PORTLAND — Freshman Cam Dube scored two goals, including the winner in overtime, to lift Cheverus to a 3-2 win over Lewiston in Class A boys’ hockey season opener Saturday at Portland Ice Arena.
Just 39 seconds into overtime, Dube knocked in a rebound after James Hannigan sent the puck toward the net from along the right boards.
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“Alex Libby was working hard right in front of the net. The puck bounced right to my stick and I just put it away,” said Dube.
“At the end of the day, overtime, it could be anybody’s bounce, and we were fortunate,” said Cheverus Coach Dan Lucas.
Dube put the Stags ahead 2-1 with a breakaway goal with 8:11 left in regulation. But Lewiston tied it three minutes later on a rebound goal by Griffin Wade.
“I thought it was a good hockey game. Credit to both teams. Everybody came out skating; nobody let up,” said Lucas.
“I want to give a lot of credit to Cheverus. I thought they played well,” said Lewiston Coach Jamie Belleau. “They had a lot of sticks in passing lanes, a lot of sticks in shooting lanes.
“I like the way our kids responded for a young team. We had plenty of opportunities at the end of the game; we just didn’t bury them.”
Hannigan gave Cheverus a 1-0 lead with an unassisted goal less than two minutes into the second period.
The Stags won despite accruing 21 penalty minutes, including a five-minute boarding major against Matt O’Leary with 3:16 left in the second period. Lewiston soon tied the game at 1-1 when Jeromey Rancourt flipped a backhander high into the net. But Cheverus was able to kill the remainder of the penalty, as well as five other Lewiston power plays.
“It was a little frustrating. We have to trust that the refs are going to be as consistent as they can,” said Lucas.
“The bottom line is we have to deal with it. We were in the penalty box most of (the second) period and we were lucky to come out alive.”
Lewiston outshot the Stags 38-18, but Kyle Severance was outstanding in net for Cheverus, making 36 saves.
“I thought the last period and a half we had plenty of opportunities,” said Belleau.
“We made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized on them.
“I’m a little disappointed we didn’t find a way to put one in at the end. This is why you play the game. Sometimes you bury your chances and sometimes you don’t.”
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