Riots overcome Wildcats Orono trails 3-0 early, scores six unanswered goals

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ORONO – Before they could blink, they were down 2-0.

But the resilient and youthful Orono High School Red Riots erased a three-goal deficit with six unanswered goals to beat Presque Isle 6-3 in an entertaining Eastern Maine Class B game at Alfond Arena Wednesday night.

The 3-1 Riots avenged a season-opening 5-4 setback in Presque Isle.

Presque Isle fell to 2-1.

Trevor Graves and Joe Collins stunned the flat-footed Riots by scoring just seven seconds apart within the game’s first 30 seconds.

Ben Sirois expanded the lead at the 6:00 mark but the Riots used Tony Raymond’s power-play goal and Tommy Smyth’s score with five seconds left in the period to cut it to 3-2.

Freshman Chris McConnon tied it 3:09 into the second period and Raymond, also a freshman, scored the game-winner on the power play at the 11:48 mark.

Smyth’s power-play goal made it 5-3 4:44 into the final period and Travis Bryant iced it with Orono’s third power- play goal.

“Tommy’s [Smyth] goal at the end of the first period was the turning point and we were able to keep the momentum,” said Orono coach Greg Hirsch.

Presque Isle senior center Graves concurred, saying, “We would have felt comfortable leading 3-1.”

An ill-advised Wildcat cross-ice pass hit Smyth in the chest and he busted down the right wing on a two-on-one with Dylan Huckestein.

“Their goalie [Sean Daigle] gave me the upper short [glove] side,” said Smyth.

Presque Isle dominated the first period with its tenacious forechecking, outshooting the Riots 11-6.

But the smaller Riots parlayed their superior speed into a 23-12 shots-on-goal edge over the final two periods.

“They had a lot of odd-man rushes,” said the dynamic and ever-dangerous Graves. “And they did a better job clearing the front of their net.”

McConnon tied it when he roofed Huckestein’s pin-point cross-ice pass after waiting for Daigle to drop down and stack his pads.

Raymond gave Orono its first lead during a goal-mouth scramble after Daigle had tried to tie the puck up.

“The puck was still playable so I kept digging and I put it over his glove [into the short side],” said Raymond.

Early in the third period, PI’s Joe Collins was sent in alone by Benji Lynch but Riot sophomore goalie Keith Hedrick robbed him with his right pad.

Just 1:44 later, Bryant found Smyth 15 feet behind the Wildcat defense and he converted.

“The five-hole was open,” said Smyth.

Graves opened the scoring by maneuvering across the low slot and slipping a 10-footer inside the far post.

Seven seconds later, Sirois skated out of the left corner and fired a 20-foot slap shot through Hedrick’s pads.

Sirois made it 3-0 by chipping Corey Collins’ wrister from the right point behind a helpless Hedrick.

Raymond gave the Riots a lifeline at the 10:58 mark with a power play goal as he tipped a Bryant point shot between Daigle’s pads.

RED RIOTS 6, WILDCATS 3

Presque Isle (2-1) 3 0 0 ? 3

Orono (3-1) 2 2 2 ? 6

First period ? 1. PI, Graves (Sirois), :23; 2. PI, J. Collins (unassisted), :30; 3. PI, Sirois (C. Collins, Baker), 6:00; 4. Orono, Raymond (Bryant, Roeder), 10:58 (pp); 5. Orono, T. Smyth (unassisted), 14:55. Penalties: PI, Sirois, cross checking, 3:17; Orono, Fullwood, cross checking, 6:33; PI, Berube, cross checking, 10:16.

Second period ? 6. Orono, McConnon (Huckestein, Tuell), 3:09; 7. Orono, Raymond (Huckestein), 11:48. Penalties: PI, Gartley, hooking, 10:24; Orono, Huckestein, interference, 13:27

Third period ? 8. Orono, T. Smyth (Bryant), 4:44 (pp); 9. Orono, Bryant (Dudley), 13:33 (pp). Penalties: PI, Cyr, hooking, 3:19; Orono, J. Smyth, interference and unsportsmanlike conduct, 7:21; PI, Shaw, holding, 12:02.

Shots on goal: PI 11-8-4?23; Orono 6-13-10?29

Goalies: PI, Daigle (29 shots-23 saves); Orono, Hedrick (23-20)

Power-play opportunities: PI 0 of 4, Orono 3 of 5

Attendance: 125 (est.)