BIDDEFORD ”“ Games played during the Maine High School Hockey Invitational don’t count for anything in the standings, but that’s not to say that those holiday tourney tilts don’t count for something meaningful.
One doesn’t pull on Thornton maroon and gold, or Biddeford orange and black without full appreciation of the opportunity.
Especially for those who don’t normally get many of those during the regular season.
Which is why Biddeford’s Len Dube is so willing to crash the net in the hunt for goals, or why Thornton’s Drew Lavigne will gladly draw traffic away to allow a teammate to get an open shot.
And which is why coaches take full advantage of the chance to put some unfamiliar faces in some unfamiliar roles.
“It feels great,” said Dube,” a senior, whose varsity ice time is often limited. “It shows other people that you can play with the top teams. Even if you’re playing with the third line or fourth line, you can play with the first line. You can play with the best.”
Said Lavigne, a freshman, who more often than not, skates with Thornton’s junior varsity, “You feel more part of the team. You try to do your best.”
Biddeford, Thornton, and Kennebunk are among the nearly 40 teams who are taking part in the 10th Annual MHHI, which is set to wrap up today.
And while it gives local teams an opportunity to sharpen themselves against unfamiliar foes, the league schedule is never far from a coach’s thoughts.
So, while Tiger coach Rich Reissfelder may have been sending out lines to play Rhode Island’s Cumberland High, he was actually envisioning how those combos might fare against the likes of South Portland.
“We mixed up the top two lines,” said Reissfelder, whose Tigers will conclude the MHHI today (4 p.m.) against Ridgefield, Conn. at MHG Ice Centre. Just figured, what better time to do it. Give it a shot and see where it goes. I think it worked out well.”
Well enough to give lead the Tigers to wins in their first three MHHI tilts, even as some of the Cats got a chance to show some heretofore unsheathed power play chops.
So it was that junior defenseman Taylor Reuillard showed the world that he possesses a point shot that can penetrate the tightest of screens.
And that might come in handy down the road, as Biddeford gets deeper into its state championship title defense.
“It helps our skills,” said Reuillard, following Tuesday’s 8-0 hammering of Edward Little. “Just playing a lot. And it helps us for the regular season. Then we can work on the stuff that we need to.”
Getting used to more ice time is a pleasant challenge, but a challenge nonetheless.
Reuillard said that keeping calm and focused during longer and more frequent shifts is the key.
“You’ve got to be relaxed,” he said. “You can’t be afraid to make a mistake. You’ve just got to play your game, and if you make a mistake, then just forget about it. Keep playing.”
Keep playing no matter where you’re put.
Taylor Brown, a tall, lanky Thornton freshman defenseman was pressed into forward line duty during the tourney by Golden Trojans coach Shawn Rousseau.
He rewarded Rousseau’s trust by finishing off a splendid scoring opportunity from the slot against a tough, North Haven, Conn. squad.
“It was pretty exciting,” said Browne.
Meaningless?
Think again.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535, ext. 317.
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