BIDDEFORD — It’s become an annual rite for Biddeford.

And it’s getting to be that way for Thornton Academy, too.

Both schools, whose door-to-door distance measures less than five miles, will travel an hour or so north, tonight, to meet in the Western Maine Class A regional championship game at the Colisee in Lewiston.

Puck drop is slated for 6 p.m. with a berth in the State championship game, set for Saturday at the same venue, on the line.

“It should be packed,” said Tigers’ co-captain Nick Gagne, a senior defenseman. “They’re a good team, and there should be a lot of energy. It’s going to be a fun game.”

For Biddeford, winners of three of the last four state championships, this will be its fourth Western Maine final in the last five years.

“It definitely helps having a bunch of older guys in the locker room,” said Tiger co-captain Nick Gagne, a senior defenseman. “And having young guys step up, too.”

Last year’s opponent was none other than Thornton, which at the time was making its first Western final appearance. The Tigers prevailed that night, 3-0.

So much has happened in the 12 months since.

Biddeford (19-0-3) went on to defeat Waterville (also 3-0) in the state title game, then followed it up with its second undefeated regular season (just the third such steamrolling in Maine).

That includes wins against the Golden Trojans (15-5) in both of their regular season tilts, 5-0 on Jan. 5 and 6-4 on Feb. 5.

For Thornton, that was eight games ago, and the Trojans, who saved their best hockey for the stretch run, haven’t lost since.

“Teams are wise this time of year to focus on their own game, to sharpen all the things that you’re wanting to create out there,” aid Thornton coach Shawn Rousseau.

What the Trojans have honed to a fine edge is their defense, which has caught up to their high scoring attack.

Backboned by senior goalie Jay Finch, the Trojans have allowed just one goal in the last six games, and that came in Saturday’s 8-1 rout of Marshwood/Traip in a Western semifinal. They have outscored their last five foes, 31-1.

Getting a third crack at their arch rivals, this time with so much at stake, is something for which the Golden Trojans had hoped.

“It’s the way we wanted it,” said Rousseau. “Biddeford’s an excellent team. They’re unbeaten. If we want to have a chance to win this tournament, it’s very fitting and appropriate to play them and see if we can get through. I’d like to say that we’re prepared.”

One added twist has Biddeford’s Bryan Dallaire at the center of it.

Dallaire, a junior, was a student at Thornton Academy last year, and a key member of its defense corps.

He played well enough as a sophomore to earn All-State team consideration.

However, shortly after the beginning of this school year, Dallaire transferred to Biddeford, and when pre-season hockey practices began, he stepped right into the Tigers line up.

As the center of its top line.

Dallaire admitted that the situation feels a little strange.

“It is because I have a lot of friends over there,” he said.  “But I’ve made a lot of new friends over here. It’s weird, but I’m getting used to it.”

He piled up 41 points during the regular season, including 26 assists, many of them set ups for tallies by his high scoring line mates, Brady Fleurent and Tyler Audie.

“It was a big move,” said Dallaire. “There were some doubts about it. When I started playing offense, it was a blast. It’s fun to do both.”

For that matter, it’s fun to still be playing this late in the year.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune or follow on Twitter @DanHickling.