Lewiston, Yarmouth post overtime wins

LEWISTON – It was a return to dominance for two ice hockey state powers, but both Lewiston and Yarmouth had to work overtime.

Yarmouth won its second straight state Class B crown and seventh in the last 15 years while Lewiston posted its 20th Class A state title at the Central Maine Civic Center Saturday night.

In the early game, the Clippers defeated Gardiner 3-2 on a shot from the left circle by Lonnie Darling two minutes, eight seconds into double overtime.

In the Class A contest, Mario Villani’s breakaway goal 1:39 into the third overtime gave the Blue Devils their first state crown since 1995 with a 2-1 win over Cheverus of Portland.

Class B – Yarmouth outshot the Tigers 36-27, but had to come from behind as Gardiner drew first blood on Shawn Kelley’s goal with 3:20 left in the first period from a Justin LeBourdois assist.

The 16-7 Clippers tied the game on Greg Abbot’s goal off a Pat Delaney pass with four minutes left in the second period. Yarmouth took a 2-1 lead on Abbot’s second goal, this one with 9:22 left in the third.

Gardiner tied it 12 seconds later on Kevin McKay’s goal. Tigers freshman goalie Spencer Lahaie finished up with 33 saves as Gardiner wound up its season 17-6-1.

Yarmouth goalie Ross Fletcher had 25 saves.

Class A – Villani’s goal won the game, but it was the play of goalie Matt Roy that made all the difference as he faced a 53-shot barrage and made 52 saves.

The 17-6-1 Devils took a 1-0 lead on Kirk Bolduc’s power-play goal with 8:03 left in the first period. The Stags tied it up 82 seconds into the third period on Nate Brawn’s power-play goal from the slot. Roy made the stop, but the puck deflected out and off a defender’s back into the net.

Ryan Shelley saved 29 of 31 shots for the 19-4 Stags, who outshot the Devils 28-9 in the first two periods.