Hockey is a staple of York County life and there was no shortage of stories from inside the rinks (and outside, too) to keep local hockey fans riveted.
The Bruins, the Pirates, the high schools, the colleges, and juniors. Hockey at all levels kept the conversation going ”“ and sometimes kept it heated ”“ in 2010.
Out of the many, here are five that were perhaps the most notable.
1.Biddeford wins state championship ”¦. again.
If there are hockey dynasties nowadays, the Tigers would surely qualify as one.
This year, they claimed their third Maine Class A state championship in a four year span, rolling off seven straight wins in the lead up to their title tilt win over Waterville, March 6, at the Colisee in Lewiston.
Senior goalie Matt Roy, a transfer from Cheverus, played the games of his life in racking up 3-0 shutouts of Thornton (in the Western final) and Waterville.
2.Brian Dumoulin.
As part of Biddo’s first two title teams, the big defenseman had already laid claim to a piece of local hockey lore.
However, he wrote impressive chapters of his own, first by helping Boston College claim the NCAA Division 1 championship (at the Frozen Four in Detroit).
On top of that, Dumoulin is presently helping the United States in its Gold Medal defense at the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship, currently being staged in Buffalo, N.Y.
Think of it as the Frozen Four times, oh, about a dozen. It’s huge, folks.
3. Ron Cain buys a stake in the Portland Pirates.
Cain, a Kennebunk resident, has helped till the local hockey landscape with his proprietorship of the MHG Ice Centre in Saco.
His interest in the Pirates (said to be in the neighborhood of 40 percent), has opened the door for the AHL club to cinch up plans for a year-round training and practice center at the Lund Road site.
4.UMaine hockey is back from the dead.
Two years ago, the once proud Maine program was languishing near the Hockey East cellar. Head coach Tim Whitehead, who was thrust into the job in 2001 with the death of the legendary Shawn Walsh, seemed to be on the throes of unemployment.
A nice bounceback in 2009-10 quieted howls for Whitehead’s scalp, and in fact, earned him a three year contract extension.
This year, the rebound has put the Black Bears back in the National picture, with a Top 10 ranking (and as high as No. 3) all year.
In the process, electric winger Gustav Nyquist has become appointment viewing any die hard, which is a good thing for local fans, since the Black Bears will be taking on the U.S. U-18 team at the Civic Center on Sunday.
5. Bruins make Stanley Cup playoff history, for all the wrong reasons.
Few will forget Boston’s epic choke job in the Eastern Conference semifinal against Philadelphia.
A three games to none series lead, a 3-0 lead in Game 7, all of it came crashing down around the heads of a heartbroken Black and Gold citizenry.
Interestingly, there hasn’t been a hangover effect, as the Bs are back in the hunt for a Northeast Division championship and another try for the Cup.
Still, it proves that you can’t take anything in hockey for granted.
That is for this. That there will be plenty more hockey happenings to keep people entertained, amused, and frustrated in 2011.
— Contact Staff Writer Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.
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