On Saturday, the USM Ice Arena played host to a preseason round robin between Gorham, Westbrook, Scarborough and Bonny Eagle high schools. With both JV and varsity teams participating, it was a day filled with hockey.

One of the more exciting games of the day came when Bonny Eagle and Gorham clashed in the day’s penultimate game. In the round robin, varsity teams were pitted against one another for one 29-minute period. When the Rams and Scots took to the ice, they skated to a scoreless tie.

The scoreboard may have been stuck at zero, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Bonny Eagle goalie Chris Smith faced eight shots and stopped every one. He stood up to several great Gorham chances, including a few by sharp shooting David Gushee.

His counterpart, Gorham goalie Denny Gearan was also up to the task. He turned away all 13 shots that came at him. Gearan turned away a few breakaways, including two by hard-shooting junior Travis Dunn.

Aside from the breakaways and the slap shots, both teams also had power play opportunities. Just two minutes into the game, Gorham’s Spencer Violette was sent to the sin bin and the Scots had a man advantage. But they couldn’t capitalize. Shortly after Violette served his time, Gushee was whistled for another Gorham infraction. But again, the Rams’ penalty kill took care of business.

Just after Gushee’s penalty expired, Bonny Eagle’s Taylor Bishop was called for the Scots’ first and only penalty of the game. But just like the Rams, the Scots were able to kill off the penalty.

Earlier in the day, the Rams took on Scarborough and skated away with a 3-0 win. In that game, Gushee scored a pair of goals to pace the Rams. Brenden Ryan also scored for Gorham.

At 13:40 of the period, Gushee put the Rams on the board with a precision shot. Gushee gathered the puck near center ice and skated into the Scarborough end. From there he moved to the Red Storm goalie’s right and ripped a shot that found its way between the goalkeeper and the post for a 1-0 Rams lead.

Shortly after killing off another penalty, the Rams doubled their lead. This time it was Ryan who scored when he wrested a shot into the net from the slot off a pass from Gushee at 19:01 of the period.

Just a few minutes later, with the Rams facing another short-handed situation, Ryan passed to Gushee, who fired a slap shot from the point that rippled the mesh for the third Gorham goal of the game.

Gorham’s JV team also looked strong as they dispatched Westbrook 6-0. Kyle Braley led the Rams with a hat trick. Kenny Estes, Connor Smith and Steven Brey also scored for Gorham as they outshot the Blazes 21-5.

Estes opened the scoring for Gorham just two minutes into the game when he nailed a slapper from the blue line for a power play goal.

Braley scored his first on a put back at the 8:07 mark. Just four minutes later, he scored again when he took control of the puck outside the zone and skated it in. He flipped a backhanded shot past the goalie and the Rams had a 3-0 lead.

Smith hit a wrister down low for the fourth Gorham goal just two minutes after Braley’s goal. Three minutes later, the Rams notched another power play goal when Brey stuffed back a rebound after a shot by Braley. Finally, with just over a minute to go, Braley completed his hat trick when he stuffed a rebound into the net.

This weekend, the high school hockey regular season will kick off. Gorham gets things started Saturday when they take on Cape Elizabeth. Westbrook will open with Massabesic/OOB, Scarborough begins with Falmouth next Thursday, Dec. 13 and Bonny Eagle will take on Gray-New Gloucester in their season opener.