BIDDEFORD — Every coach wants his team to play well in all three facets of the game. And every hockey coach wants his first line to be a handful for the opposition.

Kennebunk’s Sean Smith got both on Monday night, and as a result, he got what every coach in any sport wants most of all ”“ a win.

Kennebunk’s top line ”“ senior Bryce Frasier and sophomores Boden Beveridge and Pat Gassman ”“ combined for five goals and 12 points, and the Rams dominated play throughout on the way to a 7-0 victory over Marshwood/Traip in a boys hockey game at Harold Alfond Forum.

“The kids played well, and I was very proud they played the right way from start to finish,” Smith said. “Every goal besides the shorthanded one was assisted, and you can’t ask for more than that. They moved the puck phenomenal. It was good stuff, a very smooth, classy hockey game.”

Frasier scored twice in the first period ”“ including on a shorthanded breakaway ”“ and also set up Gassman’s opener on the power play. Gassman scored twice in all and also had an assist, while Beveridge picked up four assists and scored once.

It was a dominant performance from a trio in their first season playing together, and still feeling each other out.

“It’s their first year together, and they were great tonight,” Smith said. “They’re really starting to click.”

“It’s finally starting to click,” echoed Frasier. “We were a little slow in the beginning. We weren’t quite always where we wanted to be, and it was hard to read where each other was going to be, but we’ve adapted really well. I feel pretty confident with them.”

While Kennebunk (4-1-1) took control quickly, Marshwood/Traip (2-5) was able to fluster the Rams early with the neutral zone trap, ensuring that Kennebunk had a hard time moving the puck out of its defensive zone.

“It was a bad first few minutes,” Smith said. “They played the trap, and we hadn’t seen it yet, but we made some good adjustments. Once they started working hard and moving the puck, attacking the seam in the offensive zone, everything started to work.”

That adjustment paid dividends when Hawks defenseman Joe Spinney was called for an interference penalty in the neutral zone.

The Rams top line took advantage quickly as Frasier won a faceoff and charged the net. His shot was stopped by Hawks goalie Tyler Gagnon, and the rebound eluded Beveridge, but not Gassman, who was on the doorstep to whack it home.

“We batted home the rebounds in front of the net because we knew he wasn’t very strong on the rebounds,” Frasier said. “We picked his weakness and attacked.”

Frasier then got his name on to the score sheet twice in the final four minutes of the period, first on another rebound in front after a centering pass from Beveridge.

Kennebunk then took its first penalty soon after, but Frasier blocked a shot in the Rams’ zone, got to his feet and raced in on Gagnon alone, burying his shot into the top right corner to make it 3-0 after one.

“I had a little bit of time and picked a corner,” Frasier said. “I didn’t shoot too hard or anything like that, I just picked a corner and went for it.”

Beveridge made it 4-0 shortly after the restart, tipping in Miles Eaton’s shot from the point.

“I saw him lining up to take the shot so I just got in front of the net, put my stick there and hoped for the best,” Beveridge said.

Gassman then upped the advantage to 5-0 thanks to another feed from Beveridge, and freshmen Camden Connor and Brendan Whitten both scored their first high school goals in the third period to close out the 7-0 win.

The Rams put 38 shots on Gagnon in total, while Michael LeBlanc had to make just 11 saves on the other end to pick up his first shutout of the season, lowering his goals against average to 1.50 in the process.

“I was glad we were able to get the shutout for Mike tonight,” Smith said. “He’s been great for us all year.”

Kennebunk will be back in action on Thursday at Biddeford Ice Arena, when it will take on Biddeford at a rare 2:40 p.m. start time.

“I know we’re going to have to come right off the bat, which has been kind of a weakness,” Frasier said of the game with the Tigers. “We’ve got to step on it right early because the games right after school are kind of tough.”

— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or [email protected].