SACO ”“ Experience can be a great thing, even for those too young to have a whole lot of it.
Even so, the savvy picked up by the Portland Jr. Pirates U-16 team at last year’s USA Hockey National Tier II Championships should put them in good stead, as they make a return trip to the big stage.
The PJP’s, under coach Chris Bagley, will begin their quest for a national title next Wednesday in Reston, Va., just outside Washington, D.C.
Made up mostly of underclassmen from area high schools, the PJP’s will seek to go further than last year’s elimination in the round robin stage.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said center Greg Lodge, who helped his Thornton Academy team to the Class A state championship, two weeks ago. “We have a better team than last year’s.”
Fellow Golden Trojan Jonathan Herlihy echoed the sentiment.
“I’m really excited,” he said, “I had a great experience last year.”
Herlihy said that last year’s tournament, which was held outside of Philadelphia, was something of an eye opener.
“The (competition) is a lot better than I thought it was going to be,” he said, adding. “I’m just going to go out and work as hard as I can. I think we have a pretty good shot. We’re a little older.”
There is plenty of continuity from last year’s squad, and includes several players from both Biddeford and Thornton Academy with high school championship wins on their resume.
The PJP roster includes Biddeford’s Brady Fleurent, Eric Grover and Wyatt Leblond, and Max Boucher (who attends Cheverus); Thornton’s Lodge, Nick Chen, and Herlihy, as well as Ned Richard and Jack Kennedy of Kennebunk.
The Pirates will play round robin games against the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes, Columbia (S.C.) Cyclones, and Team South Dakota.
The top two teams in both division advance to the medal round.
“The experience was really good,” said Lodge. “They play a lot of different down there (at Nationals). It’s fun to see how other states play. Knowing that will help us this year.”
The following week, Katherine Pate of Saco will travel with her Assabet Valley (Mass.) team to Michigan to take part in the Girls U-16 Nationals.
The Golden Trojans were honored by the Portland Pirates, Friday, for their March 12 state championship win over Lewiston.
Thornton co-captains Sam Canales and Jon Pate took part in the ceremonial opening face off, prior to the Pirates’ 5-1 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
“I think they took a little too long to drop the puck,” said Herlihy, said kiddingly of his Trojans mates.
Lodge said all the Trojans appreciated being honored for the first hockey state championship in school history.
“It’s a good thing to be recognized,” said Lodge. “It’s fun to keep the celebration going.”
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