BRUNSWICK — They are teams fighting to make names for themselves, in the shadow of the bigger names in Eastern Class A boys’ hockey.
And on Monday night, the Gray-New Gloucester/Poland co-op team picked up another win, squeaking out a 3-2 victory at Watson Arena.
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GNG/Poland, with the creative nickname of Patriotic Knights, tallied two goals just 13 seconds apart in the third period and improved to 6-2 – already more wins than last year. Mt. Ararat, which still has hopes of improving after some difficult seasons, dropped to 2-4-1.
GNG/Poland is truly a merged team – not just one big school taking on a few players from another school.
“We have 29 players in the program and it’s roughly half-and-half,” said fourth-year coach Aaron Rand. “In every other sport, they’re rivals, but they come together for hockey.”
Usually co-op teams are simply survivors, but GNG/Poland is winning. Before last year’s trying season, Rand led the Patriotic Knights to 13-4-1 and 15-5 seasons.
GNG/Poland is trying to compete in a region that is dominated by teams from the Lewiston-Auburn and Waterville areas.
“I want us to play the big teams,” Rand said.
The team made a move this year that is also helping, changing its home rink from Hebron Academy to Ingersoll Arena in Auburn. The venue is closer for fans from both schools to appreciate their blended team.
Mt. Ararat, which has three players from Lisbon High, uses the heavily-booked rink in Brunswick, which is a problem because the only available practice time for the Eagles is 5 a.m. Still, ninth-year coach Mike Abreu is trying to return his team to better days, like 2003-05 when the Eagles made the playoffs.
“We’ve had a pretty good start,” Abreu said. “We’re hoping to gain some traction.”
The Eagles were trying to hold on Monday night, as GNG/Poland out-shot Mt. Ararat 25-6 through two periods. Kolby Arnold finally broke the scoreless tie with a shot inside the near post at 14:15 of the second period. Defenseman Sam Mayer assisted.
Mt. Ararat tied the game 18 seconds into the third period, as Justin Grant redirected an Ian Pinette slap shot. Neal Burgess also assisted.
“That kind of woke us up,” Rand said.
Mayer and Arnold teamed up again, however, both getting an assist at 2:36 when Arnold set up Evan Baggs for a one-timer and a 2-1 lead. At 2:49, Adam Healy roofed a goal for a 3-1 advantage.
Burgess closed it to 3-2 with a blast from the right circle, inside the far post. Thomas Gross assisted.
The Eagles kept up the attack, but sophomore goalie Calvin Shelley, filling in for ailing Matt Ouellette, held on.
“We just didn’t finish enough chances,” Abreu said.
Among the other leaders for GNG/Poland were forwards Devin Goyette and Zac Knapp, and defensemen Cam Spiller and Evan Coulombe.
The Patriotic Knights play at Cony on Thursday, and Mt. Ararat next plays at home against Windham/Sacopee Valley on Saturday.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: kthomas@pressherald.com
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