WINSLOW – The Bangor High School hockey team snapped a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) at the expense of the youthful Messalonskee Eagles Wednesday night and it was three seniors who helped make it happen.

Senior center Matt Boehmer collected a hat trick (three goals) and defensemen Jake Silver and Joel Whitney spearheaded a strong defensive performance as the Rams posted a hard-fought 4-1 Eastern Maine Class A triumph at Sukee Arena.

Junior goalie Andrew Riley was razor sharp for the Rams(7-4-1), making several timely saves among his 23, and sophomore right wing Johnny Warren had a goal and an assist.

Senior defenseman Nathan Veilleux scored on the power play for Messalonskee of Oakland (7-6) and junior goalie Zach Parent made 33 stops in a stellar performance.

“We stressed intensity. We haven’t been coming to games prepared lately,” said Boehmer. “It’s all about work ethic [and we had it tonight].”

Riley stopped a break-in by Brett Glasheen in the opening minutes of the game and made a crucial pad save on Garrett Mosher’s point-blank attempt seconds after Messalonskee (7-6) had cut the lead to 3-1 with 6:03 remaining. He said he wanted to atone for his performance in a 4-1 loss to Orono on Monday night.

“I was focused tonight. I wasn’t focused in the first period against Orono and they scored those two goals,” said Riley. “The guys came out flying tonight and that gave me an extra boost.”

Messalonskee coach Mike Latendresse said his team “worked hard in spurts” and played better in the second and third periods.

“Both goalies played well. You can’t expect to win when you give up 37 shots. Zach kept us in the game,” said Latendresse, whose team was without leading scorer Matt DelGiudice (broken collarbone).

Boehmer opened the scoring 5:02 into the game when he took a pass from David Pardilla and beat a defenseman before converting in a one-on-one with Parent.

“I wound up to shoot and their defenseman dove to block it, so I went around him,” said Boehmer. “I saw the goalie’s hand coming up like he was going to pokecheck me, so I went around him and put it in the far side.”

That lead stood until the 13:31 mark of the second period when a perfectly executed play resulted in Boehmer’s second goal.

Boehmer won the draw to Pardilla, who rifled a pass to Silver at the point. Silver’s shot hit Warren in the chest and dropped amongst a maze of players in the low slot.

“The goalie was down and he was trying to get over to cover it, but I shot it past him,” said Boehmer.

Warren made it 3-0 on the power play just 28 seconds into the third period with Silver initiating the play by keeping the puck in the offensive zone and sliding it ahead to Christian Dionne.

Veilleux made things interesting.

Justin Lawler fed Mike LaBrie at the right point for a slap shot that produced a rebound and Veilleux ripped the rebound into the exposed net.

RAMS 4, EAGLES 1

Bangor (7-4-1) 1 1 2 – 4

Messalonskee (7-6) 0 0 1 – 1

First period – 1. Bang, Boehmer (Pardilla), 5:02; Penalties: Mess, T. Lawler, cross-checking, 6:50; Bang, Trundy, elbowing, 9:30; Mess, Mosher, tripping, 11:53; Bang, Dionne, interference, 13:23

Second period – 2. Bang, Boehmer (Warren), 13:31; Penalties: Mess, McCarthy, delay of game, 8:03; Mess, C. DelGiudice, tripping, 15:00

Third period -. 3. Bang, Warren (Dionne, Silver), :28 (pp); 4. Mess, N. Veilleux (J. Lawler, LaBrie), 8:57 (pp); 5. Bang, Boehmer, 14:51 (en); Penalties: Bang, George, tripping, 2:53; Mess, T. Lawler, hooking, 3:29, Mess, Mosher, holding, 6:29; Bang, Silver, tripping, 8:01; Bang, Boehmer, charging, 11:58

Shots on goal: Bangor 13-11-13-37; Messalonskee 6-10-8-24

Goaltenders: Bang, Riley (24 shots-23 saves); Mess, Parent (36-33)

Power-play opportunities: Messalonskee 1 of 5; Bangor 1 of 6

Attendance: 150 (est.)