BIDDEFORD – Although Biddeford High carried the play most of the first period, Thornton Academy grabbed a 1-0 lead with only 1 minute, 7 seconds left in the period.
But the momentum change did not last long.
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Biddeford tied the game 58 seconds later and then jumped ahead with three second-period goals on the way to a 5-1 boys’ hockey victory Wednesday night at a jammed Biddeford Ice Arena.
The rout was unexpected in a game featuring two of the best teams in Western Class A. Biddeford improved to 2-0-2, while the Trojans dropped to 3-3.
“Biddeford played incredibly well and dictated the play,” Thornton Coach Shawn Rousseau said. “They wanted the puck and they got it first.”
The Tigers featured more firepower, fueled by Brady Fleurent (three goals, two assists) and Bryan Dallaire (two goals, two assists), who combined on the game’s biggest goal.
In the closing seconds of the first period, Thornton could not get the puck out of its zone. On a faceoff in the left circle, Dallaire won it back to Fleurent, who fired it through traffic and into the net, tying the game 1-1 with nine seconds left in the period.
“There’s a backbreaking impact when you let them back in it with nine seconds left,” Rousseau said.
Fleurent, a key contributor on the Tigers’ state title team last year as a freshman, is joined this season by Dallaire, a junior who transferred from Thornton Academy and soon felt welcomed by his former rivals.
“The move had to be made,” Dallaire said. “Things are going well. School is going well and I’m getting along well with the team.”
With Dallaire, Fleurent and linemate Tyler Audie, the Tigers were creating chances and outshot Thornton, 27-21. Biddeford also forechecked well and, with defensemen Nick Gagne, Taylor Reuillard and Eric Grover, limited Thornton’s quality chances.
Sophomore goalie Jonathan Fields was steady with 20 saves, some of them flashy. He and junior Tyler Morton have formed an unexpectedly strong duo in goal.
“The only reason our goalies were question marks is because they hadn’t had a chance to play,” Tigers Coach Rich Reissfelder said. “They’re good. They just had to wait for their turn.”
Thornton’s C.J. Maksut got past the Biddeford defense and beat Fields at 13:53 of the first period, but then came Fleurent’s first of three goals.
“Huge, huge play,” Reissfelder said. “That’s when the game switched.
“That’s a strong hockey team over there, but we got some grade-A scoring chances and finished.”
In the second period after a Dallaire backhander made it 2-1, Fleurent held his ground after taking a couple of checks and sniped a shot from the left circle for a 3-1 lead.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
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