited the puck into the right side, converting Donovan’s feed from the far side of the crease. Donovan, another sophomore forward, also had assists on Hart’s first two goals.

Less than eight minutes into the second period, Hart completed his hat trick by sliding in a rebound for his team-high 34th goal of the season after Magri stopped Howland.

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Greely took a 4-0 lead less than two minutes into the third period on Joe Saffian’s fifth goal.

After Grayson Szumilas scored his 22nd goal for the Windjammers, Howland, who has 23 goals, added two more to complete the scoring with more than five minutes left to play.

“We knew we were going to have to play a really strong game, and focus and play the game the right way,” Mothes said. “I was pleased with our not taking any penalties and yet playing some tight stingy defense. We fought hard and battled hard, and didn’t take any penalties, and that was huge.”

Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH


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