MHS Ice Hockey Team Scores First Victory
They are the few, the proud, the Messalonskee High School ice hockey team.
Less than three years removed from winning the Class B state championship, the Eagles suit up just 11 players, some in their first year of varsity hockey. But while they are short on numbers, the Messalonskee hockey players are a determined bunch and also a bunch that can now boast of a victory – and an overtime one at that.
Sophomore Salvatore Caccamo scored the winning goal – his first as a varsity performer – in the 1-0 victory over Lawrence/Skowhegan/MCI on a pass from Reilly Benecke. Junior goalie Eli Michaud stopped 28 shots.
“It was a big one,” Caccamo said. “It was our first win. We came close last Saturday against Presque Isle.” Messalonskee lost that game 3-1.
The Eagles opened the year with five straight losses and that combined with the thin roster provided plenty of reasons to consider switching to a different sport. Caccamo, though, said he and his teammates stayed strong despite the adversity they faced.
“I think every game we go into we want to try to win,” he said. “Our team can get a little discouraged, but we never give up.”
In his post-game comments to the Morning Sentinel newspaper, Messalonskee hockey head coach Kevin Castner praised the determination of his players. “The kids kept working hard all through the game,” he said, “and even into overtime they kept up that work ethic.”
Caccamo said the triumph definitely boost the team’s spirits. “I think especially with getting the victory that we will be even more motivated to go out and continue to give 110 percent,” he said.