The Cheverus/Kennebunk girls hockey team has had a historic season to this point.

The Stags cruised to a state-best 17-1 regular season record, and then topped Scarborough in the Southern Conference semifinals, and Portland/Deering in the finals by a combined score of 12-2.

The high-flying Stags will now square off against Northern champion Greely/Gray-New Gloucester today at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston for the state championship.

“(The kids are) fantastic, they’re relaxed, they’re comfortable and very excited to play,” said Cheverus/Kennebunk coach Scott Rousseau, who expects his young roster to be prepared for the state’s biggest stage. “Most of our younger players are pretty experienced, they’ve played on Casco Bay U14 teams that have won New England’s and have gone to nationals. They’re very experienced players despite their age.”

After an early playoff exit in 2016-17, Cheverus/Kennebunk was considered by many to be a rising team that had a chance to compete for the Southern crown. Little did anyone, including the Stags, realize that they would be heading into the state title game as the favorite to win it.

“When we started the year we thought we would be pretty good, I thought we could contend. I don’t think anyone thought we would have the season that we did, but when the season went on we began to realize that we’re a pretty competent hockey team, we’re a pretty complete hockey team that plays complementary hockey very well,” said Rousseau.

Perhaps Cheverus/Kennebunk’s greatest asset is its ability to forget. Rousseau has stressed to his players to take it one game at a time, even if the last one was an 8-2 conference finals blowout.

“That game has nothing to do with what’s going to happen on Saturday,” said Rousseau. “We really only worry about the things we can control, the things we could control on Thursday and Friday was having good practices, being prepared and I think we are. Everything that occurred has no impact on what happens next.”

Greely/Gray-New Gloucester also had an exciting conference finals win, knocking off top-seeded Lewiston/Monmouth/Oak Hill in double overtime.

Rousseau expects today’s championship game to be one of the Stags’ toughest tests to date.

“I don’t think they’re a secret. They have two dominant senior forwards in Bridget Roberts and Courtney Sullivan, they’re very good on defense, they’re a complete hockey team,” said Rousseau.

Although many fans are picturing what it will mean to see the Stags bring home a title, Rousseau and company are simply focused on the opening faceoff.

“I don’t function in the future and I don’t think our players do … I think we’re very task-oriented,” said Rousseau. “You have to live in the now and deal with what you can control. If the final horn sounds, we’re standing and we’ve done everything we’re supposed to do, then we’ll think about (the championship). Right now we have to execute and play great hockey and that’s all we can concern ourselves with.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at asponseller@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.