BANGOR, Maine — They are from three different towns, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them play.
It’s as if they had been linemates their whole lives.
John Bapst High School of Bangor’s top line of sophomore Kodi Legassie between junior Tyler Wheeler and senior Logan Cyr-Ellis has led the hockey Crusaders to an 8-2-1 record in Class B North.
Both losses were by one goal to fellow contenders Winslow and Camden Hills.
The Crusaders have won five in a row and will take that winning streak into a Monday night home game against defending two-time state Class B titlist Messalonskee of Oakland.
John Bapst’s top line has combined for 77 points. Legassie has 31 points, and the other two have 23 apiece.
They teamed up for four goals and two assists in a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Camden Hills, and they teamed up for four goals and five assists in another comeback victory over Old Town-Orono on Monday night, 5-2.
“They love the game and they know how to play it,” said John Bapst coach Andy Stephenson, who considers them the best line in the state. “They want to be great. They know where they’re supposed to be, and if one of them isn’t there, another one of them will fill in.”
He added that they’re fast and they “move the puck well.”
“We have real good chemistry,” said Wheeler, who is from Old Town. “We know each other, and we all play the same style.
“We’re always striving to get better in practice. We work extra hard, and we motivate the rest of the team to work hard,” he added.
“We’ve learned to play as a line, not as individuals,” said Cyr-Ellis, who is originally from Houlton but lives in Veazie. “We play well together. We’re cycling [on the forecheck] all the time. These are probably the two most talented players in the league. I’m just out there to pick up what they do. I get lucky sometimes.
”I love playing with these two guys. They make me look good,” Cyr-Ellis added.
The feeling is mutual as Legassie and Wheeler said they enjoy being on the same line.
Wheeler and Legassie had spent time as linemates a year ago, but Stephenson moved Cyr-Ellis from forward back to defense “because we needed him there last season.”
Orrington’s Legassie said that as individuals, “we have similarities and differences” when it comes to skill sets.
“But we’ve learned how to play together,” Legassie said.
Wheeler said Legassie is the goal scorer, he is more of a playmaker and Cyr-Ellis is the tireless forechecker.
“Logan grinds in the corners and that gives Tyler and me more space,” said an appreciative Legassie.
Wheeler pointed out that each of them can handle any of the roles if necessary.
Wheeler said they could tell when they were first put together during the preseason that there was some potential.
“You could tell there was a spark, and we rolled with it,” he said.
“They’re tenacious,” said Old Town-Orono coach Denis Collins. “They never stop coming at you.”