Hockey peewees making big splash

Everybody received plenty of ice time. There were only 11 of them and they didn’t even have a backup goalie.

But that didn’t deter the Penobscot Valley Hockey Conference’s travel peewees from claiming the New England Regional Tier 2 championship last weekend.

That has earned them a trip to Livonia, Mich., for the 12-team National Tier 2 Peewee Tournament beginning March 31.

“We realized we had only two lines [and four defensemen], so we conditioned them well,” said coach Steve Michaud. “And no matter how hard we worked them in practice, they never complained.”

“It’s an incredible group of kids,” added Michaud of the 11-and 12-year-olds.

Michaud, who has also coached Little League baseball and peewee basketball, said he found it “amazing” how his hockey players were able to absorb and apply the systems they taught them.

According to Michaud, the defensemen “are big and mobile and our forwards are on the smaller side but very fast. Our kids can play any style.”

He added that goalie Lonnie Hackett of Milford has an “incredible glove” and has been helped a great deal by the tutelage of Old Town High School goalie J.P. Stowe.

The PVHC team was the runner-up to Casco Bay in the Tier 1 state tourney, which earned the team the berth to the Tier 2 New England regional in Essex Junction, Vt.

The forwards are Phillip Frost and Nikki Mitchell of Bangor, Nick Michaud of Milford, Mike Morrison of Hampden, Brandon Paul of Old Town, and Ethan Pelletier of Greenville.

The blue line corps is comprised of Tom Bearor and Nick George of Bangor, Daniel Moriarty of Sebec, and Chad Evinger of Orono.

The team will take an overall record of 38-9-1 to Michigan.

In the Tier 2 New England Regional, they beat Newport, R.I., 8-5; the New Hampshire Avalanche 3-2; Simsbury, Conn., 2-1; and Warwick, R.I., 5-2 before rallying from a 4-1 third-period deficit in the title game to beat Burlington, Vt., 5-4 in overtime on Pelletier’s goal.

Goals by Frost, Pelletier, and Michaud forced overtime.

Steve Michaud, who is assisted by Scott Morrison and Gary George, said they are trying to raise money for the trip and those interested in helping out can send a check to PVHC Travel, 44 Rutland Street, Bangor. Or they can contact him at 827-0487.