LEWISTON — The hockey team that keeps on rolling will oppose the team that believes it has turned its fortunes around.

Biddeford (17-0-3) is the unbeaten favorite and top seed.

Additional Photos

Biddeford’s Brady Fleurent, left, attacks the net as Thornton Academy’s Jonathan Dupee defends Jan. 5 at the Biddeford Ice Arena. The Tigers won that game 5-1 and a Feb. 5 rematch, 5-4. But the Trojans are riding a seven-game win streak into tonight’s Western Class A final. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Second-seeded Thornton Academy (15-5) is the underdog but is riding a seven-game winning streak.

Biddeford and Thornton, rivals from opposite banks of the Saco River, will play for the Western Class A championship at 6 p.m. tonight at the Colisee.

The winner advances to the state Class A championship Saturday against either Lewiston or St. Dominic, who meet in the Eastern Maine final at 8 p.m. tonight.

Biddeford is seeking its fourth regional championship in five years. Thornton is looking for its first regional title.

The Trojans have lost their last three games against Biddeford – last year’s regional title game (3-0) and two games this season, 5-1 on Jan. 5 and 5-4 on Feb. 5.

Since then, Thornton is undefeated.

“We’ve been playing very well lately,” said senior forward and co-captain Sam Canales. “I think we’re a totally different team from the last time we played Biddeford. The last couple of games, it has been all defense.”

Indeed, Thornton gave up 40 goals through its first 13 games, but just six over its last seven.

One of those seven wins was a 5-0 shutout of St. Dom’s, a team that beat Thornton 5-4 earlier in the season.

The Trojans have scored 44 goals during their winning streak.

“It’s easy to emphasize the offense,” Thornton Coach Shawn Rousseau said. “But the key right now is we’re playing very well defensively.”

Most teams use no more than four defensemen, but Thornton rolls out six.

“It’s one of our greatest assets,” Rousseau said. “The guys defending our net are very fresh.”

The three defensive pairs — Tyler Danley and Brandon Veilleux, Jonathan Herlihy and Dakota Matthews, and Ryan Locke and Jonathan Dupee — stuff the middle well, affording goalie Jameson Finch easier saves.

Biddeford Coach Rich Reissfelder has noticed.

“Six defensemen is a great luxury to have,” he said. “They all seem to play pretty consistently and they play well.

“It’s almost like a whole different season (because) we haven’t played them in so long.”

Biddeford features its own dominating defense — the tandems of Nick Gagne and Taylor Reuillard, and Eric Grover and James Jamieson, in front of goalie Jon Fields. The Tigers have allowed 27 goals in 20 games.

The Trojans’ offense is led by its top line of Canales, Robert Downing and C.J. Maksut, one of the leading goal-scorers in the state with 22.

But the best line in the state belongs to Biddeford. Brady Fleurent (30 goals, 33 assists), Bryan Dallaire (15 goals, 27 assists) and Tyler Audie (17 goals, 14 assists) are dangerous and work well together, stringing passes together before scoring.

“They work so hard on that stuff in practice that it comes natural in the game,” Reissfelder said.

Thornton’s improved defense has a challenge ahead, as does the Trojans’ offense. But the team from the north side of the river is confident.

“I think we have a very good shot at winning this tournament,” Rousseau said. “We’re playing very well. All the pieces are together.”

IN THE EAST final, top-seeded Lewiston (17-1-2) is favored against second-seeded St. Dom’s (14-4-2), having already beaten the Saints twice this season.

But this rivalry brings out unpredictable results, including last year’s East semifinal, when fourth-seeded St. Dom’s beat the top-seeded Blue Devils.

Lewiston’s one loss was to Biddeford.

Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

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