The defending state Class B champion Messalonskee High School Eagles from Oakland may have a new head coach this season in Joe Hague, but the team hasn’t missed a beat.
Messalonskee will look for its fourth straight Eastern Maine B championship on Tuesday when it squares off with neighbors and Sukee Arena partners Winslow at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena in Orono.
The top-seeded Eagles, 18-1 after Saturday’s 12-1 trouncing of Brewer, beat the third-seeded Black Raiders (14-6) twice during the regular season: 6-5 on Dec. 10 and 5-1 on Jan. 10.
Winslow advanced with a 3-2 win over Hampden Academy and a 5-2 victory over archrival Waterville.
In the Eastern A final at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, No. 1 St. Dominic Academy of Auburn (16-2-1) will try to defend its regional title against archrival Lewiston (14-5-1) at 8:30 p.m.
Second-year Winslow coach Andy Dube said his team has played well in its two games with Messalonskee and will have to find a way to limit the Eagles’ top line of Jake Dexter, Brandon Nale and Jared Cunningham, who combined for 185 regular season points and teamed up for nine goals against Brewer.
“We can’t allow them to control the game. We have to play hard-nosed hockey, cover them and take away their space,” said Dube.
Dube feels his team is faster than Messalonskee, but the Eagles are “smooth” and have an edge in playmaking and puck-handling.
“We have to play them tough. We’ll have to make them work,” said Dube.
Hague, who replaced longtime coach Mike Latendresse, said it will be important for his team to “pepper” Winslow goaltender Andrew Beals.
He said moving Nale from defense to wing on the top line has been important because he has done an excellent job complementing Dexter and Cunningham .
He also said he has been getting some supplemental scoring from his second and third lines.
Junior Dylan Burton and Sam Bell have headlined a solid defense corps in front of goalie Elijah Tuell.
Winslow has been led by the all-junior line of Jacob Trask, Jacob Grenier and Jimmy Fowler. Fowler had three goals against Waterville, including two on the power play.
Senior center Alex Berard also has been a consistent contributor. Jacob Larsen and Jacob Houghton have anchored the defense corps in front of junior goalie Beals.
In the Class A final, St. Dominic beat Lewiston 5-2 after the teams battled to a 3-3 tie in the first game.
Lewiston hasn’t allowed a goal in the playoffs, beating Windham 4-0 and Bangor 1-0. Nick Hawk made six saves vs. Windham and Jacob Strout had 24 against Bangor.
St. Dominic blanked Edward Little of Auburn 4-0 with Kyle Welsh turning aside 24 shots before getting hurt in a collision with 3:04 left. Ridge Servidio finished up and made one stop.