Dennis Martin expected to have a very good hockey team this season at Waterville High School, and he was right.
His 18-1-1 Purple Panthers will look to claim their first state schoolboy hockey title since 2009 when they take on Yarmouth, 16-4, for the Class B crown at 1 p.m. Saturday at The Colisee in Lewiston.
Yarmouth hasn’t won a state championship since 2002.
Waterville won the lone regular season game 3-2.
In the Class A final at 6 p.m. at The Colisee, Scarborough, 16-2-3, will try to defend its state title when it takes on 16-2-2 Lewiston.
Like Yarmouth, Lewiston will be seeking its first title since 2002.
Scarborough and Lewiston skated to two ties (1-1, 4-4) during the regular season.
Martin said his Waterville team reminds him of the 2009 team that won a Class A championship. Both teams had exceptional balance.
“We’ve received 44 goals from each of our top two lines and 39 goals from our defensemen,” he said. “We have six guys with 30 or more points. The players have been unselfish.”
Junior defenseman Andrew Roderigue led the Panthers in scoring during the regular season with 27 goals and 16 assists for 43 points. Senior right wing Michael Oliveira (14-26-40), junior left wing Jackson Aldrich (22-18-40), senior left wing Nick Denis (16 & 19), junior center Justin Wentworth (16 & 18) and junior defenseman Matt Jolicoeur (9 & 21) were the others with 30 or more.
Sophomore center Cody Pellerin, who centers for Oliveira and Denis, had 11-17-28. Wentworth and Aldrich are on a line with junior Michael Bolduc (3-10-13).
Junior goalie Nathan Pinnette (15-1-1, 2.13 goals-against average, .896 save percentage) has been “our unsung hero,” according to Martin.
Martin said Yarmouth is a quality team that is “well-coached” and boasts a top-notch goaltender in Dan Latham (14-4, 2.01, .920).
Patrick Grant (13-25-38) and defenseman Walter Conrad (13-22-35) have been the catalysts for David St. Pierre’s Clippers.
Scarborough coach Norm Gagne has won seven state titles in 17 state game appearances with three schools.
Travis Roy finalist Matt Caron (19 & 22), Cam Nigro (17 & 16), Cam Smith (12 & 10) and Ross Leblond (13-2-2, 2.07, .895) have sparked the Red Storm while coach Jamie Belleau’s Blue Devils have been led by Jeromey Rancourt (12 & 18), Kyle Morin (13 & 14), Alex Robert (13 & 14) and Sam Frechette (9 & 11) along with Jacob Strout (12-2, 1.54, .896).