BRUNSWICK

The story for the Brunswick High School boys hockey team (7-1) all season has been the dominant first line of Jared Parent, Jacob McGowan and TJ Sullivan, but on Tuesday night coach Bill Bodwell had to shuffle up his lineup due to McGowan being ejected from Saturday’s game against Poland/Gray-New Gloucester.

With Jacob Towle filling the void, the Dragons still managed to pull out their second victory two weeks over the Mt. Ararat/Lisbon Eagles (1-6), 5-1 at Bowdoin College’s Sidney J. Watson Arena.

“Certainly the orange line first line) not being the regular three guys made it a difficult adjustment,” Bodwell said after the game. “I think getting back to school made our guys a little tired. We had a practice Monday morning and I don’t think the guys were up early for two weeks and suddenly they’re up at 4:30 a.m. yesterday and it showed a little bit. I think those two things, just getting back on a regular schedule and missing a key guy on our first line. Mt. Ararat played a very good game.”

“I think the guys were pumped up tonight,” Eagles head coach Mike Bishop said of his team going into the game. “We played St. Dom’s last night (Monday) and we knew what kind of team we were facing. They just needed to come out with a lot of intensity, good attitude, not that they came out with a bad attitude last time, but even this game was a game of inches. It didn’t have to be 5-1. It could have been 3-2 us. A big save there, another post there.”

Brunswick opened up the scoring chances with 10:03 left to play in the opening period. After a shot was deflected off of Eagles goaltender

Jon Roux (33 saves), Parent tucked in a loose puck six seconds later off a combined passing effort from Towle and Sullivan to make it 1-0.

Under three minutes later, the Dragons appeared to be making a push similar to the last meeting between the two teams (9-3 Brunswick win), making it 2-0 off a shot from Sullivan (Parent, Towle assist).

However, the Eagles fought back two minutes later when Bradley Boulet launched a rebound shot off Brunswick goalie CJ Connor, which allowed Mark Abreu to rattle the net and bring the game within one.

“My seniors Jonny Roux, Tyler O’Connor, Ben Bishop, Kyle Lussier, Nate Brewer and Nate Harley all played great,” coach Bishop said. “They’re getting a little more serious about it, some of them are realizing that before you know it the season’s over and if you’re a senior you’re career could be over.”

The Eagles came out strong in the second period and did everything in their power to turn the game in their favor, but between strong blocks by Connor and multiple shots off the post, the Eagles were unable to swing the scoreboard in their favor.

Dragons accelerate

After what resulted in a hard-fought second period, both teams had an objective. For Mt. Ararat/Lisbon — Don’t let the Dragons score. And for Brunswick — Score another goal to allow some breathing room.

It was the Dragons that won the fight, doing so on the power play with 11:06 remaining in the final period when Parent notched his second goal of the game off a pass from Matthew Deveaux. Though the Dragons first line was not what it’s used to being, it showed no signs of slowing down.

“ Definitely on me and Sully (Sullivan),” Parent said of the pressure that was added through McGowan’s absence. “Towle really stepped up tonight, he really helped us become what we were earlier in the season with McGowan. It definitely did put a lot more weight on our backs, but we pulled it off and that’s all that matters.”

“Jared played his regular game and TJ played his regular game, and it’s just hard to fill the shoes that we had to fill, but Jacob Towle did a really good job,” Bodwell added.

Brunswick slowly chipped away through the rest of the game, scoring twice more. One goal off the stick of Jameson Cyr (Michael Deveaux assist) with 7:22 left on the clock and another with 2: 35 remaining from Ryan Olson (Towle assist).

“ Our goaltending was really good,” Bishop said of Roux. “ That’s a firstyear goalie, literally a first- year hockey player. He never skated before this year except on a pond; he’s never been on a rink before, but he did a great job.”

Both coaches agree that their respective teams have work to do down the road, but are proud of how far they have come so far.

“I think what we need to do is go back to the fast play that we were doing at the beginning of the season,. The guys have been willing to work hard, so that will be our objective,” said Bodwell.

“ We’re not as deep as some teams,” Bishop said. “ Our top- end talent may not be as good as some other top-end talent, but if they just go out there and really work hard, they can hang with teams. Sometimes you’re just outskilled and all you do is try your best even if you know you’re going to lose. I hope I can show them that they can play with most teams, but they got to come to play.”

The Dragons return to action on Thursday against South Portland at home with game time slated for 5:30 p.m., while the Eagles host Edward Little on Thursday at 7:45 p.m.

Brunswick 5, Mt. Ararat/Lisbon

At		Sidney		J.		Watson Arena in
Brunswick
Mt.		Ararat/	Lisbon				—	1	00–1
Brunswick			—	2	0	3		—	5

First period — 1. (B) Jared Parent

Jacob Towle, TJ Sullivan), 5:03; 2. TJ Sullivan (Jared Parent, Jacob Towle), 7:31; 3. (MtA/L) Mark Abreu

Bradley Boulet), 9:26. Penalties —

B) Jared Parent, roughing, 7:33;

MtA/L) Austin Fournier, roughing, 7:33; (MtA/L) Ben Bishop, cross checking, 10:15. Second period — No scoring. Penalties — (B) TJ Sullivan, slashing, 5:18;

B) Jared Parent, roughing, 7:57;

MtA/L) Bradley Boulet, slashing, 14:28. Third Period — 4. (B) Jared Parent

Matthew Deveaux), ppg, 3:54; 5. (B) Jameson Cyr (Michael Deveaux), 7:38; 6. (B) Ryan Olson (Jacob Towle), 12:25. Penalties — (MtA/L) Cam Grant, interference, 2:15; (B) Jared Hummer, interference, 5:09;

MtA/L) Austin Fournier, elbowing, unsportsmanlike conduct, 11:51. Shots on goal — Mt. Ararat/Lisbon 23; Brunswick 38. Saves — (MtA/L) Jon Roux 33; (B) CJ Connor 22. Power play — Mt. Ararat/Lisbon 0- for-3; Brunswick 1-for-3. Records — Brunswick 7-1; Mt. Ararat/Lisbon 1-6. Up next for Brunswick — Thursday at home against South Portland, 5:30 p.m. Up next for Mt. Ararat/Lisbon — Thursday at home against Edward Little, 7:45 p.m.