Gorham 6

Westbrook 2

David Gushee had a hat trick and the Rams scored four goals in the third period to defeat Westbrook 6-2 Saturday at the USM Ice Arena. Gorham also got goals from Elliott Bidwell, Jacob Viel and Brendan Ryan.

The Rams entered the third period with a 2-0 lead looking to expand it. Just a few minutes into the period, Viel made it a 3-0 Gorham lead. Gushee skated into the Westbrook end with the puck but misfired on the shot. Viel gathered in the rebound and scored.

The Blue Blazes got their first goal of the game midway through the third when Zach Souza scored off a pass from Brian Doyle. With the score now 3-1, it seemed the Blazes might have some life.

But Gushee quashed that notion when he scored just 11 seconds later. Off the faceoff, Gushee took control of the puck and skated toward Westbrook goalie Zach Joy. Gushee faked left, then right before reaching out and tapping the puck into the net.

“If someone puts a goal in, we like to get out there quick and match it,” Gushee said. “That’s what we’re there for, to get the comeback goals.”

The Rams grabbed a practically insurmountable lead just a few minutes later. Shayne Nealey was sent to the box for the Blazes for hooking. That gave Gorham a power play that they put to good use. Gushee fed the puck to Ryan, who fired a one-timer past Joy for a 5-1 Rams’ lead.

“I thought altogether we played pretty well-besides the third period,” said Westbrook coach Travis Jalbert. “It was a 2-0 game and we fought back and got it close. I thought for the most part we battled all night, which is a good thing because our second defensive pair has never played varsity before.”

After Ryan’s goal, the Rams got a two-man advantage for two full minutes thanks to a tripping call and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. But the Blue Blazes were up to the task and killed off the penalties. That gave them a lift and Nealey scored Westbrook’s second goal of the game when he stuffed home a rebound with just over two minutes left.

Late in the game, Tim Hardy of Gorham was sent to the box and Westbrook had a chance to draw closer. But Gushee took control of the puck and finished off his hat trick with a short-handed goal. He skated into the Westbrook’s end and stuffed the puck past Joy for the final goal of the game.

“I thought through the first two periods we played Gushee pretty well,” Jalbert said. “Our goal was to send two guys on him and make him move the puck and make someone else beat us. I think the first two periods we did well on him. After that we got into penalties and started losing our legs and giving up more openings.”

Both the Rams and the Blazes will be off during the break, but will get back to their regular schedules in January. Gorham’s next regular season game is Jan. 3 against Cheverus. The Blazes will be in action Jan. 2 against Sanford.