Messalonskee Ice Hockey outscored their opponents 27-2 in their first three contests
For the first time this season, Messalonskee goalie Hunter Hallee and the rest of the Eagles ice hockey team found themselves in a tight contest.
Playing host to Camden Hills, the top-ranked team in Class B North at the time, the Eagles initially trailed 1-0 but responded with three straight goals.
But the Windjammers did not fold. Instead they battled back, scoring four goals in total, which is two times what the unbeaten Eagles had surrendered in their first three games of the season.
Ultimately, Messalonskee prevailed 5-4 in that to improve to 4-0 and take over the top spot in Class B North.
Hallee was not surprised by the narrow margin of victory.
“We expected the game to be close,” he said. “They were ranked No. 1 coming into the game, ahead of us.”
The Eagles had outscored their opponents 27-2 in their first three contests, including a 14-1 thrashing of the Gardiner/Waterville/Winslow consolidated team. Then, after the close victory over Camden Hills, Messalonskee traveled to Houlton and left with a 6-0 triumph last Friday night with Hallee notching his second shutout – and second straight against Houlton – of the season.
And this is a Messalonskee team, now 5-0, that captured the Class B North title last season and narrowly lost in the state final.
But Hallee, one of several returning starters, said the Eagles are not about to get overconfident from their early season dominance.
“Obviously,” he said, “as the season goes on, the games get tougher.”