LEWISTON — All season long the Biddeford Tigers were able to overcome a lack of depth with their talented top line and a strong defense — and, of course, their ability to play through fatigue.
The shorthanded Tigers’ biggest test would come in Saturday’s Class A boys’ hockey state final as St. Dominic Academy would run three lines and six defensemen at them all night long.
The Saints were eventually able to wear down the Biddeford squad and pick up a hard-fought 4-2 win in front of a packed house at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen tonight, but I just knew we were going to give them a hell of a game,” said Biddeford coach Jason Tremblay.
St. Dom’s was able to take control of the game early on as the Saints peppered the Biddeford net with seven shots in the opening period.

Biddeford senior goalie Justin Larnerd stopped the first few attempts, but the Saints got on the board when Dominic Chasse found the back of the net with 8:05 left in the first. Will Fletcher provided the assist on the game’s first goal.
Trailing 1-0 after the opening period, the Tigers knew they needed to respond or the game could get away from them.
Senior Trenton Ouellette answered the call for Biddeford. The defenseman scored just after a Tigers’ power play expired to tie the game at 1-1 with 7:44 left in the second.
The goal would send the huge Biddeford crowd into a frenzy, but St. Dom’s quickly took back the momentum.
Biddeford was called for a penalty at the 7:07 mark and the Saints capitalized just 25 seconds later when Lucas Pushard fired a one-timer into the net to make it 2-1.
The Tigers’ lack of depth showed up late in the second as the Saints took advantage of a Biddeford miscue to make it 3-1.
Chasse picked off the puck in the Biddeford zone and fed Leondro Naous, who buried it into the back of the net with just 1:04 left in the period.
“I thought late in the second was when we were in trouble,” said Tremblay. “The tough part about the second period is you get that long change and our guy tried to do a little too much with the puck, but he’s trying to make a play and he’s tired, trying to get off (the ice).”
The Tigers found their legs again in the third as Biddeford would put a ton of pressure on the Class A North champs.
Biddeford, which outshot St. Dom’s 16-5 in the third, would cut the lead to 3-2 with 8:03 left in regulation. Sophomore Trevor Ouellette took a pass from classmate Nick Reissfelder and beat the Dom’s keeper to give the Tigers life.
“We were moving the puck like I’ve never seen us move it,” said Tremblay on his team’s play in the third. “Of course they’re going to get some 2-on-1 (chances) because we’re taking a lot of chances, but you know what, we were right there in the end.”
The Tigers kept the puck in the Saints’ zone for most of the third. But with time winding down, Biddeford ended up pulling the goalie and St. Dom’s put the game away with an empty-net score from Jacques Ouellette with 55 seconds left.
The celebration would be on for the Saints as they secured their 26th state title and their first since 2000.
Tremblay, who led the Tigers to their second straight state final, was impressed with his team’s effort — both on Saturday night and all season long.

“I actually think we outplayed them for most of the game. For us to do that and control the play, especially late in the third, it was pretty impressive by our guys, so I was happy,” said Tremblay. “At the end of the day, we had nine guys and they’re tired. But to do what we did is a remarkable run.”
Biddeford will have to replace seven seniors from this team, including standouts like Larnerd, Trenton Ouellette, Colin Petit and Seth Perry.
“They (put) Biddeford back on the map,” said Tremblay of the senior class. “In the youth hockey (program), they’re proud. You saw those little kids (greeting players after the game) and they are coming and it’s starting to be exciting again. I think they lost it for a little bit and we’re trying to get it back. (The seniors) are just great kids.”
The excitement surrounding the program was evident when you looked at the Biddeford side of the arena on Saturday night.
“(The fans showed up) in force. They were great, awesome. That’s Biddeford for you. You get a state championship (on the line) and they come,” Tremblay said.
Heading into the offseason, the big question will be whether the Tigers will be able to keep an independent program or be forced to co-op with another school.
“We don’t know yet. This year we almost (combined). We’ve talked to teams about combination just because it’s hard. We’ve got 18 kids and we’re going to have 18 kids next year. It’s really hard. It’s taxing, especially at practice,” Tremblay said.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 780-9017. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

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