There will be no secrets in the boys’ hockey state finals Saturday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Each team in the Class A and B games knows each other extremely well.

The Class B final is a rematch of a year ago, when Greely skated to a 6-2 victory against Messalonskee.

The Class A game features a perennial contender, Lewiston, against Falmouth. They split their two regular-season games.

On Dec. 16, Lewiston won 4-3 in overtime at the Colisee, and Falmouth skated to a relatively easy 3-1 victory Jan. 3 at home.

The Yachtsmen rallied in the third period to pull out a 4-3 victory against Scarborough in the West final to earn their first trip to the state championship game.

The Blue Devils outscored their three opponents in the Eastern tournament by a 24-2 margin to make their second trip in three seasons.

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“We have to have a strong effort,” Lewiston Coach Jamie Belleau said. “We want to make them play 200 feet and we’re going to have to play smart. We’re going to have to minimize our mistakes and maintain our composure, and do the little things right.”

Belleau said the Devils need to play better than they did in the regional tournament.

“We’re going to have to play our very best game,” he said. “Falmouth is a very good team. They’re very deep, they’ve got three strong lines and a strong senior class. We’re going to have to bring our A game.”

Falmouth Coach Deron Barton intends to follow the same recipe that brought the Yachtsmen success in the regional tournament.

“We need to do the same thing we did against Scarborough,” Barton said. “We need to play defensive hockey. We need to tighten our own end and limit their scoring opportunities, and capitalize on the ones that we get.”

“Lewiston is a dangerous team. They have a couple of lines of kids who just keep going and going and going. They never quit and you can’t let them back (in the game) for a minute.”

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In Class B, Greely and Messalonskee will play each other for the fourth time in 15 months.

Last season the Rangers skated to their victory over the Eagles in the state final after beating them 8-4 in the regular season.

Last month, Greely skated to an 8-4 victory against Messalonskee at Sukee Arena in Winslow.

“Every time you play against a team, you get to know a little bit more about them,” Messalonskee Coach Mike Latendresse said.

“If you turn that around though, they get to know what we do, too”

Each coach appeared to be taking a similar approach.

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“We’re going to try to focus on the way we play and what we try to do well,” Greely Coach Barry Mothes said.

“Our players have done that well through our first two playoff games and we’re going to be working to stay with that plan, stay with that kind of playoff intensity and focus.”

“We’re going to concentrate on what we do, no doubt,” Latendresse said.

“Our focus is on our team, and we definitely have to focus on parts of their game that are the best. It’s difficult to find a weakness in Greely’s game.” 

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

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH

 


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